Write like you speak

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I revised a cover letter for a very intelligent, competent friend of mine today.

Obviously, I’m no human resources expert, but I am a writer and a reader and I’d like to offer the following tips on resume and cover letter writing:

• Write like you speak
• Be brief

Here’s the truth: HR managers, recruiters, whoever will gloss over as soon as they see a five-paragraph cover letter.  How do I know?  Because I gloss over.  You know the girl who talks too much, who says, “well, I’d better get going…” four times, but then stands in the doorway for 25 minutes with her car running?  Don’t be that girl in your cover letter.

Be brief, be polite, and cut to the chase.  They’ll get the details in your resume (which should also be concise) and any subsequent interview.  Now, I’m certainly not trying to blast my friend.  In fact, he did the right thing by having someone proofread his stuff.  In fact, if you’d like me to proofread your writing, I accept:

• Resumes
• Cover letters
• Suicide notes
• Text messages
• Grocery lists
• Constitutional amendments

Send $150 (money orders only for suicide notes, please) and a pack of Stride peppermint gum to my address and, once I’m cashing and chewing, I’ll email you back the weed-whacked version of your document.

And if you’re interested in real, serious professional job-search advice, visit my pal Laurie Ruettimann over at the PunkRockHR blog.

She’ll set you straight.

And talk you down off a ledge.

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Filed under The Grind

Tags: laurie ruettimann, punkrockhr