Posts Tagged ‘Cover Letter Tips’

4 Words to Delete from Your Cover Letter

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Certain words appear in almost every cover letter.  I’ve explained below why you don’t want to use 4 of these too-common words and what some alternatives might be.

If you want to make your cover letter stand out, do some editing and make sure to avoid these words completely.  You might be surprised at the result.

1.  HOPESuccess sign

e.g. I hope to hear from you soon.

OR

e.g. I hope to be able to contribute my skills to ABC company.

Why not?

Hope springs eternal.  The company doesn’t care about your hopes and dreams.  They care about what you can do for them.

Alternatives:

I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications.

OR

My ability to take clear, decisive action will allow me to make an impact at ABC company from day one.

OK, now we’re talking!

2.  HONE

e.g. This summer, I honed my research and writing skills through a position at XX law firm.

Why not?

You and every other person honed something.  It’s an outdated and overused expression.  Tell them what you did and they will figure out that you honed your skills.  If you absolutely must, use “strengthened,” “developed,” or even “sharpened.”

Alternative:

My research regarding constitutional rights violations culminated in a report and recommendations that guided the ACLU in future actions.

It’s obvious this person is using some powerful research and writing skills.

3.  DRAWN

e.g. I am drawn to ABC company because of its outstanding reputation and high quality service.

Why not?

You get drawn to a person across a crowded room.  Companies don’t care to hear that you are drawn to them.  And a bonus tip:  companies with outstanding reputations don’t need to be told that you want to work there because of their outstanding reputations.

Alternative:

The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.

That’s so much better, isn’t it?

4.  FEEL

e.g. I feel the relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.

Why not?

Can you see how adding “I feel” at the beginning of this sentence killed it completely?  Tell a psychologist how you feel.  Tell a company what you can do for them.  If you must, use the word “believe” instead of “feel.”  But see if you can avoid this type of language altogether.

Alternative:

The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.

Delete these four words from your cover letters and I promise you more creative and powerful language will show up.

Did you try it?  Share examples in the comments please!

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Posted in Articles by Brenda Bernstein, Cover Letter Tips, Job Search, Writing Tips | 6 Comments »

Mommy, Daddy, Tell Me a Story! – Spinning a Good Yarn with Your College Application, Resume, Cover Letter and Professional Bio

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When we were kids, we all loved stories.  Well guess what?  That hasn’t changed!  I recently read the article Storytelling an Effective Training Method! and it sparked me to write this post.

storybookThe fact is, we all love a good story.  Admissions committees love good stories.  Hiring managers love good stories.  Customers and clients love good stories.  Always remember:  the person you’re writing for is a human being!  How do you get another human being to read your document?  Spin a good yarn!

If you’re applying to college, tell a story with a beginning, middle and end.  I had a client who wrote his college application essay about teaching his sister to ride a bike.  His first draft was all rosy about how great the experience was, and it did not have a compelling beginning, middle and end.  He felt lost in the writing, and the essay was boring.

What ultimately made the story great was that he started at the beginning, when he was annoyed at his sister for being small and clumsy, then moved through the process of a breakthrough in becoming a teacher, and a better teacher — and finally to where he released the seat and the sister took off on her own on the bike.  Victory!  A great story.

In college applications, many times what makes a great story is to admit to a struggle or fault, and show how you broke through it.  In a cover letter, believe it or not, you can do the same thing.

All kinds of people are saying “No one reads cover letters anymore.”  Well, of course no one is reading them – because they are stilted and boring and no one can get through them!  Have you ever considered that if you write a good enough story in your cover letter that it really will get read!

Do you have an example of a time when a project was failing, and you stepped in to fix it?  That makes a great story!  Is there an example of something you achieved that relates to the job you’re applying for?  Don’t be afraid to tell these stories in your cover letters!

On your resume, too, tell as much of a story as you can in a bulleted line.

What not to write:  “Assisted scientists with their research.”

What to write: “Conducted genetic, epidemiology, and behavior research on sport fish in Illinois, Canada, and the Bahamas.”

Ah, now that sounds kind of interesting!

For an example of a professional bio that tells a great story or two, see Senior Investment Analyst Bio on The Essay Expert’s website.  This client reported to me that she loved her bio story so much that she kept reading it to herself after it was done!

Whatever the reason, we all love a good story.  Tell one in your college and job applications.  Tell one in your professional bio.  If you do it well, your intended audience will keep reading…  and reading…  and reading.

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Posted in Articles by Brenda Bernstein, Bio Writing, Blogging, College Admissions, Cover Letter Tips, Job Search, Professional Writing, Resume Tips, Writing Tips | No Comments »

Job Search Myth: You Don’t Need a Cover Letter

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Just about every client I work with lately brings up the rumor they’ve heard that no one reads cover letters anymore.  This rumor is ONLY a rumor and if you take action based on it, you will shoot yourself in the foot in your job search.

In a recent article posted on Work Coach Cafe, “15 Job Search Tips from a Guy Who Just Got a Job,” a successful job seeker named John relates how the CEO of a company personally reached out to him to thank him for sending a cover letter!  In fact, John was the ONLY candidate to send a cover letter, most likely because everyone else believed the rumor that cover letters never get read.  John made an impression.

This topic is also covered on Great Resumes Fast in “Cover Letters: Does Anybody Read Those Anymore?” The author points out that the cover letter is your opportunity to show genuine interest and to make a case that you are specifically qualified for this job.

Why would you tailor your resume to a job and then write a generic cover letter?  If you are truly interested in a position, it is worth your time to write a unique letter to the company about who you are and why you would make a difference for that company.  Do not write a generic cover letter and send it along with a generic or somewhat tailored resume to zillions of job listings, hoping that you‘ll somehow win the numbers game. That is NOT the way to get a job!

