Pam combed the pages of the newspaper and she spent hours on the Internet checking out potential jobs. She also read articles about how to write a stellar cover letter that would rise to the top of the slush pile on a hiring manager’s desk.
But what difference did all this make? “Not much,” claims Pam, a 28-year-old college grad who wanted to work in the accounting industry as a credit manager. “I knew I had to do something drastic,” she said, “something no one else does. I looked for a way to stand out in a crowd.”
If only she could create a job search cover letter that was unlike any other—totally different from the typical templates she found in books and online. A letter that would inspire a hiring manager to pay attention to her letter in a way that stopped him and made him want to meet her in person for an interview.
Then one morning as Pam scanned the daily newspaper while sipping her coffee a headline caught her attention. TEEN STUDENT STARTS OWN BUSINESS AND MAKES A MINT. “I didn’t have time to read the entire article right then,” she said, “but I definitely wanted to find out more. The headline stayed with me all morning. I knew I’d return to it.”
An A-Ha Moment
Later that day Pam finished reading the article and suddenly had an a-ha moment, realizing she could apply the headline principle to her cover letter. What if she created a headline at the top of her letter to grab a hiring manager’s attention before he could put it down. It was worth a try. Here is what Pam came up with and how it can work for you too:
• Create a smashing two-line headline. (Study newspaper headlines for examples of powerful words.)
• Type the headline in boldface print.
• Place the phrase just above the greeting (Dear Ms. Doe) in your cover letter.
• Center it on the page.
Here is the winning cover letter that packed Pam’s basic message into a few words and was easy to notice and read.
Search no more. I’m ready. I’m set. Just waiting to GO!
How could any hiring manager turn his back on such a creative headline? None could! Pam’s creativity alone stopped several hiring managers on the spot, compelling them to invite her in for an interview. One led to a job offer she couldn’t turn down. It met all of her criteria.
Now it is time for you to create your own fabulous headline that will lead you to the job interview of your dreams and the words you long to hear, “You’re hired.”
Jimmy Sweeney is president of CareerJimmy and originator of the brand new, “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” Jimmy is the author of “Tough Times Job Tips” and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.” Watch Jimmy’s free, unusual cover letter video for job seekers. Discover the one “Secret Sentence” you can use to land more job interviews and job offers immediately.