| So... you've created a knockout executive resume, | | | | "With a strong background closing contracts in |
| and you're ready to wow employers by sending it | | | | excess of $6 million at Fortune 500 corporations, I |
| directly to them. Don't forget to send it under | | | | am confident that I can exceed your expectations in |
| cover--a powerful cover letter, that is. | | | | the role of Sales Executive." |
| While a great resume can open doors, a compelling | | | | Conversely, an Operations Director might use the |
| cover letter can be an equal (if not MORE) important | | | | following: |
| part of your pitch for employment. | | | | "As an operational executive focused on delivering |
| In fact, some surveys of HR professionals and | | | | the highest levels of quality, I have helped global |
| recruiters have suggested that the cover | | | | organizations achieve their profit goals by leading |
| letter--INSTEAD of the resume--is what really gets | | | | large teams to achieve infrastructure improvement |
| read. | | | | and maintain cost control. These qualifications have |
| That's right! The interviewing decision may actually | | | | prompted my application to your company for the |
| rest on how well-written and concise your LETTER | | | | position of Operations Director." |
| appears... and the irony is that you may never find | | | | 4 - Summarize what you can do for the company |
| out whether it was your executive resume OR the | | | | without a total reiteration of the resume. |
| cover letter that swayed an employer. | | | | Even though you've put a lot of effort into your |
| Even if cover letter writing isn't your style, don't | | | | executive resume, it's still best to resist the |
| panic! Read on for 5 strategies that can help even a | | | | temptation to repeat all that great information. |
| novice letter writer create a memorable introduction | | | | You'll capture more interest by restating your main |
| that captures an employer's attention: | | | | points in summary form, allowing the reader to see |
| 1 - Ensure that your letter matches your resume in | | | | how you will succeed in the new role. |
| presentation and style. | | | | I recommend adding a bullet-point list of your |
| Start by copying the name and address header | | | | relevant qualities and achievements, keeping it to a |
| information from your resume to a blank document. | | | | maximum of 5 critical points. Preface it with |
| Next, check the margins on each document to | | | | "Representative skills that make my background ideal |
| ensure that they match. | | | | for this position include..." to give the employer a |
| Be sure to use the same font as your resume, in | | | | quick snapshot of your fitness for the job. |
| order to give your application a professional | | | | Still stumped for ideas? Try to answer the classic |
| "package" look. In addition, don't suddenly switch | | | | "Why should we hire you?" question, and you'll be |
| fonts or font sizes in the midst of the letter itself. | | | | able to state your case much more succinctly. |
| With this type of presentation, hiring authorities can | | | | 5 - Limit the number of sentences beginning with "I" |
| match your resume to the letter--plus, doing so helps | | | | as much as possible. |
| to put your best professional foot forward. | | | | Focusing on the job and the employer's requirements |
| 2 - Make every attempt to find out the name of the | | | | are key strategies for a great introduction. One of |
| hiring manager before sending your application. | | | | the best ways to do this is to refrain from using first |
| Skip "Dear Sir" by finding out exactly who is behind | | | | person references at the beginning of your |
| the open position. This is where your Internet | | | | sentences. |
| research skills will come in very handy. | | | | Why is this so important? Employers are hiring a |
| Sites such as LinkedIn or Zoominfo are a great | | | | solution to their business problems when they bring a |
| resource for job hunters who want to find executive | | | | new executive on board, and this means focusing on |
| insiders. | | | | their requirements is a crucial step. |
| In addition, you might be able to call the company | | | | Think about it this way: when you create a verbal |
| and ask who the hiring manager is for the open | | | | picture of what you can achieve, it rarely starts with |
| position, or use your network to learn the names of | | | | "I"--and structuring your thoughts this way can help |
| managers at the company. | | | | reinforce your emphasis on the company's needs. |
| If you can't find out the name, "Dear Hiring Manager" | | | | The following example illustrates this point: |
| is most appropriate. Skip "To Whom it May | | | | "Given your needs for a proven sales performer |
| Concern"--or it won't concern anyone! | | | | open to new challenges in the medical device |
| 3 - Keep in mind that the purpose of the letter is to | | | | industry, we should talk further about my record of |
| gain attention. | | | | success in territory expansion." |
| Your first paragraph should therefore skip mundane | | | | In summary, don't forget to create a striking cover |
| details and get right to the point. Aim for an opening | | | | letter as part of your executive job hunting strategy. |
| sentence that states your main qualifications, plus | | | | You'll find that a personal, yet powerful, introduction |
| your objective, all in one shot. | | | | to your skills might be all you need to access more |
| For example, a cover letter for a Sales VP might | | | | interviews. |
| begin with: | | | | |