Engineering cover letters are similar in format to general cover letters. Remember that the cover letter should do more than simply introduce or rehash your resume. It needs to explain your experiences in a story-like format using the information that is included in your resume. The cover letter allows you to go into more detail about the important experiences and skills that you have which are pertinent to the job requirements.
Your cover letter needs to include your contact information so that an employer knows how to get hold of you. Be sure to include your physical address and an email address
Company contact information follows your information. In this section be sure to list the name and title of the person who is doing the hiring. If you don't know, call the company or go to the website and get the information. Sending a letter to an anonymous person generally doesn't work.
In the salutation line, give the name of the person who has the hiring authority. Do something like this: Dear Mr. /Ms. LastName. Don't be informal and use a first name.
What follows is the opening paragraph. In this paragraph tell the name of the specific job for which you are applying and where you learned of the position. You also need to create a powerful hook in this opening to make the reader interested enough to continue reading the letter. State your motivation for getting this job or convey your excitement about being able to work for this specific company. Tell them that you think you are the best candidate for the job.
In the body of the letter you need to demonstrate why your skills and talents make you the best person for the job. Don't just repeat what is in your resume. Instead mention specific qualifications that fit the employer's needs. Give examples of things that you have accomplished to show that you have the ability to meet the job requirements.
At the end of the body, in the closing paragraph indicate that you will follow up. Further, ask for an interview or say that you are looking forward to the opportunity to talk with the employer in more depth about why you are a good fit for the company and the job. Offer to schedule a visit and say that you are going to follow up.
Sign off using "Sincerely" or "Respectfully". Type your full name and be sure to sign the letter in blue ink.
Here is a sample of what a letter for a civil engineer might look like.
Ryan Parks
456 Jefferson Street
Anywhere, MA 56789
555-123-8894
(rparks@yahoo.com)
Director of Hiring
Happy Engineering Company, Inc.
987 Jackson Ave.
Somewhere, CA ##### (zip)
March 17, 2010
Dear Ms. James,
I am extremely excited to have the chance to apply for the job as Civil/Structural Engineer that was advertised on JobFinders.com. I am certain that my qualifications and experience make me an ideal match for your company.
Your job description indicated that you are looking for someone with knowledge of ground engineering projects and strong communication skills. I am confident that I meet all of your criteria.
I have 11 years of experience working on projects such as the Central copper mine, the Appalachia Coal mine, and the BigCity Office Building Project. My knowledge of Auto CAD and Space Gass have led to the successful and on-time completion of all my projects. As senior engineer, it is my job to talk with both the clients and other engineers to make sure that all needs are met and problems communicated. I have always been able to work well with people in all areas of the projects and my ability to explain and negotiate has won praises from engineers and clients alike.
I look forward to the opportunity to talk with more in person about how my qualifications and experience make me an ideal candidate for this job. Please feel free to contact me at 555-123-8894 any time during the next two weeks. I am very excited to have a chance to work for one of the best engineering companies in the country.
Sincerely,
Ryan Parks
This is a good general outline for your engineering cover letter. It tells why you are sending my resume and how you learned about the job. It has a powerful hook and suggests you are the perfect person for the job. It gives examples of projects on which you have worked and shows the results. It asks for an interview and provides contact information.
Now, all you have to do is sign this in blue ink, send it off and wait for that interview!
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
How To Write A Really Bad Cover Letter
Writing a bad cover letter must be easy, because thousands of jobseekers do it every day! But do you have what it takes to write a REALLY bad cover letter? One that will almost guarantee you have no chance whatsoever at getting an interview? Let's see if you're familiar with some of the rules of awful cover letter writing.
1. Use the same cover letter for every single job you apply to: Don't customize it in any way, just find a template on the Internet, stick your name on the end of it, and call it a day. Don't even bother to mention the job or competition number. Who has the time?
2. Don't include the address or name of the company: This will be easy since you're using the same letter for everyone. You have better things to do than spend 20 seconds putting this information on your cover letter. Those TV shows won't watch themselves!
3. Don't use the name of the hiring manager in your salutation: Start the letter out: Dear Sir/Ma'am, or better yet, To Whom It May Concern. That has a nice impersonal, no-frills ring to it.
4. Make it really, really long: Two pages is a minimum but three is even better. Make sure to include every detail of your work history and education, as well as all kinds of hobbies and community activities, no matter how irrelevant. It will give the hiring manager something to fill his long, boring workday. Basically, rephrase your entire resume, in case the employer loses the resume. It never hurts to repeat yourself. Yes, it never hurts to repeat yourself.
5. Use tiny font and long, run-on sentences and paragraphs: A size 9 Times New Roman font or smaller should be adequate for giving the most eyestrain possible. Don't use anything over a size 10 font though - why make it easy for them? And avoid bullets and bolding; they make the important points stand out way too clearly.
6. Use the fanciest font and formatting you can get your hands on: Ideally, do your cover letter in some obscure font you downloaded off the Internet. Throw in some Wing Dings just for decoration. This guarantees that when it gets opened at the other end by the employer, your letter will be virtually unrecognizable, since it's unlikely he'll have that font on his computer.
7. Never send the cover letter in the requested format: If the job posting insists that all cover letters and resumes be e-mailed, show up in person with hard copies. If you're supposed to combine your cover letter and resume into one file, and send it as a Word document, send them as two separate attachments in PDF form. If you're supposed to mail the cover letter and resume, fax them instead! Think of all the extra attention you'll get as the hiring managers struggle with your creatively non-conformist approach!
8. Do not address the main qualifications of the job: If 10 years experience in Purchasing is absolutely essential for the job, make sure you don't in any way let on whether you have this experience or not. They'll enjoy guessing. If a knowledge of Spanish and Chinese is the #1 job requirement, don't mention that either. In fact, be certain not to make any reference at all in your cover letter to any of the top three or four main qualifications required for the job. It will spoil the surprise.
9. Sound as robotic as possible: Use stuffy, excessively formal English. Extra points for including words like herewith and notwithstanding. Make sure no hint of personality creeps into your letter.
10. Be overly casual and use humour inappropriately: This is the opposite of #9 but even more effective. Start your letter with: "Hey! What's up? Working for you guys would be awesome!" End with: "In conclusion, I'd like to give you a sample of what kind of non-stop laughs you'd get if you hired me. A nun, a rabbi and a penguin walk into a bar..."
11. Don't bother with Spell-check: Who cares if you confuse it's and its, or there and their. It doesn't matter if you write, "I look foreward to atending you're company events." They're not hiring you for your spelling anyway.
So there you have it; 10 sure-fire tips for writing a truly awful cover letter. To help you remember them, let's relist them, but as opposites. Here are the 10 points reversed, as they would appear if for some weird reason you actually WANTED a good chance at getting an interview:
1. Customize your cover letter for every job you apply to.
2. Include the name and address of the company, and the job or competition number.
3. Include, if possible, the personal name of the person who will be reading the letter.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. Keep it easy to read, with a good sized font and bulleted section, with strategic bolding.
6. Stick to basic and commonly-used fonts. Avoid overly fancy formatting.
7. Be sure to send the cover letter and resume in the format requested in the job posting.
8. Briefly address all the top three or four qualifications for the job, perhaps in a series of bullets.
9. Use the best English, spelling and grammar possible, but sound natural and like a real person.
10. Don't be overly casual. Use humour sparingly and cautiously, if at all.
11. Make sure the grammar, spelling and formatting are as perfect as you can possibly make them.
Be sure to use these tips next time you want to write a cover letter that's either truly horrible, or really good and effective. It's entirely up to you which type you choose.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
1. Use the same cover letter for every single job you apply to: Don't customize it in any way, just find a template on the Internet, stick your name on the end of it, and call it a day. Don't even bother to mention the job or competition number. Who has the time?
2. Don't include the address or name of the company: This will be easy since you're using the same letter for everyone. You have better things to do than spend 20 seconds putting this information on your cover letter. Those TV shows won't watch themselves!
3. Don't use the name of the hiring manager in your salutation: Start the letter out: Dear Sir/Ma'am, or better yet, To Whom It May Concern. That has a nice impersonal, no-frills ring to it.
4. Make it really, really long: Two pages is a minimum but three is even better. Make sure to include every detail of your work history and education, as well as all kinds of hobbies and community activities, no matter how irrelevant. It will give the hiring manager something to fill his long, boring workday. Basically, rephrase your entire resume, in case the employer loses the resume. It never hurts to repeat yourself. Yes, it never hurts to repeat yourself.
5. Use tiny font and long, run-on sentences and paragraphs: A size 9 Times New Roman font or smaller should be adequate for giving the most eyestrain possible. Don't use anything over a size 10 font though - why make it easy for them? And avoid bullets and bolding; they make the important points stand out way too clearly.
