A cover letter is an additional document to the submitted resume.
If you send yours to a serious company with a well-known name (brand), then
to compiling cover letter requirements are quite high.
The document must be issued on a separate sheet; all details, which include the date of compilation, title, signature, name and address of the recipient - must be placed in accordance with the rules and requirements for registration business letters.
If sent by e-mail, then the cover letter, respectively, should be attached in Word document format.
A resume sent by e-mail to less eminent and prestigious companies can accompany a well-written text in the body of the letter, without placing it on a separate sheet.
At the same time, contact information, initials (or first and last name) and last name should be visible.
A short version of the cover letter looks like this (examples 1-3):
Cover letter for resume Example 1.
Dear Valeria,
in response to your "Acquisition Specialist wholesale customers”, published in the Salary and Job magazine, I am sending my resume. Ready to provide any Additional information to consider my candidacy.
Best wishes,
Petrova Elena, tel. 8-917-121-12-12
Example 2
Good afternoon, Anastasia.
In the resume file attached to the letter. I am applying for the position of credit manager. Information about the vacancy is taken from the site I would be extremely grateful if you do not leave your resume without attention.
Example 3
Dear Ivan Ivanovich,
I ask you to consider mine for the vacant position of a system administrator, deputy head of the IT department.
I will be glad to receive an invitation for an interview from you.
Sincerely, Petrova Elena, tel. 8-917-121-12-12
Extended cover letter
(which is intended for European and American organizations professing the style of personnel management) is compiled according to a similar scheme. It is necessary to reflect in the body of the cover letter:
1. Title (title) of the position (admissible - two similar or related positions), for which the resume is sent; it is also desirable to mark from which source (website, newspaper) you learned about the vacant position (s); offering oneself as a candidate.
Example 4:
After reading the information on your website, I found out that your company has opened a recruitment for vacant positions in the field of sanitary control of meat and dairy raw materials.
In this regard, I would like to offer for consideration my candidacy for a vacancy related to the implementation of the function of sanitary and veterinary control, quality control finished products and raw materials.
I believe that my knowledge and work experience can be useful both in the position of a specialist in the procurement of meat and dairy raw materials, and in the position of head of the sanitary control service.
2. A very concise, but informative and accurate summary of the resume, which aims to confirm the conformity of your personal and professional qualities the position for which you are applying.
3. Your desire and willingness to give back, work and professional growth in the area indicated in the position of the direction, and better - within the walls of this company.
Example 5:
All my professional skills and knowledge, as well as expectations of further advancement, are in the field of working with clients and active direct sales (both at the administrative and executive levels).
I currently have over 6 years of direct sales experience in the B2B market in the manufacturing field, as well as experience in a leadership position in this field for the last two years of work.
As Head of Sales for last place I was personally responsible for the results and activities of the sales department in the field of B2B (cosmetology and medical equipment).
Example 6:
I have been carrying out successful activities for several years in this area in the system of state customs and veterinary regulatory authorities, I have experience of cooperation and established contacts with both leading domestic companies food industry, and with the largest foreign suppliers. The attached resume will give an idea of my potential opportunities, qualifications and professional experience.
4. Your readiness for, during which you will present information about yourself in more detail.
5. Contact details.
Example 7:
I will gladly accept an offer to meet and tell a little more about my potential and work experience. You can contact me by e-mail ... or by phone ...
Sincerely,…
Example 8:
I will be happy to answer all your questions during the interview if you are interested. You can contact me by e-mail… Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,…
cover letter sample
A cover letter is not universal for all areas and types of vacancies you are interested in.
Due to the fact that different people are the addressee of the letter, the text of the letter will also differ, in accordance with each vacancy of interest, it will change slightly.
A cover letter always refers to a specific position in a specific organization.
Those who at least once encountered the job search process most likely paid attention to the “add a cover letter” item. Most often, job seekers ignore this opportunity, not realizing how much the presence of such an add-on can increase the applicant's chances of getting the desired position. But how to write a letter correctly? How to make the employer pay attention to your candidacy?
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To write or not to write
To write or not to write a cover letter is everyone's business. But before making a choice, it is better to find out more about what it is for, and whether employers pay attention to such additions.
Firstly, a cover letter is an addition to a resume that can create your image more correctly, it helps to reveal your abilities and emphasize the fact that this or that company needs an employee like you.
Unfortunately, practice shows that more than half of applicants neglect the opportunity to make a more favorable impression. Sometimes we are simply so unsure of ourselves that we cannot correctly represent our advantages, for fear of coming across as a braggart and a fabricator.
Approximately 30% of Russians actively use this option, believing that some addition to the resume will increase their chances of filling a particular position. And, it should be noted, they are absolutely right. This opinion is absolutely justified, since the data is taken from surveys of both novice recruiters and experienced headhunters.
