Cover letter suggestions - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Zeraph · 02-16-2009, 02:53 PM

I'm trying to decide what to say in a cover letter for a job I don't have any direct qualifications for. Basically I got my bachelor's in Psych and am not going toward that career path. All my work experience is in education, another line I don't want to follow. So when posting a cover letter, what the heck should I say (besides the obvious "hi I'm X and applying for X thanks sincerely..."

I'm thinking something that say's nothing but conveys my professionalism and intelligence. Or would that just seem empty? Any tips? thoughts? Maybe I just shouldn't send one at all if I have nothing important to say and just send my resume.

n0nsensical · 02-16-2009, 05:04 PM

You should definitely send a cover letter if it's a cold call. Just say WHY you want the job and why you think you'll be good at it if not any qualifications.

Grancey · 02-16-2009, 08:08 PM

Instead of saying "I am applying for blah blah".....say "I would like to talk to you about blah blah.......
Address the letter to the person who is responsible for hiring that position. If you don't know the name, then find out.
In your closing give the phone number that you can be reached at, and say that you are looking forward to hearing from them. A few days after the letter should have arrived, call and talk to the person to follow up.
Somewhere in the letter you need to talk about what you can do for them and why you would be a good fit.

If you want more feedback, post your letter and we will give you constructive criticism.

nomcat · 02-17-2009, 12:16 AM

It's all about bigging up your transferable skills... this may help you get started... Sample Cover Letter - Career Change

vinceco252 · 02-17-2009, 10:07 AM

Another good tactic is to put something specific about the company in the letter to show that you are interested and have taken the time to research.

MSD · 02-17-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinceco252

Another good tactic is to put something specific about the company in the letter to show that you are interested and have taken the time to research.

This. Don't tell them you're interested, show them.

Liberal arts degrees just mean "I went to college" unless you add a graduate degree on top of it, anyway.

braisler · 02-17-2009, 01:26 PM

In your case, your cover letter is your chance to explain why your previous employment and education don't really fit the norm of the industry where you are applying. Highlight what skills you do have that you feel will be useful to the company. Express why you are interested in making this career change. And yes, research the company and the higher official as much as possible. Address your letter to them and address the challenges the company may face and how you can apply your skills to the benefit of the company.

Zeraph · 02-18-2009, 08:06 AM

Thanks for all the advice!

diddagirl · 02-20-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeraph

I'm trying to decide what to say in a cover letter for a job I don't have any direct qualifications for. Basically I got my bachelor's in Psych and am not going toward that career path. All my work experience is in education, another line I don't want to follow. So when posting a cover letter, what the heck should I say (besides the obvious "hi I'm X and applying for X thanks sincerely..."

I'm thinking something that say's nothing but conveys my professionalism and intelligence. Or would that just seem empty? Any tips? thoughts? Maybe I just shouldn't send one at all if I have nothing important to say and just send my resume.

If you dont have any direct qualifications, then what makes you think you would be good at the job? Whatever indirect qualifications you have, or whatever it is that you think you could offer this company, I would put that.

For example: The job posting lists qualifications of "3 years sales experience or equivilant", you could put a spin on it by putting something like 'I believe that my excellent communication skills and several years experience in teaching would make me strong candidiate for the position" This is just a general example because I dont know exactly what your education field experience actually consists of.

snowy · 02-21-2009, 09:10 PM

There was a piece in the NYTimes a few days ago about cover letters:

Quote:

Q. You are getting ready to apply for a job electronically, and your résumé is ready to go. Do you need to prepare a cover letter? Are they necessary in this day and age?

A. Cover letters are still necessary, and in a competitive market they can give you a serious edge if they are written and presented effectively.

Cover letters are a graceful way to introduce yourself, to convey your personality and to impress a hiring manager with your experience and your writing skills, said Katy Piotrowski, an author of career books and a career counselor based in Fort Collins, Colo. You can also tailor them to a specific company in ways that you cannot with a résumé.

Ms. Piotrowski recently had a job opening at her small company, Career Solutions Group, and she was dismayed when about a quarter of the 200 applicants did not send cover letters. Most were within five years of graduating from college, she said, reflecting a more informal mind-set among younger people.

Q. How should your cover letter be organized, how long should it be, and what should it say?

A. First, do your best to find the decision maker’s name, and use it in the salutation. If you are applying to a blind ad, say “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To the Hiring Manager.” Ms. Piotrowski said she received cover letters that had no salutation at all or began with “Hey there” — not a strong start. If you want to be on the safe side, use a colon after the salutation, although some people now feel it is permissible to use a comma in an e-mail message.

Your cover letter should be short — generally no longer than three or four paragraphs, said Debra Wheatman, a career expert at Vault, a jobs Web site.

In your first paragraph, explain why you are writing — it may be that you are answering an ad, that you were referred to the company through networking, or that you learned that the company is expanding, said Wendy S. Enelow, author of “Cover Letter Magic” and a professional résumé writer in Virginia.

In the middle paragraphs, explain why you are a good candidate, and show that you are knowledgeable about the company. Then convey a clear story about your career, and highlight specific past achievements. This can either be done as a narrative or in bullet points, Ms. Enelow said.