6. Use the fanciest font and formatting you can get your hands on: Ideally, do your cover letter in some obscure font you downloaded off the Internet. Throw in some Wing Dings just for decoration. This guarantees that when it gets opened at the other end by the employer, your letter will be virtually unrecognizable, since it's unlikely he'll have that font on his computer.
7. Never send the cover letter in the requested format: If the job posting insists that all cover letters and resumes be e-mailed, show up in person with hard copies. If you're supposed to combine your cover letter and resume into one file, and send it as a Word document, send them as two separate attachments in PDF form. If you're supposed to mail the cover letter and resume, fax them instead! Think of all the extra attention you'll get as the hiring managers struggle with your creatively non-conformist approach!
8. Do not address the main qualifications of the job: If 10 years experience in Purchasing is absolutely essential for the job, make sure you don't in any way let on whether you have this experience or not. They'll enjoy guessing. If a knowledge of Spanish and Chinese is the #1 job requirement, don't mention that either. In fact, be certain not to make any reference at all in your cover letter to any of the top three or four main qualifications required for the job. It will spoil the surprise.
9. Sound as robotic as possible: Use stuffy, excessively formal English. Extra points for including words like herewith and notwithstanding. Make sure no hint of personality creeps into your letter.
10. Be overly casual and use humour inappropriately: This is the opposite of #9 but even more effective. Start your letter with: "Hey! What's up? Working for you guys would be awesome!" End with: "In conclusion, I'd like to give you a sample of what kind of non-stop laughs you'd get if you hired me. A nun, a rabbi and a penguin walk into a bar..."
11. Don't bother with Spell-check: Who cares if you confuse it's and its, or there and their. It doesn't matter if you write, "I look foreward to atending you're company events." They're not hiring you for your spelling anyway.
So there you have it; 10 sure-fire tips for writing a truly awful cover letter. To help you remember them, let's relist them, but as opposites. Here are the 10 points reversed, as they would appear if for some weird reason you actually WANTED a good chance at getting an interview:
1. Customize your cover letter for every job you apply to.
2. Include the name and address of the company, and the job or competition number.
3. Include, if possible, the personal name of the person who will be reading the letter.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. Keep it easy to read, with a good sized font and bulleted section, with strategic bolding.
6. Stick to basic and commonly-used fonts. Avoid overly fancy formatting.
7. Be sure to send the cover letter and resume in the format requested in the job posting.
8. Briefly address all the top three or four qualifications for the job, perhaps in a series of bullets.
9. Use the best English, spelling and grammar possible, but sound natural and like a real person.
10. Don't be overly casual. Use humour sparingly and cautiously, if at all.
11. Make sure the grammar, spelling and formatting are as perfect as you can possibly make them.
Be sure to use these tips next time you want to write a cover letter that's either truly horrible, or really good and effective. It's entirely up to you which type you choose.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Friday, November 5, 2010
Brilliant, Ethical Cover Letters
They say that good guys always finish last. And when it comes to cover letters many people assume that this adage holds true. In an industry like information technology where professionals are valued based on their knowledge and experience it's difficult to see how an ethical cover letter could compete with those who have not let the truth get in the way of their career ambitions. So is it possible to stay true to your values whilst remaining a genuine contender in a competitive market?
Outstanding cover letters are relative to the offered position. That is, you could have a brain surgeon apply for a carpenter job without landing the position. Why? Because other, more experienced carpenters, would be better suited to the position. The same notion applies to any advertised job. Take a computer technician application. One can list key criteria of a good computer technician and apply their own experience to key points in the cover letter. For example;
Sample Cover Letters Criterion for a PC Technician; 'Excellent PC hardware knowledge'
Lets flesh out this criterion by listing any PC hardware experience in your current workplace. Mention makes, models and versions for credibility. Also mention any studies including the Institution, Course, subject as well as relevant activities and theory. Talk about any projects, interests or memberships including the duration, responsibilities and deliverables.
Sample Response;
I have completed an Associate Diploma in Engineering Computer systems from the IT-Pathways College of Technology. This course included the subjects PC Hardware and Architecture where we built a number of PCs from components. During this time I gained a solid understanding of motherboard technologies including the meaning of 32 and 64 bit bus architectures and their relationship to video cards, memory and CPU. My major project also involved the manipulation of an RS-232 serial connection to create an interface device to a custom made electronics sensor device.
