|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
|
 Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 10:11 am Post subject: Formulating the Ultimate Covering Letter .. |
 |
|
Hello,
I've been looking into this recently and I am in need of producing a good covering letter for RECRUITMENT PURPOSES. I'm not necessarily referring to the big 4, but mainly High Schools and more specifically, International Schools.
I find it difficult to judge just WHAT I should include and HOW much. I'm also aware of repeating much of my CV in this letter.
So, could anyone please offer me some advise on format, content and approach to a professional recruiting covering letter?
Many thanks in advance,
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I've been looking into this recently and I am in need of producing a good covering letter for RECRUITMENT PURPOSES. |
Number one mistake in job hunting is to think that you can make just one cover letter for everyone, even if "everyone" is in the same line of business (eg, all high schools).
(In case you're wondering, I have seen quite a few resumes/CVs from people job hunting in Japan.)
Make a skeleton of one, then customize it to each school. Takes work but it looks less like a form letter that way.
| Quote: |
| I find it difficult to judge just WHAT I should include and HOW much. I'm also aware of repeating much of my CV in this letter. |
First of all, don't repeat what is in your CV/resume! The purpose of a cover letter is to state you are interested in a position, then to tell them why they should hire you, and give them an incentive to even glance at your CV/resume. The CV/resume just lists your qualifications.
Too many people make CVs/resumes in paragraph format. In my opinion, that's a huge mistake for the TEFL business. Why? Number one reason is that the reviewer is probably a foreigner (in this case, Japanese) who has a limited ability to read/speak English. If you don't point out only the key points on your resume in bullets, so that they are very easy to find, consider your CV/resume wasted/ignored. Save the paragraphs for the cover letter!!
What should you include? I'm sorry, but each cover letter is not only customized for each employer, but every person writing a cover letter is different, so you can't really set a formula for this. At the risk of contradicting myself, however, try this:
What information is not on your resume?
What is it about you that makes you the prime choice for the job? Why?
What can you do for the company/school?
| Quote: |
| could anyone please offer me some advise on format, content and approach to a professional recruiting covering letter? |
See above, of course, and keep your cover letter to less than two pages, preferably to just one page. Don't use slang or acronyms. Don't say you want to come to Japan to learn about the culture or to learn the language. (Why? You are coming to work, not get paid to learn.) Keep the vocabulary to that of a high school novel, maybe lower in level. (ie, skip words like pedagogy, utilize, and endeavor) Find the name of the person to whom you are writing, instead of addressing it to "Dear Sir/Madam". Always close each letter of correspondence with the words "thank you". Have someone else read it before you send it. And, never, ever misspell anything. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 12:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thank you Glenski - sound advice.
The language simplicity was a good point that I overlooked - perhaps I have been too concerned with trying to convey my grasp of the English language via vocabulary in my draft letters.
With regards to the content, would you ellaborate on some of the points on your CV in the cover letter i.e. work experience, that might require further explanation/details? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 12:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| With regards to the content, would you ellaborate on some of the points on your CV in the cover letter i.e. work experience, that might require further explanation/details? |
Yes, of course, but only if they need explaining in order to get the job. What did you have in mind? The question is hard to answer without seeing your resume/CV. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
easyasabc
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 179
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 12:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
Glenski
| Quote: |
| Always close each letter of correspondence with the words "thank you". |
Is that suggetion something that you feel is necessary for and specific to teaching jobs in Japan only. I have read lots of resumes and covering letters and recruited lots of people in my job before Japan and wouldn't expect to see 'thank you' on a covering letter. Usually I saw things along the lines of " I look forward to discussing the position further with you".
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 2:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
easyasabc,
Not specifically, no, but in Japan, politeness goes a long way. To merely say you look forward to future talks is not as polite as saying thank you.
To say thank you all by itself may not be enough. What I meant was to write something along the lines of "thank you for your time", or "thank you for your consideration". It depends on what you were discussing in the letter.
For what it's worth, I am rather surprised to hear that as a recruiter, you didn't expect to see such a simple act of gratitude or politeness in a cover letter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
