Cover Letter?

[erkishhorde]

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. 

[Stella]

These days, it's anyone's guess!   

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!   

[Kopfjäger]

I would send the email with the cover letter as an attachment. If their interested they will ask for a detailed resume. (.02)

[IZ]

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.

[IZ]

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.

[erkishhorde]

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.

[IZ]

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.

[rgramjet]

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!

[IZ]

There you go!

[badgalbetty]

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!
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.

[Buckethead]

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.

[Johnny OrganDonor]

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.

[Stella]

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!
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.

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.   

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.

[rgramjet]

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.

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?

[hadesducati848]

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.