How To Write a Good Cover Letter

1. Be sure to address your cover letter --by name and title -- to the person who could actually hire you. When it's impossible to learn their name, use their functional title, such as "Dear Manager." You may have to guess ("Dear Selection Committee") but never say "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam"!

2. Show that you know a little about the company, and that you are aware of their current problems, interests, or priorities.

3. Express your enthusiasm and interest in this line of work and this company. If you have a good idea that might help the employer resolve a problem currently facing their industry, offer to come in and discuss it.

4. Project warmth and friendliness, while still being professional. Avoid any generic phrases such as "Enclosed please find." This is a letter to a real live person!

5. Make a personal link to a specific individual in that company, if at all possible -- also called "name dropping." For example, "My neighbor, Phil Lyons, works in your research-and-development department, and from what he tells me about the company and its current directions, I think I could be a good fit for your team."

6. Set yourself apart from the crowd. Identify at least one thing about you that's unique -- say a special talent for getting along with everybody at work, or some unusual skill that goes beyond the essential requirements of the position -- something that distinguishes you AND is relevant to the job. (Then, if several others are equally qualified for the job, your uniqueness may be the reason to choose YOU.)

7. Be specific about what you are asking for and what you are offering. Make it clear which position you're applying for and just what experience or skill you have that relates to that position.

8. Take the initiative about the next step whenever possible, and be specific. "I'll call your office early next week to see if we could meet soon and discuss this job opening," for example. OR -- if you're exploring for UN-announced jobs that my come up -- "I'll call your office next week to see if we could meet soon, to discuss your company's needs for help in the near future."

9. Keep it brief -- a few short paragraphs, all on one page.

After the Job Interview

Thank-You Letters

Almost immediately after an interview, you should write a thank-you letter to the interviewer(s). You can use e-mail to do this, but sending a letter or card is more thoughtful.

If more than one person was involved in interviewing, sending a note to each one would be awesome. Remembering names of people we have met briefly in an interview situation is beyond most of us. However, if you jot down their names on your notepad, request a business card at the interview, or call the office and request names, your effort will be worth it. Since so few people do this, you will really be memorable. If you cannot obtain their names, send a letter to the head interviewer and address it to the that person and the interview panel.

Thank-you letters should express gratitude for the interview opportunity, particular attention or kindness shown to you, assistance provided, or other experience that provided a memorable occasion for you (other than the terror of the interview, of course!).

Reconfirm your interest in working for the company and indicate that you hope to hear positive news soon.

Just sending a thank-you letter creates a favorable impression, unless it is illegible, poorly spelled, or grammatically incorrect.

You can make your thank-you letter work harder than that. If you feel you didn't provide a complete or totally correct answer to a question in the interview, you can use your letter to clarify your response or to show that you cared enough to seek more information. Don't attempt to clarify more than one or two points, or you could talk yourself out of a job! Restate the contribution that you can make to the company.

Following Up

If you do not hear from the interviewer by the time he or she indicated, or within a reasonable amount of time from your interview - two weeks or so, you should call or e-mail the interviewer to inquire about the status of their selection process.

If a decision has not yet been made, ask the interviewer when he or she believes it will be made. If you have another offer, but would like to know about this interview outcome before making a decision, tell the interviewer. It may speed up the process.

If a decision has been made and you are selected, congratulations! If you were not selected, try to find out what the interviewer would recommend to you that could improve your chances at your next interview. This is a non-threatening way of trying to discover why you were not selected, but it will also help you in future interviews.

Second Interviews

Many organizations rely on second, or even third interviews, to make hiring decisions. If you are chosen for a second interview, indicate your pleasure at being selected. Ask what the format will be for the second round. If you do not already have an idea, you can ask what the salary range is for the position before deciding whether to go further. Most companies that offer second interviews are very competitive with their salary offers anyway, so you don't need to ask unless it is really important to you. Wait to discuss salary specifics until the job offer is made. Don't hang up before discovering the name and title of the interviewer, where and when the interview will take place, and what the travel arrangements are.

Second interviews are required by employers who use the first interview as more of an introduction to see if you will fit as part of their team. The second interview, then, will probably be more in-depth. It may include more job-related questions, hands-on experiences, and/or meeting with more than one person. Be yourself, your best self, and you will ultimately have a positive experience.

The best thing about second interviews is that it usually provides you the opportunity to view the organization in action and to meet some of the people with whom you will be working.

Remember, you are trying to decide an important part of your future. Is this an organization with which you will feel comfortable and which offers you the opportunities you seek? Observation can provide a large part of the answer.

Interview Preparation Guide.

Interview Preparation Guide.

A day or two before an interview you should take the time to really think about how you want the interview to go, what impression you want to leave on the employer and what unique pitch you will use to stand out from other applicants. Equally important, think about what items on your resume you do not want to spend a lot of time on and come up with ways to transition from that particular experience to others that you would like to highlight more.

Next, throughly research the employer, and when possible, the position. Be sure to ask for at least a title, if not a detailed description of exactly what position they are interviewing you for. Then list the 3 or 4 strong qualifications that you bring to the table. This way, you know going in what they are looking for and why you are a good fit.

There is a time and a place for name dropping, and interviewing is one of them. Review any names or details that could be helpful to reference during your discussion. If you are the networking type, go back through your PDA and find the exact date of the dinner party where you met the person who passed along your resume. If you used a job search engine, recall what day you first saw the advertisement and perhaps the detail that helped the posting stand out. If the organization reached out to you, recall the Human Resources contact who first gave you the call or e-mail. It never hurts to compliment their friendly conduct, and helps create a positive, thoughtful persona.

From here the old adage rings true: “Practice makes perfect.” Make a list of questions that you think the employer might ask. Think through how you would want to answer them. Your goal is to leave the ideal impression, highlighting your best selling points and avoiding weaker aspects of your experience. Typing this out (and saving it) can help you not just prepare for this interview, but all future interviews as well (including your year end review!)

Once you have come up with some sample questions, ask a trusted friend to help you role play through a few of them randomly. The employer ultimately controls the flow of an interview and role playing can help prepare you to bounce between subjects and think quickly. Your friend may also be able to point out any nervous quirks you might have or important details that you are leaving out.

The night before the interview, after you have crafted your pitch and researched the employer, make sure to print out directions to the office. Pick out your clothes, relax with a book and get to bed early. In the morning, eat a non-offensive breakfast to hold you over and make sure to drink your coffee. It is show time