Cover Letters

The link provided a great deal of valuable information pertaining to cover letters. The different tutorials were packed with the “do’s and don’ts” of cover letters, but surprisingly they had more to offer than I had first thought.
I agreed with the tutorial that suggested that a cover letter should be used only as part of a limited, targeted campaign to reach employees. It suggested that one should invest time into research and understanding of a company before committing in paper or email to a prospective employer.
I also agreed with the tutorial that the cover letter should not be about you, rather it should be about the individual company you are targeting. I agree that you should define what your product (you and your skills) can do for the customer (the company) and what your customer will need to by your product. A successful cover letter is a marketing tool used to move your customer one step closer to buying your product. I agree that you need to fully understand and be able to articulate your personal value proposition. This type of cover letter will pay back far greater returns than the simple “introduction to me” letter that most people use. The investment of time, energy, and resources when studying a company is valued by prospective employers.
I did not agree with the tutorial dealing with Post Scripts. This “extra splash” is not needed in your cover letter; remember, its not about you, its about the company. All your achievements, skills, and attributes are covered in your resume.
The most useful section of this article was the Cover Letter Checklist. This is the most practical and helpful area for me. It sets up and outlines the entire neccessities of a cover letter. it is a very valuable resource to have.