Why is my Entry Level Resume Cover Letters Not getting Results?
Monday, May 24th, 2010Not getting results with your job hunting? If you’re entry level submitting a resume and cover letter that doesn’t engage the reader could be the problem. It happened to me.
I job hunter for several months last year. Unfortunately for longer than I liked. My entry level resume cover letter wasn’t getting results. I thought it was because I was new to the job hunt but I realized it wasn’t that. Entry level cover letters don’t have to be fake to be effective. I was tempted at times to just do a little cutting here and pasting there and I would have experience. I’m glad I didn’t do it.
For me job hunting is no fun. I don’t know who has fun doing this but the constant uncertainty doesn’t sit well with me. For that reason I wanted to cut my job hunting time down to as little as possible. I decided to make my entry level resumes and cover letters as strong as I could. I didn’t want to lie so I focused on what I could bring to the table and the skill set I already poses.
Being entry lever doesn’t automatically mean you have nothing to offer. I realized that the generic letter I was using initially wasn’t doing me any favors. It did nothing to sell me and a poor job of introducing my resume, which is what I consider it does.
I decided to focus on my communication skills and the professional language I felt would be appropriate for the position. This is where I utilized the manual to make it look as professional and industry appropriate as possible. I wanted to come across as new but not oblivious to the job and its requirements. I noticed a change in results as I applied more of the techniques I learned.
I already knew that addressing the letter to the correct person was a good thing, I just had never taken it a step further and delivering it in person. It’s very common now for employers to request the resume be emailed. I did this but never heard back. I decided to drop it of in person and being that I already know who the person reviewing them was I could ask for them by name.
I know it worked. I later over heard that most people emailed their resumes and I stood out when I showed up at the door. I was surprised. I initially thought it would be a distraction but it actually helped make a good impression. Convenience isn’t always the best route to take.
That’s what worked for me. Getting hired at a place where I wanted to work at was the best thing that could happen. Absolutely worth the effort!
Administrative resume cover letter
Online resume cover letters
(C) 2010 Casey Alexander
Tips to Keep Your Entry Level Resume Cover Letters from Going in the Filing Cabinet
Monday, May 24th, 2010Making an impression is important, especially when you’re starting your job hunt. Don’t get caught up in being entry level and learn how to portray professionalism and experience to get noticed quickly.
Entry level resumes cover letters have one unfortunate fate. Many times they end up in a filing cabinet. The biggest reason I found for this to happen was that it was too generic. Not that it was entry level. It was more a combination of lack of thought and not delivering on what my strengths were and how I could bring value to the company.
I find it very difficult to write a custom letter. I know what I want to say but I have hard time putting it in a professional format and language relative to the industry. For that reason I’ve found it very helpful to use a cover letter program I got a few months ago. I didn’t really pay any attention to it at first being that I was just taking the easy route and using a generic letter. Needless to say that wasn’t working. I figured I might as well use it.
After a careful analysis of the value I can offer the company I get down to business. I determined my value was in the energy I can bring the company, new ideas and a different perspective. I also, saw opportunity in being more proactive with my approach. I felt that if the company saw me making an effort to know about the company before I was hired they would see the type of drive I bring to the position.
To make my entry lever resume cover letter stand out I made a couple additions to my letter. I made sure it was addressed to the correct person. This isn’t difficult. I simply called in to the company hiring and asked who ever answered the phones who would be the person to review resumes. When they answered my question I would ask if it was safe to say that the same person would be interviewing candidates. If yes go from there. If not they usually would give me the information without me asking. Pretty simple stuff!
Applying these ideas really help me secure more interviews and eventually a job. It was challenging but I can say that as soon as I took a more professional approach to my communication with the prospecting employer. My results changed.
Administrative resume cover letter
Online resume cover letters
(C) 2010 Casey Alexander
Entry Level Resume Cover Letters Don’t get Results
Monday, May 24th, 2010Why do entry lever resumes and cover letters not work? Is it really the fact its entry level? My experience has been one of mixed results. Starting out in the job market, sometimes we don’t know how to explain the value we bring. If any, right? The fact is there is value in what we bring. We just have to explain it better and with a limited amount of experience the path isn’t always clear on how to do it.
To make it short, my first entry level resume cover letters were generic. Yeah, I’ll admit it. They were nothing more than a “Dear Sir/Madam,” line of b.s. I didn’t say anything on the letter, plain and simple. Now that I think about it what results could I have expected with such a nothing letter. I gave the reader no reason to call me. No emotion, no passion, no desire, just a bland letter saying I exist, here I am, hire me. Of course it didn’t work. It wasn’t until I realized this that I made a change and started to get some calls.
Entry lever cover letters aren’t especially hard to do. Here’s what I started to do to make it work.
First, no more generic resume cover letters. I realized, after reading them several times that I wouldn’t hire myself. I focused my entry level cover letter on my strengths. An example was I had the time to dedicate to the job. I also had been part of an internship and had that to fall back on as experience. I made sure the reader reviewed it on my resume. I only had this luxury on the first two jobs I applied for. The third wasn’t closely related to the internship program and I found myself having to rely on something other than that internship.
