Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high with cover letters and resumes to sort through. Which of the following cover letter greetings would grab your attention?
Example #1:
Dear Sirs: Dear Sir/Madam: Dear Gentlemen: To whom it may concern:
Example #2:
Dear Manager: Dear HR Director: Dear Human Resources:
Example #3:
Dear Mrs. Thomas: Dear Mr. Friedman: Dear Sally Williams:
Clearly Example #3 is the best of the bunch because the job-seeker has taken time to find out your name and to spell it correctly.
Consider how you'd feel if you received a cover letter that said Dear Sir or Madam, or worse yet, 'To whom it may concern.' No one will be concerned if you address your cover letter to no one in particular!
Remember, there is nothing as sweet to the ear as the sound of ones name.
Exercise this simple secret and your cover letter will rise to the top of the pile!
"But I don't know who to address my cover letter to!"
If you don't have this information, take time to get it. Call the company. For jobs posted online this may be a challenge. But still, go the extra mile. Then at the very least address your letter to the appropriate entity. Example: Hiring manager; HR Director; etc.
Secret Tip For Emergency Situations
If the name is unavailable, use one of the greetings in Example #2 and add this personal note.
Please Note: I'm sorry for this impersonal greeting on my cover letter. I was unable to get your name online. However, I look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person so I can address you by name and discuss this job opening. I am highly interested in working for {company name}.
This one-two punch would surely grab someone's attention. You are showing your respect and more important, that you care.
This secret tip alone quickly turns a potential negative into a positive that could make the difference between acceptance and rejection.
The bottom line: When you target your cover letter to a specific person by name, you greatly increase your chances of landing the interview, and ultimately the job you desire.
So before you write your next cover letter, ask yourself this essential question: Who, specifically, will be concerned about what I have to say in this cover letter? That person has a name and it sure isn't, "To whom it may concern!"
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy has written several career-related books and his unique articles are always a job-seeker favorite. Who else wants their phone ringing off the hook with more quality job interviews? Visit Jimmy on the web right now at http://www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com for your 'instant' cover letter today.
Any job seeker looking for sample resumes usually doesn't have... Read More
Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge.... Read More
When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you,... Read More
Strange jobs? How do we define that? Years ago I... Read More
Learning how to type a resume may feel like a... Read More
Yes, it's still possible to be upwardly mobile in America:... Read More
Do you remember your parents asking you what you want... Read More
Building and expanding a business is a difficult task, when... Read More
Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter,... Read More
Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision... Read More
Most of us were brought up to study hard, get... Read More
Common sense appears to be a rare commodity these days.... Read More
Interning is about more than earning money during summer break.... Read More
Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty... Read More
May I clarify in this article what I believe to... Read More
An interviewer's mission is to assess your qualifications compared to... Read More
Is your résumé getting lost in a flood of résumés?... Read More
Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation... Read More
There is an end to the job search tunnel!It has... Read More
Are you considering another trip through the career maze? Attending... Read More
A trade show is a great place to network, look... Read More
There are lots of free resume examples (or free resume... Read More
Want to get hired faster than up to 97% of... Read More
Many people love learning languages or would like to learn... Read More
The number one etiquette tip for interviews is writing a... Read More
Make sure that your resume is up to date with... Read More
Work at Home Jobs vs Owning a Home Based BusinessNot... Read More
In one of my past lives I held a Top... Read More
Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and... Read More
The "hard" skills necessary for an executive protection specialist (EPS)... Read More
Job security is an out dated concept. The idea is... Read More
I believe it would be safe to say that the... Read More
Don't start off your job search with one (or more)... Read More
You're a scientist, you're very well educated, you're intelligent, and... Read More
Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel... Read More
The temptation to lie on a resume is great! How... Read More
Sometimes missing a critical meeting just can't be helped. Despite... Read More
Do you dislike making decisions and avoid the challenge whenever... Read More
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New GraduatesThis... Read More
I referenced the circus because I just finished another interviewing... Read More
Ah, the technical interview. Nothing like it. Not only does... Read More
Are you in denial about the lifelessness of your resume?... Read More
Moving into a new job always involves some degree of... Read More
Writing an effective résumé can certainly be challenging. There are... Read More
Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!We can... Read More
Building a career as an artist takes hard work. Because... Read More
If you've chosen a business career, you will inevitably experience... Read More
So you've managed to secure a job interview for a... Read More
What is the biggest mistake people make with resumes?People write... Read More
Jobs and employment on the Costa BlancaThe Council of Europe... Read More
It's amazing to see so many people who are prepared... Read More
Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You... Read More
Effectively present all of your IT skills with the IT... Read More
For the person crafting their first résumé the task can... Read More
Use Proposal Marketing and you'll be your own hot spot,... Read More
A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is... Read More
Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot... Read More
Sample resume objectives. When a harried and possibly panicked job... Read More
Powerful questions to get below the surface1. Ask for specific... Read More
Many years ago searching for a federal job was a... Read More
Being a student, a person needs to look for summer... Read More
You've probably been taught not to stereotype people based on... Read More
"They say my résumé should be only one page long.... Read More
In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult... Read More
Mystery shoppers. For some it conjures up images of private... Read More
Question: How do I market myself online?Answer: With a stellar... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |