Formatting a letter with a resume. Cover letter for a secretary position. How to write a cover letter for documents

Cover letters are divided into short and long.

Long ones are issued for large and reputable companies when considering important positions.

A short covering letter the resume can be sent when forwarding by e-mail .

The empty “body” of the email and the attached resume file look very unpresentable.

Short message great benefit will not be able to bring it, but it will be your additional positive recommendation.

It is necessary to determine what the applicant for the vacancy wants to say with his appeal, to develop a concept for composing the letter. The form of appeal may vary. It is worth taking into account the characteristics of the company to which he is being sent and the position for which the author of the message is applying. You should not send the same text to all firms and companies.

You can also use specific vocabulary related to future work. For example, vocabulary that will be special for an IT specialist, journalist or accountant.

There should be no spelling errors in this document. This will definitely have a negative impact on the consideration of your candidacy.

A short resume cover letter should be logical and follow a certain structure.

Short cover letter sample .

A short letter will more closely resemble a note from an applicant.

But despite this, you should stick to a business style, no need to post slang words and emoticons.

Address or greeting. Nobody canceled the rules good manners. If you know exactly to which person the note is being sent, it is better to address him by name and patronymic. If there is no such information, it is enough to politely write “Hello!” or “Good afternoon!”

Source where we know about the vacancy. Employers usually post their advertisements in several sources. Therefore, in order to track which source is more effective, they are interested in this question. It’s not difficult for you, but it’s pleasant and useful for them.

Main content. Briefly provide information about yourself. Moreover, it is better if this message can distinguish you from other applicants.

The letter must indicate the scope professional activity, the main merits that can reveal you to the employer. But at the same time, you shouldn’t praise yourself too much and clarify the details.

Coordinates or contact information. It is necessary to indicate in a short letter contact number or email address.

Typically, cover letters are required for applicants applying for middle or mid-level management positions. high level, also a cover letter with your resume is required for employment in a foreign company. Therefore, those applying for this type of position need to know how to write a cover letter to an employer.

In Western countries, where the labor market is well developed, job seekers always send the employer a resume with a cover letter. The Russian labor market is not yet sufficiently developed, hence different attitude to cover letters from different companies.

Until recently, Russian job seekers brought their resumes to the employer only in paper form. When HR managers received a whole stack of similar resumes, they had to review each candidate, and this took a lot of time, so there was no talk at all about cover letters as additional paper documents.

But these days there has been a widespread development in computer technology, and job seekers mostly respond to vacancies posted by employers in in electronic format. Therefore, a 2-paragraph resume cover letter will not pose a problem for hiring managers.

A resume usually reflects information about the education, work experience, and professional skills of the job seeker.

Covering letter– this is additional information about the applicant that he adds to his resume when responding to a vacancy offered by an employer. Sometimes employers read the cover letter first and then look at the resume.

Often, applicants do not attach importance to the cover letter and consider it unnecessary, because all the basic information is indicated in the resume. But this is completely wrong; because of this approach, a person may not get the desired position.

Often, hiring managers, after reading a poorly written cover letter, don’t even read the candidate’s resume. Some HR professionals do not consider resumes without supporting information at all.

Benefits for the applicant that a cover letter provides

If a job seeker supplements his resume with additional information, this indicates that he is familiar with the business standards accepted by companies. There are also the following benefits for the applicant from a cover letter:

  1. A resume usually has a standard structure, and almost all resumes differ little from each other, and accompanying information can show that the applicant has good written language and constructs sentences correctly.
  2. In the accompanying information you can emphasize motivation, That is important point for applicants who have little experience in their chosen field of activity.
  3. A candidate for a vacancy can tell about his/her strengths, special skills that may be suitable for this particular company, there is such a column in the resume, then everything is listed there, without emphasis on anything.
  4. The applicant can write something individual in the supporting information that cannot be done in a regular standard resume.
  5. In the accompanying information, you can show that you already know something about this company, write that you want to work in this company.

Important! Any company will hire, first of all, a person who is interested in its development and promotion, and not just a highly qualified specialist. You can prove that you are the right employee who will help the development and growth of the company in a cover letter with your resume.

