| How to Create Your Cover Letter, Part 4 |
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Conclude Your Letter with Proposed Next Steps Now that the resume screener is excited about what you have to offer based on the three highlighted bullet statements you provided, tell him what you aim to have happen next specifically, to review your resume, have you in for an interview, or to expect your call: Additional details about my background are provided on the enclosed resume. I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you further about the JOB TITLE position and how I might benefit your organization in this role. In the next few days, I will follow up with you to confirm receipt of these materials, and to determine a logical next step. P.S....Finish Strong! You re in the home stretch now, and need only to finalize your letter with a few closing elements: a classic, "Sincerely" or "Best regards," your signature (if you're submitting hardcopy materials), and possibly a postscript. Savvy marketers know that a P.S. is one of the most widely read parts of a letter, and might offer the ideal opportunity for you to communicate something especially important about your background. Here's an example: P.S. I read a recent article in the Timed Daily about your move into South American markets. Please note on my resume that I speak fluent Spanish, and I assisted my last employer with a similar market expansion, with excellent results. You might be thinking, "This cover letter format seems too 'light.' Shouldn't I be including statements about my character, such as my work ethic and loyalty?" Good question, and the answer is...in general, no. Why? Because it's very difficult to describe your positive qualities in a few sentences and have them come across clearly and sincerely. (Be honest...you've tried this before, haven't you? And it most likely didn't go well.) For example, consider the statement, "I am a hard worker and devoted to going the extra mile to get the job done." Most people, when they read a statement like this, think to themselves, "Yeah? Prove it..." rather than, "Oh, goody...a hardworking, extra-mile kinda guy!" Another reason not to include difficult-to-prove statements about your character is that most other job searchers are attempting to do the same thing (ineffectively, I'll add!). So instead of saying you're an awesome person, show it in your cover letter by including a few powerful pieces of evidence. |
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