What I did for the other positions was more proactive. Even thought it was entry level I didn’t want my cover letter to be perceived as an entry lever resume cover letter. To stand out I learned a little about the company. Specifically about the work they do and any recognition awarded to the company. It’s easier to do this now with most companies having a web site. If this wasn’t an option I checked online for more information.
I also tried to get information from the receptionist at the company. For example, they sometimes know who will be doing the interviewing and at what time they are free. If I knew when they’re free it gave me the opportunity to stop by at that time to deliver my resume in person.
Entry level changes once you make a personal connection with the interviewer. I know its challenging but to me it was the only way I found to get a step on the competition. That and I found it useful to use the resume and cover letter program I bought. I honestly felt that entry level resume cover letters didn’t work. It wasn’t until I tried different things that I got called in for interviews.
Administrative Resume Cover Letter
Online resume cover letters
(C) 2010 Casey Alexander
Entry Level Resume Cover Letter – How to Get Hired Quickly
Monday, May 24th, 2010Entry level cover letters shouldn’t under deliver on your assets. Being new is not a bad thing. In fact it can be a strength.
Entry level resumes and cover letters should be exciting to put together. Throw caution to the wind and make your cover letter stand out. Being new to a company or the field doesn’t mean you should be easily looked over. I know there’s ways to make your cover letter stand out and above the competition.
First thing I like to do with my entry level cover letter is to sound energetic. How do you sound energetic on a letter? Play around with descriptive words. Enthusiasm can go a long way. Experience is strong but the enthusiasm is something companies sometimes lack. Enthusiasm to get the job done and have something to prove to the company and to yourself can help you land the job. Many times companies are looking for new energy to motivate themselves and others. You can be that person. Assuming its part of your personality!
Getting hired quickly also goes hand in hand with the interest you show. If you’ve read Napoleon Hills book, Think and Grow Rich. You’ll remember a section of the book where he describes wanting to be hired by a particular company. He visited, called and telegraphed till he got what he wanted. If you haven’t read it read it. It’s a great book. Make an effort to visit the place and try to deliver the resume in person to the indicated person. Make a personal connection. That’s an advantage emailed resumes don’t have.
Those two tips were proven to work when I was applying to jobs right out of college. Being that my experience was limited. I couldn’t put together a long resume but I could make a professional custom entry lever resume cover letter that emphasized my energy and desire to learn.
Also, before I forget. If you get a little knowledge on the company, for example, the field of work it in. Manufacturing, development sales what ever and who the competitors are. You can show yourself to be well informed and capable of the position. The less they feel they have to teach you the better. How much do you want the job?
Again with my entry lever resume cover letter these steps above helped. I wish I could say for sure if it was luck or the letter but I was hired within a two month period. I didn’t continue to apply anywhere else. I like where I was hired and I plan on staying there for a while. The opportunity for growth is there.
Administrative Resume Cover Letter
(C) 2010 Casey Alexander
Entry Level Resume Cover Letter – Don’t Under Sell Yourself
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010An entry level resume cover letter sometimes can be frustrating to put together. You don’t want to lie on the letter or resume. You simply need to present your resume in a way where the reader sees what you have done in the past. If its entry level you can share experience you’ve had participating in programs or any other activities you were a part of that gave you experience and prepared you for the position you’re applying for.
This is what I did on my very first resume. I’m not saying it doesn’t work. I simply didn’t work for me. I stated my desire for the position. I slightly went over my resume and pointed out that I was proficient in most computer programs. I, of course, stated I could incorporate myself to the work team and would have no trouble getting along with anyone. What I missed the boat on was the showing part. You know where you stop telling and give an example of what’s running through your head as your writing. To make it short, I didn’t give them enough of a reason to call me in.
Again, frustration, I know I could have been a good addition to the team but without giving them a reason to call and interview me I missed out. Out of that same feeling, I looked for information I could use to put together a compelling letter that would show them that yes, I was entry level but I had a lot of energy and hunger to learn and grow.
I’m in the educational field and I was fortunate to have participated in several different programs that did in fact help me prepare for the job I was applying for. I had an opportunity to work with many people from different places and backgrounds. Briefly sharing this information would have made a huge difference to the reader’s perception of where I could fit in with the company. That’s what I learned from some of the programs I looked into while researching how to improve my resume cover letter.
I didn’t incorporate any of that information on my first entry level resume cover letter. I completely changed the format of my letter with my new information. Better yet I was able to deliver a letter that used language the interviewer could relate to and make the distinction between someone with some experience and someone without.
It worked out, I was called back to several second interviews and I was hired shortly after making those changes to my resume. I’m not saying it was a breeze to get the job. It was just better presented and that was the difference between having an opportunity to interview and not.
In my experience, a good cover letter has made a difference between landing the interview and not. That’s the first step, right? I catch the reader with the knowledge I have of their organization and a few other key tips I learned to incorporate into my letter. I’ve helped my sister and brothers with their letter and they’ve also landed the jobs. What I picked up made the difference on how I write an
entry level resume cover letter.
Entry Level Resume Cover Letters
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(C) 2010 Casey Alexander