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- Put your name
- Write 3 sentences OR list key points using bullet points

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Email is often how we first interact with an employer, so doing it right is critical to success. The way you communicate in your job search provides "work samples" for the employer, and demonstrates your ability to communicate well (or not).

An email message can make or break your job search with a specific organization or person. Doing it well is required and assumed. Doing it poorly is the kiss of death.
To avoid embarrassment if you accidentally hit the "Send" button too soon, put your own email address in the "TO:" field until you are sure the message is ready to go. 10 Email Dos 1. Use an effective subject.
Your subject really is the "headline" of your message, and it should contain enough information to catch the recipient's attention, in a positive way.
Bad: "My Resume for Your Consideration" Good: "Resume Submitted for Senior Customer Service Representative position # 12345"
Best practice is to make it clear to the recipient the job you want -- the job title, job identifier, and source are very helpful. Including the location of the job is very helpful if the employer has a number of locations.
2. Connect the dots for the recipient in the first paragraph.
In the very first paragraph, explain who you are and why you are contacting them. Don't expect them to read your whole message, particularly a long one, and don't expect them to read your mind.
Bad: "Attached are my resume and cover letter for your consideration."
Eh? Consideration for what? Where? And, without a good reason, I'm not likely to open up attachments from someone I don't know and trust, given how much malware is distributed that way.
Good: "Below my signature, I have included a copy of my resume which I am submitting for your East Overshoe Senior Customer Service Representative position, # 12345. A Word 2010 version of the resume (YOURNAME-Customer-Service-Rep-resume.doc) is also attached for your convenience. Please let me know if another format is preferred."

Excellent! The resume is visible in the email message, and also attached with a useful file name that will be easy to save. And, the first sentence makes the purpose of the email message abundantly clear. The recipient will NOT need to figure out what job is being targeted. This paragraph supports the Subject line, too.
3. Focus on what's important to the recipient.
A job search is personal sales, so think and write like a good sales person!

Hint: Don't use many "I" sentences in your messages.
Bad: "I saw your job posting on CareerBuilder, and I want to apply for the job. I think that your company would be a great place to work, and I have attached my resume for your consideration."
Ouch! Four "I's in one paragraph!
Good: "My three years of successful experience in online customer support with a website processing 1,500 orders a day with an error rate of less than 1 percent, working closely with seven team members to achieve 97 percent on-time shipments, and tracking the inventory levels of 265 products fit the requirements of the Senior Customer Support Representative opening (# 12345) you currently have posted on CareerBuilder."
Excellent! Not a single "I" -- focusing on the employer's requirements, not your needs.
4. Organize your message like a newspaper article -- top down.
Briefly summarize the most important points in the first paragraph of your message, as in "Good" above. Just like a newspaper article's "lead" paragraph, the first paragraph of your email should grab your recipient's attention so that the rest of the message (including your resume!) is read.

Saving your most important point for the last paragraph works only IF someone reads that far, and most people won't read very far in a message unless the first paragraph has grabbed their attention.

Provide the supporting information in the paragraphs below the first one.
5. Use short paragraphs.
An email message needs plenty of white space to be easy to read. Long fat paragraphs of dense text (a.k.a. "wall of words") are daunting to the reader, and not likely to be carefully read or easily comprehended. Break up the big paragraphs into smaller ones.

Summarize and highlight important points with bulleted lists and other conventions to help your reader see the most important points easily.
6. Keep the message short, too...
Particularly your first message to someone should be short and clear.

Long messages are intimidating. If someone is in a hurry, a long message is less likely to be read or read completely -- it may be saved for "later" but later may never come. If they are expecting a long message, it is more likely to be read.
7. Send from a "good" email address.
Send your job search messages from a serious address, like "MJSmith@..." With a little marketing added, "MJSmith-MBA@..." or "MJSmith-CSRep@..."

Don't use your "smartypants@..." or "thebigboozer@..." accounts for your job search. Messages from silly or dumb email addresses may look like junk email (or jokes) and be deleted unread.
TIP: If you are over 40, DO NOT use numbers that could be interpreted as the year you were born! So, MJSmith1964@... is NOT a good idea. 8. Send your message to the "right" addressee.
Hopefully you have a person's name and their email address to use. If not, call to see what person / address is appropriate. If they've specified the recipient in their posting, ad, or instructions on their website, follow their instructions, AND try to find another, better address to use -- preferably the hiring manager or the recruiter.
9. Include a business "signature" section at the bottom.
Add a few lines at the bottom of the message, below the closing, that are a combination of marketing and contact information.

Keep the lines short (fewer than 45 characters and spaces per line) so that it doesn't "wrap" and look ugly. Don't use the tab key; type in every character, and then save it as a *.txt file. Your email software can probably add it automatically to the bottom of every message. You can delete it from the messages that don't need it, or have your email software insert it when appropriate.

Include the URL for your LinkedIn profile -- yes, you need to have a LinkedIn profile, and you can edit the URL of your "public profile" on LinkedIn to make it unique and add marketing like Mary Jane did below.

A signature typically looks something like this:

__________________________________

Mary Jane Smith
Ecommerce Senior Customer Support Specialist
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mjsmithcsr
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Email: MJSmithSCPro@.....
__________________________________

Keep your signature consistent with the job you are seeking.
10. Proofread -- again -- before you hit that send button.
Use spellcheck, of course. But, don't stop there. Particularly in your job search, you want to shine like a first-class employee -- someone they need to hire ASAP. Ask someone else to proofread it with you.

If possible, wait an hour or longer between writing, initial proofreading, and sending so that you have a chance to proofread again with relatively "new eyes."

Or, send the message to yourself first, so that you can print it and proofread a printed copy. Proofreading in print seems to work better for me than proofreading on the computer screen. I also find that reading the text of a message out loud can help me catch errors.

More on making smart job applications...

Follow me on Google+ for more job search tips!

Susan P. Joyce is president of NETability, Inc. and the editor and chief technology writer forJob - Hunt.org and WorkCoachCafe.com. This article first appeared on Job-Hunt.org.

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Email is often how we first interact with an employer, so doing it right is critical to success. The way you communicate in your job search provides "work samples" for the employer, and demonstrates your ability to communicate well (or not). An email message can make or break your job search with a specific organization or person.

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When you're sending an email cover letter, it's important to follow the company's directions on how to submit your cover letter and resume, as well as to make sure that your email cover letters are written as well as any other professional correspondence you send.

Tips for Writing an Email Cover Letter

Write in paragraphs of about two to four sentences and use proper grammar and spelling, just as you would in any other letter.

Though this should be a given, avoid including emoticons or images of any sort.

Perhaps more important than formatting, though, is the content of your cover letter. You can review these email cover letter samples below, but be sure to personalize them when you apply for jobs.

You should tailor these samples not just to your own experience, but also to each job you're applying for. Pay close attention to the detail of the job description - specifically, the responsibilities and requirements- and make sure your cover letter reflects how you are a good fit for these requirements.

Attaching the Letter to an Email

Take note of how the company requests you submit your cover letter; for example, you may be instructed to attach your cover letter along with your resume. In this case, make sure your cover letter is either in Word document form or is a PDF file.

Pasting the Letter into the Email

If you paste your cover letter into the body of your email, keep your text in the default font of your email provider.

Make sure the text is readable and formatted correctly. For example, avoid long paragraphs or, alternately, a bunch of stacked, short sentences.

Email Cover Letter Example

Subject Line of Email Message: Store Manager Position - Your Name
Email Message:
Dear Hiring Manager,

I read your job posting for the Store Manager position with interest, as the qualifications you are seeking match closely with my professional skills and experience.

I can offer XYZ Company:

- Over five years of retail management experience
- Ability to effectively hire, train, and manage staff
- Payroll management, scheduling, reports, and inventory control expertise
- Extensive work with visual standards and merchandising high-ticket items

In addition to my extensive retail experience, I have excellent communication skills. I always maintain a gracious and professional manner when communicating with people, including customers and store staff. My broad experience and range of skills make me a superior candidate for this position.

My resume, which is below, provides additional information on my background and qualifications. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible to arrange a time for an interview.

