Page 49 - 201 Killer Cover Letters
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05 6/27/03 9:21 AM Page 36
a company that is downsizing may hold
RECRUITER’S TIP
promise by consolidating positions. Two
GO! GET SET! GET READY!
specialized workers, for instance, may be
replaced with one who can handle multi-
Getting ready to get ready can
be very costly in the jobhunting ple responsibilities. You can use these let-
process. Start networking as ters to uncover this strategic information
soon as you know you want to and more.
make a move. If a friend suggests that you write to
Make a list of people you an acquaintance for assistance, accept. If a
can contact immediately, and newspaper or magazine article tips you
then do so. If your resume is off that a certain company might be hir-
out of date, a scheduled inter- ing, ask if this is the case, and ask to be
view is all the motivation you’ll considered. Above all, don’t be afraid to
need to get your resume in take advantage of these opportunities.
order. Well written, such a letter presents you as
No resume, no research, a motivated, aggressive player who
no excuses! searches for ways to make things happen.
In most every case, these qualities are
highly sought after in the job market.
Whatever your reason for writing it,
your Networking Letter is fundamentally
an appeal for help. Your primary goal, your
RECRUITER’S TIP
only goal, is to get your reader to comply
WHY DO I CONTACT THEE? with a reasonable request for assistance.
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS You might ask for an introduction, a rec-
ommendation, advice, or ideas. To com-
Use Your Networking Letters ply, your readers must give of their time,
to: share knowledge, and put their names or
1. Introduce yourself. reputations on the line by making refer-
2. Seek advice. rals—all precious commodities. To
3. Make contacts. achieve your goal, you’ve got to convince
4. Secure a referral through an your reader that you’re worth this effort.
associate or colleague. Follow the steps that follow to create
5. Identify openings before effective Networking Letters. If you
they are advertised. choose to use sections of the letters pro-
6. Follow up on hiring leads vided in this book, you can use these steps
gleaned from newspaper or to adapt the samples for your own use.
magazine articles.
7. Learn more about a field STEP 1: CREATE A
you’d like to enter. CONNECTION
... and much more! To enhance the speed and effectiveness of
your networking, you should send the
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