Answering an Advertisement
Included in this letter is a statement informing the employer of your interest in the position and a description of your abilities that relates how and why you would best suit their agency/organization's needs. Always state where and when you read the advertisement. Below are examples of opening statements for your "answering ad" cover letter:
- I am writing to apply for the position of Camp Director at the New England Fun and Games Camp as listed in the February issue of Outdoor Recreation Review.
- Your ad for a Forester in the Journal of Forestry on February 14 is of interest to me and I would like to be considered for this position.
Inquiring about a Position
This letter is less specific; it is usually used to inquire about a position with an organization that might have a job in your field but which is not currently advertising. Here are examples of opening statements for the "inquiry" letter.
- Does your company have a need for an (entry-level/experienced) land use planner?\
- For the past (two/four) years I have been studying environmental science at Unity College. I am about to graduate and am searching for employment where a challenging opportunity may exist in my career field.
Format and Content
Cover letters should be typed in a business style format on good stationary. A brief outline for format & content is given below.
Address letter to a specific person, if known.
Paragraph I
- Tell why you are writing; be brief.
- If possible, use name of a mutual acquaintance.
Paragraph II
- Justify why they should hire you; what do you have to offer them?
- Be positive; what you can do - don't apologize for what you can't do!
- Use specific examples.
- Refer reader to resume.
In closing the letter, request an interview or some sort of response.
One piece of advice: Emphasize what you can do for the employer; site skills learned from prior experiences, not what the experiences were.
After sending your cover letter, FOLLOW-UP!
If you are applying for a specific position, wait approximately one week and follow-up your letter with a phone call. Call and ask to speak with the person you sent your cover letter to; appropriate questions to ask could include:
Did you receive my letter and resume (or application)? Does the agency have everything they need to make a decision about my application for employment? Would additional information be helpful? What is your time frame for making a decision about the position? Can you give me any indication of how competitive I am for this position? (If they say "highly competitive" that is great; if there are indications you are not competitive you may want to ask if there are other positions with their agency that might be a better match for your skills and experience.)
ALSO, remember to emphasize how interested and excited you are about the position and the organization.
If you wrote a "letter of inquiry" about possible positions, wait one to two weeks and follow-up your letter with a phone call to the person you wrote to. It is simply inconsiderate on your part to expect the person to contact you. THE BURDEN OF FOLLOW UP IS WITH YOU. In my experience potential employers will almost never call you in response to a letter of inquiry even though they will talk with you if you call them. It may take multiple calls before you finally get through.
Be prepared. Even if you are calling with hopes of scheduling an appointment, it is possible the person will be unable to meet with you but would be willing to answer a few questions right then. So, have your questions ready.
If the individual you wrote to is unavailable when you call, ask:
When is a good time to call back? I left a message on Monday and again yesterday and s/he hasn't called back. What should I do? Would it be helpful if I called back at a specific time? What time do you suggest?
If after repeated attempts you have been unable to reach the individual you want, explain why you are calling and ask if there is someone else that would be appropriate for you to talk with.
Questions to ask at the interview or on the phone will depend on where you are in the job search process. The Career Resource Center has a number of books that can help you get the most out of follow-up phone calls.
The CRC is open Monday thru Friday, year-round.
The office is located in the OAC across from the cafe.
Please stop by whenever you need assistance;
we are here to help you!
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