How to write a cover letter for a resume

Many people do not know exactly what to write in a cover letter for a resume. Recruiters often see the following information accompanying a potential candidate's resume:

  • repeat texts posted on the Internet;
  • they write that they are very admired by the employer’s company;
  • praise themselves without providing evidence;
  • They just write general phrases.

In order to hire you, HR managers should see answers to the following questions in your cover letter:

  • Information about the writer, who exactly writes accompanying information.
  • Write about your benefits in this company, explain more precisely why the company needs you.
  • To clarify, Why do you need this company?

Cover letter structure

A cover letter is a document, and therefore it must meet certain requirements found in a business letter.

  1. Greetings. The letter must begin with a greeting; please contact the company employee responsible for personnel selection by name and patronymic. You can write “Dear” or “Dear” first. If you are applying for a job in a foreign company, then the name of the employee. You can start with the greeting “Good afternoon” or “Hello.”
  2. Main part. Here you need to write about where you learned about this vacancy, about the position you are counting on, write why you are interested in this vacancy. Write that you wanted to learn how to solve new problems, you are interested in the company's product, etc. Write about the experience you already have that can help the development of the company and which is not mentioned in the resume. Also in this part you can explain any details from the resume that do not speak in your favor, for example, a break in work.
  3. Conclusion. In this part, you should thank for the attention and time spent reading your letter, and write that you are ready to meet with the HR manager and discuss all issues in more detail.
  4. Parting. Be sure to write at the end “With respect” or “Best regards” (for managers of a foreign company).
  5. Please include your contact information at the end.

Basic requirements for a cover letter

Typically HR managers knowledgeable about the rules When writing a cover letter, it will be appreciated if the accompanying information is written according to the following rules:

  • The letter must be concise, occupy no more than half a page of A4 sheet so that it can be quickly read;
  • The letter must be capacious, do not contain excess water, applicants don’t like this;
  • The letter must be written in business style, it should not contain long subordinate clauses, it should not contain formalities, it should be written without unnecessary emotionality;
  • It is necessary to show personal approach to write a letter, it should be written like a conversation with a personnel manager;
  • The letter must be unique, it is necessary not to repeat template letters available on the Internet;
  • The letter must be relevant, you should not write in it information that your employer does not need;
  • The letter must be specific, you can reflect in it your specific achievements, provide reliable figures that can increase your chances of getting this job;
  • In the letter you can indicate recommendations, which can increase your chances.

Mistakes when writing a cover letter

Often, in additional information to a resume, HR managers identify the following shortcomings:

  • Application of conventional templates letters, all phrases of the letter are written “like a carbon copy”;
  • The cover letter simply duplicated information taken from a resume, this should not be done, only contact information can be repeated;
  • The letter says common phrases, if you write that you are an experienced specialist, then specify the information and write that you have work experience, for example, five years in this field, etc.;
  • Spelling and punctuation errors are also unacceptable in a cover letter; the employer is unlikely to want to hire such an illiterate employee.

What not to write in a cover letter for a resume:

Wording to be avoided Correct writing
We look forward to meeting you again We look forward to further cooperation
We greet you Dear Peter Ivanovich
In response to your unreasonable demand Response to request dated May 15, 2018 No. CA45663 02
I think your assessment was very ignorant We send a response letter confirming quality
Your employees are not competent Please reconsider our meeting

Sending a cover letter

Supporting information is usually sent to the employer along with the resume. Common formalities for sending cover letters include:

  • If you are sending a printed letter, please place it on a separate sheet of paper;
  • If you are sending a letter electronically, then write it in the body of the electronic document.

Some tips on timing your cover letter:

  • You can send a cover letter before sending your resume, this way you can interest the employer and attract his attention;
  • You can send a letter after sending your resume, thus reminding about yourself;
  • You can send a cover letter after the interview with the employer, if you have equal chances with another candidate, then it can increase your chance of getting the job.

Examples of cover letters for resumes

Of course, we can’t do without examples.

