| Imagine that you are the hiring manager, and have | | | | the risk; others, though, may be suspicious, jealous or |
| advertised what you know to be a great job; you | | | | even dismissive. Bear in mind you are also asking |
| know also that there will be over 100 applicants, | | | | them to take a risk by applying for their advertised |
| perhaps several hundred. From your experience, you | | | | job. They depend on making successful recruitments |
| know most of the applications will look much the | | | | for their own career. You have an uphill task in |
| same; you enter the office where you will do the | | | | getting an interview, more so than other applicants. It |
| initial sifting with a distinct lack of enthusiasm; and | | | | is therefore even more important that your cover |
| there you see it, a great pile of job applications and | | | | letter makes a deep and lasting impression that will |
| resumes. You want to clear the junk and get down | | | | carry through the resume and interview process. |
| to just a few serious applicants, and you want to do | | | | While your cover letter will not be as long as the |
| it quickly, so you can enjoy the rest of the selection | | | | resume itself, it does need to be more concentrated; |
| process. | | | | as you create the letter, you should have in mind |
| At this stage, you do not want to read resumes; | | | | that its purpose is to get your resume read and an |
| some are overly long and would keep you there day | | | | interview to follow. You should think what the hiring |
| and night. So what do you see first that will make | | | | manager is looking for and what problems the |
| your decision for you? The answer is the cover | | | | employer's wishes to solve by making the |
| letter. To get that 100 plus pile whittled down to | | | | appointment, think how you can solve their problems, |
| maybe ten or so, you will look for those resume | | | | and then embed those solutions firmly into your |
| cover letters that strike you, and take a closer look. | | | | cover letter. You need to convince him or her that |
| That is why a cover letter is critical, and if you are | | | | the experience, skills and training, as well as attitude, |
| embarking on a career change, the career change | | | | which you can bring with you from a different |
| cover letter becomes even more important. | | | | career, are exactly what the employer needs and will |
| Changing your career is a big move, and some hiring | | | | benefit from. |
| managers may be impressed that you would take | | | | |