The Three Key Elements

of a Perfect Cover Letter

It’s arguable as to whether it is worse for someone to reject you outright or to just ignore you completely -

- but in the hypercompetitive world of the job seeker it isall too easy set oneself up for either outcome if onedoesn’t go in swinging for the fences with an attention-grabbing cover letter.

The cover letter is the first and in all too many cases the only thing that a headhunter or hiring manager will see in a resume package.

If it doesn’t jump out of the pile and scream “look at me” in the first thirty seconds it’s going into the round file and that job is going to go to somebody else:

- the person whose cover letter did jump out and grab the attention. There are three key components to an eye-catching cover letter that stands out:

Personality

Give your cover letter some personality.

Most of your job-seeking competition will use resume and cover-letter templates from the internet, and most of them will look and read exactly the same.

While it’s important to maintain good professional form, it’s just as important to give your prospective employer a sense of who you are as a person.

Most of the substance is in the resume; the cover letter is an ideal place to show a bit of your style and how it will contribute to your job performance.

For instance, if the position is for a financial advisor, then you can explain how your personal approach to and viewof the markets would convince the customer that youradvice is beneficial,

- and how those things will also benefit the company in achieving its goals.

Character

The resume is a fairly straightforward collection of facts and dates, and the structure leaves little room for elaboration.

In keeping with the idea of personalization, the cover letter is ideal for adding in relevant information that doesn’t fit into the format of the resume.

It’s a good place to briefly expand on things like additional education, outside interests that are relevant to one’s field, or services to the community.

Do your homework about the job and the company; tell them a few things that they might not know or might be surprised that you would know.

Every company has its own tone and language in its communications; emulate that tone and use its own phrasings and keywords in describing your fitness for the position.

Action

Most people approach a job search as if they’re asking for something. Make your cover letter an offer of something: your service, experience, and loyalty.

Don’t come across as timid or as if the company is doing you a favor. Show them your ambition and initiative.

Following the example for the position above: Find out who the finance industry recruiter is, address them by name, and make it a communication between equals.

Tell him when and where you’ll be available to meet him for the interview, and that you will contact him again by a certain time if you haven’t heard from him.

Do not succeed at gaining his attention just to leave the ball in his court.

Every job worth having has at least a few applicants that are also worth having.

A short scan of one piece of paper is often all that makes the difference between any given applicant and an interviewee.

A financial advisor needs to have a quality of salesmanship about her, but she might not be a very naturally persuasive writer.

Taking the time to craft a colorful, descriptive, and actionable cover letter may make all the difference between pounding the streets for a job and enjoying a fulfilling career.

To get the job you wanted, you need to create a cover letter that shows how great an asset you are for the company.

If you are looking for a job in the finance industry call our finance recruiters to learn more about available positions.

Check our listings here:www.willis-consulting.com/financial-advisor-jobs

Willis Consulting, Inc.

Los Angeles Office: Corporate Headquarters719 Yarmouth Road, Suite 203Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274310-373-7400 PST

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