Cover Letter Book Preview

DESIGNING A COVER
LETTER TO "WOW"
HIRING PERSONNEL
This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’
Hiring Personnel.” The below contains the first page of each
chapter, along with 5 cover letter examples. For the full 100+
cover letter examples, purchase and download the full book at
http://www.resumebycprw.com/cover-letter-book.htm.
The Resource You Need

for Eye-Catching, Interview-
Producing Cover Letters
INCLUDES 100+ COVER LETTER EXAMPLES
BY SOME OF THE TOP COVER LETTER WRITERS
SECOND EDITION
WRITTEN BY TEENA ROSE

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Chapter 1: Cover Letter Basics
Intro to Cover Letters Page 4

What is a cover letter; What’s the importance of using a cover letter; Main reasons for using a cover letter;
Other uses for a cover letter; Presenting a candid snapshot; Looking beyond old-school paper submissions;
Three principals for always including a cover letter; Why should you care about writing an amazing cover
letter; what to avoid when designing and writing a cover letter
Chapter 2: Career Q&A’s: Career Advice Pertaining to Cover Letters
Q&A Regarding Cover Letters Page 9

How to add salary requirements; When is a cover letter required; When to have an ASCII copy of cover letter;
How to address unemployed status; Should cover letters be catalogued a certain way?; How many different
types of cover letters are there?; Should I utilize individual cover letters; What does "attachment" mean at the
end of a cover letter?; How to properly address the letter
Chapter 3: Cover Letter Tips
50 “Quick” Tips to Make Writing Cover Letters a Breeze Page 12

Don’t use form letters; Cover letters should be “actual” letters; Avoid including your life history; Set the proper
tone for your employment history; Humor has no place in cover letters; Creativity doesn’t earn extra points
with the employer; Gimmicks hurt, not help, your cover letter; Don’t make demands; Use words that are
familiar, avoid those unfamiliar; Avoid clichés and too much technical jargon … and 40 more!!!
Chapter 4: Strategies to Adding “Wow” Factor to Your Content
5 Creative Tips to Use When Writing Your Cover Letters

… How to Leave Your “Competition” in the Dust Page 20
Uniqueness will shed light your way; Use the same header, margins, font, and pica as your resume; Add
comments from superiors or clients; Get rid of “dead weight” content; Ensure most sentences are unique to
the employer
Chapter 5: Cover Letter Examples
100+ Cover Letter Examples to Use for Inspiration Page 30

A large sampling of cover letter examples to help get your creative juices flowing
Chapter 6: Book Contributors
Lists the Career Professionals Who Contributed Cover Letter Samples Page 139
Chapter 7: Another New Book on the “Shelf”
Intro to Get Job Leads Fast Using Twitter Page 144

Book on the importance of Twitter; reasons jobseekers should be tweeting; how to leverage the twittersphere
© Copyright 2010/2011 Designing a Cover Letter to “WOW” Hiring Personnel – Book Preview
Page 2 of 19 Written by Teena Rose, Resume to Referral — resumetoreferral.com
A few words from Teena …
Having a great cover letter puts you one step closer to an interview.
Some jobseekers don’t take the time to mess with writing cover letters, and thankfully, you’re not one of those people.
Actually, those job competitors who fail to write cover letters are actually tipping the scales in your favor … though they
might not know it.
Although your cover letter may be bound for the trash, you’ve in some way increased your chances for an interview,
mainly because you took the time to write something the interviewer will need to touch (and possibly skim) before
hitting that delete key, or dropping your letter in the trash.
If anything, a cover letter is an obstacle that makes the letter’s recipient pause, even if
only for a brief second.
Good luck to you!