Example of a short cover letter

"Good afternoon! (If you know who this letter was sent to, then you should contact them by name and patronymic) I was interested in your vacancy, which I found. I have the following qualities (Here you need to indicate all the qualities that you possess; on our website in the article on resumes there is the most suitable set of qualities -). I am very grateful for your time. My contacts (specify the required contacts)"

Example of a cover letter for a resume for a lawyer

"Hello! I am interested in a vacancy published by your company on the website hh.ru. My experience as a lawyer is more than 10 years. I would like to offer you my experience as a lawyer. I graduated from the university (specify university) with honors and immediately began working in my position; I am well versed in jurisprudence and civil law. Worked for companies (specify companies). Good judicial practice, drafted statements of claim, court applications, and attorney requests. I have good command of office programs and computer. Among the personal qualities I highlight are the desire to understand the essence of the problem, perseverance.

I would be grateful for an invitation to an interview"

Example of a cover letter for a manager's resume

“Dear Pyotr Vasilyevich! I carefully studied the vacancy of your company on the website hh.ru for the position of manager, I am sure that I fully meet your requirements for this position. Graduated from university with a degree in (specify specialty). I worked as a manager for 12 years, I have great skills in managing people, there is good management there, maintaining a large database of clients, I was engaged in consulting large enterprises on management. Proficient knowledge of office software.

I am grateful for your consideration of my resume, I look forward to further cooperation. Ready to come for an interview at any time.”

Example of a cover letter for an accountant's resume

"Hello! I have reviewed your resume for the position of accountant. I am sure that my qualifications will completely suit you. I have a professional higher education majoring in Accounting. Work experience 15 years. Extensive experience in using the 1C Accounting program and experience in maintaining primary documentation. Accounting is strictly in accordance with the law. More detailed information You can find it in my resume. Sincerely, Galina Petrovna. I hope for further cooperation. "

Result: If you have compiled a cover letter according to all the rules and sent it to the employer, this is not a guarantee that you will definitely get this position, but it significantly increases your chances of success.

Many documents sent by mail include a cover letter. In this article we will look in detail at its purpose, design rules and examples.

From this material you will learn:

  • what is a cover letter for documents;
  • how to prepare a cover letter for documents;
  • list of attached documents.

What is a cover letter for documents

A covering letter is a mandatory attribute if it is necessary to send a package of documents. It has several purposes at once.

Confirmation of the fact of sending. The covering letter for the documents is registered in the company's outgoing documents and has a corresponding number. Thus, the fact of sending documents is recorded on the basis of this letter. Moreover, the addressee also records this letter and the package of documents attached to it.

List of attached documents. Each cover letter about sending documents must contain their complete list and number of copies.

Instructions for handling documentation. It is important to understand that when sending documents, some of them may be returned. In this case, the cover letter should indicate what actions need to be performed: review the documents, agree, fill out, sign and leave or send back. Let us remind you that you can additionally use special stamps for these purposes.

First you need to fill out the address part. It indicates the name, name, address of the company, surname and initials of the employee and his position (if the documents are sent to a specific person). Next, you need to indicate the date and number of the outgoing document.

The first part of the content of the letter should be a message about the sending of documents. It begins with the words: “We send you ...”, “We present to you ...”, etc. After this, you can indicate the purpose of sending the documents (for review, completion, approval, etc.). If there is one document attached to the letter, then it can be indicated in this part; if there are several, you can use the concept of a “package of documents”, the composition of which will be disclosed below.

The second part of the content consists of specific tasks for working with documents. For example, it may contain instructions about which copies need to be returned, which require a signature, etc.

As can be seen from the example, the deadlines for the execution of documents can also be indicated in the cover letter.

The most important stage In the design of the cover letter there is a note about the presence of attachments. The mark is placed after the end of the text of the letter, no lower than 2–3 lines later. The mark must contain the name of the document, the number of attached copies and the number of sheets.

Application mark must have a complete list of attached documents, the number of copies and sheets. If the attached documents are bound or filed together, then the number of sheets is not required to be indicated (only the number of copies is indicated).

It should also be understood that when indicating the names of attached documents in the text of the cover letter, there is no need to indicate them again in the attachments. In this case, the presence of an application (Appendix 1,2, etc.), the number of sheets and copies is simply indicated.

List of attached documents

There is a possibility that the number of documents attached to the cover letter may be so large that the note about their attachment is not included on the letter sheet. In this case, we recommend making an inventory of the attached documentation on a separate sheet. When compiling an inventory, the composition of the package of documents attached to the letter is indicated in it. The note about attachments in the cover letter indicates the list of attached documents and the number of sheets. This is formatted as follows:

Appendix: according to the inventory for 2 sheets.

