How to Get and Keep a Job - Week 5 - Cover Letters

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Welcome to week 5 - Special Edition of Lets Get Working called How to Get and Keep a Job. This week we are looking at how to Write a Cover Letter.

What you want out of a job and what an employer wants out of giving you a job.

You Job Money Self-worth Holidays Co-workers

Employer Competence Value for money Profit Reliability Honesty Effort

 

The cover letter below is all about you – not good. How to NOT write your Cover Letter:

Dear Fred,

My name is Martin and I am a 53 year old person who is presently out of work and very keen to get some money.

I am very keen to see how you can help me reach my goal and will work to pay my bills.

I will wait for your call.

Martin

 

Put yourself in the employer’s shoes and write something like this:

Hi or Good Morning Martin (or Mr Wren),

While researching NOVA I was very impressed to see how client focused your company is. You must have a very good team and that’s why I am writing to you.

Do you need extra people who share a client focus and also a similar desire to help people with a disability?

Then you should look at my resume! You will see I bring a history of reliability, integrity and skill – skills I hope you will view as valuable for NOVA – because I’m very keen to learn from you.

Please, would you take some time to meet with me personally? I think you’ll see I can bring strength to your team. I will call you on Tuesday morning to see if we can set a time for an interview.

Martin

 

If you want to write about what previous referees have said about you, write something like this:

Hi or Good Morning Martin (or Mr Wren),

While researching NOVA I was very impressed to see how client focused your company is. You must have a very good team and that’s why I am writing to you.

Do you need extra people who share a client focus and also a similar desire to help people with a disability?

Then you should look at my resume! You will see I bring a history of reliability, integrity and skill – skills I hope you will view as valuable for NOVA – because I’m very keen to learn from you.

You will see from the attached references that other employers have valued my skills. Fred Smith from Fred Smith Autos got it right when he said, ‘Martin is a very hard worker ‘ – I would like to bring that ability to your business.

Please, would you take some time to meet with me personally? I think you’ll see I can bring strength to your team. I will call you on Tuesday morning to see if we can set a time for an interview.

Martin

 

Disclosing your disability, you may write something like this:

Hi or Good Morning Martin (or Mr Wren),

While researching NOVA I was very impressed to see how client focused your company is. You must have a very good team and that’s why I am writing to you.

Do you need extra people who share a client focus and also a similar desire to help people with a disability?Then you should look at my resume! You will see I bring a history of reliability, integrity and skill – skills I hope you will view as valuable for NOVA – because I’m very keen to learn from you.

The first thing you will see about me is my wheelchair! Now that’s on the table can I also say being a wheelchair user has increased my awareness of the needs of others (I am sure you value that for your customers).My chair hasn’t stopped me from achieving good qualifications, making great friends and earning my previous employers a profit – so see past the obvious!

Please, would you take some time to meet with me personally? I think you’ll see I can bring strength to your team. I will call you on Tuesday morning to see if we can set a time for an interview.

Martin

 

Until next time,
Enjoy the journey!
Martha!

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