How can you land the engineering job you are after? Not just one to fill in the financial gap or one to get your foot in the door, but that sweet spot in the job you dream of. A good place to start is by creating an effective cover letter that gets attention.
Fine Tuning Your Resume
When it comes to grabbing the attention of employers, you really need to stand out in the crowd. With potentially hundreds of applicants applying for the same job, it is up to you to find the right words to say to get someone to pick out your cover letter and resume than someone else’s. The following tips can help you to use words on paper to convey why you are the best choice for the job.
- Be enthusiastic. Why are you contacting the employer? What type of work are you looking for? Is there a specific position you are applying for? Be positive and encouraged in your wording.
- Drop names. Did you learn about the job from an employee or someone else? Tell them about it in the cover letter. Be sure you have approval to mention the individual’s name.
- Let your resume speak for itself. You do not have to provide a full autobiography of yourself in the cover letter but you should provide some overview of the aspects you believe are more relevant.
- Do provide relevant experience on your cover letter. Without experience that relates, in some way, to the company’s position, you may not make it beyond that first cut.
- Keep all negative words and connotations out of the cover letter. Keep it positive without making it some type of praising document. You want to come off as a genuine person with a passion for the position and with the experience for the job.
- Avoid salary discussion in the cover letter. Some employers want you to provide a required salary, but rather than put down a specific number, offer a range. A salary range and noting that you are flexible, gives the company more opportunity to fit you within their budget.
- Do include contact information. It could be one of those things you easily forget. Add your email address and telephone number to the cover letter.
- Be polite and ask for the phone call. In other words, end your cover letter with a statement of thanks as well as a request for an interview. Doing so may spur the reader of the cover letter to pick up that phone.
Overall, employers want to see someone who is skilled and experienced, but also excited and enthusiastic about the position. Be sure your cover letter indicates this information within the first sentences.
Get your engineering career off to a great start by visiting the Advance Temporary staffing website – candidate center.
