OFFICETEAM
2884 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Contact: Abby Goodman
(650) 234-6289
abby.goodman@officeteam.com
UN‘COVER’ A NEW JOB
Cover Letters Still Play Valuable Role in Hiring Decisions, Survey Suggests
MENLO PARK, CA -- As the job application process increasingly moves online, some
job seekers might be tempted to think a formal cover letter is no longer
necessary -- not so, a new survey shows. Eighty-six percent of executives polled
said cover letters are valuable when evaluating job candidates. Moreover, eight
out of 10 (80 percent) managers said it is common to receive electronic resumes
accompanied by cover letters.
The study was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by
OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly
skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone
interviews with 150 senior executives from the largest companies in the United
States.
Executives were asked, “When evaluating prospective job candidates, how valuable
is the cover letter that accompanies the resume?” Their responses:
Very valuable
23%
Somewhat valuable 63%
Not valuable at all 14%
100%
Executives also were asked, “When you receive a resume electronically from a job
candidate, how common is it for that resume to be accompanied by a letter of
introduction or cover letter?” Their responses:
Very common
37%
Somewhat common 43%
Not common at all 18%
Don’t know
2%
100%
“Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when
meeting someone for the first time,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of
OfficeTeam. “Those who aren’t including cover letters with their resumes are
missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart
from other job applicants.”
Willmer added, “A cover letter should demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge of
the company, highlight applicable skills and work experience, and explain any
resume anomalies, such as extended employment gaps.”
OfficeTeam offers the following seven tips to help job seekers develop strong
cover letters:
1. Name names. Address your letter to the specific hiring manager rather
than including a generalized introduction. If you don’t know the hiring
manager’s name, call the company and ask.
2. Do your homework. Research the company online and demonstrate how your
knowledge and skills fit the job and could benefit the organization.
3. Solve any mysteries. If you have any long employment gaps, explain how you
filled the time. Mention professional development courses or volunteer
activities that show additional efforts to keep your skills current.
4. Leave something for the resume. Limit your cover letter to one page,
if printed, or a few paragraphs, if submitted in the body of an e-mail.
5. Make a plan. Demonstrate your excitement for the position and conclude
by identifying next steps such as, “I’ll follow up with you next week to discuss
meeting in person.”
6. Read and reread. Just as you would scrutinize your resume, take time
to review your cover letter for typos and grammatical errors. Have a friend or
mentor read it as an added precaution.
7. Be a savvy submitter. When applying through online job boards, always
choose the option to add your cover letter to your resume. When e-mailing
application materials to a hiring manager, paste your cover letter within the
body of your message.
Survey Methodology
The national survey was conducted by an independent research firm and developed
by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of
highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone
interviews with 150 randomly selected senior executives at the nation’s 1,000
largest companies.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam provides businesses with the highly skilled administrative talent
they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support
full-time staff. The staffing firm has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.