Thank you for your consideration.

Paul Jones
Email Address

More Email Cover Letter Message Samples

Here is a list of more email cover letter samples you can use to get started. This list includes examples of cover letters that target specific types of jobs (full-time, part-time, summer, and volunteer) as well as email cover letters to use at different transitional stages in your career (promotions, job transfer requests).

Email Cover Letter Formatting Examples

For more information about how to format your cover letter, check out the following links:

Email Cover Letter Templates

How to Send an Email Cover Letter

When applying for employment via email, copy and paste your cover letter into the email message or write your cover letter in the body of an email message. Here's how to send an email cover letter.

More About Cover Letters:
Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips
What to Include in a Cover Letter

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Personalize Your Email Cover Letter With These Samples

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When you're sending an email cover letter, it's important to follow the company's directions on how to submit your cover letter and resume, as well as to make sure that your email cover letters are written as well as any other professional correspondence you send.

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There are many ways to apply for a job: You may need to submit your application through an online system that the company has in place. For some jobs, particularly retail ones, you may still be able to apply in person, filling out an application by hand. One of the most common ways to apply for jobs today, however, is by sending an email job application letter through email.

What to Include in Your Job Application Email

Your email job application letter is a cover letter: This means that the intent of the email is to let the recipient know why you're writing, which job you are applying for, what your qualifications are for the job, and how you will follow up or how the recipient can get in touch with you.

The following is an example of an email message sent to apply for a job.

Sample Email Job Application Message

Subject Line of Email Message: Assistant Director Position - Your Name
Email Message:
Dear Hiring Manager,

It was with much interest that I read your April 8 th [insert alternate date] job posting on Craigslist for an Assistant Communications Director. Your description of the work responsibilities incumbent upon your next Assistant Director closely match my experience, and so I am excited to submit my resume to you for your consideration.

In my position as an Assistant Communications Director for ABC Company, I wrote articles for the company website, managed the editing and posting of contributing articles, managed their social media presence, and wrote and sent out a weekly email newsletter to subscribers. I also implemented an automated email tool that grew their subscriber base by 40% within six months.

While Assistant Communications Director for Assemblyperson Janet Brown, I researched, drafted and amended legislation, wrote press releases, and was responsible for office communications and correspondence.

My resume is attached. If I can provide you with any further information on my background and qualifications, please let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your consideration.

Tips for a Successful Job Application Letter

As you can see from the example above, your email does not have to be lengthy. Here are a few tips for how to assemble your application letter:

Subject line: Since hiring, managers receive a lot of emails, make it easy for them to filter application emails. Include your name and the job title you are applying for in the message's subject line. If a job has been assigned a posting number (as happens on Craigslist), provide this as well.

Salutation: If possible, address your email to a specific person. Sometimes you can determine this by reviewing the company website or calling their front office to ask who is managing their job search. If a name isn't available, you can open with "Dear Hiring Manager," as in the sample letter above, or with the more formal, "To Whom It May Concern."

First paragraph: In the first paragraph of your letter, you'll want to explain why you're writing. Mention where you saw the job application, the date when it was posted, and whether it was presented on the company's website, posted on a job search board, etc.

If you were referred by a friend or colleague, mention this here.

Middle paragraphs: This space in the letter is where you can make a pitch for your candidacy. Why would you be a good fit for the job? Highlight relevant jobs and responsibilities, as well as accomplishments. Make sure not to copy your resume directly.

Final paragraph: Use this space to thank the recipient for reading your email, and mention that your resume is attached. It is also the space to thank recipients for their consideration of your application; you can also mention when and how you will follow up.

Polite close: Use a polite close to sign off your letter, such as "Best" or "Sincerely." Then, type your full name.

Email Signature: You can also include your email signature, which is an easy way to provide contact information to recipients.

Attaching your resume: Don't forget about your resume! Attach it to the email message in the format requested by the employer. If a specific format isn't required, send as a PDF or Word document.

How To:

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What Should a Job Application Email Look Like?

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There are many ways to apply for a job: You may need to submit your application through an online system that the company has in place. For some jobs, particularly retail ones, you may still be able to apply in person, filling out an application by hand.

