6.14 What are the way of presenting a letter of recommendation? Which way is better? Why?

There are two ways to present a letter of recommendation to a prospective employer: one way is to state at the bottom of your resume that your letters of recommendation and references are available upon request. In this scenario, you would take your letter of recommendation and reference sheet to the interview, and then present it during the interview (only if it is requested). The second way to present a letter of recommendation, and most commonly used, is to enclose it along with your resume during initial mailing. Please, send no more than two letters of recommendation. It is better not to overwhelm a potential employer with a lot of information to read (and of course, always send a copy of your letters, not the originals). A good word from your past employer can give you the added advantage you need, especially when your skills and the companies needs are the same.

7. Cover letter.

7.1 What’s the role of a Cover Letter?

The role of the application letter is to draw a clear connection between the job you are seeking and your qualifications listed in the resume. To put it another way, the letter matches the requirements of the job with your qualifications, emphasising how you are right for that job.

7.2 If the Cover Letter isn’t a lengthy summary of the resume, then what’s it?

Cover letter is a selectively mentions information in the resume, as appropriate. Employers receive hundreds of letters and resumes for each advertised position vacancy. Your letter, therefore, will have to be well written and designed to attract attention in a positive way in order to receive a favorable response.

7.3 What are the principles for writing a successful Cover Letter?

1. Your cover letter should communicate something personal about you along with information that is specific for the company

2. Cover letter must be individually written and originally typed, single spaced on a good quality paper matching the paper used in your resume.

3. The cover letter should be one page in length and addressed to a specific individual.

7.4 What are the sections in a successful Cover Letter?

1. Introductory paragraph

2. Main body paragraphs (functional approach or thematic approach)

3. Closing paragraph

7.5 Characterize the introductory paragraph.

This first paragraph of the application letter is the most important; it sets everything up — the tone, focus, as well as your most important qualification. A better idea is to do something like the following: state the purpose of the letter, indicate the source of your information about the job, state one eye-catching, attention-getting thing about yourself in relation to the job. Try to make this part as short as it possible.

7.6 Characterize the body of the Cover Letter and the two approaches which can be used here.

State why you are interested in the position, the company, its products or services, and, above all, indicate what you can do for the employer. In the main parts of the application letter, you present your work experience, education, training. There are two common ways to present this information: Functional approach — This one presents education in one section, and work experience in the other. Thematic approach — This one divides experience and education into groups such as "management," "technical," "financial," and so on and then discusses your work and education related to them in separate paragraphs.

7.7 Should information about your work experience and education cover all your background?

Of course, the letter is not exhaustive or complete about your background — it highlights just those aspects of your background that make the connection with the job you are seeking.

7.8 What paragraph in the body is worth considering for people just starting their career?

Thematic approach A paragraph like this is particularly good for people just starting their careers, when there is not much to put in the letter. Of course, be careful about loading a paragraph like this with "sweet nothings."

7.9 What should you indicate in the closing paragraph?

In the last paragraph of the application letter, you can indicate how the prospective employer can get in touch with you and when the best times for an interview are. This is the place to urge that prospective employer to contact you to arrange an interview.

7.10 Why is it important to present your background details and what details should be presented?

One of the best ways to make an application letter great is to work in details, examples, specifics about related aspects of your educational and employment background. An employer receives many cover letters a day that’s why in the application letter, you work in selective detail that makes your letter stand out, makes it memorable, and substantiates the claims you make about your skills and experience. And a letter that is overly general and vague might generate so little interest that the reader might not even care to turn to the resume.