Hiring professionals look for resumes that provide the most information before meeting the respondent. This helps them to weed out not quite suitable people even before the interview, and, thereby, save time, which, as everyone knows, is priceless.
Personnel officers pay attention to individuals who are able, no matter how rude it may sound, to sell themselves. They believe that a person who is able to declare himself as a professional, able to attract attention, and convince of his innocence, will be able to adequately represent the company on the market.
What’s more, among the several thousand HR officers interviewed, more than 600 responded that they don’t even look at applications without emails attached to them.
It should be noted that this trend appeared several years ago, and earlier it was present only in the Western labor market. Now, our specialists have gained experience and learned how to optimize their time and appreciate their work.
A potential employee also gets rid of the need to attend absolutely all interviews, even in those places in which he obviously does not fit.
Learn to value yourself and your time!
What do employers in Russia think about it?
As mentioned above, modern HR managers have a positive attitude towards cover letters. This is especially true for those positions that involve sales and direct communication with people.
Of course, there are also “old-school” personnel officers who may consider a cover letter to be bragging, but, most likely, such people will not be kept in reputable companies. And why do you exchange for frivolous organizations?
Considering the general fashion for trainings, coaching, and similar types of personal and professional development, it can be assumed that in a year or two, all employers will completely turn their attention to the presence of additional support.
If you plan to build a career and achieve high results, you need to learn how to write letters correctly. We will talk about how to do this next.
Choosing a writing style
The first thing to understand is compliance business style and having a sense of proportion when writing a cover letter. Praise yourself, of course, you need. But it must be done in such a way that potential employer made the necessary conclusions about you on your own.
Even if you have a hidden (or even obvious) writing talent, put it off until the end of the application process. You should also not use complex turns, ask rhetorical questions, and create intrigue, such as: “I know how to sell snow ... in winter ... to an Eskimo! Do you want to know my secret?" No no and one more time no. No one will appreciate such humor, and it is really very easy to take it for boasting and arrogance.
Of course, having received such a letter, the recruiter may want to see you with his own eyes, but not in order to get a mysterious recipe for selling snow, but in order to put you in your place. Yes, yes, and it happens.
Cover letter structure
We figured out the main purpose of writing a cover letter - it is to attract attention and cause a desire to continue communication.
Let's figure out how to properly structure a letter so that you want to read it to the end, which will significantly increase your chances of success.
What NOT to do:
- Tell jokes. Do not try to poison jokes or write comments with emoticons. This is terrible and inappropriate.
- Describe the pages of your life that have nothing to do with the desired position. Even if you carry things to a shelter and take kittens from a tree, do not write this in your cover letter.
- Use slang expressions and obscene language.
- Offend the previous boss and the team. Phrases like: “I quit my previous job because I couldn’t work under the supervision of a boor, a tyrant, and a dumbass” will put you in an unfavorable light, but not the ex-boss.
- Jump from topic to topic, destroying the logic of presentation.
So, we figured out what to avoid. It's time to consider an example of a good cover letter. It should consist of:
- Greetings, for which it is better to choose the forms “good morning / afternoon / time of day”.
- An indication of the person who is represented in the vacancy as a manager or person responsible for personnel. For example: "Good afternoon, Sergey Stanislavovich."
- Link to the place where you found out about the vacancy: “It says on the job.ru website that you are looking for a manager sales department". If you are sending a request to email, but you use the services of official portals, then you do not need to indicate obvious things.
- Let's get to the heart of the matter. In two or three sentences, we tell why we so want to work for this particular company. Attention! Not in this position, but in this company. In order to formulate everything correctly, find out something about the enterprise that you intend to become a part of. For example: “I would like (a) to become a part of your company / firm / holding, because I like your approach to making sales / attracting customers, etc. I consider it the most effective and actively used it (I want to use it) in my work.”
- We describe our advantages without copying everything directly from the resume. It is better to write: “I am suitable for this position because I have a successful experience with these systems / I have ideas for business development and improvement of results.”
- Contrary to stereotypes, you should not describe your ambitions and "Napoleonic" plans, unless of course you are asked about it.
- Eliminate excuses. If you were fired or out of work for some period of time, you should not pay attention to this.
- Forget about templates from the category: “I am easily trained (a), I am plasticine, sculpt anything out of me” or “I am stress-resistant (a) and punctual (a)”. It's trite and just annoying for people who have to read it every day. Have pity on them.
- In the final part, express your readiness to answer any questions by phone, e-mail, or a personal meeting. After these words, indicate all contacts. But what if they are listed on the resume? It's OK, Business Etiquette requires contact information in the letter.
Design rules
You need to format a cover letter the same way as any business correspondence:
Let's just say that honesty is good. But count on the fact that the headhunter sheds tears from the phrase: "I have no experience, but I will do my best to learn."
