Welcome to my series of posts about why a headline is the most important element in your cover letter – and how to write one. Today I’m focusing on the Question style headline.

Examples of Question Headlines:

=Do you know how to cut costs and not headcount? Anna Lopez shows you how.
=Can your hiring practices get you sued? Let Jason Bevel guide you through the do’s and don’ts.
=Customer back-talk: When they share, do you listen? Marketing strategist Linda Smith converts complaints into loyalty.

Question style headlines immediately engage the HR pro. That’s good, because you only have a few seconds to pull her into your job letter.

4 tips for writing your Question Headline

 1.  Number One is Number One. What’s the number one reason why you should be interviewed? Make that your headline. Turn it into a question and use it to inspire curiosity. Then make sure your first sentence answers the question. The rest of your letter includes proof points – facts, data, and cool stories – that position you as the expert.

 2.  Make the question open-ended. Avoid a yes/no response in this headline style, that’s an invitation for the reader to shrug and move on. Study the examples above – the answer implies knowledge of a solution. Remember, the only reason there’s a job is because the company has a problem it needs to have solved. No problem, no job. That means you have to prove to HR that you are the best candidate.

 3.  Generate curiosity. An open-ended question should position you as an expert in the field. Use the question headline to imply that you have the answers to the challenges described in the job description.

4. Put your name in the headline. Don’t be shy – the cover letter is really a sales letter and the sales letter is all about you. Your first goal: Prove you can do the job. The second: State that you deliver the best solution, that you are the best candidate.
Putting you name in the headline is how you forge the connection between problem solved and you.

~sr~

The one you hope will re-launch your career. With unemployment still high, you know you’re not the only one applying for the position. So how do you write a cover letter that gets you noticed?

By writing a headline.

Why? Because 8 out of 10 people read a headline…and not one word more. If you only have a split second to capture that busy HR pro’s attention, start with a headline.

4 reasons to use a headline in your resume cover letter

 1.  Because no one else does. It’s rare for job seekers to start their letter with a headline. Use one, and your letter becomes a visual stand-out in that thick stack of job applications.

 2.  Gain precious seconds. Most people compulsively read headlines. Include one in your cover letter, and odds are those handful of words will get read. It buys you a few extra seconds of an HR pro’s attention, which can make the difference between the round file and a phone call.

 3.  It’s all about you. In 15 words or less the headline should state the top benefit you deliver to a company. If you can clearly show why you should be interviewed for the job, chances are you’ll get a chance to prove it.

 4.  Headlines work. I’ve spoken with HR professionals, recruiters, and hiring managers: They like seeing a headline. It’s visually distinctive, and helps them understand why you. And I’ve spoken with job seekers who use headlines on their cover letters: They’ve gotten job interviews by making this one change. And they’ve also been told that yes, the headline did the trick.

~sr~

MC Escher, "Relativity"

I work with many job seekers who complain about the indifference of the job search process.

I’m not about to disagree – applying for a job is a bit like an Escher maze: All directions lead everywhere, so how can you get out?

But getting angry with the person reading your resume is pointless, and here’s why.

The HR pro has one job to do: Find the best candidate for the job. YOUR JOB is to help her find you in a big pile of wannabees.

She (or he) has 20, 50, 100 resumes to cull through in a short period of time. Put yourself in her shoes – what’s your strategy for finding the best of the bunch? Probably not much different than hers: Create a pile of yes/no/maybe and then quickly, oh-so quickly, skim and decide. It’s an arbitrary process, and it’s necessary for her to get the job done.

If that’s what you would do, given the same task, don’t ding her for it. Instead, think about how YOU can stand out in this field of applicants. Remember, she is looking for the standout candidate.
Help her know that’s you.

Some ideas:
Write a headline for your cover letter: 8 out of 10 people read a headline and not one word more. Tack one on to the top of your cover letter and chances are you’ll be noticed.

Make that headline the #1 reason why you should be considered for the job, and you’ll be telling your best business story – and it’s the one she wants to hear.

Prove it: Most resumes and cover letter are long on tasks and light on explanation. Instead of creating a giant I Did, I Do list, instead write one that says HOW you did it, WHO benefited, HOW MUCH MONEY or TIME was saved. Load the resume and cover letter with detail – a few great stories are far more powerful than a laundry list of facts.

Want more? Sign up for my newsletter RichWriteBites.  Or you can listen to the free audio file here and download the handout here.

~sr~

Don’t want to read the post? Watch the video!

1.  Chatter: Social media is not going away. Now’s the time to figure out how to make it work for you. Don’t have a lot of “friends” or “connections” yet? Don’t worry. Finding special interest groups is one way to build your network. You’ll expand your connections more quickly and it won’t be too long before your friend list grows.

But here’s something you might not realize: The big 3 – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter – are not necessarily the be-all, end-all. There are thousands of social media sites for you to choose from, which means there are thousands of people just waiting to hear about you.

One way to find them is to Google “social media sites.” Join the ones that suit your niche or personal interests. Post a great photo, a detailed profile. Then, and this is the important part, participate. Be consistent. Establish a presence, offer insights and useful information, and people will start looking for you.

