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Cover
Letter Questions
By Kevin
Donlin, CollegeRecruiter.com
Are you
struggling to write a cover letter?
If so,
you've got company. Here are four of the most common cover letter
questions, with answers to guide you!
Q.
I don't know the recipient's name -- how should I start my cover
letter?
A. Whatever you do,
avoid such cliches as "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To
whom it may concern."
If
possible, call the target employer and get an actual name of an
actual recipient. This will set you apart from most applicants.
If that
fails, try writing: "Dear employer." It has a confident
ring about it, without sounding pretentious.
Q.
How long should my cover letter be?
A. Confine yourself
to one page. Anything longer says to the reader: "Hello. I
have no idea how to prioritize my thoughts. Care to hear my life
story?" Not effective.
Q.
The classified ad asks me to include my expected salary. What
should I say?
A. Nothing.
This may
sound controversial, but I advise you NOT to answer questions of
salary.
Why?
Employers
ask about salary to screen out candidates who are over-qualified
or under-qualified (in their minds). But how can they judge you
accurately before they've ever spoken to you? Instead, I recommend
you say this: "My salary requirements are negotiable."
Q.
What's the purpose of a cover letter, anyway? Do I really need to
send one?
A. Yes and no.
While it
may not be necessary if you plan to hand deliver your resume or
apply for an internal position, a cover letter is essential if
you're applying for jobs in the newspaper or on the Internet.
According
to an article in the Wall Street Journal's National Business
Employment Weekly, "Your cover letter can make or break
whether your resume goes into the 'yes' pile or the 'no' pile. A
really terrific cover letter can change the reader's mind."
Use your
cover letter to show off your knowledge of the company and the
industry. And be sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job --
enthusiasm sells.
Think of
your cover letter as vermouth and your resume as gin. Separately,
each has its own merits, but when combined with care, they create
something special.
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