3 Secrets To Interview-Winning Cover Letters

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3 Secrets To Interview-Winning Cover Letters April 3, 2014

Three tips to make your cover letter generate interest ASAP.

By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, Expert Resume Writer

Can a cover letter really win you an interview? Isn’t that supposed to be the job of the resume? A resume isn’t the sole determining factor in whether you get the interview. A cover letter absolutely can play a deciding role in securing an interview, and I’m going to share with you three secrets that we utilize in the cover letters we write for our clients that generate immediate interview interest.

1. We give them three reasons our clients are the best candidates.

We don’t pull any punches. Straightforward and to the point: For example, "Here are three reasons I’m the best Healthcare Executive for ABC Healthcare Company." All three reasons must hit on the main points that the company has in its current opening. We use our client’s past successes to connect the dots between what they’ve achieved and what they’re capable of delivering for the new company.

2. We ASK for the interview.

Some people aren’t comfortable just coming out and asking for what they want; they’re afraid that being too direct will be viewed negatively. But, it actually has the opposite effect—it shows interest, enthusiasm, and the ability to ask for what you want. Directness is valued in many workplaces, so why wouldn’t it be in the job search?

3. We leave them wanting to know more.

Why is it that direct mail letters always include a PS at the end? Ever receive a letter from a charitable organization? It always includes a PS at the bottom, too. Wonder why that is? People are naturally curious and there is just SOMETHING about that PS at the bottom that people cannot stand leaving it unread. So we leverage that same curiosity to our advantage when we craft cover letters for our clients. We end the cover letter with a PS that is so attention-grabbing or intriguing the hiring manager has to call our client for an interview.

Ask yourself if these same strategies will work for you? In a time when the average job search takes six to nine months or longer, our clients are getting interviews in 60 days or less. Many are receiving interviews and offers in two weeks or less. In fact, our interview-winning success rate over the past two years (2012-2014) is an astounding 99.997 percent. How do I get that number, you ask? Out of 1500+ clients we’ve worked with in the past two years, we’ve had only four clients request rewrites.

About the Author

Jessica Hernandez, is a resume authority for the Job Talk America radio program and multi-published expert author for resume, career, and job search publications. She boasts more than ten years in human resources management and hiring for Fortune 500 companies and utilizes her extensive experience to support job seekers in their quest to move onward and upward in their careers. Find out more at Great Resumes Fast.

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