"Cover Letter: Stating Your Claim"

Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing letters to send with your CV/Resume.

A cover letter typically accompanies each CV/Resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your CV/resume ignored, so, it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters. This is simply because, sending off your CV/Resume, accompanied by your cover letter is actually the first test in a job recruitment exercise.

A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your CV/Resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.

Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each purpose outlined above as well as for each position you seek. A cover letter is not a "one-size-fits-all" document. Do not design a form letter and send it to every potential employer (you should know how you deal with spam mail!). 

Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the employer's self-interest). They should express a high level of interest and knowledge about the position.

Types:

*The APPLICATION LETTER which responds to a known job opening 
*The PROSPECTING LETTER which inquires about possible positions
*The NETWORKING LETTER which requests information and assistance in your job search

The guidelines here apply to both hard copy correspondence and e-mail. The main difference between e-mail and hard copy correspondence is format: your signature block (address, etc.) goes below your name in e-mail, while it goes at the top of the page on hard copy. Of course you won't have a handwritten signature on e-mail, but don't forget this on hard copy.

All cover letters should:

• Explain why you are sending a resume. 
• Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization - a web site, an advert in the dailies, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.
• Convince the reader to look at your resume. 
• Never make the reader guess what you are asking for. Be specific: Do you want a temporary employment, or a permanent position; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?

The cover letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.

• Call attention to elements of your background - education, leadership, experience - that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
• Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
• Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date ( this is when you would be available to take up the job )
• Indicate what you will do to follow-up. 

Extra tips:

•In a letter of application - applying for an advertised opening - applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you." However, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications."

•In a letter of inquiry - asking about the possibility of an opening - don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)." Then mark your calendar to make the call.

Cheers!


PS: Your suggestions are strongly needed on what I should write on next week.
  
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Is Employee Time-Off More Important than Money?

Is Employee Time-Off More Important than Money? 



This post is culled from www.hr.toolbox.com

"CV/Resume: Your Forerunner"

It's already a week after the NYSC 2013 Batch A observed their POP. I marked that event with my "Are You Truly Good to Go" write-up. One week on, I'm wondering what most of you new-entrants into the labour market are spending your time on.

I'm imagining that some of you are still taking a break after the 1 year youth service experience. Some must be on course to acquire more academic/professional qualifications and certifications. Others might be working on their ingenuity and putting their entrepreneurship skills to use. And a few might have been retained in their place of primary assignment during the NYSC period.

Whatever category you fall in, you should possess one vital thing, and that's your Curriculum Vitae/Resume.

It would amaze most of you that most graduates have no clue what a CV is. Anyways, that shouldn't be surprising considering that most people wait until they are done with their 1st degree before they realize the need to have a CV. Maybe, if the concept of a CV is properly understood, we would realize that it's a tool worth possessing irrespective of whether you are a degree holder, you decide to seek white or blue collar employment, or decide to be an entrepreneur.

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) simply provides an overview of your experience and qualifications. This includes work experience (student worker, industrial attachment, voluntary jobs, etc.), and academic and professional qualifications and certifications.  In some countries, a CV is typically the first item that a potential employer comes across regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview, when seeking employment. It is usually a job seekers first impression, hence, my reference to it as "your forerunner".

Curriculum Vitae, is a Latin expression which can be loosely translated as "the course of one's life". This necessitates the need for it to bear a summary of every relevant information regarding work experiences/accomplishments and academic qualifications.

A CV is expected to be short and concise (usually a maximum of two pages of A4 paper), and therefore contains only a summary of your employment history, qualifications and some personal information. It is often updated to change the emphasis of the information according to the particular position for which you as a job seeker is applying for. Many CVs contain keywords that potential employers might pick up on and display the content in the most flattering manner, brushing over information like poor grades. A CV can also be extended to include an extra page for the job-seekers’ publications if these are important for the job.

Your CV remains the most flexible and convenient way to make applications. It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers. Considering that it can be used to make multiple applications to employers in a specific career area, many large graduate recruiters now opt not to accept CVs, but rather use their own application forms (usually online), which are designed to elicit specific relevant information directly related to a job position, but might not be included on your CV.

The primary difference between a CV and a Resume are the length, the content and the purpose. A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education. A goal of resume writing is to be brief and concise since, at best the resume reader will spend a minute or so reviewing your qualifications. A CV, is a longer (two or more pages), more detailed synopsis. It includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other details.

What to Include in Your CV?

There is no "one best way" to construct a CV. It is your document and can be structured as you wish. But, there are things that are definitely not expected to appear on a CV.

Your CV is expected to convey the following data:

Personal Information/Bio-data: Name, Contact details (mobile number, email address, and residential address), gender, and date of birth.

Education and Qualification: This should include your university degree(s) and area of concentration, name of institution you obtained them from, and the year you obtained them. Also include your secondary school certificates and the year you obtained them. Some websites advise that you mention your grades unless they are poor. I advice that you do no such thing considering that some organizations are no longer looking to employ candidates with 1st class degrees for the simple reason that financial resources get wasted in recruiting and training such fellows, only to lose them to other employers in under a year.

