Barua za Kuomba Kazi

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Mr CarryFoward

Member
Mar 24, 2008
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Effective CVs need great cover letters (Barua za Kuomba Kazi). If your cover letter doesn't sell you as the person for the job, your CV may not even be seen! This article provides cover letter tips and techniques and lets you explore an effective sample cover letter. It will also help you write your own cover letter. Follow this helpful article as presented by Ms Wedaeli of Kazi999.com

Introduction
You've found the job you want and you've spruced up your CV in hopes of getting it. Now all you have to do is submit it, right? Every CV should have a great cover letter to go with it.

So, what is a cover letter? And why do you need one? We are going to answer those questions. Specifically, you will learn the purpose of a cover letter, identify the main parts of the cover letter, find out what makes a cover letter effective, and use several cover letter Dos and Don'ts as you write your own cover letter.

What is a Cover Letter?
As discussed in Crafting Your CV, prospective employers use your CV to learn about your education, skills, and work history, as well as who you are and how to reach you. Your cover letter has a slightly different purpose.

As the name implies, a cover letter is a document that introduces and accompanies your CV. It is what the hiring manager will see first.

In a competitive job market, hiring managers may get hundreds of CVs for only one position. Going through them all can be very time consuming. To alleviate the time strain, most hiring managers will quickly read over or scan the cover letters to decide which CVs to read more closely.

Cover letters provide YOU with the opportunity to:
  • Demonstrate how well you express yourself and that you have researched the organization and position.
  • Tell prospective employers what position you’re interested in, why you are interested in it, and how you came to know about it.
  • Highlight a few key skills that demonstrate your qualifications for the specific organization and position.
  • Thank the hiring manager in advance for their time and consideration.

Cover letters provide HIRING MANAGERS with the chance to:
  • Decide whether to look at your CV
  • Select a small number of CVs to read more closely

NOTE:
Both CVs and cover letters should be customized for each specific job opportunity. If you see a job posting that requests a CV, send both a cover letter and CV.
Include a cover letter every time you submit a CV for a job, even if you are emailing it.

What are the Parts of a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is really just a formal business letter that acts as an introduction to your CV. Since it is a formal business document, it should be in block business letter format. In this format, text is left justified (aligned on the left-hand margin).

Writing an Effective Cover Letter
To be effective, the body paragraphs of your cover letter must really "sell" you as the best candidate for the job. This area should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications, as well as explain how you can benefit the company. It should be easy to read and have a positive tone.

Each paragraph of your cover letter has a different purpose, and there are strategies you can use to make each paragraph effective.

Cover Letter Tips
The following are some tips to make your cover letter the best it can be.

Gather all necessary information first. This includes the job description, name of the hiring manager, and any other research you have gathered about the company.

Address your letter to a named individual. If this is not possible, use a gender neutral address, like Dear Hiring Manager or Staff Selection Team.

Write a rough draft.

Focus on the purpose of each paragraph:
  • In the first paragraph, introduce yourself, indicate the desired position, and explain how you came to know about the position.
  • In the second paragraph, sell yourself as the ideal candidate by matching your experience with employer needs.
  • In the final paragraph, request action on the part of the employer or explain what actions you will be taking to progress in the job search process.
  • Use good writing techniques.

Characteristics of good writing for cover letters include:
  • Using bullet points or bold text to highlight your qualifications.
  • Using concise and clear language. Keep it to one page in length and focused on what you have to offer the employer.
  • Using correct grammar. Have at least two strong writers edit and proofread your cover letter. The spelling and grammar checkers built into most word processing software can miss an error in your usage and don't offer alternatives to weak verbs or unclear phrases.
  • Using active verbs in the present tense to illustrate your skills. For example, I consistently exceed customer expectations by offering personal attention and product expertise.
  • Varying your word choice. For example, if your specialty is product line management, try to find another phrase for the same function, like family branding.

Format your cover letter to be easy to read.
This should be done only after you are completely satisfied with the content of your rough draft.
  • Use default margins (1.25” for the right and left margins, 1” for the bottom margin).
  • Single-space paragraphs.
  • Double-space after the date, each address, greeeting, and each paragraph.
  • Leave enough space for your signature.
  • Use bold for emphasis and quick reading. Hiring managers will be skimming the letter, so anything you can do to make your qualifications stand out will help focus their attention on you.
  • Use a default font that is easy to read (Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma).

Use quality paper. If you are sending a printed version of your CV, print out your cover letter on the same size and paper stock for a quality look. Don't forget to sign your name!

Follow directions. Read carefully before responding to any job posting.

Mistakes to Avoid
There are several things that job seekers can do in their cover letters that can actually hurt their chances of getting an interview. You will want to avoid these mistakes:
  • Don’t write “To Whom It May Concern,” or "Dear Sir or Madam." If you don't know the person's name, use something generic and gender neutral, like Candidate Selection Team or Dear Hiring Manager
  • Don’t use slang, like I crushed the highest sales in my region three years running.
  • Don’t use correction fluid or make corrections after the letter is printed. Reprint your letter if necessary.
  • Don’t write a letter longer than one page.
  • Don’t provide false information about yourself or your qualifications.
  • Don't include erroneous information about the company.
  • Don’t include personal information (avoid references to religion, family, etc.).
  • Don’t write poorly (avoid using clichés, exaggeration, and typographical or grammatical errors, etc.).
  • Don’t use form letters and mass mailings. Each letter should be tailored to a specific job.
  • Don’t include photos unless specifically asked.
  • Don’t confess weakness or apologize for a lacking qualification.
  • Don’t use an improper tone (angry, demanding, desperate, confessional, too enthusiastic).
  • Don’t include salary information unless asked.