Regards,
Teena Rose, Book Author/Published

Writer/11-Year Resume-Writing Veteran
Resume to Referral
(937) 325-2149
http://www.resumebycprw.com
http://www.teenarose.com (outlines credentials,
public relations involvement, books written)
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/teenarose

And, send me a LinkedIn invitation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/teenarose. Let’s grow and excel together. :)

Cover Letter Basics

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How can something so seemingly unimportant

be so powerful?
What is a cover letter? What’s the importance of using one?
It seems silly to examine such a simple question like the purpose of a cover
letter. Yet, so many jobseekers question whether to use a cover letter in
the first place, so sure, let’s review the basics so you fully understand the
“power” a cover letter holds.
Without a doubt, a cover letter further connects you and your resume to an employer – it’s just that simple.
Disconnect usually comes not from the purpose of the cover letter, but its many uses during the job-
search process.
One reason for using a cover letter is to make life a bit easier for hiring managers. To
understand the true importance, ask a hiring manager about the huge quantity of
resumes received, oftentimes for only one or two vacant positions. The amount is sheer
eye-popping in some cases. How would you respond? While receiving dozens,
hundreds, or thousands of resumes each day, would you welcome the challenge of
having to review the growing stack and attempt to match each and every one to the
open positions in your company? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Well, human resources
managers don’t want to do it either.
Another reason for using a cover letter (let’s be honest) is a resume isn’t always written
clearly enough, or on target for the position nor industry being pursued. When your
resume isn’t good enough on its own, the addition of a well-written cover letter is an
absolute necessity. Jobseekers often experience difficulty expressing their work
experience, skill set, and intentions in a resume so sending along a cover letter
oftentimes adds more clarity for those on the receiving end.
Writing a quality cover letter is challenging; probably not one jobseeker will argue
against this point.
The object is to write a cover letter that highlights relevant skills, knowledge, and so on. Yes, it might seem redundant
or unnecessary to write such a letter, especially since it oftentimes notes key mentionables (hopefully) contained in the
resume. A cover letter however is an introducer, a question answerer, and a speaker for your candidacy. It can serve
many purposes if you empower it to do so. The letter shouldn’t regurgitate the same wordage included in your resume;
yet, it should refine the data to the letter recipient.
Beyond including the obvious, a cover letter might also include:
Relocation choices or willingness to travel
Salary requirement, if requested by company
Schedule restrictions: part time, telecommute, contract
Alternate form of contact or availability for interview
Answers to questions posed by the company
Reflect work experience that replaces an education requirement

Q&A About Cover Letters

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How Do I Add Salary Requirements?
Some career professionals feel the inclusion of salary requirements makes it too easy for HR managers to exclude
individuals from candidacy. Unfortunately, this is very true. But when the hiring manager asks for salary requirements
(btw, only include it when asked to do so), you run the risk of excluding yourself from candidacy by failing to disclose
that which was asked for. Either way, you are presented with some risk.
Including salary requirements into a cover letter isn't difficult; but understanding whether a prospective employer is
seeking salary requirements or salary history is important to understand. Salary requirement is expected salary, while
salary history covers starting and ending salary for each position, and may also include commissions, bonuses for
performance, stock options, and so on. Since a salary history is in-depth, it’s usually contained within a separate sheet
rather than the cover letter.
For salary requirements, a simple sentence should do the trick. For example: “My preliminary salary requirements are
from $48,000 to $55,000, depending upon the benefit package offered by your company. I’m willing to discuss a
different range, once we go through the scope of the position further.”
Should I have an ASCII (text only) copy of my cover letter?

Pronounced as-kee, it simply means the document has been stripped of all beautification features such as bold, italics,
decorative lines, bullets, and fancy fonts. An ASCII cover letter is typically pasted within the body of an e-mail, or
submitted within an online form. By simplifying the document, you’re enabling management systems to “read” your
submission. If not transformed into this version, the document will ultimately end up at its destination with extra
characters or gibberish, and therefore, makes your cover letter look less than professional. Companies have long been
accepting basic, ASCII cover letters, so don’t worry when you finally see the Plain-Jane version of your cover letter.
How do I address my unemployed status?

