a professional covering letter to apply for a job?

Answer 1

Do a seach on the Internet for "Cover letters" or "resumes". You'll probably be overwhelmed because many of them are so specific to different types of jobs. My advice is keep the letter simple, put in something specific to the company you're applying to, and most importantly, have someone proofread your letter for style and grammar. For example, it's a "cover letter" not a "covering letter", and I point that out only to show you how easy it is to make a mistake...People that screen job applicants go through many letters, and often those with mistakes in either the resume or the cover letter do not get a second look.

Answer 2

Here's my reply to a similar question about cover letter and resume on this site a few days ago:

"Your resume is supposed to be the same document you send to every prospective employer , summarizing your background, qualifications and interests. It's not supposed to be tailored to each situation and changed with each application. In fact, many people have copies of their resume professionally printed (at the printer) well in advanced, not retyped each time they send it to a different company.

The cover letter is the company-specific document that you use to add information about yourself that applies directly to that particular prospective employer and that job opening. Therefore, if you had to and/or wanted to state your salary requirement, that would be the document in which you listed the information. For a professional job, the figure should be on an annnual basis, not hourly.

Be that as it may, many employment experts have advised against disclosing that information, even when asked. Let's say you're qualified in every way for a job that the employer is quite willing to pay $ 75,000/year to the right person. You only put down $ 60,000. Experts say that may make you appear less desirable and not more as some inexperienced applicants may assume. Prospective employers may think you're not of the level they are seeking to fill that job. To be willing to work for cheap is not necessarily a good quality for a professional person.

Now let's say you put down $ 100,000/year. That may eliminate you right off the bat since here too, you've shown you belong to a level different than what the employer is seeking. If the boss for the position you're applying to only makes $90,000/year; he's not going to interview candidates who want to get paid more than his own salary.

So what do you put down in your cover letter in response to an ad that say :" Please include your salary requirement"?. Experts say to put down something like... "As for my salary requirement, I'm very flexible on the issue and will consider any reasonable offer from a prospective employer that is comensurate with the position in question and with my qualifications and experience". "