How NOT TO Write a Cover Letter By Michael Rosner

Jan 5
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How NOT to Write a Cover Letter

By Michael Rosner

Logic would dictate that when one answers a job posting, they would enclose a cover letter. In brief a cover letter is formulated to fit the job you are answering, to enhance the “sales” pitch you are making about yourself, and to include attributes that you would not normally include in your resume/CV. little stuff like, I am always punctual, I am a team player etc. Logic also dictates, that when you reply to a job you would reference the job (in reference to your accounting position) job # if given (in reference to your account position ref # 12345 etc) and where you saw the job posted, or who may have recommended the job to you (assuming that person is tied into the company that you are applying to).

So in essence, not to sound repetitive, you start either before or after the salutary part of the letter (Dear so and so)by saying;  In reference to your account position, ref. # 12345 as seen posted on the OU Job Board I am ….. You can even put this before the salutary by doing

Job: Accounting Position

Ref #: 1234

Source: OU Job Board

 

Dear So and So.

 

You would then follow up with a short (no more than 3 short sentences in a paragraph) infomercial what you saw that interested you in the job and how your talents fit that job. If you have worked for a longer time on the market you are accorded 2 short paragraphs 2-3 sentences each. End the paragraph by saying however impressive my resume is it does not replace a personal interview where I can shine best etc.

 

Of course all of the above is logical and seemingly universally known. However to my surprise and bewilderment this is not the case! I can’t tell you how disappointing it is to see highly qualified individuals from doctors to lawyers, accountants to IT, throwing away their chance of getting a job by doing the following

  • Enclosed is my resume please get back to me
  • I am perfect for your job
  • No cover letter at all????
  • I really don’t have any qualifications for your job but since you are an IT company and I know IT I figured I can send you my resume if something pops up
  • My dad(wife cousin brother-in-law, step uncles sisters cousin 5 times removed, pet) told me to write this cover letter
  • I am a divorced mother of 3 looking for a fulfilling job with your company

 

This is not a way to get a job. However I guarantee this IS the way to never get a job with that company!

 

By the way, it was only a short time ago that cover letters were deemed not useful or needed. That has changed over the past 6-8 months where a cover letter is now used to determine who will get an interview if more than one person is applying. They look at a cover letter as a narrative.

 

Since I’m on the topic of pet peeves, I also must mention a growing tendency to write resume in a JPEG or PDF format. Sometimes your e-mail and personal information is not able to be copied. So if I am interested in setting up an appointment with you via e-mail, and I can’t copy and paste your e-mail address into my e-mail field, you further impair your chances of being contacted. Although PDF is a great format, MS WORD is the most usable format to write a resume on. Please do yourself a favor and submit your resumes using Word. Not all employers (especially smaller employers) know what to do with a PDF. In today’s workplace, you need every leg up you can get.

 

If you want to get an idea of how you should write a cover letter, you can go onto the OU Job Board (www.oujobs.org) or a million other places that will educate you in how to compose a cover letter. If you take a drop more time prior to responding to a job and write a correct short cover letter, you will enhance your chances and prevent me from saying “OMG how does he expect to get a job like this” Please have pity (rachmon’s) on us!

 

Good Luck

B’ Hatzlacha

Michael Srulie Rosner

About Michael "Srulie" Rosner

Michael Rosner is the International Director of the OU Job Board. Applying his 25+ years of experience in the business world to the Non-Profit sector, Michael has grown the OU Job Board into the largest Jewish Job Board worldwide. More than 6,000 people have been put back to work since he assumed the Job Board position four years ago, and Srulie has managed to retrain and retool close to 5,000 people in various skills over just the past two years. Michael keeps up with his 400,000 constituents through his blogging and direct e- mail campaigns, allowing people to touch base with the OU Job Board and utilize the variety of social services it now provides.

A China “expert” by trade, Michael‘s ability to communicate with all types of personalities and to break down complicated issues into practical levels made him a successful CEO and master salesman throughout his career. Michael has a BA in economics with honors as well as a Rabbinic ordination from HaRav Reuven Feinstein of Yeshiva of Staten Island.

He has been and is involved in various local community boards, charitable institutions and outreach programs on a local and national basis

Michael resides on Staten Island with his wife Judy. His two children, now married, along with his six grandchildren, live in the greater New York -New Jersey area.