Those of you that review job applications, where is the cover letter supposed to go? If I'm emailing an application, I have my resume attached as a pdf with my education, work experience, and references. Should my cover letter also be in that pdf or should my email be my cover letter? I'm not getting any hits back and I've become unsure of my form now. :(
These days, it's anyone's guess! :P
When I've emailed a resume' (PDF), I've included a cover letter â€" also as a PDF. The email itself includes just a few short sentences â€" describing what is attached and the position I'm applying for with a closing thanks, my name and phone number.
BUT because I'm a loser and haven't gotten any new projects, clients or jobs DO NOT LISTEN TO ME! ;)
I would send the email with the cover letter as an attachment. If their interested they will ask for a detailed resume. (.02)
Make your email your cover letter or just a portion of the letter. What are you applying for and are the jobs that you're applying for in large or small companies? My wife is the HR director at her place.
I have had MANY jobs. This is how I've been doing it a and she pretty much reiterated it. Shoot be a PM if you want.
The reason I ask about company size is because larger companies have software that will scan for keywords in your cover letter and/or resume.
Quote from: IZ on November 26, 2010, 07:54:37 PM
The reason I ask about company size is because larger companies have software that will scan for keywords in your cover letter and/or resume.
Oh really... Dang... What is that supposed to do? I can't imagine HR gets flooded by much spam.
Thanks for the input.
Scan for keywords you use in your cover letter\resume to get you to the next level. It used to be good etiquette fir places to acknowledge that they received your resume/application but nowadays, its the opposite. Partially due to people just don't care anymore and also due to the amount of resumes/apps. companies get due to thus recession.
A little hint. When I research companies, I look at the skill set they require for a speech pathologist and I'll basically add the keywords they use ti my resume. Hopefully, you'll be able to do the same with your profession.
Just asked the wife who is in IT recruiting/sales. She said the email should be your cover letter with your resume attached.
Good luck!
There you go!
There is no one that uses these boards that is a loser. Stella, I never want to see that again.............you are far too smart to think that way! [thumbsup]
Employment evades many these days and it is a sad thing to have to go thru. I have been there and being trans employment is very difficult to get and keep.A whopping 47% of trans people report discrimination and/or violence against them in the work place.
I hope that you are all able to find work soon. [thumbsup]
I use the cover letter as a protective wrapping around a brick with my resume etched into it. Tied up with ribbon in a pretty bow, nothing says "I really wanna work here!" like a brick through the window.
[coffee]
I always read through the cover letters & resumes that come in the mail. They always get responses and are filed for future call backs if a need arises.
Unless we requested a resume via e-mail, at most, I might skim through it (if I open it at all.) If I get that far, I might open an attachment if something in the email indicates a qualified individual. 99% of the time, if they're unsolicited....they get deleted.
Quote from: badgalbetty on November 27, 2010, 09:30:41 AM
There is no one that uses these boards that is a loser. Stella, I never want to see that again.............you are far too smart to think that way! [thumbsup]
Employment evades many these days and it is a sad thing to have to go thru. I have been there and being trans employment is very difficult to get and keep.A whopping 47% of trans people report discrimination and/or violence against them in the work place.
I hope that you are all able to find work soon. [thumbsup]
Well thanks sugar. However there are days when I may think "loser" but I have just a smidgen of self esteem in my shorts to carry me through.... And when you have people who are perceived as nincom-poops (sp?) telling you "good-bye" â€" it elevates the self-doubt. But only some days. Not every day. ;)
Quote from: rgramjet on November 27, 2010, 07:26:47 AM
Just asked the wife who is in IT recruiting/sales. She said the email should be your cover letter with your resume attached.
Good luck!
Interesting. That is contrary to what I've been told to do: cover letter is not an email. Perhaps contingent on the company's resume' submittal requirements?
More confusion.
Quote from: Stella on November 27, 2010, 08:02:13 PM
Interesting. That is contrary to what I've been told to do: cover letter is not an email. Perhaps contingent on the company's resume' submittal requirements?
More confusion.
Quote from: Stella on November 26, 2010, 07:18:50 PM
BUT because I'm a loser and haven't gotten any new projects, clients or jobs DO NOT LISTEN TO ME! ;)
Might be time to try a new source for advice on resumes/cover letters. :-)
To the OP, are you IT? Where are you located?
You could call the HR department at the company your interested in and just ask what their preference is. i just took a "how to write a resume" class at the community college here, and the teacher of the class who is also the HR director for the power company here said that now days there is no real format that has to be followed. and its really just the preference of the person who is reading it. main thing is that its to the point and grammar correct.
It will be a good day when TOSAT stays at the top of the page/ahead of "cover letter" because of the number of posts. [thumbsup]
Must be get'n cold out.......
Bump :p
Ning!!! Coffee for everybodyyyyyy!!!!!
[puke]
Ask miss manners.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2010/nov/28/s-mann1128-ar-675459/ (http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2010/nov/28/s-mann1128-ar-675459/)
;D
How about customizing your cover letter and including the resume into one single pdf file?
If you are sending it to the person who will interview you, I would include it in body of the email. If you are sending on to the HR person who will probably forward it to who knows how many people, I would add it to my resume. If your carefully crafted cover letter email gets forwarded around from the HR person, it might get buried, cropped, or deleted.
Quote from: r_ciao on November 29, 2010, 09:19:51 AM
How about customizing your cover letter and including the resume into one single pdf file?
So, +1 to that. Personally, I think all resumes and cover letters should be customized for the job for which you are applying. Good luck on the job search [thumbsup]
Next question: rejection. Do you reply to a rejection reply? Considering that most places don't even reply if they don't want you, a rejection email merits a "thank you for your time," no?
Quote from: erkishhorde on November 29, 2010, 02:53:28 PM
Next question: rejection. Do you reply to a rejection reply? Considering that most places don't even reply if they don't want you, a rejection email merits a "thank you for your time," no?
question: why wouldn't you?
i mean, they've already told you no so it can't hurt, right?
just a simple "thank you for your time/consideration and i hope you keep me in mind if anything opens up" will do.
Good point. A double no isn't any worse than a single no.
Quote from: derby on November 29, 2010, 02:55:41 PM
question: why wouldn't you?
i mean, they've already told you no so it can't hurt, right?
just a simple "thank you for your time/consideration and i hope you keep me in mind if anything opens up" will do.
Agreed!!
I lost out on a job..only because I hadn't moved to the area yet..but still wrote them a thank you letter (actually an email). The other candidate ended up taking another job. The woman in HR called me back about a month later since she remembered that letter. By that time, I had already moved was able to step into the position. [thumbsup]
Just because the some companies aren't curtious, doesn't mean you shouldn't be either. :)
Quote from: erkishhorde on November 29, 2010, 02:53:28 PM
Next question: rejection. Do you reply to a rejection reply? Considering that most places don't even reply if they don't want you, a rejection email merits a "thank you for your time," no?
Agreed x2. Acknowledging receipt and conveying your continued interest should anything change.
I'll admit to the temptation, that I have not succumbed to, of conveying a less PC response to a rejection. Something like:
(http://www.canarias7.es/blogs/dolcefarniente/Johnny%20Cash%20por%20Jim%20Marshall.jpg)
The email is your one shot at getting the hook in their mouth....
in journalism it is called the Lede (or lead) it follows the headline (The subject line of your email) as the opening sentence or two of an article
Remember the old saying...there is no second chance to make a first impression....
like it or not in the modern era the traditional cover letter is now often preempted and always potentially compromised by the email's spot-ad capabilities
Be brief, call out the contents of the email's attachment (i.e. Cover letter, References and Resume)
Throw something unique or essential in that will actually inspire them to set aside your submittal and actually open your pdf.
Such as " I believe my graduate degree from Princeton in Donkey Training and my career experience in animal husbandry make me a solid candidate with the ideal skills-match for the position."
here's a link to how journalism uses the Headline-Lede-Nut Graph format to suck readers in.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_style (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_style)
Quote from: RAT900 on November 29, 2010, 11:14:28 PM...Such as " I believe my graduate degree from Princeton in Donkey Training and my career experience in animal husbandry make me a solid candidate with the ideal skills-match for the position."
Ass Smart ;D