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By Mark Swartz
Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Have you ever sent an email like this one in response to a job posting?

To: employer@job-postings_company1.ca

Subject: re: Job Application

Look at my resume and cover letter. It'll tell you all about me. I really want this job.

What's wrong with this message as it's currently written?

But what's lacking here is a degree of formality and detail. The message is written in casual language. And it makes the reader guess about which job you're applying for. The language and content need to be professionalized to a greater extent.

What? Even Emails Have To Be Formal?

During your job search - and afterward as well, once you're re-employed - sending proper emails is important for your career. Communication skills are valued at all levels of an organization. You need to convey information in ways that won't be misunderstood, and that represent a positive image of you (and your employer) to others.

In the world of work, quite often "you are what you write." This is nowhere more true than when submitting your resume and/or cover letter for consideration. Every impression counts. Your emailed message may be the very first thing a potential employer sees from you.

When "Casual" Causes Concerns

A hastily written, informal message like the one in the example atop this page, may cause employers to see you as amateurish or lazy. "If you don't even take time to present yourself in your best light within your job application," they might mutter to themselves, "and you force us to do extra work by having to guess about which job you're even applying for," they say with clenched teeth, "then what can we realistically expect once we bring you aboard?"

Luckily it doesn't take much to submit a better version of your message

You're applying for a specific job. To you it may the one that's front and center in your mind at this time. But the employer may be posting a number of different positions at once. They'll probably receive a large number of application emails, not just yours.

So make is easy for them to sort the incoming emails by letting them know which job you're after. In the Subject Line itself, concisely state the purpose of your email. Mention the job's title or a reference number that you saw in the advertised posting. You could write something like "Job Application Enclosed: Claims Adjuster, reference A47kj2w1."

This also applies to the top part of the message you'll type into the body of this email. You can begin with a header that simply repeats itself, as in "re: Job Application: Claims Adjuster, reference A47kj2w1."

Use "Business Formal" Language

Regardless of what you type in the email's body underneath your header, don't drop your guard and suddenly start using casual language.

At a minimum, you might try instead to turn the phrasing from our email example into the following:

Please take a moment to review my attached Application Documents:

- Customized Cover Letter

It would be a sincere pleasure to hear back from you soon to discuss this exciting opportunity.

[your first and last names, plus the phone number(s) you want to be contacted at, go here]

Formal language, identifying the job you're applying for, and stating which documents you've attached: is there anything you should do in the body of your emailed job application?

Some job seekers like to include a customized, more elaborate cover letter within the body of the email itself. This saves the reader from having to open your separate attachments into a different program.

Still, it may make sense to attach a fully formatted, fancy version of the cover letter along with the resume. This way if the employer wants printouts of "good copies" to pass around, they can do so quickly with minimal effort.

You could also try to find out the name and title of the person you'll be mailing your application to. This is not always necessary, though in higher level jobs it can help you stand out from the crowd. Which of course is something you want to do, when possible, so long as standing out presents you as more qualified or enthusiastic.

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Use formal language and style in your emails to employers. Just because it's email doesn't mean you can be casual.

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By Mark Swartz Monster Senior Contributing Writer Have you ever sent an email like this one in response to a job posting? To: employer@job-postings_company1.ca Subject: re: Job Application Look at my resume and cover letter. It'll tell you all about me. I really want this job.

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Writing a cover letter can be stressful. You want to capture the reader's attention but you don't want to bore them or, worse, have a mistake in your copy. Since your resume is attached, you want the reader to be so interested they open it. There isn't any magic involved, just common sense. So relax and remember to follow these basic rules to get your cover letter read.

1. Customize every cover letter you send out. If you don't tailor your letter to the reader, why should they be interested. Connect your skills to those listed in the description/ad.

2. Your resume is attached so don't duplicate it in your cover letter.

3. Keep is simple and concise. A maximum of three paragraphs with three to four sentences each. Use a readable typeface and with lots of white space.

