LA Resumes and
The Cover Letter:
The rules.

• Resume
• Executive Resume

If you have done your research properly, you will know a little bit about the Los Angeles company you are pitching your application to. When you are creating your cover letter, you need to write with their needs in mind - every-time. Generic (same for everyone) cover letters will not sell you or your skills and abilities in the same way that a customized cover letter will.

While some creative roles may mean you will need to show the quirkier side to your character, just remember the objective of the cover letter is to stop the 'scanner' (LA Hiring Manager) in his or her tracks and to get your Resume or CV read.

Remember that the LA Hiring Manager reading the cover letters will have a lot of applications to go through. All they may have time to do is scan your LA cover letter for their keywords and phrases, and skim read your Resume. Your Los Angeles Resume or CV must write to what they want, not everything that you could do or have done in your career.

Your Cover letter and ATS - Applicant Tracking Software

Your LA Cover Letter must pass the ATS test. With sometimes hundreds of applicants for each position in LA's job market, your application for a job in Los Angeles is not likely to be read by a HR person until it has been screened through applicant tracking software (ATS). This software is designed to weed out and discard those applications which have not addressed the key selection criteria within their LA Resume or CV and cover letter. Only if you pass this first test will your application be read by the LA Hiring Manager with the authority to make the decision to invite you to attend an interview or not.

Every word in your Los Angeles job application (Cover Letter, LA Resume or CV and any statements addressing the selection criteria) should be working hard for you. It should be stated and substantiated, 'I am the best candidate for this role, you need to meet me so that I can prove that I am the best person for the job'.

Re-using the same cover letter for jobs with the same job title

It can be oh-so tempting to think you can re-use the same cover letter for the same type of job as the last one you applied for. You may think - I can change the date, the name of the recruiter on the cover letter and I can save myself time - lots of it. This is so far from the truth - it ain't funny, but we see it all the time. The truth is - Every hiring organization in Los Angeles will have its own set of selection criteria you need to address in your job application (LA Resume or CV and Cover Letter). If you DO NOT follow their instructions - completely, you will not be asked to attend an interview. Therefore every cover letter that accompanies your Resume or CV should be customized for the employer's individual selection criteria. Especially in today's tough Los Angeles job market.

The art and science of writing a great LA cover letter

• First and foremost, put yourself in the employer's position. Who are they looking for in an ideal candidate? Write to meet their needs, not your own

The cover letter format

• The first rule to remember is to put your contact details on everything, including your LA Resume or CV, cover letter and the statement addressing the selection criteria if required by the employer. These are business documents and need to be treated as such.
• Add a telephone number to both your cover letter and LA Resume or CV and other documents. Your personal number, not work number is essential.
• If you do not want people to make assumptions about where you live - leave these details off your CV or Resume and Cover Letters.
• Add your personal email address to your cover letter but make sure it is professional looking and sounding, not [email protected] or some other cutesy name - while these speak volumes about you as a person - it may not get you the position you desire.
• Gmail etc, are free email services; all that you need is access to the Internet - and if you don't have access at home, LA's public libraries or LA's internet cafes will provide internet access free, or for a small fee. When you create your email address, avoid using anything that devalues your brand. Don't use nicknames, age or year of birth, pet names, or hobbies. An effective email address is [email protected] or [email protected]
• If you have hotmail, get a Gmail account. Hotmail has a bad rap because it is notorious for hitting the SPAM filters. There isn't much point in creating a LA Resume and job application if it doesn't get through to the employer! If you must use this email address - always phone the LA hiring organization the following day to make sure your hard work isn't sitting in their junk folder.
• The cover letter should be dated - it's a business document remember?
• The cover letter should ideally be addressed to a person. If no name is provided in the application use Dear Hiring Manager instead of Dear Sir or Madam.
• Provide the LA job reference number and the correct LA job title you are applying for at the start of the cover letter. This is vital to make sure your LA Resume or CV and Cover Letter gets through to the right person or department. If you are sending out a speculative cover letter, advise the organization that you are available for work. For example, "I read in The LA Times your organization is expanding and I am interested in discussing any opportunities that might be available."

The guts of an LA Cover Letter

• After you have introduced yourself, the next part should include a summary of the skills, knowledge and experience you possess - these should match or closely match those requirements in the LA employer's advertisement and/or selection criteria.
• Even if you are sending out a speculative Resume / Cover Letter mailing to a number of Los Angeles' employers, you should always tailor the cover letter to the organization that is hiring in LA. Prove that you've done a little bit of research on them. Mention the organization’s great reputation, sales growth, corporate culture or charitable record as a reason for wanting to work for them. A little bit of flattery can go a long way in a tight LA job market.
• Make sure the cover letter is short and sweet - but to the point. It should make people want to read your LA Resume or CV, not replace it.
• When you are finalizing your Cover Letter, you should give your availability for a meeting. This shows professionalism and initiative. If you are working shifts for example, give them alternative contact details so that you don't miss out if invited to interview.

Signature Panels for your LA Cover Letter

• Cover letters are business documents so always finish with "Yours Sincerely, Your Full Name"

Final Steps in Completing an LA Cover Letter

• Do you have to provide hard copies, or take them to the head office in Downtown LA or San Francisco? If so, when you are printing out your cover letter and Resume or CV, use standard white paper and black ink. Also use one font throughout your application - you can use font size and bold to emphasize headings. This may seem trivial, but it makes your application easier to read. Designed Resumes or CVs may not be printed in color so be mindful of the scheme you choose or it could be impossible to read.
• Are the documents (Cover letter and Resume or CV) in the correct format? Check the job ad or description for this information. If in doubt save and upload as PDF as this works without expensive third party software like Word/Office. Documents in the incorrect format WILL NOT be converted - hiring organizations do not have the time.

Sending your Resume or CV via email, then you should treat the body of the email as you would a cover letter. Pick out a key point high-lighted on the selection criteria as a way to draw the LA Hiring Manager or recruiter into downloading and reading your resume.

• Resume
• Executive Resume