Yes, you may not have the right experience, you may have just graduated from high school. This is not a reason to despair, but you should not relax either. You need to be ready for any work, at least theoretically. Research everything you can about the position and be sure to mention sources in your cover letter.
I have no formal experience in this area, but I worked remotely in order to see the scheme of work "from the inside". Attending trainings, and, moreover, having certificates, will be a plus, so do not forget to mention them.
Compliment the company's approach with justification, such as: “I love the way you use total immersion in language learning. I consider this technique one of the most effective and would be happy to test all my knowledge in practice.
Finishing touches
- After the text is typed, be sure to check the spelling, no matter what position you apply for. Being illiterate is not good.
- Go through all the required items. Is everything in place?
- Check the spelling of your email address and phone number.
- Align the margins and choose the appropriate font. It is better to give preference to the classics: Times New Roman, size 12.
The cover letter is an supporting document to the submitted resume.
If you are sending your resume to foreign company with a worldwide reputation (brand), then the requirements for compiling the accompanying are quite high. The document must be drawn up on a separate sheet; all details, which, in particular, include the title, date of compilation, name and address of the recipient, signature, are affixed in accordance with the rules for processing business letters. If the information is sent by e-mail, then the cover letter, as well as the resume, should be attached in Word format.
A resume sent by E-mail to less pretentious structures can accompany the correct text in the body of the letter itself, without putting it on a separate sheet. last name, initials (or last name and first name) and contact information must be visible.
A short version of the cover letter looks something like this (examples 1-3):
Example 1
Dear Maria,
in response to your vacancy "sales manager of refrigeration equipment", published in the magazine "Job and Salary", I send my resume. I would be very grateful if you do not leave it unattended.
Best wishes,
Ivanova Anna, tel. 8-916-111-11-11
Example 2
Good afternoon, Maria.
Attached resume file. I am applying for the position of Financial Analyst. Source of information about the vacancy www.zarplata.ru I am ready to provide any additional information necessary for the consideration of my candidacy.
Example 3
Dear Sirs,
please consider my resume for the vacancy of an accountant, deputy chief accountant.
I would be happy to receive an invitation from you for an interview.
Sincerely, Ivanova Anna, tel. 8-916-111-11-11
The full version of the cover letter (intended for companies professing the Western style of personnel management) is built in a similar way. The body of the cover letter must include:
1. The title of the position (possibly two related or similar positions) for which the resume is sent; it is also desirable to indicate from which source you learned about the vacant position (positions); offer your candidacy.
Example 4:
After reviewing the information on your website, I learned that your company has opened vacancies in the field of sanitary control of meat and dairy raw materials. In this regard, I want to propose my candidacy for consideration for a position related to the implementation of the function of quality control, sanitary and veterinary control of raw materials and finished products. I believe that my work experience can be in demand both in the position of an expert in the procurement of meat and dairy raw materials, and in the position of the head of the sanitary control service.
2. A very concise, but precise and informative summary of the resume, intended to justify the conformity of your professional and personal qualities the position for which you are applying.
3. Your readiness for work, dedication, and professional growth in the area indicated in the vacancy, or better - within the walls of this particular company.
Example 5:
Over the past years, I have been successfully working in the chosen direction as part of the state veterinary and customs control authorities, I have established contacts and experience of cooperation with both the largest Russian enterprises food industry, and with leading foreign suppliers. The attached resume will give an idea of my professional experience, qualifications and potential opportunities..
Example 6:
All my experience labor activity, professional knowledge and skills, as well as expectations of further advancement, lie in the field of active direct sales and work with clients (both at the executive and administrative levels). On the this moment to my credit I have more than 5 years of experience in sales in the B2B market in the manufacturing area, as well as management experience in this area during the last year of work. At my last job, as the head of the sales department, I was personally responsible for the activities and results of the B2B sales service (medical and cosmetology equipment).
4. Readiness for a personal interview in the company, during which you will more fully present information about yourself.
5. Contact information.
Example 7:
I would be happy to accept an offer to meet and tell a little more about my work experience and possible potential. You can contact me by phone ... or email ...
Sincerely,…
Example 8:
If you are interested, I will be happy to answer all your questions during the interview. You can contact by phone. Thank you in advance for your attention and time devoted to my candidacy.
Sincerely,…
A cover letter cannot be universal for the entire range of vacancies you are interested in. Since the addressee of the letter is different people and different organizations, the text of the letter, in accordance with each requested vacancy, should be slightly modified. A cover letter always refers to a specific job opening in a specific company.
By sending a resume for a vacancy, you provide the employer with all your professional and personal qualities, what you managed to achieve, briefly describe the facts on the path of professional growth. An effective resume is the key to success, and everyone knows it. But how do you get the attention of a company's recruiting manager before they even open your job application? To do this, you need to write a cover letter!
