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re: Who Actually Reads Cover Letter?
Posted on 6/6/14 at 1:53 pm to sealawyer
Posted on 6/6/14 at 1:53 pm to sealawyer
quote:
There is a lot of oilfield trash in here. When the job only requires physical labor don't bother with a cover letter.
I work in a white collar field and have never used a cover letter.
1
Posted on 6/6/14 at 1:54 pm to trillhog
quote:
i have no doubt woman
You use woman in every tense as if there is only one.
Posted on 6/6/14 at 1:55 pm to Epic Cajun
Same here. Never had a problem before
Posted on 6/6/14 at 4:16 pm to HeadyMurphey
I have an ace cover letter that needs slight editing every time. I'm not writing one every time when it's not guaranteed they'll ever read it.
I feel when I was entry level it was a tool, now that I'm a professional with experience, cover letter is just a waste of time and formality.
Since most Fortune 500 companies HR sort through the resumes before even getting to the hiring manager, the chances of someone actually wanting to read that is nill. In fact, because it's a formality, I send a formal cover letter full of formality.
My resume though is awesome. I break it down for each job into ROLE, SKILLS UTILIZED, AND NOTABLE PROJECTS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS for each job.
You need more than that and you can SMD.
I feel when I was entry level it was a tool, now that I'm a professional with experience, cover letter is just a waste of time and formality.
Since most Fortune 500 companies HR sort through the resumes before even getting to the hiring manager, the chances of someone actually wanting to read that is nill. In fact, because it's a formality, I send a formal cover letter full of formality.
My resume though is awesome. I break it down for each job into ROLE, SKILLS UTILIZED, AND NOTABLE PROJECTS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS for each job.
You need more than that and you can SMD.
Posted on 6/6/14 at 4:27 pm to Cajun Revolution
I changed careers five months ago. I used the cover letter to draw HR's attention to the specific parts of my resume that made me an ideal candidate for the job. I saw the cover letter as the way to ensure HR pushed my application to the hiring committee.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 6:53 am to Cajun Revolution
When I hired people for my business good short and to the point cover letters were important to me.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 7:32 am to Iona Fan Man
Include a nickname you've given yourself, like "the closer" or "quota-buster". They like this. Shows confidence.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 7:43 am to Seven Costanza
quote:
Wow! At the bottom of this thread for me is an ad for free cover letter templates. How do they do it?
The ad for me was from monster.com telling me how great their site is for finding potential hires.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 7:49 am to foshizzle
For 2 days, mine is TEAM EDITH donation. Who is this Edith and why does she haunt me?
Posted on 6/7/14 at 7:59 am to GarmischTiger
quote:
I saw the cover letter as the way to ensure HR pushed my application to the hiring committee.
This is why you need a cover letter, and this comment is virtually the only thing in this entire thread that isn't fricking stupid.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 8:03 am to Cajun Revolution
quote:
Since most Fortune 500 companies HR sort through the resumes before even getting to the hiring manager, the chances of someone actually wanting to read that is nill. In fact, because it's a formality, I send a formal cover letter full of formality.
It actually gets reviewed by a computer first that's looking for certain key words. If that computer doesn't like it a human will never see it.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 8:09 am to Cajun Revolution
If a coverer letter is not included with the resume (and addressed to the hiring manager) it goes into the circular file. I want to see an example of good written communication skills (of course the applicant can find a ghost writter but that wii eventuslly be discovered). I also want to see that the applicant has done the research, understands how his/her skills fit the position and why they want that job, not just a job.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 8:29 am to Cajun Revolution
I've never used one, but that is because I have worked with recruiters in my last two job moves and I gave them what they wanted because they knew what the company wanted and it didn't include a cover letter.
Honestly though, I would use one on my own because Im ten years into my career and cannot fit everything on 1 page. My resume is a page and a half and it is as concise as it can be already because I've done a lot and worked for 4 different companies over ten + years.
Honestly though, I would use one on my own because Im ten years into my career and cannot fit everything on 1 page. My resume is a page and a half and it is as concise as it can be already because I've done a lot and worked for 4 different companies over ten + years.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 8:43 am to Cajun Revolution
If I am hiring, I will read anything that is sent to me. I won't disqualify you for not sending a cover letter. I'll just go off your resume and anything else I know about you.
If you send me a good cover letter, it can certainly help you get an interview with me. If you send me a bad cover letter, though... you won't get an interview. So it's a risk/reward thing.
What makes a good cover letter? Resumes are very formal and a review of the past. A good cover letter allows you to be a bit less formal, and allows you to relate your experience and how it will help you be a better employee. If all the cover letter says is "I want to work for you" it will be thrown away.
If you send me a good cover letter, it can certainly help you get an interview with me. If you send me a bad cover letter, though... you won't get an interview. So it's a risk/reward thing.
What makes a good cover letter? Resumes are very formal and a review of the past. A good cover letter allows you to be a bit less formal, and allows you to relate your experience and how it will help you be a better employee. If all the cover letter says is "I want to work for you" it will be thrown away.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 9:12 am to Cajun Revolution
I hate them. My mom was in HR and said she never read them at all.
Also, I hate the "apply online" places (mostly hospitals). Why can't I just send my resume instead of spending forever filling in the exact same information contained on my resume? And then to add the 100 question long survey at the end drives me insane. Who the frick is going to answer "strongly agree" to I hate meetings and I don't work well with other people? It's pointless.
Also, I hate the "apply online" places (mostly hospitals). Why can't I just send my resume instead of spending forever filling in the exact same information contained on my resume? And then to add the 100 question long survey at the end drives me insane. Who the frick is going to answer "strongly agree" to I hate meetings and I don't work well with other people? It's pointless.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 9:21 am to Pettifogger
quote:
as a young lawyer, my resume is packed into one page
I've always been told that my CV should be exactly 2 pages, as you cant fit enough in on 1 page and more than 2 is too much.
As for C/Ls they do help, since I finished uni I've probably applied for over 100 jobs, at first I didn't use C/Ls as they can just be a ballache but I didn't get very far. Since when I started to I got a lot more call backs/invites to the next stage. For mine, I tailor my first paragraph to the company and position, why I'm interested in the company, something they've done that I'm impressed with, then the other 2 paragraphs are the same in every letter, a little bit about myself and info on a module I did in my final year that I think can be relevant to the job.
Finally 9 months later I've accepted a job for September and am declining interviews, biggest relief of my life.
quote:
100 question long survey at the end drives me insane
Hate these too, but typically its just the same 8 or 9 questions asked 10 different ways to make sure you answer consistently not how you think they want you to answer
This post was edited on 6/7/14 at 9:24 am
Posted on 6/7/14 at 9:25 am to islandtiger
quote:
islandtiger
Maybe you should use a ghost writer
Posted on 6/7/14 at 9:29 am to athenslife101
I usually discuss a few points from resume, but I try to explain my skills in context and how it applies to this position.
Posted on 6/7/14 at 10:27 am to SpartyGator
And always include a nude photo of Angelina Jolie.
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