Question:
Should one include a cover letter when applying for a job via email or
is the email body itself essencially the cover letter? does Application included letter and resume any sample ?
I personally want to see a short to the point cover letter "like" email
with the resume attached in TXT and DOC formats.
What do you think?
Answer:
- is it better practice these days to send PDF files instead of
DOC's? Not everyone uses Windows but some HR people are pretty clueless
when it comes to computers (no offense intended)
-I personally think if you are applying executive level work or any positions
above that, you should summit cover letter. If you are applying some entry
level position, you'd better not summit cover letter. It is because HR
staff might need to read hundreds of resume a day. A long resume with cover
letter might double or trible his/her work. But, if you are applying some
positions which require high level written skill, you might need to summit
cover letter. As my own experience, people usualy perfect resume and cover
letter in MS Word format.
-I am not an exec, but I am middle management and in the IT sector, so
it seems to me that my resume should stand out from all the others as
far as its presentation.
If I was just a production worker (not that there is anything wrong
with that-I have had those jobs too) i wouldn't be so concerned about
the layout and formating of my resume.
I think that a professionally designed resume thats easy on the eyes
and conveys the fact that I have my proverbial sh^t together
technically is the best option.
I am going to keep it simple and use my email as the cover letter
itself. The content of the email must be interesting enough to get
the person to open my resume. If the resume is in PDF then I can do
additional things with it without the worry of the doc being edited or
copied easily. For higher level posn's I could include a cover in PDF
as well I suppose. Of course I will name the files appropriately so
the HR pers doesn't have to open my resume, look for my name and/or
rename the document befor he/she can save it.
I have been through the hiring process from a mangements perspective
befor and you wouldn't believe some of the resume submissions you get.
Here are some examples:
email with subject resume and nothing in the body, just an attachment
called resume.doc
email with resume and cover attached and the sentence "I am ready to
be with you anytime" in the body of the email.
resumes with grotesque writing, no whitespace at all, its like they
where literally trying to fill the complete page with text. (I don't
even read these, they get filed under "G" right away)
