how to write a cover letter that will help you get an interview by Alison Green on June 19, 2017 When you’re applying for jobs, your cover letter can be the determining factor in whether you hear nothing from an employer or whether you get called for an interview. And yet job seekers regularly give their cover letters short shrift – writing deadly dull missives that make hiring managers’ eyes glaze over or using them […] Read the full article →
if you’re not getting interviews, here’s how to fix your resume and cover letter by Alison Green on May 1, 2017 If you’re not getting interviews, you probably need to fix your resume and cover letter. I talk to a lot of people who aren’t getting interviews and who can’t figure out what the problem is. They tell me that they know their resume and cover letter are fine. They often mention that they’ve had people […] Read the full article →
where’s the line between necessary self-promotion and overconfidence in cover letters? by Alison Green on February 9, 2017 A reader writes: My question is a little woolly, but one I was hoping you could shed some light on: In cover letters, where is the line between necessary self-promotion and overconfidence? I’m looking for jobs right now as a soon-to-be-graduate, and I’m finding it really hard to hit the right note to convince a […] Read the full article →
whoever told you to be creative in your cover letter has led you horribly astray by Alison Green on August 16, 2016 A reader sent me this real-life cover letter that she received from a job applicant: Hi. This very professionally-beginning cover letter should immediately alert you to my easy-going and comprehensive approach to task completion while making it strikingly obvious that I am both interested in and capable of performing HR duties with sophisticated exactitude. The […] Read the full article →
should you attach your cover letter or put it in the body of the email? by Alison Green on May 20, 2016 A reader writes: When applying to a job via email, do you attach your cover letter or do you paste it in the body of the email, or both? Either one is fine. No one really cares, seriously. I mean, people who hire may have individual preferences, but no one is going to penalize you over doing […] Read the full article →
here’s another example of a great cover letter by Alison Green on May 3, 2016 I often get asked for examples of good cover letters, and a reader recently sent me a great one that I want to share. One thing I like about this one is that it’s shorter than others I’ve previously shared and so is a good demonstration of how you can go shorter and still be […] Read the full article →
how do I write a compelling cover letter when I don’t have much work experience? by Alison Green on March 3, 2016 A reader writes: I’m applying for administrative/production assistant jobs, and I don’t know how to start the cover letter. I hate starting with, “I was excited to see a position open…” or, “I’m writing in response to [position title] opening.” The third example I’ve seen, while ideal, doesn’t apply to me: “As [director/editor/higher up title] for […] Read the full article →
my favorite cover letter tips, and why you should volunteer if you’re unemployed by Alison Green on January 18, 2016 Two miscellaneous things: 1. In this article in Self, I do a round-up of my favorite tips for writing good cover letters. 2. And a reader sent me this interesting news release from the Corporation for National & Community Service, which mentions research showing that unemployed people who volunteer over the next year have 27% […] Read the full article →
do “pain letters” really work? by Alison Green on January 7, 2016 A reader writes: I wanted to know what your take is on “pain letters.” I have been reading up on career advice, and I ran across an article by a Forbes contributor who says that we should junk cover letters and resumes for “pain letters.” I’d advise against them. When I’ve received them, they’re generally cringingly […] Read the full article →
end your doubts about cover letters, all ye who enter here by Alison Green on July 24, 2015 A reader writes: I’m sure you get tons of emails letting you know how helpful your site is, but I’d like to express my gratitude because your advice helped me land my dream job. As background, I was working for a large corporation with (what I felt was) a toxic work environment doing a job […] Read the full article →