You can also highlight qualities you possess that may not fit the confines of a résumé, Ms. Wheatman said.

She once worked in human resources at Martha Stewart Living, and recalls reviewing applications for a chef in a test kitchen. One woman had a career in manufacturing, but her cover letter described how she had grown up in a family that was passionate about cooking and where she had frequently made meals from scratch. The woman got the job despite her peripheral work experience.

Finish your letter by indicating that you will follow up in the near future (and make good on that promise). Sign off with a “Sincerely,” “Cordially,” “Thank you for your consideration” or similar closer, followed by your name and, if you like, your e-mail address.

Q. Where should your cover letter appear, in an e-mail or in an attachment?

A. You can include your letter in the actual text of your e-mail message or place it above your résumé in an attachment. If you put it in a separate attachment from your résumé, you run the risk that a harried hiring manager will not click on it at all. If you place it in the text of your e-mail message, it should generally be shorter than if you use an attachment, Ms. Enelow said.

Then, if you really want to make an impression, make a hard copy of your cover letter and résumé and send it to the hiring manager by regular mail. Attach a handwritten note that says, “Second submission; I’m very interested,” Ms. Piotrowski said. “I’ve had clients double their rate of interviews simply from doing that,” she said.

Ms. Enelow calls this “double-hitting,” and says she has seen it work remarkably well. She said a senior-level client of hers got an interview and was hired because the hard copy of his cover letter and résumé reached the company president, whereas his electronic application was rejected by someone in human resources because it did not meet certain rigid criteria.

Q. What are some common mistakes in cover letters?

A. A cover letter with typos, misspellings and poor sentence structure may take you out of the running for a job. If you cannot afford to pay someone to review your cover letter and résumé, enlist a friend or a family member with good language skills to do it instead.

Another misguided thing people do is to make the cover letter all about them: “I did this, I’m looking for, I want to ... I, I, I.” Structure your letter so that it stresses the company and what you can do to help it reach its goals, Ms. Piotrowski and others said.

Another danger is including too much information — for example, very specific salary or geographic requirements, Ms. Enelow said. It is also unwise to point out that you do not meet all the criteria in the job description, she said. You can deal with that later, if you get an interview.

Hiring managers are looking for ways to exclude you as they narrow down their applications, she said. Do not give them that ammunition.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/jobs/15career.html

Radio Monk33 · 02-22-2009, 09:37 PM

The key thing to keep in your mind for any cover letter, and especially one in which you're not an exact match to the position qualifications, is to show what you can do for them.

Good luck, I'm working on the job search process myself.

AudreeArrington · 11-14-2009, 02:05 AM

Thanks for all the advice! Good luck, I'm working on the job search process myself.

02-16-2009, 02:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Cover letter suggestions I'm trying to decide what to say in a cover letter for a job I don't have any direct qualifications for. Basically I got my bachelor's in Psych and am not going toward that career path. All my work experience is in education, another line I don't want to follow. So when posting a cover letter, what the heck should I say (besides the obvious "hi I'm X and applying for X thanks sincerely..." I'm thinking something that say's nothing but conveys my professionalism and intelligence. Or would that just seem empty? Any tips? thoughts? Maybe I just shouldn't send one at all if I have nothing important to say and just send my resume.

02-16-2009, 05:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	You should definitely send a cover letter if it's a cold call. Just say WHY you want the job and why you think you'll be good at it if not any qualifications. __________________ "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln

02-16-2009, 08:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	Instead of saying "I am applying for blah blah".....say "I would like to talk to you about blah blah....... Address the letter to the person who is responsible for hiring that position. If you don't know the name, then find out. In your closing give the phone number that you can be reached at, and say that you are looking forward to hearing from them. A few days after the letter should have arrived, call and talk to the person to follow up. Somewhere in the letter you need to talk about what you can do for them and why you would be a good fit. If you want more feedback, post your letter and we will give you constructive criticism. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

02-17-2009, 12:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	It's all about bigging up your transferable skills... this may help you get started... Sample Cover Letter - Career Change __________________ There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

02-22-2009, 09:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Radio Monk33 Psycho	The key thing to keep in your mind for any cover letter, and especially one in which you're not an exact match to the position qualifications, is to show what you can do for them. Good luck, I'm working on the job search process myself. __________________ "Punk rock had this cool, political personal message. It was a bit more cerebral than just stupid cock rock, you know" -Kurt Cobain

02-17-2009, 10:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
vinceco252 Upright Location: Keller, TX	Another good tactic is to put something specific about the company in the letter to show that you are interested and have taken the time to research.

02-17-2009, 01:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
braisler Addict Location: Midway, KY	In your case, your cover letter is your chance to explain why your previous employment and education don't really fit the norm of the industry where you are applying. Highlight what skills you do have that you feel will be useful to the company. Express why you are interested in making this career change. And yes, research the company and the higher official as much as possible. Address your letter to them and address the challenges the company may face and how you can apply your skills to the benefit of the company.

02-18-2009, 08:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Thanks for all the advice!

11-14-2009, 02:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
AudreeArrington Upright	Hi Thanks for all the advice! Good luck, I'm working on the job search process myself.