Completing four weeks of work experience I have also applied my PC hardware knowledge in a commercial environment. I have included in this application a written reference from my supervisor who has also been kind enough to make himself available as a referee. During this time I worked directly with the HP Compaq PC hardware to assist with the development of an enterprise wide SOE (Standard Operating Environment). My direct responsibilities in this project were to test hardware and drivers in accordance to the Quality Assurance test plan. This project gave me significant exposure to the systems drivers and event viewer components of the desktop PC.
Further to this experience I have built and supported home PCs for over five years. This includes anti-virus installs and updates, personal firewall and windows update patches. My small home network also consists of a network printer and two virtual machines.
In this instance the applicant has shown a clear relevant history of education, experience and interest in the field. Nothing was left to the imagination, including the portions of the course that were relevant. Underlying the entire response is a demonstrated understanding of what the criterion 'excellent PC hardware knowledge' actually means. The applicant reinforces his position by providing details of knowledge gained through a number of different avenues.
Ultimately, the applicant has provided a truthful detailed appraisal of why he meets this particular criterion. The ethical component of this response has allowed the applicant to provide detail that not only demonstrates an advanced knowledge of the subject but also serves as a credible source of information.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Outstanding cover letters are relative to the offered position. That is, you could have a brain surgeon apply for a carpenter job without landing the position. Why? Because other, more experienced carpenters, would be better suited to the position. The same notion applies to any advertised job. Take a computer technician application. One can list key criteria of a good computer technician and apply their own experience to key points in the cover letter. For example;
Sample Cover Letters Criterion for a PC Technician; 'Excellent PC hardware knowledge'
Lets flesh out this criterion by listing any PC hardware experience in your current workplace. Mention makes, models and versions for credibility. Also mention any studies including the Institution, Course, subject as well as relevant activities and theory. Talk about any projects, interests or memberships including the duration, responsibilities and deliverables.
Sample Response;
I have completed an Associate Diploma in Engineering Computer systems from the IT-Pathways College of Technology. This course included the subjects PC Hardware and Architecture where we built a number of PCs from components. During this time I gained a solid understanding of motherboard technologies including the meaning of 32 and 64 bit bus architectures and their relationship to video cards, memory and CPU. My major project also involved the manipulation of an RS-232 serial connection to create an interface device to a custom made electronics sensor device.
Completing four weeks of work experience I have also applied my PC hardware knowledge in a commercial environment. I have included in this application a written reference from my supervisor who has also been kind enough to make himself available as a referee. During this time I worked directly with the HP Compaq PC hardware to assist with the development of an enterprise wide SOE (Standard Operating Environment). My direct responsibilities in this project were to test hardware and drivers in accordance to the Quality Assurance test plan. This project gave me significant exposure to the systems drivers and event viewer components of the desktop PC.
Further to this experience I have built and supported home PCs for over five years. This includes anti-virus installs and updates, personal firewall and windows update patches. My small home network also consists of a network printer and two virtual machines.
In this instance the applicant has shown a clear relevant history of education, experience and interest in the field. Nothing was left to the imagination, including the portions of the course that were relevant. Underlying the entire response is a demonstrated understanding of what the criterion 'excellent PC hardware knowledge' actually means. The applicant reinforces his position by providing details of knowledge gained through a number of different avenues.
Ultimately, the applicant has provided a truthful detailed appraisal of why he meets this particular criterion. The ethical component of this response has allowed the applicant to provide detail that not only demonstrates an advanced knowledge of the subject but also serves as a credible source of information.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
How to Write Computer Programmer Cover Letter
As far as the computer programmers are concerned, they are definitely in great demand. You will find out that the computer programmers are in great demand. You can look at any one company and you will find thousands of the programming jobs. Each of them comes out of the specific technology. This does mean that with each and every technology you will have some type of job. For example if you know about UNIX then you can become the UNIX programmer or the administrator. But you will at first have to apply for the post. For this purpose you will have to prepare curriculum vitae. However you will have to enclose the cover letter as well. Let us see that how the cover letter is being prepared.
Some of the tips regarding the computer programmer's cover letter are as follows:
1. The first thing which you will have to keep in mind is related to the format. You will have to be formal and this is definitely an issue. Do not try to be personal for even one line. You should become personal only when the recruiters start knowing about you in detail. Thus formal format is to be used. You need to realize that it is better to be formal.
