Should I use a professional service to write my cover letter?
A certified resume writer will incorporate how your personal strengths directly address the needs of the company to whom the cover letter and resume are being sent. These qualifications will be backed up by the content of your resume. Both the cover letter and resume need to be strong, marketing documents that sell YOU to the employer. If one part of this package is poorly written, the other will not pick up the slack. The hiring authority will simply pick up the next cover letter and resume for consideration.
Let a certified professional resume writer - skilled in presenting the qualifications a busy hiring authority seeks in a concise, easy-to-read, dynamic format - give you the advantage and increase your chances of being moved to the top of the list!
Note: A cover letter prototype is included in your resume development package with Resume 4 Success.
Do I always need a Cover Letter with my resume?
Yes and No. A resume should almost always have some type of letter along with it even if it's not called a cover letter. A cover letter may be called something other than a cover letter, but your resume needs some type of letter explaining why your resume has arrived. There are situations for which you'll need a different type of professional correspondence letter. You may need a Letter of Interest for the job you want instead of a Cover Letter, or you may have an occasion when you may want to send an Announcement of Candidacy Letter instead of a Traditional Cover Letter. Perhaps a Business Proposal would be most appropriate for some job opportunities. As a job seeker, you should also be prepared with a Broadcast Letter for specific job search campaigns. Maybe your unique situation will be better served having a professionally written Request for Promotion (or Pay Increase) Letter.
A certified resume writer will incorporate how your personal strengths directly address the needs of the company to whom the appropriate type of professional correspondence or letter is being sent. These qualifications will be backed up by the content of your resume. If you need a traditional cover letter or any other form of professional correspondence letter with your resume, the letter needs to be a strong, marketing document, one which sells you to the employer.
Let a certified professional resume writer - skilled in presenting the qualifications a busy hiring authority seeks in a concise, easy-to-read, dynamic format - give you the advantage and increase your chances of being moved to the top of the list!
(Order your Alternative Version of a Cover Letter)
Note: If you've had your resume and cover letter prepared by Resume 4 Success, you do have privileged fees for our professional correspondence writing services.
Do I understand correctly that my resume should always have some type of letter with it, even if it's not called a Cover Letter?
Most often, yes. The letter included with your resume is intended to be the explanation of why your resume is being submitted for consideration. No matter what type of professional correspondence you need as your letter, your resume typically will be accompanied by a cover letter. Although rare, there are occasions when you'll not need any type of cover letter with your resume.
When is it appropriate to not include any type of cover letter with my resume?
It is a very rare situation when it would be appropriate for presenting your resume without including a cover letter. If you read a job announcement that includes the instructions that an applicant should submit only a resume, you should not include a cover letter. Perhaps the solicitation for a position worded the instructions differently by stating that an applicant should not include a cover letter. Again, you follow those instructions and you do not include a cover letter.
What if the ad for a position indicates that a cover letter is not necessary? This is NOT a specific instruction to exclude a cover letter. So, given the option, you send a cover letter with your resume. In other words, follow the instructions. You are not likely to get an interview with only a resume, unless a solicitation specifically asks for no cover letter or letter of interest.
The rare circumstances for not including an explanation cover letter may also be if you are handing your resume to a person and you have the opportunity to verbally explain it why you are handing it to the person. Certainly, a letter is necessary when you can talk, although this gives a perfect opportunity to provide a Support Follow-Up Letter with relevant information which references parts of the conversation that took place as you handed over your resume in person. Your Support Follow-Up Letter serves as a reminder that the recipient has your resume and your customized reminder as to why.