Anthony Said:

Resume Cover Letters?

We Answered:

here is a website with a few samples.

http://www.resume-resource.com/covers.ht…

I've read a lot of resumes in my years in management. My best advice is KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid.

If you are applying to a published ad, so are dozens if not hundreds of other people. The people reading these resumes and covers are busy people. I only gave the cover a cursory glance to see if anything popped out at me. I did take notice that most covers were pretty generic. Meaning that you could be sending your resume to me and to 50 other jobs.

Make your cover letter personalized. As if my company was the only one you were sending your resume to. For example:

I would like to explore a career with your company. (non-personal)
vs.
My name is John Smith and I have 5 years of widget manufacturing experience as well as a Masters of Widget Technology. The reason I would like to join International Widgets is .....

In two sentences your cover has given me what your 1 page resume will show and you have personalized your cover letter to ME. If I'm sitting infront of 20 resumes.. your's gets put into the "I want to know more pile".

Just my opinion of course. I'm not a professional hiring agent, human resources guru, resume guru. Just the guy that has looked at 100's of these things over the years.