4. Highlight your soft skills and how they can help with this position.

5. Be enthusiastic! The reader may be going through many resumes, don't bore them.

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Cover Letters: 5 Tips For Writing A Terrific One - CommPRO.biz

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Writing a cover letter can be stressful. You want to capture the reader's attention but you don't want to bore them or, worse, have a mistake in your copy. Since your resume is attached, you want the reader to be so interested they open it. There isn't any magic involved, just common sense.

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https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-careers/applying-for-jobs

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Whatever job you're going for there are some personal qualities and skills every employer will want you to have. You can't just rely on qualifications to get you the job - things like reliability, enthusiasm, teamwork and communication skills are also important. Learn about these key characteristics and how you can show potential employers that you have them.

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This question originally appeared on Quora: What do people frequently get wrong when they write cover letters? Answer by Rebecca Massey, writer.

They aren't properly formatted, and they have spelling and grammar errors

This is the most common cover letter problem. I have been a manager or on a hiring committee multiple times in my life, and it is unbelievable how many cover letters are incorrectly formatted (either like a personal letter, or just an incorrect approximation of a business letter) and/or have elementary-school-level spelling and grammar errors. Mistakes like these are the fastest way for your application to end up in the circular file. If you want a job, learn the formatting. If you're not great with spelling and grammar, and you have no intention of improving, then confer with someone who's better at it. Correct formatting, spelling, and grammar are minimum necessary qualifications. Get it done.

They recite their resume

You don't need to recite places, dates, and titles. Your resume already does that. What you need to do is explain how the work you've done and the experience you have will make you great at the job you're trying to get. Your resume is a list-your cover letter is a story.

They state the obvious or tell the reader things s/he already knows

A lot of applicants think they sound action-oriented and proactive when they write things like "You need..." or "You want..." in a cover letter. Trouble is: Employers already knows what they need and want. You don't need to waste space telling it back to them (or, worse, sounding like you're dictating to them). You also don't need to waste space reciting common industry knowledge or facts about the company-this doesn't show that you've done your research, it shows that you don't have anything else to say.

Employers don't care what you think, feel, like, or want. They're not paying you to have thoughts, feelings, or personal development goals. They're paying you to do a job for them. So what they want to hear about is what you have done and can do that will benefit the employer. They don't want sentences that start with "I feel" or "I think," or my personal pet peeve, "This job would allow me to..."

They brag on themselves or say things they can't back up

"I'm smart." "I'm detail-oriented." "I get things done." "I worked with [name drop]." "I am the best person for the job." Oh, really? Prove it. Tell what you've accomplished in your professional life that shows that you're smart, detail-oriented, and get things done. Tell what you and [name drop] did together. The employer gets to decide who's the best person for the job, not the applicant.

They bash current or former employers, or the competition

It's just like listening to someone bash a coworker when they're not in the room: it makes you wonder what they say when you're not in the room. Also, particularly in small fields or fields that are dominated by a small number of companies, the person reading your resume may have worked for the competition. They may not share your opinion. Hell, the company might be looking at a merger or an exchange with the competition. There are other ways to show enthusiasm for a job-don't risk this one.

They drown in jargon

It's one thing to show that you're familiar with the language of the field. It's another to fill your cover letter with so much jargon that it reads like you have nothing else to say. Make sure that the jargon you're using is in there to explain your qualifications, not just to show off that you know key words and phrases.

They fail to answer the question "Why should we hire you?"

This is the biggest cover letter problem. Remember that the purpose of a cover letter is to answer the question: "Why should I hire you for this job?" If there's anything in your cover letter that's not helping to answer that question, then it's not helping you get the job.
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Cover letters are criminally misunderstood, and often idiotically rendered

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This question originally appeared on Quora: What do people frequently get wrong when they write cover letters? Answer by Rebecca Massey, writer. They aren't properly formatted, and they have spelling and grammar errors This is the most common cover letter problem. I have been a manager or on a hiring committee multiple times in my...

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When I was a couple years into my career and trying to leave my first job out of college (starting salary: $28,000), I sent around many truly horrendous cover letters. Recently, I discovered one languishing at the bottom of my "sent" folder, where it very much belongs. When I clicked the attachment, I was greeted with a hefty 482-word missive that now makes me shudder, and the hiring manager who never called me in for an interview probably had the same response.

To be fair to my 24-year-old self, the cover letters that most recent grads write are often doomed to terribleness. If mine is any proof, spinning your paltry work experience into a halfway compelling narrative about your competence is actually pretty hard. So I asked a few career experts to give my sad cover letter a retroactive makeover, to see if there were any lessons to be learned in the process.

I thought I could spot my cover letter's main failings-it's overly long, way too formal, and pretentious as all hell (don't worry, you'll see it in full in a moment)-but Dana Leavy-Detrick, chief creative scribe at Brooklyn Resume Studio, and Katy Martin, career developer at Dev Bootcamp Chicago, uncovered quite a few more issues.

"The document ultimately struck me as verbose and methodical," says Martin. Leavy-Detrick agreed. After all those words, she said, she still had "a difficult time picturing who this candidate is, and seeing a unique profile that really grabs my attention." In other words, I had no personality.

"Cover letters are intended to show you off and really captivate the reader," Martin adds. "I know one candidate who got a job offer because the cover letter was a playwright-style script of the candidate and an interviewer talking." I worry something like that might've come off as hokey had I tried it, but point taken. (Incidentally, I once rewrote my brother's resume for him in Chaucerian verse, but that's another story.) "Be quirky and professional at the same time," she advises.

Leavy-Detrick suggests that every job applicant embrace an element of storytelling. "The best ones create a unique and compelling narrative around the candidate, and their personal brand shines through." You can do that no matter what level of experience you have, she says. "Companies don't just hire on requirements and qualifications-they also make hiring decisions based on culture fit and potential, and neither of those comes through in this letter."

"Companies make hiring decisions based on culture fit and potential, and neither of those comes through in this letter."

Both experts also said my cover letter lacks confidence and impact; it starts flat and ends weak. Martin suggests leaving out salary expectations, which I mention toward the bottom, since it risks selling yourself short-you want them to finish thinking about your value, not what you'll cost. I suspect I only included it because I was asked to, but I could have ignored that instruction.

Leavy-Detrick thinks the bigger problem is where I basically invite them to negotiate me down (I recall worrying I'd price myself out-by asking for a whopping $37,000) before even meeting me. And my call to action is simply for the hiring manager to "feel free to contact me," as opposed to a more self-assured request for an actual interview.

So how would I have corrected these faults? I asked Leavy-Detrick and Martin to take a merciless red pen to my cover letter, and they graciously obliged. I've combined their most insightful edits into a copy here:

For starters, both experts suggest a more powerful intro. "The opening line does not capture my attention," says Leavy-Detrick, "and it's also vague." Martin concurs: "Try to stay away from stating the obvious, such as 'I am writing to express my interest in a position as a production editor . . .'"

Instead, says Leavy-Detrick, it's better to open "with an immediate, high-level overview of your expertise and what you bring to the table. If you don't pique their interest and qualify yourself right away, you may lose your reader." She points out that there's the glimmer of a narrative at the start of the second paragraph, which could be spun into a concrete story about why I'm interested in this position at this moment and the perfect person to fill it.

Experts said my cover letter lacks confidence and impact; it starts flat and ends weak.

Then there's the fact that my cover letter summarizes my resume-a common fault. "As you describe your valuable work experience," Martin suggests, "highlight a specific thing that happened " instead of "just describing your responsibilities or accomplishments. If I know you've been in the trenches of this particular problem or worked through this particular incident, it's much more believable that you're experienced."

That would also take fewer words. "The letter is very heavy on text, which makes it difficult to scan," says Leavy-Detrick. "One solution would be to call out some of your key points as bullets-highlighting the qualities, accomplishments, or skill sets most relevant to the role." Here are three she distilled from my original letter:

Several years of editorial experience that includes work on both academic and professional titles.

Ability to produce results and meet deadlines within a fast-paced production department.

Proven ability to manage a high volume of project priorities and coordinate deliverables among authors, vendors, and internal editorial and marketing teams.

Clear, simple, easy to eyeball.