For more of such articles please visit Kazi999.com
 
Jf bwana, mwingine anafundisha njins ya kujiajir mwenyewe mwingine anafundisha jins ya kuomba kazi. Full burudani...
 
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Mr CarryFoward said:
Effective CVs need great cover letters (Barua za Kuomba Kazi). If your cover letter doesn't sell you as the person for the job, your CV may not even be seen! This article provides cover letter tips and techniques and lets you explore an effective sample cover letter. It will also help you write your own cover letter. Follow this helpful article as presented by Ms Wedaeli of Kazi999.com

Introduction
You've found the job you want and you've spruced up your CV in hopes of getting it. Now all you have to do is submit it, right? Every CV should have a great cover letter to go with it.

So, what is a cover letter? And why do you need one? We are going to answer those questions. Specifically, you will learn the purpose of a cover letter, identify the main parts of the cover letter, find out what makes a cover letter effective, and use several cover letter Dos and Don'ts as you write your own cover letter.

What is a Cover Letter?
As discussed in Crafting Your CV, prospective employers use your CV to learn about your education, skills, and work history, as well as who you are and how to reach you. Your cover letter has a slightly different purpose.

As the name implies, a cover letter is a document that introduces and accompanies your CV. It is what the hiring manager will see first.

In a competitive job market, hiring managers may get hundreds of CVs for only one position. Going through them all can be very time consuming. To alleviate the time strain, most hiring managers will quickly read over or scan the cover letters to decide which CVs to read more closely.

Cover letters provide YOU with the opportunity to:
  • Demonstrate how well you express yourself and that you have researched the organization and position.
  • Tell prospective employers what position you’re interested in, why you are interested in it, and how you came to know about it.
  • Highlight a few key skills that demonstrate your qualifications for the specific organization and position.
  • Thank the hiring manager in advance for their time and consideration.

Cover letters provide HIRING MANAGERS with the chance to:
  • Decide whether to look at your CV
  • Select a small number of CVs to read more closely

NOTE:
Both CVs and cover letters should be customized for each specific job opportunity. If you see a job posting that requests a CV, send both a cover letter and CV.
Include a cover letter every time you submit a CV for a job, even if you are emailing it.

What are the Parts of a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is really just a formal business letter that acts as an introduction to your CV. Since it is a formal business document, it should be in block business letter format. In this format, text is left justified (aligned on the left-hand margin).

Writing an Effective Cover Letter
To be effective, the body paragraphs of your cover letter must really "sell" you as the best candidate for the job. This area should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications, as well as explain how you can benefit the company. It should be easy to read and have a positive tone.

Each paragraph of your cover letter has a different purpose, and there are strategies you can use to make each paragraph effective.

Cover Letter Tips
The following are some tips to make your cover letter the best it can be.

Gather all necessary information first. This includes the job description, name of the hiring manager, and any other research you have gathered about the company.

Address your letter to a named individual. If this is not possible, use a gender neutral address, like Dear Hiring Manager or Staff Selection Team.

Write a rough draft.

Focus on the purpose of each paragraph:
  • In the first paragraph, introduce yourself, indicate the desired position, and explain how you came to know about the position.
  • In the second paragraph, sell yourself as the ideal candidate by matching your experience with employer needs.
  • In the final paragraph, request action on the part of the employer or explain what actions you will be taking to progress in the job search process.
  • Use good writing techniques.

Characteristics of good writing for cover letters include:
  • Using bullet points or bold text to highlight your qualifications.
  • Using concise and clear language. Keep it to one page in length and focused on what you have to offer the employer.
  • Using correct grammar. Have at least two strong writers edit and proofread your cover letter. The spelling and grammar checkers built into most word processing software can miss an error in your usage and don't offer alternatives to weak verbs or unclear phrases.
  • Using active verbs in the present tense to illustrate your skills. For example, I consistently exceed customer expectations by offering personal attention and product expertise.
  • Varying your word choice. For example, if your specialty is product line management, try to find another phrase for the same function, like family branding.

Format your cover letter to be easy to read.
This should be done only after you are completely satisfied with the content of your rough draft.
  • Use default margins (1.25” for the right and left margins, 1” for the bottom margin).
  • Single-space paragraphs.
  • Double-space after the date, each address, greeeting, and each paragraph.
  • Leave enough space for your signature.
  • Use bold for emphasis and quick reading. Hiring managers will be skimming the letter, so anything you can do to make your qualifications stand out will help focus their attention on you.
  • Use a default font that is easy to read (Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma).

Use quality paper. If you are sending a printed version of your CV, print out your cover letter on the same size and paper stock for a quality look. Don't forget to sign your name!

Follow directions. Read carefully before responding to any job posting.

Mistakes to Avoid
There are several things that job seekers can do in their cover letters that can actually hurt their chances of getting an interview. You will want to avoid these mistakes:
  • Don’t write “To Whom It May Concern,” or "Dear Sir or Madam." If you don't know the person's name, use something generic and gender neutral, like Candidate Selection Team or Dear Hiring Manager
  • Don’t use slang, like I crushed the highest sales in my region three years running.
  • Don’t use correction fluid or make corrections after the letter is printed. Reprint your letter if necessary.
  • Don’t write a letter longer than one page.
  • Don’t provide false information about yourself or your qualifications.
  • Don't include erroneous information about the company.
  • Don’t include personal information (avoid references to religion, family, etc.).
  • Don’t write poorly (avoid using clichés, exaggeration, and typographical or grammatical errors, etc.).
  • Don’t use form letters and mass mailings. Each letter should be tailored to a specific job.
  • Don’t include photos unless specifically asked.
  • Don’t confess weakness or apologize for a lacking qualification.
  • Don’t use an improper tone (angry, demanding, desperate, confessional, too enthusiastic).
  • Don’t include salary information unless asked.

For more of such articles please visit Kazi999.com
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