Targeted Cover Letter

The first glance at your cover letter is your one opportunity when it comes in making a good impression to a potential employer and avoiding your resume be included in the reject pile.  You already know by now some basic skills in writing cover letters such as perfect grammar and absence of typographical errors.  However, it is much easier to write a blanket cover letter and most of the time it doesn’t look impressive.

Here we discuss how to bring your basic, generic cover letters into documents specifically written for the industry and company you are applying.

Match your letter with the skills being sought – Take the job posting and list down the criteria the employer is looking for.  Address in paragraph form how your skills and experiences match the job.  You can also list the criteria and your qualifications.

Example:

Sample Job Posting #1:  Paragraph

MARKETING EXECUTIVE.  Handle product presentations and promotions to all above-target customers.  Insure in all existing projects as a support to the sales team and shall be required to support the company in meeting its corporate goals and sales target.  Gather database of all target market, architects, interior designers, engineers, and real estate developers in preparation of direct mail campaign to advertise showroom.

Cover Letter Sample #1

In my previous employment as Marketing Assistant in Granita Inc, I was responsible in gathering and acquiring new clients as well as creating several presentations (AVP, brochures, product list) that our company utilized in different exhibits and events.  I contributed in our company’s 60% rise in sales as well as acquiring two Fortune 500 companies as part of our clientèle.  Continue reading Targeted Cover Letter…

Managing Employment History Gaps

We all know that writing a curriculum vitae requires putting your best attributes and skills in order to create the best possible impression on you by a potential employer.  However, there are some issues that you might need to organize in order not to put yourself into embarrassment.  For instance, how should you react when the interviewers asks you about a certain two year gap in your employment history?  Should you tell the truth about you not working or make up a story about going freelance?  And how about the time when you were raising your newly-born infant, would that be detrimental?  Read the following suggestions on how to handle such difficulties.

If the gap is caused by higher studies, do tell –  A common reason for leaving a job is because of pursuing higher education such as a Master or Doctorate degree.  If that is your case, inform your employers.  This is actually seen as beneficial on your part, as it creates an impression that you are striving for higher knowledge and skill.  Remember that having a higher degree of education also entails higher pay.

If the gap is caused by maternity leave, do tell also – If the gap indicates the time period you took for having a child, then tell the employer so without any qualms.  However, be prepared when asked if you plan on having any more babies (in order to judge whether they would drop you again in the near future), in which you could answer “not in the near future” or—better yet—“not anymore.” Continue reading Managing Employment History Gaps…