5 letters to land job
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In a fast-paced, Internet-laced world of job searching, a seemingly archaic yet extremely effective tool is often forgotten: the cover letter.
You know — that actual piece of paper on which you brag a little, kiss up a little and lay out as un-desperately as possible why you want the job.
Well, there’s an update to that traditional cover letter, a wave of letters meant to quickly catch the attention of not just employers, but all sorts of people who can help in the job search.
Some call them next-generation letters, and types range from high-impact networking letters to personal branding letters. They can be used as an attention-grabbing attachment to resumes or by people who just want to keep their options open.
“I’ve heard of cover letters, and I write cover letters,” said Rhonda Miller, an out-of-work dental hygienist. “They always seem boring to me.”
No more bore. Take a look at five letters you can write and then send (in an envelope with a stamp!) to boost your chances of landing a job.
1 Personal Branding Letter
Think of this as an advertising campaign for yourself. It is written to communicate your personal brand and the value your brand brings to an organization.
“This is basically your unique skill set, what you have that is different,” says Wendy Enelow, a career consultant.
Some people create logos, slogans and taglines. Enelow gives an example. At the top of the page in bold letters write who you are, like “Strategic Health-Care Executive.” Underneath that put a slogan: “Changing the Way Health Care Works.” Then in several boxes you might break out your brand extension, listing specific skills. Personal Branding Letter
2 High-impact Networking Letter
Break open the Rolodex or BlackBerry and rediscover your network. Write each person in the network a letter letting him or her know you are looking for a job. In return, you will get job leads and other contacts.
“When you write these letters, cut to the chase,” says Enelow, co-author of “Cover Letter Magic.” “Tell me instantly what you bring to the table.”
For example: “I am a senior-level sales professional with 20 years’ experience in pharmaceuticals.” Tell them you will follow up so they don’t feel obligated. They may have a lead in mind when you contact them.High-impact Networking Letter
3 Reconnecting Letter
This is similar to a high-impact networking letter but reaches beyond your current network. You send it to people with whom you have lost touch — perhaps a former boss, a company you interviewed with five years ago or even an old hairdresser who knows a lot of people.
This letter isn’t as direct as the high-impact one. It is simply a way to reconnect, let people know what you are doing and that you are looking to change jobs. Enelow says it’s important to remember when writing this letter that you offer something as well.
“Ask: ‘If there is anything I can help you with, let me know,’ ” she says. “It’s all about the two-way street.” Reconnecting Letter
4 Traditional Cover Letter
This letter typically expands on the bullet points of your resume, telling the reader your assets and aspirations. But just because it is in a traditional format doesn’t mean it can’t stand out.
Recruiters suggest you personalize the letter for each company, rather than sending out a generic form. Research the organization and sprinkle that knowledge throughout the letter. Find the name of the person who will be hiring and send it to her as well as the human resources department.
“The job search is all about competitive distinction, how you can position yourself to stand out in the crowd,” Enelow says. Traditional Cover Letter
5 Career-Update Letter
After you have accepted a job, send this letter to people in your network, whether they helped you land the job or not.
This will help keep your network live.
In the letter, thank them for their help, let them know you’ve accepted a job and remind them again that if any good opportunities open up to keep you in mind. You never know when your dream job will pop up.
“You always should leave the door open,” says Enelow.
And be sure to ask again if there is anything you can do to help them.