Martin just recommends a zippier, more narrative approach overall. Here's how she'd suggest rewriting it from top to bottom:

New American Library | Richard Bellis, Production Editor Candidate
[email address] * [phone number]

Dear Claire Zion [VP, editor-in-chief of Berkley/NAL],

New American Library has been top of mind for me from the moment I picked up a copy of [title of a book published by the imprint that you're familiar with]. My appreciation of production editors has grown upon learning about New American Library's commitment to producing high quality, uniform books while preserving each book's unique features and challenges. It is a precarious balance to manage, as I learned in my prior production associate role.

The publishing industry is rapidly changing, with the evolution of e-books and other online learning content. You are likely seeking a production editor who can manage multiple projects at once, adapt quickly, and work within a variety of programs and data systems. While working at Palgrave, there were two-week periods in which I was managing 20 authors, multiple deadlines, and many schedules in order to produce 10 books.

My love for the editorial business and a lot of coffee kept my momentum strong through these periods of time. I am eager to bring my insight and my eye for detail to New American Library as a production editor. I have vivid memories of working on a project where I wrote about the history of bathtub creation during my time at Vassar College. I was forced to thoroughly research disciplines far outside of my comfort zone and problem-solve in order to deliver high-quality writing.

[Name of referral] at The Penguin Press has shared more insight with me about how NAL deeply cares about its team. I'm really excited about the potential of joining the New American Library production-editorial team. Please let me know how I can further illustrate my candidacy for the production editor role. You are welcome to contact me by phone at [_________].

All the best to your success,
Richard Bellis

Not bad, right? I might even have interviewed me.

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I Had Career Experts Make Over My Crappy Cover Letter

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When I was a couple years into my career and trying to leave my first job out of college (starting salary: $28,000), I sent around many truly horrendous cover letters. Recently, I discovered one languishing at the bottom of my "sent" folder, where it very much belongs.

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A great cover letter is a golden passport to that much-desired job

Jake Bradley - Associate Director of Michael Page Human Resources, shares tips

He has also shared the perfect cover letter structure that you can emulate

A winning cover letter is a golden passport to that much-desired job.

Indeed, as Jake Bradley, Associate Director of Michael Page Human Resources, explains: 'Cover letters that are well-written demonstrate to employers that you are a unique, literate and enthusiastic candidate.

'They give you a chance to put forward your most relevant experience and achievements, and this really goes a long way in terms of grabbing the employers' attention.'

But having just one sheet of paper upon which to sell yourself and everything you can do is no mean feat. Here, Jake shares the perfect cover letter, as well as his golden rules for curating one that will land you your dream job.

THE PERFECT COVER LETTER

Dear Mr Company,

In response to your recent advertisement for the 'Human Resources Recruitment Specialist - MP123456' on http://www.website.co.uk/, please find attached my curriculum vitae for your consideration.

I have the following experience which is well aligned to the requirements of the role.

* Successful human resources recruitment specialist with four years' experience.

* Experience gained in leading FTSE 25O global recruitment company.

* Thorough understanding of the human resources market having worked on both specialist and generalist roles.

* Multiple sector experience having worked with both the private and public sector.

In my current role as a human resources recruitment specialist I have achieved the following.

* Established relationships with the human resources functions of two leading retail banks and as a result now have preferred supplier status not only for HR, but the wider business.

* Diversified client base by 20% YOY.

* Increased job numbers across client base by 45% YOY.

* Increased productivity and revenue by 30% YOY.

* Requested to be account director by one of the 'Big Four' and have successfully performed in the role.

* Managed multiple projects alongside day to day activity; organising CSR day, charity quiz which raised £6,000 for charity, client and candidate entertainment event.

I believe that my experience to date is very well aligned to the requirements of this role, and I am confident that I will be a valuable asset to your organisation.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via the contact details provided on my CV. I am available for an interview at your convenience and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,

Job Seeker

1. Address the contact: Firstly, don't forget to address the contact mentioned in the job advert and to quote the reference. This will ensure that your application is processed by the right person and increases your chance of capturing their attention.

2. Outline your current role: It's important to outline your current job situation and why you are searching for new opportunities as this will provide context to the employer but also give you a chance to demonstrate ambition.