Instead, begin building a relationship right from the start with the company that might be your future employer.  Imagine yourself in this job and write down what you will bring to the position.  Sell yourself.

Anyone can spot a cover letter that is really just a mail merge.  Remember…  you are a human being and, if you get past the computer scanners, so is the person who reads your cover letter.  By writing a custom letter, you reveal your humanity and respect the humanity of the HR person or hiring manager.  If you begin early to develop a relationship with that person, you are in great shape to be asked for an interview.

For help with a great cover letter and resume, contact The Essay Expert.

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Posted in Articles by Brenda Bernstein, Cover Letter Tips, Job Search | 1 Comment »

How to Get an Interview with Your Cover Letter: 3 Essential Cover Letter Tips

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I absolutely love the process of crafting great cover letters.  You may have heard that some recruiters don’t read cover letters, but I would emphasize “some.”  For the ones who do (and you don’t know who they will be), and for smaller employers, an impressive cover letter can make a huge difference.

Your cover letter can show recruiters and hiring managers a little bit about how you would show up in an interview.  Here are 3 tips that will get you in the door!

1) Impress your reader quickly. In the first paragraph, after you say what job you’re applying to, list briefly the major reasons you are the right candidate for the job. This task can be done in just a few words. Yes, really, it can! For example:

My experience as senior project manager at Blue Shoes, combined with my extensive coursework in business management at Green Vest University, give me the requisite skills for the Project Manager position at Purple Fashion Inc.

Note:  The reader doesn’t have to wonder whether you’ve got the training and experience for the position.  He or she has a reason to read further.

2) Say not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company (they couldn’t care less how great a match they are for your interests!)

Do NOT say:  “I have always been interested in fashion and the position at Purple Fashion Inc. will give me the experience I seek.”

Aaargh!!  Companies are not in the business of giving you the experience you seek.  They hire people who will make a contribution, not suck the life out of them!

Instead, say something like:  “I have been studying business and working in the fashion industry for the entirety of my academic and professional career, and I look forward to contributing my skills and passion to Purple Fashion Inc.”

3) Tell a good, brief story (this tip applies more to smaller organizations who take time to read your cover letter). The person reading your cover letter is a human being, and human beings like stories. If you do a good job with your cover letter, the reader will be enthralled and left wanting more — that’s the effect you want!

Here’s a sample story:  “In 2008, I worked with our product design and marketing teams to implement a new product campaign.  After 3 months, our marketing plan was on track but it became clear that certain production costs would have to be reduced.  Through my leadership, our team reduced those costs by 30% without any labor reduction and the campaign became profitable in the sixth month of operation.  I will bring this capability for incisive and effective decision making to Purple Fashion Inc.”

My clients have great success getting interviews, and I know at least part of that success is due to their effective, engaging cover letters.

Don’t forget the resume of course, which must be tailored to the job and packed with your accomplishments!

For assistance with writing cover letters and resumes that will get you interviews, contact The Essay Expert.

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Posted in Articles by Brenda Bernstein, Cover Letter Tips, Job Search | 2 Comments »

Should a Cover Letter Be Very Brief? from InternsOver40

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Clients come to me often struggling with what to include and not to include in their cover letters. This article, and others I will post this week, provide some guidance. I actually disagree with the advice here, as you will see in one of my original articles which I will post this week. But I like to present all sides! Should My Cover Letter Be Very Brief?

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Posted in Cover Letter Tips, Job Search, Resume Tips | No Comments »

Common Grammatical Errors: Between You and Me

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Let’s start with a pop quiz:

Is there a grammar mistake in the title of my blog?

If you answered “Yes” and believe that “Between You and I” would be correct, you have a lot of company. However, “Between You and Me” is actually the correct structure.

Why do so many of us say “Between you and I”? My guess is that at some point, maybe around age 8, you may have said to your mother something like, “Jimmy and me are going to the store.” She corrected you: “It’s ‘Jimmy and I’” and something clicked in your head, and you thought that if you’re talking about yourself and another person, you should always say “I” instead of “me.”

I’m here to set the record straight.

There are pronouns that belong as the subject of a sentence. They are: I, you, she, he, we, you, they, it.

Then there are pronouns that belong as the object of a sentence. They are: me, you, her, him, us, you, them, it.

The first thing you need to know is not to mix these two groups together! “Him and I” for instance takes one pronoun from the object group and one from the subject group. Mixing and matching is always incorrect no matter where in the sentence the pronouns fall.

“Between you and me” is a little trickier because our language uses “you” as both subject and object. Which group are we in here? Think about it: Would you say “Between us” or “Between we”? Of course you would say “Between us.” Now you know you’re in the object group which includes both “us” and (would you believe it?) “me.”

A nice easy way to determine what pronouns to use, when you want to include two subjects or objects, is to try out the sentence with just one of the subjects or objects and see how it sounds. For example: “I [not me] went to the store.” “He [not him] went to the store. Therefore, “He and I went to the store.” Notice “he” and “I” are in the group with “we.” “We went to the store” is of course also correct.

Another example: “Dave went to the store with him [not he].” “Dave went to the store with me [not I].” Therefore, “Dave went to the store with him and me” is correct.

I realize for some of you that last sentence might sound completely wrong and ungrammatical. Between you and me, I think it’s time to change that perception.

There’s a little quiz you can take at UsingEnglish.com: Quiz: Subject and Object Pronouns.  For more on this topic, see the article The English Personal Pronoun System.

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Posted in Articles by Brenda Bernstein, Cover Letter Tips, Writing Tips | 8 Comments »

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