Job cover letters

• 

  Sage on 07/01/2016 - 15:42

  +3

  Note what's relevant to the position.
  Some parts of previous jobs will be relevant even though they will be different, so it's best to pick some highlights of transferable skills and generalise them to be about both industries.
  I don't think it's necessary to say exactly what jobs and positions you've done in the past on the cover letter. Save that for the resume.

  Also you should proof read your cover letter. The post here has several mistakes and it doesn't leave a good impression.

  Small warning, I don't have a huge amount of experience in the workforce so take my advice with a pinch of salt.

• 

  geoffs87 on 07/01/2016 - 15:50

  I recently spoke with a career counsellor through my MBA school, and their suggestion was cover letters aren't as valuable as a powerful 1st page of your resume, complete with your personal details, strong executive summary outlining briefly your most recent role and qualifications, aspiration and experience. This should be followed by your key skills and key achievements.

  I havent tested this, and I'm by no way experienced in this area! However - when i was recruiting people for my call centre - i never EVER read a cover letter - i would look at work history briefly, then at their education - and then put them in the 'review further' or 'no' piles. Those in the review further, i would read their full resume and make a decision to interview or not. Cover letters are too wordy, and generally just a copy of your resume in long sentences. Might make sense for more creative type roles, but definitely not for finance!

  Hope this helps :)

• 

  red-hot on 07/01/2016 - 16:34

  Do this. http://mkt.smartcoverletter.com/cover-letter-lp-2/
  Too easy.

• 

  Ughhh on 07/01/2016 - 16:37

  +1

  Your post is very very poorly written, make sure you get someone to read it (your cover letter and resume). Retail and hospitality are pretty similar, both focusing on customer service. There would be skills that are necessary and can be learnt/applied in both .

• 

  try2bhelpful on 07/01/2016 - 20:10

  +1

  I subscribed to the email from this guy.

  http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/

  You don't have to pay money to look at a lot of his website. His view is that you need to find out who you will actually be working for and try to talk to them directly. Your pitch should be how your experience is relevant to what they are looking for and explain how you can add value to the position and the company. In this case I would presume that you would emphasise the customer management skills you learnt in retail to relate to your position in hospitality.

  It isn't about the jobs you have had but how this has increased your skill base.

• 

  endotherm on 07/01/2016 - 20:39

  +2

  I really hope English isn't your first language :)

  I just finished a few edits with my cover letter with different jobs, I have slightly change it having things more relating to what I applied for. But does this mean that previous jobs should not be noted with your particular skills? For example you have various retail experience and you applied for hospitality, And your cover letter has more about retail experience.

  I just finished a few edits to my covering letter for various jobs. I have changed it slightly by including things more related to jobs for which I have I applied. Does this mean that previous jobs should not be noted which include those particular skills? For example, if you have various retail experience and you applied for hospitality, and your covering letter has more references to retail experience?