1.
DRESS YOUR LETTERS Do send professional letters.
Don't send form letters.
Do make your letters clean and professional looking.
Even so much as an ink blot would definitely be an insult to the reader.
It implies that you are not willing to retype the letter for the reader, that they are not worth the time.
Worse still, it would suggest that you are a sloppy person who doesn't value order, personally or in the workplace.
Recruiters spend a good deal of time advising job hunters how to dress for an interview because employers demand orderly and clean staff members with professional demeanor.
Your letter should reflect these characteristics.
Do not allow any letter to appear as if it were a form letter.
Your reader should not feel as though you are sending the same letter to hundreds of employers-even if you are! Instead, create the impression that you are sending a letter to a specific person for a specific reason: because you believe that there is an ideal match between you and your prospective employer.
Standard lines such as "I want to work for your company" are meaningless to an employer, particularly if you haven't mentioned the name of the company.
If you really want to work for a specific firm, you must have a reason.
State it.
2.
MAKE IT STAND OUT - ZOOM IN Do make your letter different from your resume.
If your resume is strong, it will provide all the information your interviewer will need.
(If it's not, there are plenty of books, software programs, and professional resume writers to help you strengthen it.
) So don't just regurgitate your resume in letter form.
"Zoom in" on the most salient points of your resume.
Even better, consolidate facts in your resume into an overview statement.
Summarize a benefit-such as "solid employment record," "extensive industry experience," or "proven track record.
" Guide your reader in forming an appropriate impression of you even before you meet.
Best of all, turn this summary statement into one that suggests an advantage your next employer may gain by hiring you instead of someone else.
Describe any special qualities that may set you apart from other candidates.
Use language that creates a feeling of what kind of person you are.
If you have a sense of humor, don't be afraid to show it in a professional way.
3.
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR AD...
DON'T DO THIS! Don't use standard openings.
Many people think that only one type of letter is acceptable in the business world: one that follows a standard outline.
In truth, the only type of letter acceptable in the business world is an effective one.
An effective letter accomplishes your objective, which in the case of job hunting letters, means to stand out from your competition.
With this goal in mind, why send a letter likely to mirror the letters of those against whom you're competing? To stand out from the competition, your letter should be anything but standard.
Grab the reader's attention immediately with a different opening e.
g.
"You're looking for a self-starter to work in the financial field -- I'm a self-starter with financial expertise and experience! " Furthermore, you successfully weave information from the advertisement into the opening to suggest that the letter was written in response to a specific ad and is not a form letter.
Do not open your letter with a standard, predictable statement.
Spend a few minutes analyzing what is important to the person to whom you're writing.
There's no need to be foolish, outlandish, or shocking.
With thought and practice, you can create unique, informative letter openings that will grab attention and deliver a meaningful message.
4.
KEEP IT SIMPLY STATED Do write a person, not a letter.
There are also many people who believe that making a letter sound businesslike means using stuffy, pretentious language full of clichés and jargon.
Certainly, your letter should be professional.
However, it must also be interesting, appealing, and reflect your personality.
To create a letter appropriate to the business world, include relevant facts and to the point language.
Ensure correct spelling and proper presentation.
To make your letter appealing, use the same tone of voice you would use during the interview- when you don't have time to consult a thesaurus and replace the words you'd normally use with complex words.
Write with the attitude that you're writing to a person.
That person may be your interviewer, your next boss, a human resources executive, or a recruiter-but a person.
Before you write, try to picture him or her.
Try saying out loud the points you wish to make as if you were sitting face to face in an interview, and then jot them down.
Flesh out these ideas into full sentences that reflect the way you speak.
After all, your interviewer will want to meet the person to whom she was introduced in your letter, and it had better be you! 5.
FOCUS ON YOUR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER Do focus on the needs of your prospective employer.
What do you talk about in your resume? Me.
Me.
Me.
Me.
What do you talk about in your interview? Me.
Me.
Me.
Me.
So use your letter to address the needs of your next employer.
Focus your thoughts on the needs of your next boss.
After all, your prospective employer expects you to meet her needs on a daily basis.
Why should she care what your employment objective is or what you're looking for in a job? She will hire you and pay you for the specific contribution you will make to increasing profits, improving performance, or enhancing productivity.
In the letter, tell her how you'll accomplish this.
Successful job hunters create letters that link their strengths and talents to the benefits they bring to the firm, department, team, or supervisor with whom they'll be working.