CANOE - The Toronto Sun CareerConnection

By Carter Hammett
Special to The Toronto Sun

"I am delighted to submit this resume to your company as I believe this job opportunity will lead me a step closer to my career objection."

That last word is not a typo. It actually appeared on a recent cover letter. Fortunately for the writer of this little opus, the error was caught before being sent off to the employer.

For many job seekers, writing cover letters is a daunting, needlessly frustrating task that has no relation to a resume.

Others dash them off as a matter of course, or don't attach them to a resume at all.

However, some employers refuse to even look at a resume if a cover letter isn't part of the package.

Make no mistake: the humble cover letter is a vital part of the job seeking tool kit. The main purpose of the letter is to establish a friendly rapport with the employer.

Resumes showcase the skills to do the work required; cover letters convey the desire to do the job.

Good cover letters are effective marketing tools that demonstrate good writing skills, conveyed in language that matches the job, but also serves to highlight the most relevant aspects of the resume included with it.

Attaching the same tired cover letter to a resume is out. Employers perceive a lack of imagination or enthusiasm if the letter writer does not somehow describe some skills, previous experience or achievements that match the requirements of the available position.

The ideal cover letter is never longer than five paragraphs. Get right to the point: Identify the position being applied for, where, when and how you heard about the job.

"In response to your April 15 advertisement in The Toronto Sun, I am applying for the position of Customer Service Representative with your firm." This is effective and tells the employer everything s/he needs to know about how you heard about the job.

Cover Letter Tips

Use standard business format. Personalizing the letter with your own letterhead that matches the resume is perfectly acceptable. Begin with the date, employer's name, title, address right at the top.

If you can, try to do a little company research, and insert a line or two to indicate you have done some homework on the company while marketing yourself at the same time. For example: "I see from your company's Web site that customer service was presented as an issue at your last AGM. Perhaps my experience would allow me to address some service gaps."

If you can, try to address the card to a specific person; this will immediately establish a connection with the reader. If a name is unavailable, do not write any variation of "Dear Sir/Madame" or "To Whom it May Concern." Better to address the letter to "Hiring Officer" or "Hiring Committee" than to generically go where everyone has gone before.

Always, always ask for an interview in the body of the letter.

Always thank the employer for taking the time to consider your letter. Remember they are investing time and energy into surveying your work; indicate some appreciation!

Cover letters should not be more than one page long. Try to write in at least a 12-pt. font.

The second paragraph should present experience and skills directly relevant to the job.

This is the paragraph where real marketing enters, and is possibly the most important part of the letter.

"With over ten years' dynamic experience in the customer service field, I have not only steadily surpassed sales expectations, but managed to build a reputation for offering value-added customer support delivered with efficiency and professionalism."

This line conveys several skills, delivered with confidence and invites the reader to learn more.

The third paragraph rounds out supplemental skills and offers supportive information, including specific achievements relevant to the position.

If you can, try to include additional information about yourself: languages, relevant education, computer skills and "good worker" skills that help personalize the experience of reading the letter.

Lastly, always ask for an interview and thank the reader for their potential interest in your application. Always try to invite a response. This conveys interest and commitment in the position. Cover letters have been altered with the rise of technology in recent years, and have not escaped the requirements demanded by "netiquette."

If submitting a letter by e-mail to an employer, keep it fairly short, perhaps a paragraph less than a hard copy version, and remember to pack it with words relevant to the position.

It's standard practice these days for applications to wind up in an employer's data base, retrieved by scanning for key words.

Perhaps the most effective cover letters come as a result of networking. Once you have not only the name of an employer, but also a reference, magic starts to flow.

Someone reading a line like "John Smith over at ABC Company suggested I write to inquire about potential opportunities with your firm" instantly establishes a connection between writer and reader. Of course, permission should be granted to use the reference's name and you should also confirm the reference has both a positive and current relationship with the employer.

After meeting with an employer, do not forget the all-important thank you letter, either.

These are essential for bringing closure to the interview, for personalizing your application, reconfirming interest in the position and also reminding the employer of your skills. They are short and relatively easy to write, and add a thoughtful touch to any application process.

The art of cover letter writing remains alive and well. With a little investment in time and energy, it can reflect the best of what a job seeker has to offer.

(Carter Hammett is co-ordinator of St. Stephen's Employment Resource Centre, and can be reached at communityconnection@hotmail.com.)

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