With jobseekers now changing positions 10 or more times throughout their careers, gaps in employment are becoming
more prevalent amongst the pool of jobseekers. Try to avoid it, certainly. Depending on the length, you may not need
to address the gap within your cover letter. A small gap, such as a couple weeks, or maybe two to three months, you
don’t really need to address it. The gap may come up in an interview, yet the timeframe isn’t large enough to be
concerned with when writing your cover letter. A larger gap, however, maybe a year or more, is a different issue.
Readers will wonder why the gap is so large, whether you’ve been blacklisted in your industry, or maybe there are
some other extenuating circumstances that anyone considering you for employment should worry about; i.e.
incarceration. Anytime you feel the gap may become an issue with the employer, plan to dedicate 1-2 sentences of
your cover letter to address the reason for the gap. Quickly touch on it; then get off it.
Should my letter be catalogued a certain way?

Much like any piece of marketing material, the way your letter is catalogued can play a vital role in the success rate of
interviews you secure.
The introductory paragraph obviously is very important to ensure the reader “cares” about your submission. The
starting sentences of each subsequent paragraph should also encourage readers to keep reading. In fact, each
paragraph should be a main point, and then each subsequent sentence should contain supporting details.
Professionals who write corporate communications will also tell you that little things, such as word choices, can have a
huge impact on how often and how fully your letter is scanned. When completing the draft, analyze each paragraph to
ensure your key points and thoughts are catalogued correctly. Replace words appropriately, identify and delete content
that isn’t adding value to your candidacy, and ensure your sentences are placed in order of importance.
How do I know my letter is “up to speed”?

It’s difficult to answer this question, so the best advice is to assume your letters are always substandard. This way,
you’ll continuously look for a “better mousetrap.” Just like any position or industry, things change. You only need to
review a book on proper business correspondence (complete with examples) written 25 years ago to realize how we
correspond differently today. Today, business correspondence is written using a conversational tone instead of the once
I-would-never-talk-that-way-ever writing.
50 Quick Cover
Letter Tips

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Cover Letter Help Tip #1: Always introduce your resume with a cover letter.
Although not stated in an ad or mentioned in conversation, an employer likely wishes to see a cover letter
accompanying your resume. True, not all employers share the same views on cover letters and therefore can’t all be
put in the same barrel of opinion. But, there’s a certain degree of risk when the employer expects a cover letter but
doesn’t receive one. Let’s face it, the cover letter serves as a chance for you to sell yourself further— even if only a tiny
bit more. A resume lists what you’ve done, sure, yet the cover letter lets you further tailor your message to each cover
letter recipient. For example, what can you do when employers seek a specific skill you haven’t done for a while?
Highlighting your knowledge of the skill within the resume can sometimes be tricky, while introducing it within a cover
letter can be much easier. So, leverage your cover letter to introduce and reinforce your value to employers.
Cover Letter Help Tip #2: Cover letters are a snapshot of you as a potential employee.
The importance of first impressions is clear when it comes to cover letters. In just a few paragraphs, you’ll present your
communication skills, your attention to detail, your interest in the company, and let’s not forget your qualifications that
are perfect for the job. A cover letter is also a great place to shine a bit of your personality too. Not sure what details to
snapshot in your cover letter? Start by making a list of the top 10-20 components of your professional value and cross-
reference that list to what the employer seeks. Your professional value, plus employer’s wants/needs, equals a great
snapshot of you in a letter. Voila!
Cover Letter Help Tip #3: A cover letter helps set you apart from other applicants.
A resume by itself can be limiting; but when paired with a cover letter, both documents serve as a highly effective tag
team. Consider this: An employer has a large number of applicants to review, yet he or she can take only seconds to
consider each candidate. By knowing what is useful to the employer and calling attention to that in your cover letter,
for example, you help quickly answer the question, “Why should I hire this person?” Focus the letter not only on your
skill set, but also consider including details on how you can help the employer with what *pains* them.
Cover Letter Help Tip #4: Don’t use a form letter.

