How To Show A Potential Employer You Really Want That Job

As a recruitment consultant I usually request a well written cover letter when I place an advertisement for a position I am recruiting for. There is a reason for this, it will tell me if the candidate has good communication skills, can spell, is accurate, takes pride in their work, really read the job advertisement, demonstrates why they are qualified for the position and how keen they are on the job.

I have seen some exceptional cover letters and I have seen a lot of shockers. Here is an example of one I recently received, obviously I have deleted and information that might get me sued for privacy reasons, however the spelling and the layout is exactly as I received it including an attempt to merge fields in the [ ] which obviously did not work.

I did wonder if it was a joke, however contact details were supplied:

Address

Address
Phone
Email
Date

Mr. / Mrs. [Recipient name]
Company name
Street address
Suburb
City, code

Dear [Recipient name]

I am writing in response to your advertisement seeking a [job title] with:

• I have worked as a bar attendant at (Name deleted by author for privacy) for one year, my duties were ,function center set up, food service, waiting, customer service as well as kitchen hand.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• A passion to learn and to increase his skills

If so, then you need look no further. You will see from my enclosed resume that I meet all of these qualifications and more.

I would very much like to discuss opportunities with [company name]. To schedule an interview, please call me at [mobile deleted by author].I’m available at any time during working days, if you call me on the weekends, I wont be able to answer your call, therefore you can leave a message at any time on my email address, and I will return your message.

Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,

[Name deleted by author]

Obviously that candidate didn’t get an interview. I recently received a brilliant cover letter from a candidate and I instantly picked up the phone to call her. This is what she did correctly:

• The letter was set out appropriately
• It was addressed to me personally (not Dear Hiring Manager etc)
• It explained why she was suitable for the position (receptionist)
• It explained her personality traits and eagerness for the job
• It addressed every single criteria and how she matched it
• It gave me examples on past behaviour and achievements

And this was the last paragraph I look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you so you can evaluate the valuable contributions I can make to your organization. Thank you

My goodness, she even said thank you!

My other tips for writing a good cover letter are:

• Proofread, proofread and proofread again
• Address your letter to the recipient personally, if the contact details are not available do some research and find out
• Carefully address how your past experience matches the criteria for the position
• Mention an outstanding achievement (or two) and how you have benefited previous employers
• Be specific, e.g. if applying for a sales role don’t write ‘achieved over budget’ instead give the facts and figures
• Use Block format and set out the letter so it is easy to read
• Show initiative and state when you will follow up with a phone call and, of course, make the follow up call as specified

Your goal is to stand out from rest and show you have the right attitude as well as the skills for the job.

Debbie Carr the Director of True Colours Recruitment Pty Limited.