After the “Note on the presence of attachments” detail, the “Signature” detail of the employee who compiled the letter follows.

The concept of “cover letter” has recently entered into daily life in connection with the development of Internet technologies. Usually this short letters, which accompany the main document and contain additional information for the recipient. Under the guidance of an experienced HR manager, we figured out what rules exist for such letters in the business environment.

Cover letters are read before the resume itself is analyzed, so they play main role in the interpretation and perception of subsequent information. The letter must certainly be composed competently, then it will win over the reader and distract him from critical perception. A bad letter is a reason to throw even a perfect resume into the trash: 36% of HR managers admitted that they rejected candidates because of incorrect cover letters.

The practice of writing cover letters is more common among senior and middle managers. In these positions, writing requires a fundamentally different quality of execution. Let's look at the main features of successful cover letters.

Strict structure

The cover letter contains:

  1. Greetings(“Dear [name/position]”, “[Name], good afternoon”, “Dear”)

    The greeting should either be personalized or addressed to specialists in a specific department if the recipient's name is not known.

  2. Main part

    2.1. tell us what position you are applying for if you send your resume to the employer’s work email. There is no need to do this on the site;
    2.2. explain why you were attracted to this vacancy: an interesting product, new features or complex tasks;
    2.3. From motivation, smoothly move on to experience and a list of projects that are not described in the resume, but are useful for this vacancy;
    2.4. Remind again of your motivation for the position. The further the content of paragraph 2.3 is from the required experience, the more necessary paragraph 2.4.

  3. Parting(“Best regards”, “With respect”) and duplicated contact information

It is important to remember that all points except 2.3 are well-established clichés created by successful candidates over many years of practice. They are standard, obvious, are already etiquette when communicating through cover letters, should not exceed one or two sentences and are written strictly from a new paragraph with an indentation.

Let's give an example from a letter from the head of the sales department of a large Western FMCG company. It is quite long, but for a leadership position it is quite acceptable.

“Irina, good afternoon,

I am writing to you regarding the vacancy “Head of Sales Department of the Modern Trade Channel”.

I find the described responsibilities and objectives of this position extremely interesting. I have always been attracted to complex and ambitious projects.

I would like to immediately note that the experience of working with household appliances I don’t, but unlike most candidates I have the following strengths:

  • more than 5 years of experience working with federal networks at the level of top officials;
  • successful launch and online introduction of new products in highly competitive categories (dairy products).

My professional experience also includes:

  • team management sales representatives and supervisors from 30 people;
  • closing accounts receivable for key customers.

If there is mutual interest, I suggest you call us at any time convenient for you.

Sincerely,
Alexey H,
Tel."

Although in most cases the recipient's name is unknown, it is important to ensure that the message is personalized and thoughtful. Remember that a copied, boilerplate cover letter will likely leave your resume unread. Possible requests to the site could be: “Dear HR department of company X”, “Dear employees of the recruitment department of company X”, “Dear recruiting manager of company X”, “I have carefully studied the position of Head of Sales Department of the Modern Trade Channel, etc. ."

Small but capacious

Remember that a cover letter should be read in 10 seconds. Unfortunately, a common practice in Russian culture is to include in a cover letter absolutely all projects and life experiences that are completely unrelated to the vacancy. Such letters reveal a total misunderstanding of both the position and its role in the company.

Try to write a short but informative and useful letter with only quality information.

Business style

The style of the cover letter should be consistent with the company's industry and corporate culture.

For most engineering, medical, banking, consulting and other employers, a seasoned business style described above. It is a win-win for 95% of vacancies posted on the Internet. It is distinguished by the easiest and most informative form of writing: simple structure, terminology, absence of cumbersome subordinate and complex sentences.

The remaining 5% are in the areas of Hi-tech, creative, IT start-up, private and small companies with niche products - they allow more free and emotional treatment.

Errors

A common mistake that instantly kills the reader’s interest is template letters. If this application for a position is so typical for you that you copy your letter, then you become just as typical for the recipient.

Do not duplicate your experience in other words in your cover letter.. No one wants to waste extra time reading the same information twice.