You can find many books, websites, and other guides with hundreds of sample cover letters. Use them as a starting
point to help you get ideas for format and content, but don’t copy them. Write your cover letter in your own words so it
has your voice and style. Take the time to research the company and convey your own enthusiasm for the job. A bland,
generic cover letter says that you didn’t care enough about the position or the employer to expend any effort creating a
specific and detailed letter.
Cover Letter Help Tip #5: Cover letters should be actual letters.
A cover letter is supposed to be brief, readable, and professional. A fax cover sheet or a handwritten note should
preferably never be used, especially when you want an employer to view you as a serious potential employee. The ideal
cover letter is four to five paragraphs long, with each paragraph consisting of maybe three or four sentences. Keep in
mind, too, that “less is more.” Your letter should preferably be no more than one page in length. Write clearly and
concisely, and stay focused in each paragraph.
For example, one could use the following for writing an amazing cover letter:
1) write one or two sentences to introduce the purpose of your contact;

2) write a second paragraph to highlight your relevant skills and work experience;
3) write a third paragraph to outline academic credentials and relevant certifications;
4) write a quick paragraph outlining salary requirements (include such a paragraph only in response to a querying
employer, of course); and lastly …
5) write a closing paragraph that reminds the reader how to reach you.
Cover Letter Help Tip #6: Don’t tell your life history or repeat your resume.
A cover letter is nothing more than a sales tool designed to pique an employer’s interest in you. Focus your letter
content on the parts of your resume that are relevant to the position – the qualifications that best help an employer
5 Creative Tips for
Adding “Wow” to Your
Cover Letters

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1. UNIQUENESS WILL SHED LIGHT YOUR WAY

One probable reason why cover letters aren’t read is likely due to blandness. Have you seen letters that start out,
“Please accept my resume and cover in response to …”? Starting your letter this way isn’t the best approach to setting
yourself apart because countless other candidates begin their letters the same way. Of course, there are formalities
when writing a cover letter; however there are some innovative ways to draw attention.
Have you heard of a hook? Individuals who write professionally (e.g., writers for press releases and sales letters) will be
the first to tell you that your material needs a hook. The complicated part of the process is that no one can tell you
what the hook should be because it’s different for each jobseeker. A hook is something that draws readers in from the
start, and entices them to continue reading.
Since every cover letter will require a

different hook, researching businesses will
definitely be very advantageous for you.
Your ultimate goal is to input uniqueness into
each of your cover letters that others will
overlook, or not spend the time to address.
6 Examples of What Your “Hook”

Might Encompass
Mention specifics about the company
recently announced in the media
Do you keep up on current company events?

If you’re not reading the local newspaper at
least twice a week, you’re missing critical
information that can make a huge impact on
your job search.
Press releases and articles are continuously

written on company happenings; and without
knowing this information, you’re somewhat
being left in the dark.
Get into the habit of reading about what’s

going on with businesses that would make
ideal employers.
In addition to reading newspapers, subscribe to a business journal. Nearly every city possesses a business publication,
so visit your local library to review a copy. Business journals offer a niche over local newspapers because these
publications cover the happenings of local businesses. Topics of interest typically include mergers, new contracts,
expansions, and so on. What great “food” to “feed” your cover letter!
A sample sentence for your cover letter might resemble:

