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All the jobs I've gotten in the past were jobs that I applied to without cover letters. That being said, I know some employers do look specifically for cover letters and it is something that distinguishes between other candidates, especially those that don't have cover letters. I suppose the higher senior positions would definitely require a cover letter (I guess that means I'm not at the senior level  ).
However at the same time, it is a hit and miss because if you screw up the cover letter, there's a good chance they won't even take a look at the resume (the real "meat" of your application). From what I know, cover letters are supposed to be a brief intro of yourself explaining why you think you would be a good fit for the job and their company, as well as mentioning any relevant experience that especially qualifies you. But personally I think if you don't sound genuine and are using excessive verbage/phrasing to make your experiences "fit" the role, they can really detect that and it comes on as a turn off.
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If you are going for a contract role then no cover letter, EVER!
If permie, then possibly in the US, not usually in the UK and never to an agent.
If you do attach one, keep it short and sweet and tailor it to the role and company.
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As an employer I read the cover letter first, before I open the CV.
I like it to give an impression of the person - I prefer it to be relatively informal - I'm trying to find out why you are applying for this job, do you meet any selection criteria in the job ad and anything that puts you above the others.
I recently advertised for a tester and have had over 70 responses, so give me a crap cover letter (or none) and your CV better stand out from the crowd (and I need to be able to scan it really quickly cuz I don't have time to read 70 eight page CVS!
What I need to know from the get-go is that you tick (or don't) all of the selection criteria. If I say I need Oracle experience, I don't want to hunt through your CV to find out if you do - that should be in your cover letter.
If you *don't* have oracle experience, then a sentence saying that you don't, but would love to get experience, and have used SQL Server extensively does the job, too.
As a potential employee I want my application to be on top of the pile.
So I go for unusual.
I once applied for a job where I was completely unqualified, but really fancied the job (and reckoned I could do it with a bit of initial help) so my cover letter listed all the selection criteria, responded with "I have 5 years experience doing exactly that"
then in a separate paragraph I ended with "well, that's what you *wanted* to hear - the bad news is that I don't really have any experience in that role - but give me a chance and you won't regret it.
The MD called me up and all-but offered me the job on the spot after chatting to me (I turned them down, not enough cash)
Recently some smart-alec agency advertised a role in the form of a series of Haiku
I applied with a cover letter written in limericks
I didn't actually want the job at all - but I got a call the next morning and would have been put forward for the job.
It's a difficult call, though; be too flippant and you can put some people off entirely even if you have all the qualifications.
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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You managed to get some completely unhelpful responses. Let's see if we can fix that.
A covering letter's purpose is to get your resume looked at. Nope, it's not as common these days as most companies/agencies scan resumes and use keyword search to figure out who they will talk to. But about a quarter of the positions I apply for request one. I suggest a two-pronged approach.
First, the covering letter. I was taught to use a 3 paragraph format, actually quite short.
Paragraph 1: tell 'em what you are (e.g., C# developer with 10 years experience) and what job you are applying for. Don't assume they know; they may be dealing with dozens of positions. Make it easy for the person dealing with you to figure things out -- problems will get circular filed / tossed in the bit bucket.
Paragraph 2: give them the highlights of why you fit the job; don't re-write your resume, just give 'em enough detail to want them to look at resume. If you're written more than 3 or 4 lines, think again.
Paragraph 3: thank 'em and ask for an interview. Don't be shy.
Proof read it, make sure spelling is correct and that grammar is good. If you don't care enough to make a good introduction for yourself, they probably won't care to hire you. Have a friend read your first few -- it helps to get an outside opinion. IF you know a recruiter, get their opinion on both your cover letter AND resume/CV.
If it's an email, use a signature that has your full name, email address, and phone number. Make it easy to contact you, especially as the email may be printed and passed around. That printed copy may be all the interviewer has to work from.
Some places ask for a covering letter in Word or PDF format. Others it's not requested at all, but I write the email according to the above standard. YOU have no idea what the recruiter needs -- best to assume they'll read the email and make a good introduction for yourself. [This has got me thinking, it makes sense to put email and phone on cover letters, like I mentioned above with emails.]
While you didn't ask this question, I'll toss it out as generally good advice:
Second, ensure your resume/CV has all the buzzwords to get flagged by scanning. Use spelled out names AND acronyms, e.g., Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD). We never know what companies are scanning for, so cover all bases.
This has drawbacks. Ten years ago I managed a COBOL maintenance project. I've never compiled a single line of COBOL ... but I get emails periodically for COBOL programming ... 
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
-- Emo Philips
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What I do is pull some of the requirements out of the ad as quotes and then explain how well I fit. It puts the right terms in for resume filters and for the HR manager without a clue as to what the terms mean it makes life easier.
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I actually just send a "normal" email with my resume attached.
I just tell the recipient what I saw about the company or position that made me send them my resume, and then when I'm available by which modes of contact. I've recieved my current position by a head hunter, but I also interviewed and was offered 2 other positions during the hunt.
