Category Archives: Cover Letter

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May 24, 2011

5 Cover Letter Errors to AVOID

Cover-Letter-Lawyer-Do's-and-Don'ts-Attorney's-Counsel

  1. Not including a cover letter – This is your opportunity to tell your target employer exactly why you are the perfect candidate and how your work experience exactly matches their current needs and will make their life better. Make them want to read your resume. If a job application has a section to upload your cover letter, do it! If you are emailing your resume see #4.
  2. Not matching the tone and formality of your resume and other job search documents – Be consistent. Your cover letter is your introduction to an organization and might be the only thing they see if it isn’t perfect and compelling, meaning that they won’t even see the resume you spent all the time drafting. Your header, if you mail it (see #4), should match your resume header and any other documents that are requested, writing sample, deal sheet, etc.
  3. Not including how your past accomplishments will benefit your potential new employer and save them energy, money and time – Highlight items from your resume and clearly link them to how you can help the employer and potentially solve a current problem. I know I want to hire people who so perfectly fit my needs I can go home early and trust that my business will get done as well as I … never mind, just make sure you clearly and relevantly explain why YOU, and not anyone else, will accomplish things with and for them. You’re not saving lives, unless you are, but remember to tell them how you can be an EMT, and save them Energy, Money and Time.
  4. Attaching your cover letter to your email instead of putting the letter in the body of the email, or worse, including the letter in the same attached document as your resume – Do not give the person receiving your documents more work to do, or attachments to open. 98% of cover letters are emailed now (I made up that statistic but I’m guessing there must be about 2% of people who still mail things or are required to) so yes, it is OK. Note: When I say “[put] the letter in the body of the email” I mean start at Dear ___: . . . and end at Sincerely, Your New EMT. Do not include the date and letter head. Have you ever seen an email that looks like a letter? If you include your cover letter in the same document as your resume there is no reason for a recruiter or hiring decision maker to scroll past page 1 and they may not see your resume. True Story: I’ve thrown out coverletterresumes. The cover letter, is a COVER letter.
  5. Your cover letter is too long or not long enough – 1 page maximum and 3-4 paragraphs is the norm. Be concise but inclusive. I don’t like to give strict rules on this but as a former recruiter and after speaking to many people in career services and placement, this is the norm. Job seekers always ask for rules, it makes just one part of the process easier. You’re welcome.

Here’s a freebie – Spell check and eliminate typos!

If you have any questions please get in touch.

February 4, 2010

Freebie – Don’t be a Resume or Cover Letter or Thank You Note Don’t

Keep your contact information heading consistent across all of your documents, including your cover letter,  resume, thank you notes and references. Consider it your stationary stationery.

February 4, 2010

It Depends

Anyone who has attended law school has heard that “IT DEPENDS” is the typical answer attorneys should give to any question. Does it allow you to avoid accountability? To stall? To open the question up to additional analysis? Yes, yes and yes. It does all of those things.

After I drafted this post I attended the Brooklyn Law School annual alumni lunch (yes I drafted it quite a while ago, one can never be too prepared). One of the honorees, a well respected, world renowned international treaty expert recalled a story from his time at Brooklyn Law. Leon Charney reminisced about a professor, who told him that at a cocktail party when he is asked a legal question he should say “it depends.” It is the fact that he chose this story to tell, about this typical answer, that speaks volumes.

Not only is it safe, it is true. It does sometimes depend on many factors. Everyone, even thrill seekers, wants safe and true sometimes.

While it is important to differentiate yourself on your resume, it is still a professional document that should remain, on its face and at all times, true.

Can you be creative and still safe on your resume? It depends! Can you be creative and make up a job you didn’t have? No, it is not true.

Talk to a professional, before proceeding, to determine which questions will be met with “it depends” and which will garner a simple “yes” or “no.” There is personal style but there are also do’s and don’ts. Don’t be a resume don’t.