“Restructuring is a necessary part of doing business, in my opinion. Countless companies over recent years have had to
audit and appropriately reshape their existing operation. Thankfully, KSZX-TV did a great job of positively speaking
about your upcoming changes. Your story peaked my interest, since I’m a consultant for businesses going through
change, which requires the realignment of staff, adjusting inventory levels, and streamlining internal procedures.”
Other ideas could derive from commercials (e.g., company sponsoring an upcoming charitable function), a documentary
on the owner or his/her invention, or about a community/networking event. For example, mentioning, “Mr. Franks, I
heard your logistics manager speak at a conference last fall. With my recent employer, I’ve successfully implemented
many of the suggestions that Mr. Franks outlined in his seminar, such as realigning our just-in-time delivery system and
retraining our staff. I was able to save our company an estimated $1.2M within just 6 months. Do you have some time
so we can get together to discuss the logistics training position currently open with your company? Inspired by Mr.
Franks, I am now a certified instructor on manufacturing, inventory, and procurement.”
Congratulations on a new contract or expansion plan
Everyone likes a pat on the back, including prospering and excelling companies. Weaving a sentence or two into an
introductory cover letter with congrats of a recent announcement can provide a nice point of interest to encourage the
hiring rep to continue reading your letter, and subsequently call you for an interview.
A sample sentence might resemble:

“Reading Construction Management Essential yesterday, I learned your business will undergo a 345,000 square foot
expansion over the next six months. That’s fantastic! The Indianapolis area needs strong —and growing— businesses
like yours.”
Highlight a recent article in a trade or industry publication
Publications can offer insight into your target industry, help you stay abreast of new technologies, and enable you to
splash uniqueness into the content of your letter. Noting specifics from a recent industry publication can offer
“freshness” to the body of any cover letter. Remember, noting particulars that your competitors oftentimes overlook is
key to setting you and your letter apart. In fact, get into the habit of clipping articles from magazines, printing columns
from e-newsletters, and jotting notations to use later when you’re knee-deep in your job search. Center your attention
on items that interest you, and can be referenced later. Maintain a folder of clippings so you don’t go crazy searching
through countless magazines or newspapers for that perfect mentionable.
Increase your return by writing letters that focus only on an array of quality positions
— avoid blasting a cover letter to “anything and everything.”
Not familiar with publications pertaining to your industry or position? Conduct a search for organizations
covering your field. Scour their websites for recommended resources.
Another way to find print or online media is by placing specific keywords or key phrases into your favorite search
engine. For example, sales+magazine or finance+newsletter should return useful results. If you’d prefer a shortcut,
here’s an incredible list of free magazines and publications broken down by industry and position.
Free Magazines by Industry/Position

(To view, simply push CTRL [on your keyboard], place your cursor over the link, and click.)
1. Agriculture
2. Automotive
3. Biotech & Pharmaceutical
4. Computers
5. Construction
6. Education
7. Engineering
8. Executive/Management
9. Finance
10. Food & Beverage
11. Government
12. Healthcare
13. Human Resources
14. Industrial/Manufacturing
15. Internet
16. Information Technology
17. IT – Data Management
18. IT – Security
19. IT – Software & Development
20. IT – Storage
21. Insurance
22. Purchasing/Procurement
23. Retail
24. Sales/Marketing
25. Telecommunications
26. Transportation
27. Utility/Energy
Industry magazines by far are highly overlooked by today’s jobseekers, probably because of cost. Magazines can get
costly, but the magazines I have listed above offer free subscriptions, usually 6 months up to 1 year in
length. Some are exclusively print magazines, while others are offered online only — or sometimes both print/online.
How can these magazines afford to offer free subscriptions?

Primarily these magazines are ad supported, meaning they are heavily focused with expanding subscribers … and they
are willing to expend funds for people like me to get the word out about their publications. It’s win-win for everyone
involved.
5 Reasons to Subscribe to Industry Magazines

