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magda · Newbie Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hello,

For the first time I am trying to send application online via career recruitment website. I've already uploaded CV, ticked few boxes and now they ask me to paste a covering note. Should it be the same as covering letter with headings etc. (if yes, what to do when the job is posted by another recruitment agency?) or should I keep it shorter? The job is temporary for summer period only, however within my field, as I need to do something relevant before I start my PhD (should I mention it?).

Next question concerns opportunities (especially PhD offers) that say to e-mail full cv with referees' details (not mentioning anything else). Will it be good idea to attach covering letter as well? Or should I rather write covering e-mail?

Thank you for any help:)

Magda

ResumeWriter · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:06 am Post subject:

Hi Magda! There's a couple areas of your questions that are a little cloudy, so I'll do my best providing an on-target response. Submitting your resume online, whether to a recruiting site, job bank, or directly to a company website, a cover letter may not always be a necessary part of the submission process. Sometimes, you can get by without submitting one.

Now, let's say you choose to send one. Yes, you want to modify the cover letter to target the specific needs of each employer ... or the person on the other end of the submission process. <wink> It's time-consuming to continuously alter your letter, so think of writing different variations that can be easily and promptly modified; i.e. cold contact/indtroductory letter or letter written specifically to recruiters.

It's unclear whether mentioning you need the temp position, as part of your PhD requirement, will play any role. Think about whether that info will help or hurt your request. If you feel it can't hurt, then go ahead and list it.

Concerning your inquiry about emails versus attaching cover letter. I would suggest doing both. Make the email a very boiled down version of the cover letter, skimming the surface and providing readers with "tickler" details to encourage them to open your attached cover letter and resume.

My thought is sending an attached cover letter, as well, will give them one more piece of your material to hold onto. There might be something there that enhances your candidacy, well beyond a basic email. What's the worst that could happen? They'll delete the email, cover letter, or both? Either way, you'll only have lost a few minutes of your time ... the time it took to write both pieces of correspondence.

If you'd like to read my recommendation for another in a similar situation:
http://www.cvtips.com/career_advice_forum/here-vp12051.html#12051

Good luck to you, Magda!

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