The global job market is about as tough
as it's been in several years. Here are two cover letter secrets
you'll want to take advantage of as soon as I share them with you.
Secret #1: Powerful
Networking Cover Letters Open the Door To Success
Hereis a hard-working tool that
is both flexible and resilient. It will help you contact the people
in your life who can give you the most useful and practical
assistance you'll need to gain an interview with the hiring managers
and resource professionals who have the power to hire you for the job
you want. Don't overlook these amazing individuals in your life:
family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and professional
acquaintances.
Ask for their employment leads,
referrals from their circle of influence, and for personal
introductions. These are the avenues you'll want to pursue with
passion and persistence. Get started now by creating a master list of
the names of all the people who come to mind. Free write. Don't stop
and edit. Avoid telling yourself you don't know this man or that
woman well enough to contact. Set aside any negative talk that
dismisses a particular individual. Your job now is to write as many
names down as fast as you can. Look through your file cabinet, your
wallet or purse, your junk drawer, wherever you can think of to
locate business cards, brochures, flyers, or other printed materials
that may contain a name and phone number or address of someone who
might have a job lead for you.
Don't forget church or club rosters,
e-mail address book, association membership lists and so on. Take
your time. This is an essential part of the success of Secret #1.
Keep in mind that the more people who know about you and what you're
looking for, the better the results.
Next, write your networking cover
letter and send to each person on your list:
" Confine your
letter to one page.
" List your
strengths and abilities.
" State your career preference.
" Ask for referrals and job
leads.
" Fasten your resume to the
cover letter.
" Send a thank you note to those
who respond.
Secret #2: Double Your
Chance For Success
With The All-In-One
Resume Cover Letter
The resume cover letter combines the
best features of a cover letter and a resume. Once you use this tool,
you'll return to it again and again because it is so effective. It
catches the interest of headhunters, recruiters, and placement
agencies because each of these entities looks for clarity and brevity
all in one letter.
Here's what to do. Pull together the
most important points from your resume and put them in a bulleted
list within the letter itself. Stick to one page, if possible.
Remember the slogan, 'less is more'. The amazing resume cover letter
will help you make your point, ask for an interview, and produce
result---the job you're looking for.
Tough times call for smart "outside
the box" job search strategies. Don't wait another minute. Sit
down now and write these two power-packed documents----the networking
cover letter and the resume cover letter to give your job search a
real advantage.
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letters is a link to a page on the World Wide Web. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!".