Comments on: Top Five Tips for Writing Killer Cover Letters

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:32:44 +0000

For the first time yesterday I did just that. I followed up my application with a phone call to ascertain my suitability. I did not want to waste my time researching the company, etc before the first round of interview if I was not going to be on their long list. The recruiter took my call and confirmed that I need more sector experience and as a result was unlikely to be shortlisted. It was worth it. I have now connected with the guy on Linkedin. There will be other opportunities.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:01:27 +0000

Regarding #4 – What do you put if there is no hiring manager listed on the job posting? Where would you send a follow-up email if it is a big corporation and you are submitting online?

By: Top Posts « WordPress.com

Top Posts « WordPress.com — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:18:34 +0000

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By: Hubby

Hubby — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:49:36 +0000

It seems to me that if the hiring manager is irritated at the follow-up call or doesn’t want to take it, then you probably weren’t in the running for the job anyway. So nothing is truly lost with the effort.

But if you are one of the handful being considered then it would seem to show real interest in the position. In which case it wouldn’t be irritating at all and could help land the interview.

By: Still Life in South America

Still Life in South America — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:07:10 +0000

Hi Jane,

These are great tips. I’ve been preaching the advantages of cover letters for years as a business writing professor. It’s a shame we have moved way from them with so many online submissions.

I, too, was a little surprised by #4, but I like your statement: “If the hiring manager does not want to take your call, he won’t. What exactly do you have to lose?”

By: queendenise36

queendenise36 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:45:13 +0000

Your article on writing cover letters give me insight on ways impress a potential employer by using resume and professional written cover letterI apprecate the tips.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:31:14 +0000

The follow up. Yeah, a call perhaps might construed as pushy, but an email sounds OK to me. In the cover letter, just say “I will follow up with you in a few days”. Leave it open, and then just send an email.

Jane said “What happens if they never received your resume?” Indeed. That happened to me once. Luckily, they got the application and they emailed me for the resume. But they didn’t have to.

By: How to Write the Start (and End) to a Resume Cover Letter | career-line.com

How to Write the Start (and End) to a Resume Cover Letter | career-line.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:22:46 +0000

[...] her tips for Tips for Writing Killer Cover Letters, she addressed the openers and suggested those like mine would to poor results. Everyone knows that [...]

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:16:05 +0000

To the folks who find it pushy to follow up with a phone call after sending in a resume and cover letter, I totally understand your hesitation. For many of us — especially if you are not in sales — this feels awkward. BUT, I think it’s important to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and make the extra effort. If the hiring manager does not want to take your call, he won’t. What exactly do you have to lose? I think I neglected to say one thing on this. If you are replying to an ad that specifically says “no phone calls,” then don’t call. That would be annoying. No reason, however, not to follow up with an email. What happens if they never received your resume? Or, it got lost in the crowd? Again, what will it hurt to try?

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:10:56 +0000

Guilty as charged. But this is a very different forum. My tone and writing are quite casual. William Safire would rip me apart when it comes to my blog. BUT, this is not a cover letter. A cover letter has to be professional and conservative in its form. My suggestion, by the way, is to have a friend or spouse proofread your cover letters and resumes prior to sending them out. We are all too close to our own writing to recognize our typos. Thanks for writing and I hope you will visit again, even if you find my writing to be grammatically incorrect.