Page 236 - 201 Killer Cover Letters

09 6/27/03 9:21 AM Page 223
RECRUITER’S TIP
Offer to spend more time with your
WHO SAYS THERE’S
prospective employer, particularly if you
NO FREE LUNCH? ences that might support your candidacy.
suspect that the decision maker is having
trouble selecting from a field of strong can-
If you’re unemployed, you may
need to get a bit creative. didates. Enclose a newspaper article that is
If it’s appropriate for your germane to a topic discussed during your
industry, offer to do the job on meeting. Inform your reader of a relevant
a trial basis, part-time, for a event that occurred since you met, such as
special salary arrangement, or a goal you achieved, an important sale you
for free (with a time limit, of netted, an award you earned, or a project
course, and a promise—in writ- successfully completed.
ing—to hire you should you If you genuinely can’t come up with a
meet their conditions). single idea to add, try summarizing your
qualifications in order to reinforce the fact
that you meet all the employer’s require-
ments.
Whatever your reason for writing, state it succinctly. Remember that you’re
writing to get the hiring process moving, and not to bog it down further.

OPTIONAL STEP 3: THE KILLER CLOSE
As you review the sample letters that follow, you’ll encounter a variety of differ-
ent styles. The rule of thumb is this: the more forceful the letter, the more hard hit-
ting the close. From the direct “Hire me” to the warm, polite “I hope all is well
with you and look forward to seeing you soon,” each letter reflects the specifics of
that writer’s situation and the players involved.
The assessment of your own situation that you make before beginning to
write should carry you through to your close, if you choose to include one. Con-
tinue with the same tone of voice you’ve used throughout the letter. Changing
your tone now will make you sound insincere.

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