| You must have a cover letter. More than 80% of | | | | cost. Postal workers are less likely to throw away |
| recruiters surveyed by the Society for Human | | | | your hard written job application as junk mail. And it |
| Resources say cover letters are a necessity. A bad | | | | won't look like a mass mailing to the hiring manager. |
| one is worse than none. A good one can set you | | | | Change up the envelope size. Try a 9x13 envelope so |
| apart from the crowd. | | | | you can mail your cover letter flat and unfolded. Take |
| But can a letter based on only free cover letter | | | | advantage of the extra "real estate" on the front |
| samples deliver that for you? Are you willing to | | | | cover to write a compelling message such as "The |
| depend on it? | | | | information you requested is enclosed..." Of course, |
| Read on for a couple of quick tactics that will mark | | | | hand-write the message. |
| you as a find: | | | | 2. Study ad copy. Free cover letter samples are often |
| 1. The envelope matters for two reasons. It's well | | | | written by English majors but not professional |
| known in direct marketing circles that postal carriers | | | | copywriters. Professional copywriters are some of the |
| sometimes throw away letters to lighten their load, | | | | highest paid people in the writing profession. Why? |
| especially if they think the letter is junk mail. I know it's | | | | Because their words must move people to action. |
| outrageous, but it happens and not just rarely. You can | | | | Their clients aren't looking for poetic descriptions of |
| track how it impacts delivery rates. Second, you don't | | | | products, they want words that sell. Copywriters aren't |
| want the hiring manager to get a letter from you that | | | | afraid to use emotional language, strong imagery, bold |
| looks like one of 200 you've just mailed, even if it is. | | | | claims, and hot-button phrases like easy, fast, and now. |
| A gummed white label is a give away for a mass | | | | The next time you're at the grocery pick up the |
| mailing. Direct mailers have found that increased open | | | | tabloids, the Globe or the Enquirer. Skip the story about |
| rates for individually hand-addressed envelopes | | | | Brad Pitt's alien love child and go straight to the ads. |
| justifies the expense of hiring people to address | | | | Pay attention to how few words they use to get right |
| envelopes. If you want the recipient to believe your | | | | to what interests you. Now take a look at your cover |
| resume and cover letter are specifically for her, hand | | | | letter. You are the product. Is it worthy of a hot |
| address the envelope. | | | | property like you? Look, everyone applying for the job |
| Always use live stamps instead of post office indicia - | | | | you want is copying the SAME free cover letter |
| the ink stamps post offices use with time, date, and | | | | samples you're searching for. Don't do it. |