Dated August 03, 2005
(Questions answered on career concerns)
I am a BE graduate in search of a job. While sending my résumé to the prospective employer, to whom should I address the covering letter - to the managing director, vice president or anybody else? Further, what should the body of the covering letter contain?
KARTHIKEYAN
Coimbatore
A covering/speculative letter explains why you are sending your CV to the particular address. Keep the letter short - no more than an A4 sheet, handwritten, word-processed or typed.
Make sure it is factual and accurate - always check spelling and grammar.
Find out the proper person to whom you should address the letter.
Avoid using standard covering/speculative letters.
Be positive about yourself.
Briefly make reference to your skills, qualifications and experience that match the employers' requirements
The Basic Layout: Write your full postal address followed by your telephone number at the top right corner, include the recipient's name and address on the left hand side; remember to mention the department and/or the title and position of the person.
First Paragraph: If replying to an advertisement, state the position you are applying for, including its reference number/code if given and where and when you saw it advertised, indicate that you are enclosing your CV, explain the reasons why you think you are a suitable candidate for the job, and give concrete examples of your suitability.
If you are sending your CV out speculatively, your introductory paragraph should briefly state what your current situation is, and the reason for your letter.
Second Paragraph: This is your chance to sell yourself and emphasise your strengths - so be positive! What can you offer the employer? Why should an employer consider over others?
Demonstrate your suitability by emphasising relevant qualifications, skills and experience that are needed for the position. Remember to show your enthusiasm in joining the organisation.
Final Paragraph: Mention any dates you are not available for interview, and include when you would be able to join the organisation, given a chance.
Formal Ending: Use the correct valediction - Yours sincerely is required for letters addressed to a named person and
Yours faithfully if you have addressed your recipient as Sir or Madam
Don't forget to sign it!
How can I make sure that almost any employer could easily read my cover note and résumé, regardless of the ISP, platform, or word processor?
BADRINATH
Gulbarga
The following steps will turn your cover note and résumé into a single document that can be copied directly into an e-mail message.
Convert to Text Only or Plain Text. Convert your hardcopy résumé to Text Only (not Notepad) and save it as explained above.
Open your cover note and copy and paste it at the top of your text résumé.
Limit line lengths. All e-mail applications limit the number of characters and spaces per line, but some have different line lengths. Your e-mail may have a longer line length than the receiver of your e-mail. If this happens, your résumé may look unappealing and/or difficult to read.
To avoid this problem, limit each line to no more than 65 characters (including spaces), since this is a conservative line length.
Select the entire document and change the font to Courier, 12 pt.
Click File on your toolbar; select Page Setup (Windows XP users will find Page Setup under File in their toolbars); set the left margin at 1 inch and your right margin at 1.75 inch. Select the entire document and change the font to Times, Arial, or some other standard font you like.
How does one prepare for an interview?
SRILAKSHMI
Chennai
Question and answer session is the heart of an interview. Candidates quite often find themselves on the defensive, trying to justify themselves when faced with tough questions rather than taking it as a chance to `sell' their attributes.
A well-trained interviewer will fling all sorts of odd and challenging questions at you in an attempt to assess your suitability to the job. He often deliberately creates stressful situations to see how you react. In fact, you can safely presume the tougher the questions, the better you're doing. Knowing how to answer correctly is the key to success.
Having pre-prepared answers, or anticipating certain questions will significantly help in reducing stress during the interview. The following aspects will help you shine:
Selling yourself: Suggests how to answer questions that offer a good opportunity to highlight your strengths and good attributes.
Information giving: Deals with questions that look directly for information on your experience and skill set.
Dealing with objections: Offers suggestions to satisfactorily answer direct objections that the interviewer may have with your profile.
Turning negatives into positives: Provides examples of how an interviewer's attempts to attack your weaknesses can be turned into an opportunity to showcase your strengths.
I have had two rounds of interviews for a job with a prestigious organisation. I was also informed that my candidature was being considered seriously and they were just waiting for response from my referrals. I have contacted my referrals who confirmed that they had been approached and had given highly favourable references. However, I am yet to here from the company. My repeated enquiries about the status have proved futile. How often should I be calling them to follow up?
RADHA DAS
Visakhapatnam
There might be a number of valid reasons behind the veil of silence you are currently experiencing, such as a legitimate preoccupation with another matter or some internal reorganisation that might still be under way.
On the other hand, silence that lasts too long may also signal that the company is considering another individual and is holding back their response before taking a decision.
Four calls are enough to get a response. Any more similar attempts might label you as a pest. It's time to try another approach.
Compose a brief letter that expresses your thanks for the opportunity of being called for the interview. It should recap your abilities, answer any probable questions or concerns that might still exist about your qualifications and references and restate your interest and enthusiasm. The letter should conclude with a reminder that you will be following up once again by telephone.
Let your follow up effort be guided by good sense. Be persistent but not aggressive. Take the nature of the organisation into consideration as you plan the timing of your calls.
Attempt to "network" the interviewer's Admin to find out the best time to call; if he or she is away, busy, or otherwise preoccupied with more important business. When you ultimately reach the right person, politely request a call or e-mail letting you know where your candidacy stands - even if the answer is "no".
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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