Page 255 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

20 0028633946 CH16 12/21/99 11:43 AM Page 237

Chapter 16 ➤ You’ve Got Style

Were you surprised to read that I disapprove of these commonly
used phrases? I thought so. The main problem with these stilted
sentences is that they lack personality, and personality is a key ele-
ment in a winning letter. Read on to learn good alternatives to
stilted phrases and how to make your letter reflect your winning
personality.

Job-Hunt Hint
Yours Truly To write in a friendly tone, write

You have a set of skills and personal characteristics to offer a by ear. Jot down sentences the
lucky employer. Start demonstrating them early on in your job- way you would speak them. Then
application process by infusing your letter with your go over them to see whether you
need to correct the punctuation
➤ Ability to engage in conversation. With a dynamite first or phrasing.
sentence, you can grab the reader’s attention.
➤ Talent for making someone feel at ease with you. You can
achieve this by having a friendly first paragraph.
➤ Skill at presenting ideas concisely. In the middle of your
letter, use short paragraphs, bullet points, or columns to organize your thoughts.
➤ Understanding of the reader’s goals. Speak directly to the employer’s situation in your
sentences.
➤ Finesse at initiating the next move. In your last paragraph, state that you’d like to
meet with the employer or whatever it is you’d like to have happen next.
➤ Gratitude for the employer’s attention. End your letter on a note of thanks.

Bonus Check
One way to relax your writing style is to use contractions instead of two words, for exam-
ple, “It’s been three years since …” instead of “It has been three years since ….” But don’t
overdo it and make everything a contraction. Read the letter out loud and insert a con-
traction where it sounds natural.

After perusing a letter that contains these attributes, your potential employer will think, “I
feel like I’m getting to know this person, and I like her!” That’s the response you want.

Showing Your Gold

Confidence and sincerity are two qualities that are always valued by hiring managers. Let’s
talk about how your letter can reflect these two characteristics.

237