When writing my cover letter for this particular resume and job opening, I plan on utilizing several techniques outlined in the reading. The first piece of advice comes from the second article, Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes, when it instructs you to ask yourself some very important questions about your cover letter, “Does your cover letter use a personal approach?” This means addressing both the HR employee/manager and the company itself by name. This tailors your resume and cover letter to this specific job application, and so they know you’re interested. The next question is, “Does Your Cover Letter Include Specifics?” By this they mean specifics about the company itself such as you being able to resolve one of their problems, or congratulating them on a recent merger. This also makes sure your cover letter includes details about them, and customizes or tailors your cover letter specifically towards this particular job application.
The next question is “Does Your Cover Letter use layperson's terms?” By this the writers mean does your cover letter use a conversational tone? I plan on writing my cover letter using language that is conversational, but reflects the lingo used in my field of study. This ties in closely with another question, “Does Your Cover Letter Use Select Keywords/Key Phrases?” Being able to exemplify in greater detail, those work experiences that highlight your abilities on certain “key words”, is a big part of what the cover letter’s overall purpose is. According to the last article, Instructor Blog 3: Cover Letters, being specific and going into depth about key words offered in the job ad one paragraph at a time is a great way to build a tailored cover letter that matches well with your resume. Even if your cover letter isn’t read, it’s always better to error on the safe side and make your resume and cover letter a well fit, customized, and tailored package that sells you as a product.
The Approach and Writing Style
I really enjoyed reading your response. You asked the same questions I was thinking. How to address the reader? If you address to specific person and it turns out that the person who receives and reads it isn’t the one who it is addressed to. What would they think? Also writing in layman’s terms is I think is great. The use of conversational tone is more relaxing and easier to read. For example, instead of using Computer Aided Design, you can use the acronym CAD. This acronym is referred to when looking in job descriptions and conversing in an interview.
Zebulon Rouse
Context
I think that your response brings back the idea of context. While the average Joe on the street is probably not going to use the acronym CAD in his everyday conversation, certainly the employees at a company that frequently use CAD would. It all depends on who your target audience is. This was something that I hadn't considered when I first did the readings. Layman's terms mean different things when applied to different groups of people. Even though an HR representative probably doesn't know how to use CAD, I'm sure that from working at a company using CAD they would know to look for it in an resume/cover letter.
Andy
Pleasing the Reader
I don’t believe that the intent of utilizing the personal approach, as presented by Teena Rose in “Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes,” is to show the employer that you’re interested; the application and your resume likely take care of that. Rather, I think the intent is to suggest the tone of the remainder of your letter as well as to please the individual reading it. Rose states that “everyone loves to hear their name from time to time” so it is wise to incorporate a personal approach in writing your cover letter. It is also wise to take each of the questions presented in that article into consideration, as you’ve covered here. These questions will help to ensure that you’ve included the common aspects of a ‘good’ cover letter.
Response
I think you’ve got the key things down that should make a good cover letter. I think one of the most important things is coming across as affluent in your area of study or industry you are applying to. Being able to integrate into your cover letter the lingo that the HR representative or hiring manager hears around their office all day is definitely a good way to display your knowhow and expertise, and probably can serve as proof that you will fit in if hired. Overall, I agree that the most important thing to do when creating a cover letter is tailor-making it to a specific job and company.