1. Innovative way of keeping in touch with one’s industry
2. Great segway for career changers, before taking the big leap
3. Ideal for broadening one’s viewpoint to other areas of business
4. Stay abreast of corporate leaders, vendors, service providers
5. Learn about industry conferences, meetings, or other gatherings
Comment on a recent management change
While reading a newspaper or magazine, take special interest to articles about a company’s upcoming or recent change
in management. One facet that is constant about business is employee turnover. Noting a recent management change
tells readers that you are attentive to changes with the company. It may not catapult you onto the company’s payroll,
but will offer a unique content slant to your cover letter.
If you’re extremely fortunate, the recent management change involves someone you’ve worked with in the past — and
have a good history with! Listing the person’s name within your letter, along with noting specifics about that person’s
management style or by including a compliment about this person, can serve as “eye candy” for anyone skimming your
letter. Listing the name strategically within the starting sentence, or prominently at the beginning of a paragraph, can
get your letter the attention it deserves.
In addition to beefing up your letter, clip the article from the newspaper, have it laminated, and include it in the
envelope with your cover letter and resume. Laminating anything might sound like an odd suggestion, but it’s a unique
action that is sure to draw attention. Individuals who track their public relations activities would enjoy a laminated copy
of the article. The gesture is minute, but can make a huge difference.
Outline a competitor’s actions
Much as you think about jobseekers vying for your perfect job, businesses eye the competition too. Mentioning specifics
about a business’s competitor can unquestionably grab attention. There are a number of ways to learn about
companies, such as through the media, from news stories and corporate communications to trade publications and
newspapers. Imagine mentioning the competitor’s name within your letter. If you were on the hiring end of the
process, would that catch your eye?
Spin the information into a positive for you. Let’s say the competitor is working with a new technology. Your response
could be to outline your experience with the new tool/method, the depth of your skill level, and how you will apply it to
help your target employer remain competitive … and maybe pummel their competitor into the ground. =] The company
may be trying to catch up to integrate the new technology, so your letter could arrive at a pivotal time for them and
you.
Provide details about product lines, and how you plan to expand market share
Cover Letter Examples

Written by Rachelle Rhinehart, Successful Resumes; successfulresumes.com

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DESIGNING A COVER

The Resource You Need

WRITTEN BY TEENA ROSE

Intro to Cover Letters Page 4

Chapter 2: Career Q&A’s: Career Advice Pertaining to Cover Letters

Q&A Regarding Cover Letters Page 9

Chapter 3: Cover Letter Tips

50 “Quick” Tips to Make Writing Cover Letters a Breeze Page 12

Chapter 4: Strategies to Adding “Wow” Factor to Your Content

5 Creative Tips to Use When Writing Your Cover Letters

Chapter 5: Cover Letter Examples

100+ Cover Letter Examples to Use for Inspiration Page 30

Chapter 6: Book Contributors

Chapter 7: Another New Book on the “Shelf”

Intro to Get Job Leads Fast Using Twitter Page 144

Good luck to you!

Teena Rose, Book Author/Published

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/teenarose

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

How can something so seemingly unimportant

Beyond including the obvious, a cover letter might also include:

Relocation choices or willingness to travel

Salary requirement, if requested by company

Schedule restrictions: part time, telecommute, contract

Alternate form of contact or availability for interview

Answers to questions posed by the company

Reflect work experience that replaces an education requirement

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

Should I have an ASCII (text only) copy of my cover letter?

How do I address my unemployed status?

Should my letter be catalogued a certain way?

How do I know my letter is “up to speed”?

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

Cover Letter Help Tip #4: Don’t use a form letter.

1) write one or two sentences to introduce the purpose of your contact;

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

1. UNIQUENESS WILL SHED LIGHT YOUR WAY

Since every cover letter will require a

6 Examples of What Your “Hook”

Do you keep up on current company events?

Press releases and articles are continuously

Get into the habit of reading about what’s

A sample sentence for your cover letter might resemble:

Congratulations on a new contract or expansion plan

A sample sentence might resemble:

Highlight a recent article in a trade or industry publication

Free Magazines by Industry/Position

How can these magazines afford to offer free subscriptions?

5 Reasons to Subscribe to Industry Magazines

Comment on a recent management change

Outline a competitor’s actions

This is a preview copy of “Designing a Cover Letter to ‘Wow’

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