I actually got an interview by an email that was very similar to this:
Header to person,
I see you are hiring for -position-. I've looked at your company website and I feel I can be this person. I'm available on these days/hours by phone and anytime by email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Signature
That's generally the type of email I send out. Sometimes I will highlight a skill that I don't have that was in the requirements to make sure it's not assumed, but it's usually just about that layout.
I am probably killilng many opportunities for myself by not having a fancy cover and resume. I feel like I do ok though. There are limited opportunities in my area without a great deal of commute, and I feel like I find them. I've only worked for 3 companies in the past 6 years though, so I don't have a great deal of experience. ( I did one other round of interviews and got an offer but decided not to move at the time)
Elephant elephant elephant, sunshine sunshine sunshine
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This is from someone who hires people, and used to help fellow students do Cover Letters and Resumes at Michigan State (while I worked for Career Development and Placement Services).
1) The Purpose of the Resume is to show the IMPACT you had in your prior work, while touching base on areas of experience, environments, roles, skills, tools, etc.
2) The Purpose of the Cover Letter is to make the INTRODUCTION. It should identify YOU, how you heard about THEM (or the opportunity), which specific opportunity (if they want 3 positions, and you are applying to a specific position, for example). Finally, it should LINK the two with examples that can be found on your resume. Thereby encouraging the reader to read the resume looking for this information.
Think of the Cover Letter as an ELEVATOR PITCH. If you were on the elevator, with the Hiring Manager, or the person looking. And you had your resume/CV with you. As you handed them the resume, what would you say??? (If you do those 2 things right, your interview ratio should rocket up)
Example:
Dear XXX,
I am responding to the ad in the Feb 18th Sun Sentinel for an embedded software developer
with Z80 experience.
I have 20 years of experience in embedded systems, and 5 years specifically with Z80,
and I believe it is my XXX experience at ZZZ corp that will interest you the most.
Our team created automated solutions for building and burning the CMOS and EEPROM chips,
which greatly reduced our test/run development cycles. We also utilized simulators to
save on hardware costs, in a project I spear headed.
Finally, you will notice that I have some team lead experience I believe you will find valuable.
Sincerely,
...
==
Again, think about it in terms of the Elevator Pitch. What would you say quickly, to get the guy/gal to read your resume and give you a call back.
It is quite fair to use "I" in your cover letter, but NEVER in your resume.
I believe a Resume is NAKED without a Cover Letter.
The Cover Letter is like what the author writes on the back of the book, to draw the reader in!
HTH
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Simple enough:
Dear Sir/Madam/Pub Owner:
I am the candidate you dream about after a few too many pints. I work well under pressure, until I am pushed too hard and I, shall we say, "explode", but that only happened once at my last employer - and you finding that point is half the fun of employing me.
I am a loyal and reliable employee, as long as there are copious amounts of high-caffeine beverages and snacks available, for free, delivered to my desk on demand, and demand I will.
You will call me and you will hire me, you have no need to look further, in fact, do not continue to look further, unless you enjoy watching your back when you leave work, or home...
Forever yours,
-Name-
-Email-
-Phone #-
There, that should do it for you, let us know how it turns out!
Sincerely,
-Mark
mamiller@rhsnet.org
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|==<>- (6 characters)
Give it a try, will add a clue after a while if no one gets it 
Clue 0 : Oh, did that hurt you?
modified 6-Oct-15 7:49am.
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Calendar...
(No it is not the answer, but a clue to you to check your calendar)
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
modified 6-Oct-15 6:32am.
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Brittle1618 wrote: "Calendar" has 7 chars
Oh, does it? 
You have just been Sharapova'd.
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Counting with Top Gear Math, I assume!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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7 different 
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Oh you nailed it 
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Agent__007 wrote: Oh, does it?
Yeah it used to have 7 characters, when it was young
Aah, the stress "will anyone come up with right answer, or my post will stand alone with no replies as it stood alone last week" has driven me nuts 
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I had a lot of guesses, but don't want to spoil the fun of driving you nuts
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: I had a lot of guesses
Oh that's a relief.
Now I'll less go nuts and will more concentrate on Calendar and counting number of characters 
Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: don't want to spoil the fun of driving you nuts
Have fun
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I have 297 matches for that pattern and about 5-6 "close" matches (looking at the graphics), but sadly, since I can't set one tomorrow, I am not even trying.
You have just been Sharapova'd.
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Agent__007 wrote: I have 297 matches for that pattern and about 5-6 "close" matches (looking at the graphics)
That's immensely cool 
Agent__007 wrote: I can't set one tomorrow
Okay, hope someone who can set one tomorrow answers it. Its an clue, one can get easily right?
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Nope, but 1W for you
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Cooper ?
We can’t stop here, this is bat country - Hunter S Thompson RIP
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Nope.
1W for ya
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Cooler ? ( at least I'm trying )
We can’t stop here, this is bat country - Hunter S Thompson RIP
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