However, it's really important not to be negative about your current or past employers or job situation as this will reflect poorly on your attitude towards work.

3. Prove you've done your research: Showing that you've done your research about the company is always beneficial but stating why you are interested in them as an employer is particularly important. This is also a good time to tell them why they should also be interested in you as a potential employee and what you can bring to the business.

4. Highlight your transferable skills: Tailoring the information you share in this cover letter will avoid repetition and ensure that you present yourself in the best possible way and match the skills you put forward with the job description. Make sure you highlight your transferable skills, achievements and versatility.

5. Check, check, check: Finally, make sure your letter is neat, brief, and check it for typos. End your cover letter by politely expressing interest in further dialogue in order to keep the discussion open.

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A great cover letter is a golden passport to that much-desired job Jake Bradley - Associate Director of Michael Page Human Resources, shares tips He has also shared the perfect cover letter structure that you can emulate A winning cover letter is a golden passport to that much-desired job.

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I am often surprised by what people choose to send as cover letters. Typos, broken links, and rambling emails. I also see messages like this one: "I was looking for work-from-home opportunities and I came across your company. Below is a copy of my resume. Please let me know if you have anything available."

Now, I know that finding a new job is difficult. And you probably have limited time each day to work on your . Sometimes in a rush to land something new, you may fire off a quick note (like the one above) without giving it much thought. But the quick-fire approach rarely yields positive results.

If you cannot thoughtfully explain why you are a good fit for the role and the company, then you are wasting the hiring manager's time. Worse, you are applying energy to something that will yield no results.

So, back to my example above. What was wrong with this type of approach? Well, it caught my eye - but for all the wrong reasons . Let's break it down, line by line:

around the promise and premise of remote work. But we do not hire people just because they want to work from home. A better approach would be to explain the value that a distributed team brings everyone. For example, if you worked as part of a distributed team explain how you have successfully done so in the past. If you are motivated to join a remote team, explain I was looking for work-from-home opportunities...
Believe me, I get that remote work is a valuable benefit. We built our entire why.

...and I came across your company.
This tells me that you have not done your research. In fact, you may be sending this same message to dozens of companies. I am not expecting you to know all the details of our company's history. But I do want to see that you put some effort into researching our background and . It could be as simple as, " I have read your blog and the recent post on leadership resonated " or " I believe my responsiveness and adaptability make me well-suited to join a high-growth company like Aha! "

, point me in the right direction. Briefly highlight your key accomplishments, specifically noting how they are relevant to the role for which you are applying. Include pertinent details or achievements in a Below is a copy of my resume.
This is not helping either of us. Instead of asking me to analyze your clear cover letter - the specifics that might not have made it into the job synopsis on your resume. This will make you stand out right away (assuming your experience is relevant). And I will be grateful that you made my job a little easier.

on our website? It is not my job to figure out what role would be right for you. So help me out. Be clear which position you are applying for and why. And better yet, put it in the subject line of your email (e.g. Please let me know if you have anything available.
Now this is just silly. You did not look at the open positions "Product manager with SaaS experience applying for Customer Success position" ).

If you are sending one-size-fits-all cover letters, my guess is that you are not getting much of a response. Slow down. You would be better served applying to fewer positions and customizing what you send.

I am not saying cover letters need to be long. In fact, I have written before that they should be short. But more than anything, these notes should be accomplishment-focused - conveying the value you have demonstrated in the past and will bring to this new role.

So next time you are tempted to copy-and-paste your standard quickie cover letter, take a step back. Research the company. Consider your skills and goals. And then ask yourself how they would fit into the role.

When you convey this value to the hiring manager, you will get noticed. Maybe it will not ultimately be the right job for you. But it will increase the number of roles for which you are seriously considered.
What kinds of cover letters have worked best for you?

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Please Do Not Send a Cover Letter Like This | Aha! Blog

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I am often surprised by what people choose to send as cover letters. Typos, broken links, and rambling emails. I also see messages like this one: "I was looking for work-from-home opportunities and I came across your company. Below is a copy of my resume. Please let me know if you have anything available."