Having a cover letter attached to your resume shows you are serious about it, and a recruiter who is always busy and short on time will appreciate your attempt to save him a minute.
Cover letters are not very common in the territories of the post-Soviet countries, and many applicants believe that writing it is a waste of time, which is erroneous. For you, this is a chance to stand out among other candidates, so you should take the text you send seriously.
Rules for writing a good cover letter
A cover letter for a resume should be clear and concise, without vague phrases and unnecessary pathos, just a summary of information about you and your desire to get this particular job. In addition, here you can indicate what is missing in the resume or is incorrect to indicate, for example, the reason for changing jobs or possibly a long pause in work.
The letter must have a consistent structure. Start with a greeting, a simple “hello” or “good afternoon” is enough, but if you know the name of the employer or the person who is recruiting and will review your resume, then be sure to use the name and patronymic in the greeting.
Next, briefly state why you sent the letter, that is, the purpose for which you send the resume. It is also customary to indicate the source of information about the vacancy, for example, from an advertisement in the Trud newspaper, or on the job site.
Now let's get to the point. In a few sentences, describe who you are and why you want to work for this company. Please note that you do not need to retell your resume, it is enough to remove the most important thing from it - that which can distinguish you from other candidates, draw attention to your person. As a rule, this is a brief description of professional skills, achievements and work experience. Avoid vague phrases and conventional expressions such as "I professional specialist”, “Easy to learn”, is written in many cover letters, so employers do not pay attention to such formulaic phrases, and you will not be able to impress in any way.
Be sure to write that a resume is attached to the letter.
At the end of the letter, do not forget to indicate that if your candidacy is of interest, you are ready to come for an interview and answer all the questions that have arisen. Also leave contact information - phone number and email address.
A good finishing touch would be the phrase "thank you for your attention" or "have a nice day."
Lawyer cover letter example
Good afternoon!
My name is Alexander Ivanov. I would like to participate in the competition for the vacancy "Lawyer", published on the site khor-tor.ru.
My legal experience is 3 years. In addition, while studying at the institute, I worked as a consultant at the Legal Clinic. I have the skills of negotiating, drafting contracts, claims, litigation. I am currently working as a lawyer in law firm FOREX, I want to change my place of work due to its imminent closure.
My resume is attached to this letter, where you can find out more about my candidacy.
If you are interested, you can contact me by phone 7-000-00-00-000
Thank you for your attention!
Cover letter for a sales manager position
Hello, Irina Nikolaevna!
I was interested in the vacancy for the position of "Sales Manager", which was published in the newspaper "Working Week".
I have extensive experience in trading - more than 5 years. Worked as a merchandiser sales representative, purchasing manager. In the process of work, I managed to achieve many achievements. Currently, in connection with moving to the city of Kharkov, I am looking for a job and I am interested in a vacancy in your company.
I am enclosing my resume and letters of recommendation from previous jobs.
If you are interested in my candidacy, you can contact me by phone 8-000-00-000, or send your answer to my e-mail [email protected]
Have a good day!
Sample cover letter for an accountant resume
Hello!
The site rabota-ufa.ru posted your vacancy for the position of an accountant. Can you tell me if the position is still available?
Now I am looking for a job closer to my new place of residence. I have more than 10 years of experience as an accountant under my belt. For the last 3 years I have worked as a network chief accountant building stores"Bolt". I have experience in personnel management, and I am fluent in PC and all related accounting programs, including: 1C-Accounting, Client-Bank, Parus-Enterprise, etc.
You can learn more about my candidacy by reading my resume, which is in the attachment.
Looking forward to your reply, have a nice day!
Cover letter for secretary resume
Good afternoon!
I am interested in becoming a secretary. I am 26 years old, I have a diploma of a specialist in the specialty "linguist". My experience as a secretary is a little over 3 years. In addition to literate Russian, I am fluent in English and French. I am a confident PC user (I completed additional courses) and I can work with office equipment. Ready for an irregular work schedule.
My full CV with photo is attached to the email.
Thank you for your attention!
Cover letter for job seeker with no work experience
Hello!
I found your ad on rabota.com. The job description for the position of Accountant Assistant states that you need to have at least one year of work experience. Unfortunately, I have no work experience, but I have a diploma of a specialist in the specialty "economist", knowledge gained during study and industrial practice at Kodak+ as an assistant accountant, as well as a great desire to get a job in your specialty in your company.I am purposeful, attentive and responsible. I am proficient in PC and can use office equipment. Have experience in specialized accounting software. In addition to Russian, I speak well English language. In order for you to verify my knowledge and skills, I am ready to undergo an unpaid internship of up to 2 months.
Attached is my full extended resume. Waiting for your reply.
Have a nice day!
Please note that all sample resume cover letters provided are only guidelines on how to write such documents! If you have not found a suitable example, compose your letter based on several ready-made templates. Good luck in your job search!