Although most of our business can be done online, we still need our community to know about us. So let me talk about that for a moment.

2.  First, join networking groups that fit your industry and target market.Sure, joining the Chamber of Commerce is one way to meet people. But another, more effective way is to visit the groups that represent your target market. In other words, avoid cattle-call networking — where all are welcome — in favor of meetings that are for people who share precise interests. You’re not limiting yourself – in fact, you’re about to expand your reach!

For example, if you’re a writer – like me – whose clients are in the health and fitness industry, attend trade shows, expos, and conferences where new products are being introduced.  You can also attend pre-race events, like the ones that come before a marathon. Do not hand out your business card.

Instead, collect brochures, and relationships. In these kinds of events, people want to talk about their services, their needs, their customers. They don’t want to talk to you – yet. So bide your time. Follow-up after the event. Form a relationship and then let them know how you can help them build their business.

3.  Now let’s talk about your face-to-face behavior at these events. I’ve been to countless networking meetings where it seems like every person you meet is just waiting for you to stop talking so they can start. I’ve had people insist they will call me to talk about listing my house – even when I tell them it’s not for sale! This behavior is a really bad way to form connections with people.

So here’s what I want you to try instead: Believe: You will meet exactly the right number of people at every networking event you attend. Then, slow down! Act like every person you meet is the one you came to talk to. You’ll be remembered as attentive and considerate, which leads to a network of people who either want to work with you…or know someone who does.

4.  Feast: Think of networking events as the biggest buffet in town. When you get a taste of something you like, go back for seconds. Frequent attendance builds relationships and makes you top-of-mind. Like social media, you have to be consistent and show up. Don’t decide something is “not for you” based on just one or two meetings.

5.  Thank: Hand-written thank you notes cement a new relationship, or acknowledge an ongoing one. These take time to write, so take the time to write one well. After an in-person networking event, mention the high point of your discussion, or follow-up with a lead you promised. People appreciate a hand-written note and will remember you for it.

6. Step sideways to go forward. This is especially true if you are just starting your business – or looking for a job.Use part-time work to jump-start networking (and pay some bills!) Choose something that relates to your passion – this will put you in contact with people you want to meet. Volunteering works well, too.

Why does this work? It’s like the Law of Attraction. If you find temporary work in a setting that resonates with you – you will soon meet like-minded people. That’s a natural affinity you’ll be able to capitalize on. By connecting with people you resonate with, it’s easy to tell them about your big mission – what you’re doing in your business, or what kind of job you’d like to have. Because these people are “like you” they might also compelled to help you.

That’s it – 6 Simple Steps to Networking Success. What works for you? Tell us about it.

~sr~

Sure, email is quicker, but nothing says I want this job! more than a just-for-you note that:

• Reminds the hiring team who you are
• States what your unique skills are for the job
• And says, quite simply, thank you.

A few DIY suggestions:

• Be sure to include plenty of why-you details.
• Summarize the highlights of the interview: What moment were YOU most proud of?
• Remember they probably spoke with several people for the job. Just like your cover letter, your thank you note is a way to stand out.
• Keep it to less than 150 words. Print or handwrite in your best penmanship. If you have hard-to-read penmanship, practice. Or learn how to get your computer to print your thank you on a 3×5 note card.

Here’s what your thank you note can look like:
Dear Jane,
First off, thank you for meeting with me today about the Marketing position with AMI Graphics. My name is Joel Sanborn and I want to remind you that we discussed my experience in managing social media campaigns. One result I can deliver to your company: A B2C campaign that can raise awareness and sales a minimum of 13% annually. I’ve done it before, and am confident I can do so again.
I look forward to the next steps in the hiring process.
Again, thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Joel

~sr~

Write it Rich! How to write a kick-butt resume letter is a PDF file. It also reads well on the Nook from Barnes&Noble. To celebrate that happy event, I’m running a special sale:

Now you can buy the PDF file of the book for

$12 instead of the usual $20

My innovative approach to writing a cover letter is vastly different than any book on the market today. I should know — I just spent a few hours last week perusing the latest and not-so-greatest tomes in Barnes&Noble. I’ll be discussing those books, and their failings, in future blog posts. But for now –

Buy the PDF file. It’s on sale right now: $12 instead of $20.

For the less-tech among us, here’s how it works: You download the full-sized PDF file onto your computer. Then you upload it to the Nook. So whatever doesn’t display perfectly on the Nook will present just fine on the computer. That means you get the visual quality I was shooting for with the added portability of your e-reader. Nice.

Write the letter. Get the interview.
Free call tells you how.

Want more how-to-write advice? Got a question about changing industries? Don’t forget my free tele-call on how to write your job letter. The call, plus the book, will teach you a unique approach to writing a cover letter that gets you noticed.

~sr~

You can’t grab the brass ring with less than two weeks of experience…or even two months. Top-level employers know it takes more than two years of boots-on-the-ground hard work to master you skill. So if you’re showing up with a little gray in your hair, stand tall.

Own your experience and the time you took accruing it.