2. The second point which you will have to understand is that how you are going to tackle with the problem. This is certainly very important. You will have to prove that you are going to be very handy for the company. It will require you to explain the talent which you possess. You should make sure that the recruiters come to know about your talent after reading the cover letter itself. This is definitely very important. For this purpose you should try to use standard terms since the recruiters will then be able to catch the fact quite easily.
3. Actually the above point is about the body. You will also have to provide the introduction. In the introduction you will have to write down that how you came to know about the job. This is certainly very important. The better will be the introduction; better will be your chances.
4. You will also have to keep in mind that the cover letters are the first thing which the recruiters will read. But they want to come to the conclusion within few seconds. This is certainly very important.
These are some of the points which you need to keep in mind. Only then you will be able to present yourself in better way.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Some of the tips regarding the computer programmer's cover letter are as follows:
1. The first thing which you will have to keep in mind is related to the format. You will have to be formal and this is definitely an issue. Do not try to be personal for even one line. You should become personal only when the recruiters start knowing about you in detail. Thus formal format is to be used. You need to realize that it is better to be formal.
2. The second point which you will have to understand is that how you are going to tackle with the problem. This is certainly very important. You will have to prove that you are going to be very handy for the company. It will require you to explain the talent which you possess. You should make sure that the recruiters come to know about your talent after reading the cover letter itself. This is definitely very important. For this purpose you should try to use standard terms since the recruiters will then be able to catch the fact quite easily.
3. Actually the above point is about the body. You will also have to provide the introduction. In the introduction you will have to write down that how you came to know about the job. This is certainly very important. The better will be the introduction; better will be your chances.
4. You will also have to keep in mind that the cover letters are the first thing which the recruiters will read. But they want to come to the conclusion within few seconds. This is certainly very important.
These are some of the points which you need to keep in mind. Only then you will be able to present yourself in better way.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Monday, November 1, 2010
Computer Cover Letter
A cover letter is the most important document of your job search procedure. You really need to craft an effective cover letter if you are looking to secure a decent job in this field. A cover letter simply makes you known to the employer. Computer related jobs are not at all easy to perform. A computer engineer should be proficient enough to solve all basic computer related problems. He should basically have good proficiency in computer science. So, don't forget to craft an efficient cover letter for each employer.
Now, given below is one of the best cover letter samples for the post of a computer engineer. It could really help you impress the employer:
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Date
Employer Name
Company
Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Mr. /Mrs. Last Name,
With reference to your advertisement in one of the leading newspapers of the city, I hereby present my job application for the desired position. My strong proficient background provides me an edge over other applicants. I really feel that I could benefit your firm in the long run. So, please do consider me for this significant position.
I possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that are quite necessary for this kind of a job. I also have exceptional proficiency in quite a few computer applications. I have all the technical knowledge regarding computers. I can work under all types of situations and solve any kinds of hardware problems. In short, I am a complete professional.
I have done Bachelor of Computer Science from a well known state University. I have gained a considerable amount of experience after working with a reputed computer hardware company for about 5 years. I have become a complete professional now in my work approach. I seriously feel that my qualifications are a perfect match up for your job requirements.
So, if you feel that there is mutual consent then please do contact me on the numbers given above. I really look forward to meet you face to face. I have attached my resume along with this cover letter for your kind review.
Thank you so much for taking the time to consider my application.
Sincerely,
Signature
Typed Name
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Now, given below is one of the best cover letter samples for the post of a computer engineer. It could really help you impress the employer:
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Date
Employer Name
Company
Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Mr. /Mrs. Last Name,
With reference to your advertisement in one of the leading newspapers of the city, I hereby present my job application for the desired position. My strong proficient background provides me an edge over other applicants. I really feel that I could benefit your firm in the long run. So, please do consider me for this significant position.
I possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that are quite necessary for this kind of a job. I also have exceptional proficiency in quite a few computer applications. I have all the technical knowledge regarding computers. I can work under all types of situations and solve any kinds of hardware problems. In short, I am a complete professional.
I have done Bachelor of Computer Science from a well known state University. I have gained a considerable amount of experience after working with a reputed computer hardware company for about 5 years. I have become a complete professional now in my work approach. I seriously feel that my qualifications are a perfect match up for your job requirements.
So, if you feel that there is mutual consent then please do contact me on the numbers given above. I really look forward to meet you face to face. I have attached my resume along with this cover letter for your kind review.
Thank you so much for taking the time to consider my application.
Sincerely,
Signature
Typed Name
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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