A Cover Letter Gives the Employer

What does a Cover Letter Give the Employer ?


Positive Characteristics:
Do you offer the quali¬ties the firm needs in a new employee? What have you demonstrated, achieved or learned that would benefit a new employer?

If you are remaining in the same profession but changing employers, the very context of your expe¬rience lends credibility. However, you still want to tie your positive characteristics to the prospective employer's needs. If you are seeking a more respon¬sible position, a sentence or two showing specific talents needed for promotion would be helpful.
If you are a recent graduate, your work experience probably was not directly in the field you wish to enter. So, it is especially important to clearly iden¬tify three positive characteristics of importance to a particular situation, even if those characteristics developed outside a work environment.

If you are returning to the work force, you need to re-establish credibility by demonstrating that you understand what the employer needs.
In all cases, each positive characteristic should be validated by giving an example of where you dem¬onstrated, achieved or learned it.

Motivation and Direction:
Why are you writing to that particular company in connection to a particular kind of job? Do you have a realistic sense of where you are going?
"Why do you want to work for us?" is one of the great questions of the job search process. Absent an answer, a firm will likely believe that you're just looking for a job. You want to show your particular interest in them. Identify reasons why you are attracted to that company and why you are seeking a particular kind of job.
Lauren needs to show that she is attracted to a new employer, not just running from an old one. David and Gabrielle must show that they've established realistic goals to alleviate an employer's concerns that they may be professionally adrift.

Communication: Can you communicate in writing?
Communication is a critical skill in today's work world. Presumably, your cover letter is an example of your written communication at its best. All job applicants should be careful to show that they can communicate in a clear, to-the-point manner.

Value Added:
Your cover letter adds value to your resume bv-. highlighting, reframing and intro¬ducing new material.
For most job-seekers, their resume alone will not clearly address how their positive characteristics will be useful in a new situation or what motivates them to seek a partifcular work situation. The cover letter can supply the missing pieces.

In short, you can establish cred¬ibility in two ways. First, by linking your talents and wants to the firm's needs and characteristics. Second, by supporting your statements with good examples. We will be working on both those points in the next few meetings of the Job Search Club.