Creative writing and humor are appropriate if only the company in question is one of the small percentage of employers for whom originality and humor are part of their professional activities and correspond to the internal corporate culture.

So, what is the secret to successful cover letters? They are structured, small in volume, but extremely comprehensive, stylized according to the company’s culture and do not contain errors. And most importantly, such cover letters focus on the interests of the company, and not on the personal interest of the candidate. Show that you know what the company needs and how to help it.

Dear friends! Due to the large number of requests received, the service suspends its work until they are completed. Perhaps among those requested there are resume samples that interest you. Stay tuned.

Covering letter

The cover letter is a supporting document for the submitted resume.

If you are sending your resume to a world-famous foreign company (brand), then the requirements for writing a supporting one are quite high. The document must be drawn up on a separate sheet; all details, which, in particular, include the title, date of compilation, name and address of the recipient, signature - are affixed in accordance with the registration rules business letters. If information is sent by e-mail, then a cover letter, like a resume, should be attached in Word format.

A resume sent by E-mail to less pretentious structures can accompany the correct text in the body of the letter itself, without putting it on a separate sheet. Last name, initials (or last name and first name) and contact information must be visible.

A short version of the cover letter looks something like this (examples 1-3):

Example 1.

Dear Maria,

In response to your vacancy for “refrigeration equipment sales manager” published in the magazine “Work and Salary”, I am sending my resume. I would be very grateful if you do not ignore it.

Best wishes,
Ivanova Anna, tel. 8-916-111-11-11

Example 2.

Good afternoon, Maria.

Attached is the resume file. I am applying for a position as a financial analyst. Source of information about the vacancy www.zarplata.ru I am ready to provide any additional information necessary for consideration of my candidacy.

Example 3.

Dear Sirs,

Please consider my resume for the vacancy of accountant, deputy chief accountant.
I will be glad to receive an invitation from you for an interview.

Sincerely, Anna Ivanova, tel. 8-916-111-11-11

The full version of the cover letter (intended for companies that follow the Western style of personnel management) follows a similar pattern. The text of the cover letter must reflect:

1. The name of the position (possibly two related or similar positions) for which the resume is being sent; It is also advisable to indicate from which source you learned about the vacant position(s); proposal of your candidacy.

Example 4:
After reviewing the information on your website, I learned that your company has opened vacancies in the field of sanitary control of meat and dairy raw materials. In this regard, I would like to propose my candidacy for consideration for a position related to the implementation of the function of quality control, sanitary and veterinary control of raw materials and finished products. I believe that my work experience can be in demand both as an expert in the procurement of meat and dairy raw materials, and as a head of the sanitary control service.

2. A very brief, but accurate and informative summary of the resume, aimed at justifying the suitability of your professional and personal qualities the position for which you are applying.

3. Your readiness to work, dedication, and professional growth in the area indicated in the vacancy, or better yet, within the walls of this particular company.

Example 5:
Over the past years, I have been successfully operating in my chosen area as part of the state veterinary and customs regulatory authorities, I have established connections and experience of cooperation with both the largest Russian food industry enterprises and leading foreign suppliers. The attached resume will give an idea of ​​my professional experience, qualifications and potential opportunities..

Example 6:
All my experience labor activity, professional knowledge and skills, as well as expectations for further advancement, lie in the areas of active direct sales and customer service (both at the executive and administrative levels). On this moment I have more than 5 years of experience in sales on the B2B market in the manufacturing field, as well as management experience in this area for last year work. At my last job, as head of the sales department, I was personally responsible for the activities and results of the sales service in the B2B field (medical and cosmetology equipment).

4. Willingness for a personal interview at the company, during which you will more fully present information about yourself.

5. Contact information.

Example 7:
I would be happy to accept the offer to meet and tell you a little more about your work experience and possible potential. You can contact me by phone... or email...
Sincerely,…

Example 8:
If you are interested, I will be happy to answer all your questions during the interview. You can contact us by phone. Thank you in advance for your attention and time devoted to my candidacy.
Sincerely,…

A cover letter cannot be universal for the entire range of vacancies that interest you. Since the addressees of the letter are different people and different organizations, the text of the letter, in accordance with each requested vacancy, should be slightly modified. The cover letter always refers to a specific vacancy in a specific company.



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