Sample Resume Cover Letter

sample resume cover letter

When you write a resume cover letter such as the sample resume cover letter below, you must grab the reader's attention. The goal of this correspondence is to highlight the information contained in the resume and make the reader want to learn more about the applicant. The ultimate goal for writing a cover letter is to help the job seeker advance to the next step in the hiring process by securing an invitation for a phone or face-to-face interview.

A Sample Resume Cover Letter

The following example outlines an individual's very confident approach to applying for a position that he feels he is very qualified to hold. You will notice he keeps the focus on how he can help the company reach its goals.

[Today's Date]

Harry Harrison
VP Sales
Ramsey Turbines
Smithtown, Nevada

Dear Mr. Harrison

Your ad for a sales manager in Craig's List on [date of ad] caught my attention. I am interested in applying for this position.

I have more than nine years' experience recruiting and managing a dynamic telesales team at Northco mobile storage, generating company records of $25 million in sales volume each year for the past five years. The sales manual I developed is now used company-wide to train sales reps and won an award for best sales training aid at the 2004 Sales Managers Association meeting.

I've researched your company and product line and like what I've seen about your product line on your Website. Your goal to increase sales by 30% this year by developing a telesales department is a challenge I'd like to help you meet. Your company is one I'd like to be associated with and I'm confident  I have the qualifications you can use.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, I've had three positions as sales manager where I developed successful teams and substantially increased each company's bottom line.

I'm eager to take on a new challenge, roll up my sleeves and go to work for you. When can we set up a meeting?

Sincerely,
Ralph Richards

What A Cover Letter Must Accomplish

Your resume cover letter must be compelling and the hiring manager's grab attention. As you can see from the sample resume cover letter here, the writer referred to the job advertisement specifically. The first sentence was written in a way to attract the reader's attention. In the second paragrah, the job seeker shares two of his key work-related accomplishments. Both of them are clearly focused on how the applicant benefited his previous employers, which the right approach to take when applying for a job with a new company.

Do Your Homework

You've just begun your homework by finding this sample resume cover letter. Your next step is to personalize your cover letter to impress upon a potential employer that you are up to the challenge. You can do this by researching the employer and making sure your resume reflects the values the employer is searching for, including drive, ambition, and a reiteration of the skills and mindset mentioned in the employment ad.

Call to Action

The letter ends with a call to action. It's not intended to get him the job, although it won't hurt his chances, but it is designed to get that interview. It's short and to the point, with flowing copy that swiftly engages the reader.

Another ending to the letter would be to indicate that he will be calling the recipient to arrange an interview by a specific date. The job seeker should make a note of this date on his or her calendar to follow up accordingly.

Applying for a Job by Mail

Many employers accept online applications for available positions, but some of them allow job seekers to contact them by regular mail. This may seem like an old fashioned way to look for a job, but a savvy individual who wants to stand out from the crowd can use this strategy to her advantage. A person who decides to apply for a job with a paper resume and cover letter should invest in a good quality paper. The feel of the paper is important, even if the paper's color is white. While the sensation may or may not be realized by the reader, holding quality paper while reading a dynamic letter leaves a favorable impression.

Checking out a sample resume cover letter is a good strategy for job seekers who want to get ideas about how to craft one. Each letter should be individually written to reflect how the writer's skills and abilities make them a good fit for the position being sought.

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