Work Experience: This should include every reasonable and legitimate employment you've held to get paid, or to acquire experience. Vacation Jobs, Industrial Attachments, Internships, Volunteer Work and NYSC all fall under this category, along with jobs got after NYSC. Even work in your mum's shop, bar or restaurant will involve working in a team, providing a quality service to customers, and dealing tactfully with complaints. Don't mention the routine, non-people tasks (cleaning the tables) unless you are applying for a casual holiday job in a restaurant or similar. Employ the use of action words such as "developed", "planned" and "organised".

Interests/Hobbies: This section is best kept brief and straight to the point. Show a range of interests to avoid coming of as narrow. Hobbies that are a little out of the ordinary can help you to stand out from the crowd. Interests relevant to the job are worth mentioning. Don't use the old boring clichés like: "socialising with friends".

As your career develops, your employment record will take precedence and interests will typically diminish greatly in length and importance. 

Skills: The usual ones you could mention are languages (good conversational French, basic Spanish), computing (e.g. "good working knowledge of MS Access and Excel, plus basic web page design skills") and driving ("full current clean driving licence"). But, also include "employability skills", e.g: adaptability, assertiveness, lateral thinking, decision making skills, etc.

Always try to relate the skills to the job. For instance, a finance job will involve numeracy, analytical and problem solving skills so focus on these whereas for a marketing role you would place a bit more emphasis on persuading and negotiating skills.

References: Many employers don’t check references at the application stage. So unless the vacancy specifically requests that you include referees, its fine to omit this section completely. Though you could simply add "References are available on request."

Where you choose to include references, normally just two referees are sufficient. One should be academic (perhaps your lecturer or a project supervisor) and one from an employer (perhaps your last part-time or summer job). If you must add a third, it should be someone with an upright character in your immediate environment who knows you socially.

When should a CV be used?

As a job seeker, you should know when to let your CV go ahead to pave the way for you, and such occasions include:

• When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format
• When an employer simply states "apply to ..." without specifying the format
• When making speculative applications (when writing to an employer who has not advertised a vacancy but who you hope my have one). 

It is pertinent to bear in mind that CVs are not only used by job seekers. Entrepreneurs use them too as an accompanying document to their content notes when seeking grants and sponsorship.

Finally, when honouring invitations by employers to send in your CVs for a recruitment exercise, it is VERY WRONG to attach your CV to a blank mail, or a poorly constructed informal mail. Your CV needs to be accompanied by a well-worded Cover Letter.

Thanks for reading through.

PS: Next week, I will be writing on "Cover Letter: Stating Your Claim".
  
Looking forward to your comments, as you do not forget that there's always love in sharing. Kindly feel free to make good use of the share buttons below. Thank you.

Are You Truly Good to Go?

"Are you good to go?"

"...Good to Go! Good to Go!! GOOD TO GO SAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

This is usually the question-and-response scenario at the passing out parades (POP) of members of the National Youth Service Corp in Nigeria, three (3) times a year, and it would definitely be the same thing within the next 6hrs as members of the NYSC Batch A observe their passing out ceremony.

Sometimes, I wonder how many of you corp members are aware of where/what you are going into. Obviously, the destination is the labour market. But, how prepared are you to get into an already over-populated labour market?

In today’s ever so competitive labour market, getting a job has become a very challenging task. Acquiring a university degree demonstrates your ability in the academic and theoretical elements of your discipline, however, it does not exhibit your competence in one key attribute – EMPLOYABILITY.

Practical work experience provides crucial content to your CV, even if it’s not the career you wish to pursue. And this is the most important role the NYSC scheme plays.

It demonstrates that you are up for the challenge and provides the opportunity for you to learn and develop a wealth of skills that are sought by employers such as communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork and a strong work ethic.

If you show the right enthusiasm and determination, your NYSC placements could turn into a permanent position, with a salary.

One thing that you as a graduate must understand is that employers need a proof of faith that you are capable of adjusting to a work environment.

In the eyes of an employer, any practical industry related experience such as NYSC scheme, internships or even the right part time job shows that you are able to make the transition from study to work.

Successfully completing the NYSC scheme demonstrates that you have skills and attributes that are vital in the working world and substantiates that you have the ability to succeed in the position you are applying for.

Be that as it may, completing the NYSC scheme will not get you a paid employment on it's own strength, without you being equipped with the appropriate tools.

The appropriate tools simply refer to your CV/Resume; Cover/Application Letter; and your network.

Armed with these vital tools, you can say that you are in deed good to go to kick-start your career today and get the edge over your peers.

Congratulations to all Batch A corp members who have today successfully completed the compulsory 1 year National Youth Service Scheme.

NB: Next week, I will be writing on "CV/Resume: Your Forerunner."
 
Looking forward to your comments, as you do not forget that there's always love in sharing. Kindly feel free to make good use of the share buttons below. Thank you.