To me, there’s no point in fluffing dates on your resume. Sure you can leave off the year you graduated college, but if the first job HR sees lists you as a senior level/director/VP of such-and-such, the secret (your age) is out.

Combat ageism with experience. Make your resume and cover letter glow with extraordinary experiences of what you did, how much sales/income/success you generated during your career. Point out where your skills top those of a younger generation.

Will the younger person still get the job? Possibly. I don’t deny our experience is less regarded (and compensated) in today’s job market.

I’ve shared some additional thoughts on my other blog.

~sr~

If a resume is a listing of job facts, your cover letter is the story of your career.

Discover how to write a compelling resume cover letter in this free conference call.
You’ll learn:

• How to organize your thoughts and pick a key message.
• The 5 must-have’s every cover letter must have.
• Strategies for winning the Battle of Parity.
• How to resonate with a recruiter, HR Pro and hiring manager.

Be sure to download THIS HANDOUT before the call.

Join me:
4 pm PT/7 pm ET Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Call in Details:
424.203.8400
PIN Number: 312065#

Need more info about the call? Contact me.

Afterwards, check out the podcast archives for End the Job Search. That’s where you’ll find job search advice, plus a previous recording of this conference call. (But do take the time to call in — this is where we talk about you and your unique job search questions!)

You might like to know:

• Yes, you can buy the book after the call. There is no obligation to do so. It’s just $12 for a PDF file, and you can order here.
• Yes, you can hire me to turn your cover letter into a kick-butt sales tool that gets you noticed. Details here.
• Yes, you can sign up for my weekly newsletter, RichWriteBites and get more writing advice.

Thank you, I look forward to talking cover letters with you on May 22!

~sr~

IdeaGo/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s a noun of course, and it represents a long list of ideas. That means it gets over-used — quickly — which becomes a problem when you are trying to tell people about your job skills:

Suzie has a degree in business and her business specialty is managing production lines. Most of the businesses she worked for have downsized during the recession, so she’s been unemployed 18 months. She thought of going into business for herself, but couldn’t get a business loan.

There is no synonym, no clear alternative word for “business.” That makes the word one of the most overused terms in our work communication. When it comes to writing cover letters, HR pros and hiring managers don’t pick on business as an “I hate that word” because really, what word can you use instead?

But they do take their frustration out on other commonly used words – execute, strategize, market, transform, empower.  These words also lack effective synonyms that clearly describe the main concept.

If you’re a job seeker, this presents a troublesome challenge: Countless studies and online articles claim that HR pros and hiring managers list these words as the most commonly used, most-hated words they see. It’s no surprise: They literally see the same words over and over, every single day.

It’s not fair to job seekers, because there are no good stand-in words. However, if an HR pro hates seeing these these words, it is the job seeker’s problem.

What I coach here is this: Write your cover letter and resume with strong nouns and verbs. Get a thesaurus. Buy a book like Richard Bayan’s Words that Sell and More Words That Sell (no I am not an affiliate). Find creative ways to NOT use the word business and all its empty synonyms. Dig deep, and your letter will shine with individuality. Your job letter will stand out just because those tired words and phrases are missing.

Sure, it’s going to be challenging to write a cover letter minus words like business, execute and strategy. Do it anyway. You’ll find yourself digging deep into your own personal skill-set, the one that demonstrates why you are the best person for the job. Write without superlatives and empty phrases and your message will be more clear.

Skip the hated words that gets other candidates’ job letters dumped and you might find yourself on top of the pile.

Ask me if you need help writing your perfect cover letter. You can also sign up for my newsletter, RichWriteBites, and download your free get-started report.

~sr~

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Yes, I know, some of you don’t believe in cover letters. Job seekers, HR pros, and recruiters alike all kind of shrug when they talk about cover letters.

“It’s gotta be in the resume,” they say. And yes, that’s true.

Does the cover letter get read? Admittedly, debatable.
But does it get asked for? Yes, more often than not.

So where does that leave you?
With an opportunity – the chance to explain why you.

Don’t be defeatist about it. Don’t say to yourself, “No one will read this thing, so I’m going to just put anything down.”

What if that HR pro does read your careless slop? Ouch, off you go, into the trash.

If the company requests a job letter, don’t write some crummy cover sheet, or the kind of say-nothing letter I wrote once upon a time. Instead, write the very best job letter you can. Take it as seriously as writing your resume.

Why?

This is what you do know: The company has requested a cover letter.
This is what you don’t know: If someone will read it.

Here’s how I look at it: You have two chances to demonstrate how your skills, training, experience and passion make you the best person for the job. If you work as hard on your cover letter as you do on your resume, you are presenting a complete, I care, I want this job picture. If you put forth an amazing resume and a half-baked cover letter, what message are you sending then?

Don’t get tangled in the will-they won’t-they argument. You can’t control it. What you can control is YOU and your willingness to present yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Here’s one more reason to write a kick-butt resume cover letter: Let’s assume HR is going to read it. Will they do so first, or second? I’ve heard it told both ways. That means it’s arbitrary, one more reason to write a damn good letter:

If your cover letter is the FIRST introduction HR has to you, what do you want it to say?

~sr~