Cover Letter Magic

by Enelow, Wendy S.; Kursmark, Louise

• ISBN13: 9781563709869
• ISBN10: 1563709864
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Jist Works

Summary

Professional resume and cover letter writers reveal their inside secrets for creating phenomenal cover letters that get attention and land interviews. Features more than 150 sample cover letters written for all types of job seekers, including the Before-and-After transformations that can make boring letters fabulous.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
The Cover Letter Is How It All Starts	vii
How This Book Is Organized	ix
A Short History of Cover Letters and Their Evolution	xi
The Purpose and Objectives of a Cover Letter	xii
The Importance of Cover Letters in Your Winning Job Search Campaign	xv
The Rules: There Aren't Any!	xvi
Part I: Creating and Distributing Your Cover Letter	1	(158)
Cover Letter Formats and Types for Every Situation	3	(40)
Cover Letter Formats	5	(4)
The 10 Types of Cover Letters	9	(34)
Preparing to Write	43	(24)
Six Steps to Better Cover Letters	43	(1)
Step 1: Identify Your Key Selling Points	44	(23)
Writing Your Cover Letters	67	(50)
Step 2: Pre-Plan	68	(3)
Step 3: Write the Opening Paragraph	71	(23)
Step 4: Write the Body	94	(3)
Step 5: Write the Closing	97	(13)
Step 6: Polish, Proofread, and Finalize	110	(7)
The Anatomy of a Wining Electronic Cover Letter (Plus Electronic Resume Tips)	117	(8)
Electronic Cover Letters	118	(4)
Electronic and Scannable Resumes	122	(3)
Cover Letter Presentation	125	(10)
Developing Winning Visual Presentations	125	(1)
Design Considerations	126	(9)
Answers to Common Cover Letter Questions---and Tips to Help You Beat the Odds	135	(24)
Frequently Asked Cover Letter and Resume Questions	136	(9)
Using Your PC in Your Job Search	145	(5)
Distributing Your Resumes and Cover Letters	150	(4)
Managing the Paperwork and the Job Search Process	154	(5)
Part II: Sample Cover Letters	159	(136)
Before-and-After Cover Letter Transformations	161	(18)
How to Use the Samples	162	(17)
Winning Cover Letters for Blue-Collar and Trades Positions	179	(10)
The Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Blue-Collar and Trades Positions	179	(10)
Winning Cover Letters for Young Professionals/New Graduates	189	(24)
The Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Young Professionals/New Graduates	189	(24)
Winning Cover Letters for Mid-Career Professionals	213	(28)
Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Mid-Career Professionals	213	(28)
Winning Cover Letters for Senior Managers and Executives	241	(26)
Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Senior Managers and Executives	241	(26)
Winning Cover Letters for Technical and Scientific Professionals	267	(14)
Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Technical and Scientific Professionals	267	(14)
Winning Cover Letters for Career Changers	281	(14)
Top 5 Cover Letter-Writing Tips for Career Changers	281	(14)
Part III: The Total Job Search: Thank-You Letters, Recruiters, and Resumes	295	(68)
Winning Thank-You Letters	297	(14)
How Thank-You Letters Can Help You Land a Job	299	(3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Thank-You Letters	302	(1)
Thank-You Letter Checklist	303	(1)
One Final Recommendation	304	(1)
Sample Thank-You Letters	305	(6)
Cover Letter Tips and Techniques from Recruiters	311	(14)
Advice from the Recruiters	311	(12)
Key Points to Remember	323	(2)
Winning Resume Strategies	325	(38)
Resume Strategy	326	(4)
Resume Writing	330	(8)
Resume Presentation	338	(2)
Recommended Resume Formats	340	(18)
Magical Tips on Resume Writing	358	(5)
Part IV: Appendixes	363	(2)
Appendix A Using Keywords to Win in Your Job Search	365	(22)
What Are Keywords, and Where Did They Come From?	366	(1)
What Is All This Talk About Keywords and Scanning?	367	(1)
How Do I Use Keywords in My Cover Letters?	368	(2)
Which Keywords Are Right for Me, My Profession, and My Industry?	370	(17)
Appendix B Action Verbs for Cover Letters	387	(2)
Appendix C Recommended Job Search and Career Web Sites	389	(12)
Job Search Sites	390	(7)
Company Information	397	(1)
Dictionaries and Glossaries	398	(1)
Interviewing Tips and Techniques	399	(1)
Salary and Compensation Information	400	(1)
Appendix D Index of Contributors	401	(8)
Index	409