Job Hunting Correspondence Guidelines

Cover letters, should always be provided as an introduction to your resume, but are not the only letters you'll need. While job hunting you may also need to write letters that precede, follow-up or confirm verbal conversations with potential IT employers. These letters are a record of interactions and provide the employer with additional evidence of your communication skills.

Never send a resume without a cover letter. Your cover letter should explain "why" you are sending a resume and "why" the employer should take the time to read it. Be specific and indicate exactly what you are interested in: a specific position, internship, possible future openings. Entice the employer to look at your resume by providing a well written cover letter that is targeted specifically to that employer.

A cover letter should:

• Call attention to key components of your background. Education, on the job training, IT experience, include all information relevant to the position you're applying for.
• Let your writing reflect your personality, motivation, and communication skills. Tedious cover letters often result in resume packages going to the trash receptacle.
• Provide information specifically requested as requirements for that position. Indicate if more details are present on your resume.
• Indicate what you will do to follow-up. Tell the employer whether you will be calling or writing and when as a follow up to sending your cover letter and resume. Do not say "I look forward to hearing from you soon".

Target all correspondence to a specific employer. You may write one letter to use as a template for all correspondence, but each letter should be tailor written and targeted to the potential employer.

Make certain your purpose is clear. At the beginning clearly indicate whether a letter is a follow up, job application, future job enquiry etc. Don't make the employer guess why you're writing or have to read the entire letter to find out.

Edit and Proof Read more than once. Grammar, spelling and punctuation should be perfect, not a single error. Your words should be clear, to the point, and reflect a business attitude. Avoid excessive wordiness and slang language.

Be business like, but be yourself. Remain formal, but allow your personality to show through. Are you a perfectionist, great people person, full of creative ideas, let these traits show through in your writing.

Keep record of all correspondence. For each employer keep records of phone calls, face to face interviews, emails and written letters. Retain hard copies of every letter and email sent. Record who you spoke with, the date and details of conversations. Each time you communicate first review your records of past correspondence.

Hard copy correspondence
Use 8 ½ x 11, premium quality paper. Use the same paper for all correspondence letters and your resume. Be certain your paper produces clean photocopies. Avoid flecked, brightly colored or decorative paper. Send laser quality prints with a proportionally spaced font in Arial or Times New Roman font. Make it easy to read, avoid excessively small fonts.

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