Job Discussion Forums

[Evil Giraffe]

I am a recent college graduate who has never had a "professional" job. You know, one of those things "grown up people" get. I am currently a JET alternate and am in the process of putting together applications for other organizations because I can't just sit around and wait. I have searched online for what a proper cover letter should say but so far they've all been very general. Is this the manner I should follow? Or does a cover letter for a Japanese company need to be different? Any advise will be repaid in beer should I ever meet you.

[Glenski]

Save your beer.

Cover letters should be specific for each employer you send them to. That's why they are listed so generally in the places you've found. It's hard to tell anyone how to write one without knowing your background and the employer's offering.

One suggestion is to use fairly simple English grammar and vocabulary. Your potential employer is likely to be a Japanese who has limited English skills.

[guest of Japan]

While I agree with Glenski's advice about using simple grammar and vocabulary to prospective employers in Japan, I don't think that is the case if you are applying to a foreign recruitment office. Most of the foreign recruitment offices are staffed by both Japanese and native English speakers, so it's OK to wow them a little with your grammar and vocabulary. Try to avoid using expressions, cliches and colloquialisms. And proofread your cover letter several times.

I typically follow a three paragraph format. The first paragraph is to express your interest in the job and to say how you heard about the position. The second paragragh is is to talk about your history and motivation for doing the job. The third paragraph is to re-express your interest for the position and to thank them for their time. Never, never make it more than one page.

Also never talk about a past experience as being unsatisfactory and therefore your motivation for taking this new step. I was doing this a couple years ago without even knowing it. I only recently discovered my old mistakes when I was reviewing old cover letters to give me some ideas for my recent job hunt. If possible, get names and job titles, and any other info you can find on the company to plug into the letter. I hope this was helpful. Mark

[G Cthulhu]

Okay, I used to do the hiring for a Japanese company (many years ago now) and the one thing I've learnt is that styles for both cover letters and CV's/resumes vary *greatly* from country to country.

The goal of a cover letter is to get the reviewer to read your CV *and that is all*.

A cover letter should, as someone else said, *never* be more than one A4 (never use non-international standards such as US Legal) page and never contain anything negative.

The basic formula in most Engslish-speaking countries is intro and mention source of info on job, express why you want the job and/or what 3 best skills you would bring to the job, detail when and where you can interview, and, finally, summerise your strengths again and thank them for their time and consideration of your application while inviting them to contact you. (Wasn't that a great run-on sentence?) A total of four paragraphs and it should fill 4/5 of the page.

Don't be blase or informal (I once got an application that said, "I heard I can make excellent money in Japan and ski lots." It went straight into the bin) but don't go over the top either. You *should* be using simple, clear English anyway, regardless of who it's going to: people don't have time to screw about trying to work out what you mean and it's a cover letter, not an essay.

The third part (where you go on about yr advantages) is the part where you have a chance to expand on or highlight the bare facts and figures of your CV (which should be 2 A4 pages max, generally) and point to things in the CV that're important to you and the potential employer. Don't ever lie or embellish - just sell your strong points, whatever they may be.

In short, it is a way to get the reviewer to actually read the CV instead of skimming it - you will have given them more info and they can spot the points as they go through. It's a very good way of reinforcing and expanding, without padding the cover letter or the CV too obviously.



(BTW, professional HR types often like things like 'candidate statements', but, personally, I think they're bloody stupid and a waste of time. The function they are *supposed* to serve (telling me why you want the job and what you're strengths are) *should* be the point of the cover letter)


Good luck.

[Evil Giraffe]

thanks for the info, guys. i will attempt to put it to good use and will hopefully find a job somewhere.