Basic rules for effective cover letters

COVER LETTER

COVER LETTER

Pre-reading tasks ____________________________________________________

1. Give the exact translation of the term “cover letter” in Ukrainian?

2. What does it mean from your point of view? Is it important?

Reading tasks _______________________________________________________

Read the text to understand the purpose of cover letter and the main points of writing it.

Whenever you send out a resume, it must be accompanied with a cover letter. The purpose of the letter is to personalize your resume for an employer, and enable you to elaborate more fully on your qualifications.

Why a powerful cover letter is essential?

The average employer is likely to be swamped with applications. Often employers receive more than 100 applications for every single position. Put yourself in the place of the employer who has the task of sifting through stacks of letters hoping to find something that will cause him/her to reach for the telephone. You want your letter to stand out.

1. Address each letter to the recipient by name in both the inside address and the salutation. If no name is given, call to find a contact person.

2. Start your letter off with a strong sentence... one that almost begs the reader to read on.

3. Do not point out what the employer can do for you or what you hope to gain from this job. Instead, show how you can address the needs of this particular employer. Indicate what you have accomplished that you can offer this employer.

4. Use the body of the letter to highlight brief facts about yourself and your accomplishments that will arouse the reader’s curiosity and will interest her/him in reading your resume.

5. Skills are not the only factors that determine success. It is also a result of personal characteristics and the ability to interact with others. Therefore, in your letter complement the skills that you highlight by describing personal qualities which will enable you to perform well.

6. In conclusion, ask directly for a meeting and indicate that you will call within a week to ten days to arrange a time at their convenience. By mentioning when you will call in the letter, you are showing serious interest and initiative and almost forcing yourself to follow up!

7. Do not use a letter that looks like it could have been sent to anyone. Make each letter unique to each employer.

8. Keep your letter short (one page).

9. Quantify your experiences and achievements.

10.Sign the cover letter and place it on top of the resume when sending it to an employer.

All cover letters are different but most have three parts: introduction, body and closing. The introduction and closing should each be one paragraph while the body could be one or two paragraphs.

Formatted as a business letter (see example below).

Jane Jobseeker 100 Bluegrass Road Landville, TN 37966 Ms. Terri Bigboss Senior Staff Recruiter Acme Widgets, Inc. Building 4, Suite 223 Anytown, New Jersey 05867 September 28, 2000 Dear Ms. Roberts: Paragraph One State reason for letter, name the position or type of work you are applying for, and identify the source from which you learned of the opening (i.e.: career development center, newspaper, employment service, web advertisement, personal contact). Paragraph Two and maybe Three Tell why you are interested in the position, the company, its products and services. Above all, stress what you can do for the employer. If you are a recent graduate, explain how your academic background makes you a qualified candidate for the position. If you have practical work experience, point out specific achievements or unique qualifications, even though these will also appear in your resume. In the cover letter, your discussion of the­se things will allow the reader not only to get a quick, efficient view of your major selling points; it will also allow the reader to sense your tone and personality. Don't, however, go on at too great a length here. After pointing out your highlights the things about you that most qualify you for the job, internship, scholarship, prize money, etc. refer the reader to your enclosed resume or application, which summarizes your qualifications, training, and experiences. This paragraph, or perhaps these two paragraphs, are very important. Here is where you’ll use your powers of rhetoric most profoundly. This is the place where you must bring your experience, education, and personality to life and convince the reader that you are the hand that will fit into the glove of the job (or whatever) that you're applying for. Paragraph Three or Four Request apersonal interview and indicate your flexibility as to the time and place. Repeat your phone number in the letter and offer assistance to help in a speedy response. For example, state that you will be in the city where the company is located on a certain date and would like to set up an interview. Or, state that you will call on acertain date to set up an interview. End the letter by thanking the employer for taking the time to consider your application. Sincerely yours,   Jane Jobseeker  

Helpful Hints

Pay attention to details. Make sure the letter contains no errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation. Spell the recipient’s name, and the name of the company, correctly.

