| Your resume and cover letter are buried in a pile | | | | when you demonstrate you know something |
| of over 500 applicants. The employers picks up | | | | about their organization. So demonstrate your |
| the next letter and it says "I am writing in | | | | knowledge and put in a line that shows you've |
| response to your advertisement #50111 regarding | | | | done your homework. |
| your Plant Manager position". Pretty boring... and | | | | Example: "I've followed your company for a |
| you just missed your chance to grab their | | | | number of years and I imagine that with your |
| attention. Here are some tips on how to make | | | | opening a new plant in Atlanta, you will need |
| your cover letter really stand out. | | | | someone who is experienced in plant startups". |
| First of all, let's agree that the ONLY purpose of | | | | "With your recent acquisition of XYZ, I'm sure |
| the cover letter is to get someone to want to | | | | you can benefit from someone who has |
| read your resume. It is NOT a recap of your | | | | extensive HR experience managing the integration |
| resume or a short story of how you moved | | | | of new personnel and cultures". |
| from job to job. Since employers spend only a | | | | Wow! So far, you've told them you are a star |
| few seconds glancing at your letter, it should be | | | | performer who can deliver exactly what they |
| short, easy to read and compelling. | | | | want and that you are experienced in meeting |
| Example: "I have over 15 years leading the | | | | some of the specific challenges that their |
| highest level IT initiatives and was 1 of 3 | | | | organization faces. Now prove it. |
| Executives at Microsoft responsible for launching | | | | Trick #3: Here is where you put in 2 to 5 bullets |
| the Windows 95 operating system". In this | | | | that prove you can deliver results. Bullets make it |
| extreme case, you really don't have to put much | | | | easy to read and easy for you to swap some |
| more than that in the cover letter as most people | | | | bullets in for others depending on what they want. |
| would immediately want to know more and pick | | | | Here, you'll want to quantify your |
| up the resume. So here are some ways you can | | | | accomplishments as much as possible. |
| instantly grab attention. | | | | Example: "I have been assigned to numerous |
| Trick #1: A great trick is to start by thinking | | | | turnarounds and surpassed expectations in each |
| about how people in these positions are measured | | | | instance. As Plant Manager at 1 of the largest |
| and what the best candidate in the world would | | | | component manufacturers in the United States, I |
| deliver. For example, for sales people, employers | | | | reduced overtime 30%, increased productivity |
| want to hear about setting sales records | | | | 18%, grew quality 11% and slashed accidents by |
| (overachieving quota), expanding the customer | | | | 33%". |
| base, and earning customer loyalty. For project | | | | "I have 12+ years of solid sales experience at |
| managers, employers want to see a consistent | | | | such firms as IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems, |
| track record of delivering projects on time and | | | | and achieved top ranked performance in every |
| with a high level of quality. For manufacturing, the | | | | position. My achievements include delivering as |
| key metrics are productivity, safety, quality and | | | | much as 440% of sales targets and ranking in |
| cost improvements. Now tell them that you can | | | | the Top 5 every year for the past 8 years". |
| deliver these things. | | | | Trick #4: You've proved you are a superstar (and |
| "I have over 15 years of experience leading | | | | even if you're not, you should think like 1), so now |
| manufacturing operations to new heights in | | | | is the time to bring it home. Your closing |
| productivity, profitability and safety". | | | | paragraph should indicate that they should read |
| "Setting new sales records, growing market share | | | | your resume, that there is a lot more to know, |
| and turning mediocre performers into sales | | | | and that you will be calling them in a few days to |
| superstars briefly describes what I can do for | | | | find out more about the position. |
| your firm". | | | | There are a lot of important concepts here - yes, |
| "I have over 10 years of experience leading highly | | | | you will call them and no, you will not just ask |
| visible, complex projects and have earned a solid | | | | them if they got your resume, but instead will |
| reputation for meeting aggressive deadlines and | | | | demonstrate you strengths and knowledge by |
| bringing internal/external customer satisfaction to | | | | asking insightful questions that indicate you are |
| new heights". | | | | truly interested in this position. Employers notice |
| Get the idea? You just told them that you have a | | | | people who call and this is your opportunity to |
| track record of delivering the results they are | | | | build rapport with the decision makers who hold |
| looking for. | | | | the key to your dream job. |
| Trick #2: Most people send the same basic cover | | | | Follow these simple tips and you will definitely |
| letter to all firms. Employers are really impressed | | | | make yourself stand out. |