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Home » Business And Finance Articles » When Cover Letters Get Personal

When Cover Letters Get Personal

"It is with great interest and enthusiasm that I submit my resume for your review." Most cover letters are written in this humdrum tone. Cover letters do not need to be so dull, nor so uninteresting. This style of cover letter writing has been around for years; and it's a trend that has overstayed its welcome.

It's perfectly acceptable to add pizzazz to cover letters in an effort to engage the reader in your story. Taking a business approach while adding a personal touch to the cover letter will certainly make you stand out from other candidates. But many are skeptical about adding a personal story to the cover letter because rumor has it that cover letters should be completely business-oriented. That isn't true. There are occasions when it is appropriate to deviate from what others expect to read, and of course, there are times when you should remain with the "tried and true" method.

When Getting Personal Doesn't Make Sense

Getting personal can be tricky because most people have a tendency to reveal too much. Only choose to disclose personal information if doing so will help sell you for the position. Don't use the cover letter as a vehicle to make excuses, to apologize for your current situation or to describe how difficult the job search has been. For example, the following is not a personal story that should be fleshed out in a cover letter:

A few months ago, I was laid off and haven't been able to secure a position since. I have answered countless classified ads and no one will give me an opportunity. My bills are piling up and I need someone to give me a chance. I am a good worker and if you hire me, you won't be disappointed.

The above introduction smacks of desperation, and although you may be truthful when saying you'll do a fantastic job, the reader will think either: a) if nobody else wants this person, I sure don't or b) this person will take on any position just to pay the bills while continuing to look for the right opportunity. While that may not be your intention, it will be the perception.

When Getting Personal Makes Sense

Not every situation is the same and some situations call for more than just a reiteration of your resume. If you are currently unemployed, a career changer, or just have an interesting story to share about your career progression, feel free to elaborate in the cover letter. The following is an appropriate personal story to tell in a cover letter:

It is human nature to believe that life-altering events will only happen to "them," not us. With this popular notion in tow, we go about our lives doing the best we know how. Then one day, we are struck with a reality that changes our view of the world and our purpose on this earth. Each of us has our own unique life changing events; mine was when my companion was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

When I made the decision to leave the workforce to tend to my companion's illness, I quickly realized there was never enough time to get everything done: paperwork, doctor's visits, clinical studies, and housekeeping responsibilities.

Even with all that needed to be done, I welcomed the opportunity to care for him when he needed me the most. In fact, I am grateful I was able to follow him through his journey. I realize this is a luxury not afforded to everyone. Because of the experiences I had in and out of the nursing home, I decided to return to college and earn a master's degree in Health Advocacy at Sarah Lawrence College.

The above is a heartwarming tale of how one's personal experience changed their course in life. This particular story is a great sales tool because it alludes to the empathy and compassion this candidate has for others who are going through what she experienced.

Recognizing if your personal story makes sense

When getting personal in a cover letter, the key is to focus on a topic that: a) will interest the reader, b) is relevant to your career objective, and c) will add weight to your list of qualifications. If you can enthusiastically answer "yes" to all those distinctive qualities, then your story is one that should be told.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Do-It-Yourself Internet Marketing Or Professional Internet Marketing Companies

There are so many ways to market your home or online business and sometimes it isn't easy to choose which way is best for you. Should you try to market your business or site by online yourself or would it be better to use a professional internet marketing company?

If you choose to market your business or internet site yourself, there are a few things to consider. First, you can use free web page sites which allow a person to create a space in order to literally market themselves. In this case, it would be easy to publicize anything; including your own business. It is also a great way to make sure you get what you want across to the internet public. This permits you to personalize your marketing and sometimes making it sound less professional may draw more attention to your site. There are also sites that allow you to create blogs - basically an online diary - which can also be beneficial to your business or site. Both of these services are, for the most part, free and accessible in any language. One more way to do things yourself is to create mass e mail marketing. This simple yet effective process allows you to alert current customers of any specials, new arrivals or changes to your online business.

Perhaps you lack the time it takes to do things on your own, or maybe you lack the finesse needed to make your business sound as great as you wish it to. Whichever is the case, possibly you need to recruit the aid of a professional internet marketing company. Instead of spending tedious hours trying to maximize your web count, you can spend a great, or small, amount of money to have someone else do it for you. Professional internet marketing companies take publicity beyond e mails and blogs. They can offer search engine optimization, which includes you paying for keywords that are linked to your site. Each time someone uses one of these keywords, it can create a hit to your online business. They can also create web banners, which work just the same as a banner on the fence at a high school football game; just on the World Wide Web. The banners can be animated, can include blinkies, flashing text and in some cases, sound. The can be very effective in grabbing one's attention. Another option that professional internet marketing companies offer is pay per click. This is basically an operation that allows you to 'rent' a small space on another site and you pay that site for each click your banner, logo, etc. generates.

Whichever way you choose, just be sure that it is right for you. Your budget just may restrict which marketing choice you pick.