Don’t use gimmicks (дивина) such as off-sized or colored paper. Use good-quality, white bond paper.

Research the company. Relate what you have to say about yourself to the needs of the company.

Use appropriate language by repeating terms the employer used in the advertisement.

Don't exaggerate, brag (хвалитися), lie, or beg.

3. Using the above-mentioned information try to compose your own cover letter.

4. Look at the following advertisements for employment. Make up your biography in Ukrainian, then a CV or resume in English to apply for the job indicated, taking into consideration your individual working experience (internship in youth camps, part-time jobs, etc.)

Kyivsky Viclomosty, April 2000 Wanted lawyer full-time for small joint venture. Good salary. 5-day week, hours 9-5 usually benefits. Reply with typed c.v.: LH Murrey, 23/34 Lvivska Ploshcha, Kyiv-09, Ukraine   Courier Today, 6 August 2000 Education Centre looks for Interpreters Translators University degree Experience as interpreter in a foreign company   Please reply with resume to: English House Mrs Mariah Johnes 35 Kucherenko, Kyiv, Ukraine

5. Requesting and giving personal references

A. Consider the letters requesting a written reference, pay attention to the wording.

Рекламне агентство 17, вул. Григорівська, Київ-4,Україна   Менеджеру по кадрах Пані Бровко І.А. СВІТОЧ 256, вул., Клочківська, Харків, Україна   Вхідні: Вихідні: X456-78 20 листопада 2000 р.   Шановна пані Бровко!   Пані Іванова подала заяву про прийняття на посаду юриста нашого агентства та назвала Ваше ім’я як її рекомендувача. Ми були б вдячні, якби Ви висловили свою думку, щодо її відповідності цій посаді. Ми особливо зацікавлені мати у розпорядженні фахівця зі здатністю до самостійної роботи. Зрозуміло, що будь-яка інформація, яку Ви надасте, зали­шиться конфіденційною.   Щиро вдячні, Начальник відділу персоналу А.Стеценко

  SVITOCH 256, Vulytsia Klochkivska, Kharkiv, Ukraine   Your ref: X456-78 Advertisement Agency Our ref: P-44-00 17,Vulytsia Grygorovska 12 November 2000 Kyiv-4 Ukraine   To whom it may concern   Reference for Olga Ivanova   As Miss Ivanova's previous employer I am happy to recommend her to you.   Olga Ivanova has worked as a lawyer in our agency since April 1999 and has gained considerable experience of work in the field of law. We have a high regard for her abilities and motivation. As an employee she has always been diligent, industrious, persistent, and attentive. Working in our agency Miss Ivanova demonstrated proficiency in law, which has been a great help to us. Her character and personality are commendable. We are most unhappy that Miss Ivanova is unable to continue her work in our agency because of the change in our working schedule. However, we believe that her next employer will require an efficient and productive professional.   Regards,   I. Brovko Personnel Manager

B. Complete the chart with the focus phrases of letters requesting and giving personal references.

English	Ukrainian
	Звернення до
Miss Ivanova has given your name as a reference Requesting opinion about the referee
	Гарантія конфеденційності
Agreement to issue a reference
	Як попередній наймач пані Іванової, я із задоволенням рекомендую її Вам.
Positive recommendation

6. Make up a request for reference in English from the company you have applied to (seethe previous task) and a reference in Ukrainian for yourself from the educational establishment you attend now or your present or previous employer.

7. Imagine yourself as an employer and fill the blanks in the employment letter.

EMPLOYMENT LETTER Date: ____ To: _____ (Employee) Dear ____: We are pleased to confirm your being employed by our firm in the capacity of ____. You will report directly to ____, commencing with your start of employment on ____, 200 ____. Your salary shall be $____per ____. You will also be covered by the standard group benefit plans and fringe benefits explained to you. For the first year vacation time shall be pro-rated, so you will be entitled to ____ days vacation for this year. If you agree, please sign the enclosed copy and return for our files. We look forward to your joining the company.   Very truly,  

UNIT 14___________________________________________________________

Дата добавления: 2014-12-23