Cool Cover-ups!

THE JOB search starts with your own eyes, or the x-ray vision of the search company that's doing your finding for you. It might be online or offline, but once the job has been identified, you need to make an application. The CV can be dispatched by post, e-mail or courier but it must always be accompanied by a formal letter that has certain essential components that are expected. These fall into three essential simple divisions:

Preamble and Introduction

Main body indicating how well you fit the advertised position

Closing paragraph

Preamble and Introduction

This includes the salutation (Dear Sir or Sirs or Dear Mr XYZ when the application has been requested by a specific person) .It should also mention where you saw the advertisement (as in which media, where and on what date). Some recruitment adverts have reference codes that may be profitably inserted here. These could read something like:

"Dear Sir,

I write this with reference to your advertisement in The Hindu of 19th November 2002 wherein you had requested applications for the post of a Regional Manager to handle the sales and marketing function in your company"

Or

" Dear Ms.Postlewaithe,

I write this as a consequence of our telephonic conversation today to apply for the post of your Regional Sales Manager that was advertised on the

Internet site www.CareerMosaicIndia.com on 20th November 2002."

The need for this preamble is to introduce yourself, or to remind the appointing authority of your conversation with them, and establish the fact that you are looking at a position with them. It also makes clear which post you have applied for so that the sorting would be simplified and you get onto the first shortlist!

Main body indicating fitment

The main body of your cover letter should tell the reader why you are the perfect candidate for consideration. To do this best, you will need to pore over the advertisement with a magnifying glass as it were and find out the exact attributes the company is looking for. Mentioning some of the words they have used in the copy will be all for the good because it will strike the right chord. Researching the company's website is important so that you can make direct or oblique references to their organisation and indicate your ideal fitment for the slot. If it is round holes they have, be the round peg so to speak! Wording it is a personal choice really, but you could consider something like:

"..I felt quite excited when I saw your requirements as they so exactly mirror my own strengths and experience."

It is also wise to talk with people who are in that company, or failing that with fitment consultants who will advise you appropriately.

Some consultants say that listing your fitment in bullet points is easy for the reader, but I get rather irritated with them as they take up too much space and seem

rather cut and dry.

The Closing

The sign off should be as impressive as the sign-in. You could reiterate your interest in the post and the fact that you will be available at a particular time and place in the event they would like to meet you that is not inconvenient to you.

You may not, for instance be able to accept a call at your place of work or be free enough to attend an interview during office hours. You may like for instance to say something like:

"I will be happy to clarify any point that may arise from your perusal of my Curriculum Vitae, but I will be grateful if you would call me between xx a.m. and xx a.m. while I am at home or after xx p.m. when I return from work. I will be happy to discuss matters in person on any day between xx p.m. when I am not obliged to be at my present place of employment."

I must suggest that having a mobile phone number at which you can be contacted is a convenience that will do you great benefit!

A good CV must be accompanied with a great cover letter, a letter that will succinctly put your candidature on the front burner of the corporate stove, and if yours does capture the attention of the hirer, your chance of landing that job increases considerably!

ABHIMANYU ACHARYA

abhi.hyd@cnkonline.com