Archive for the ‘Cover Letters’ Category

Nothing else you need to know. Avoid these phrases…

Under no circumstances should you use “To Whom It May Concern” in a cover letter. Ever. It reeks of “form letter” to anyone who reads it.

But that being said, not doing so can leave you in an interesting predicament. How do you personalize a cover letter if no contact information is provided?

This is where The Talent Buzz comes in. I was reading Is “To whom it may concern” the kiss of death? the other day and it’s a great resource for anyone who has run into this problem. The entire article offers tips and advice on what you can do to track down a contact name and what you should resort to if you are unsuccessful.

My favorite?

2. Call the company

If a job posting does not list a contact name, call the company. Yes, it really is that simple. Call the main number listed for the company and ask for the name of its corporate recruiter or hiring manager. Or, call and say you were wondering who manages the position to which you’re applying. That way, your materials get sent directly to the person who needs to see them.

This is a great read for anyone currently looking for work.

Enjoy!

Lindsay Olsen posted a great cover letter gimmick on her site the other day. It showed an edited excerpt of a table that a job hunter put in their cover letter. Here’s a sneak peak:

As you can see, it’s a real eye catcher. It gives the reader a clear and concise look at why the applicant deserves the job.

Have you ever tried something like this? If you have, I’d be interested to hear how it worked!

I was surfing around Vimeo recently and came across an exceptionally cool video cover letter. Shea Richardson, an animator, was looking for work after graduation and put together this slick looking cover letter/demo reel to show off his skills.

In my opinion, this really shows how you can use different media to stand out from the crowd.

Animated Cover Letter! from Shea Richardson on Vimeo.

I have a huge soft spot for animation. I love it. The best part was the “help from experienced animators” bit. It really shows a willingness to learn and develop, a trait that is invaluable to employers.

What do you think?