What makes a good cover letter?

[Crizz]

When applying to an airline, what makes a good cover letter? I've never written one and have a general idea of what it should look like, but I was wondering if anyone could lend tips. (I'm not looking for free advice from Resume Writer, but if she would grace the thread I would not be dissapointed ... I just cant afford to pay her)

 

[TonyC]

(I'm not looking for free advice from Resume Writer, but if she would grace the thread I would not be dissapointed ... I just cant afford to pay her)

Can you afford a date? A few trips to Mc Donald's? I'm betting you could plan ahead and find the money to purchase her services, and it will be far more satisfying than a date or a few cheeseburgers. I'll bet if you talk real nice she could arrange a payment plan for you, too.

I didn't know about Kathy when I was in the job market, but if I had known about her, I would have had a garage sale to raise money to hire her. She's just that good. I'm thinking of applying for a new job and paying for her services - resume, cover letter, interview coaching, mind you - - just so I can get some quality one-on-one time with her.


If you insist, though, I can give you advice on a cover letter.

3 Paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: Tell 'em what you want - - Hey, y'all, I want to be yore pilut.
Paragraph 2: Tell 'em why they should hire you - - I see y'all got one of them fancy thing-um-a-boppers, and I happen to be reeeel experienced in 'em
Paragraph 3: Tell 'em yore anxious to hear back from 'em, that yore reddy to start tomorrow, and give 'em a good way to git in touch with ya - - I can start tomorrow, please call me at BR-549 and let me know

If I were you, I'd use nice paper - - nothin' flashy, just not that cheap copier paper. I'd also probably try to get one of them computer thingies to print it out. I think they frown on the ones ya write out in inkpen by yoreseff any more. OH, and while you're at it, you prob'ly oughten' ta use one of them fancy spell chequer thangs, too.

Remember - - you get what you pay for!

Good Luck!

 

[dlredline]

. . . . Paragraph 3: Tell 'em yore anxious to hear back from 'em, that yore reddy to start tomorrow, and give 'em a good way to git in touch with ya - - I can start tomorrow, please call me at BR-549 and let me know . . .

Great laugh from that. Wonder how many youngsters out there know where that phone number came from.

Also, good advise on the letter, Tony.

Red

 

[Andy Neill]

Great laugh from that. Wonder how many youngsters out there know where that phone number came from.

Does the name of the late Junior Samples mean anything to you? Then again, I'm no youngster.

 

[bafanguy]

TonyC,


A cover letter will be "...far more satisfying than a date..." ? Wanna put any "qualifiers" on that statement ??

 

[TonyC]

TonyC,


A cover letter will be "...far more satisfying than a date..." ? Wanna put any "qualifiers" on that statement ??

I've learned with the passing of years that fleeting pleasures are far less satisfying than enduring pleasures. A balanced life will likely contain both, but there are times when one must be sacrificed for the other.

If the cover letter results in a good job - - and I give Kathy a lot of credit her, I assume it will - - the satisfaction of that good job will outweigh the passing pleasure of one night with a lady.

Now, I could be wrong. It might be the first date with the love of his life, and passing on that date would alter the course of his life forever. In that case, naturally, I'd classify the date as a enduring pleasure, and he should forget about trying to get any kind of job!

 

[bafanguy]

TonyC,


Just funnin' ya!!

Note to myself: Abandon all further attempts at a career as internet forum comedian and add it to the list of jobs for which you are not qualified.

 

[Resume Writer]

When applying to an airline, what makes a good cover letter? I've never written one and have a general idea of what it should look like, but I was wondering if anyone could lend tips. (I'm not looking for free advice from Resume Writer, but if she would grace the thread I would not be dissapointed ... I just cant afford to pay her)

There are several things that make a good cover letter and every person I work with has something different to offer. You need to align your background with the company to which you are applying. Your cover letter is a marketing document, just like your resume. The product you are marketing is you. You also need to understand that HR people have about 15-30 seconds to review your documents. If they have to read through huge paragraphs of information, they will not read it.

The way I explain a cover letter to my clients is this: A cover letter is like the cover of a magazine. On the cover it may say, "Ten Ways to Lose 10 pounds." Do they put the entire article on the front cover? No. The cover invites the reader to look inside at the article (or resume in this case) to get the scoop. The same principle applies to this situation.

Tony had some good basic principles to utilize when writing your cover letter. If you truly cannot afford to have your documents done, there are plenty of books out there that can give you an idea. Most I would guess are available at the library.

Everything you do in the advancement of your career is an investment. I know I invest a great deal of time and money into my continuing education so I can give my clients the best possible presentation of their work history and information on what HR people are looking for in career related documents. People pay not only for my writing abilities, but also for my knowledge of HR and the hiring process.

I hope this gives you more insight.

Kathy

 

[TonyC]

TonyC,


Just funnin' ya!!

Note to myself: Abandon all further attempts at a career as internet forum comedian and add it to the list of jobs for which you are not qualified.

LOL I know, I know. You were just trying to lure me into a racy comment which would have been funny to everybody except my wife. Since she knows I spend a lot of time (too much, she says) here and knows how to look, and there are quite a few folks where I work that know who I am, it's best to keep everything professional and above board. I try to insure everything I say I wouldn't mind my Mom, or my daughter, or my preacher reading. So, unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on the persective, I couldn't take the bait and run down that humorous trail. I was compelled to offer the serious, professional answer.

Don't give up on the comedian bit just yet - - I saw the humor. Just shop around for a more cooperative audience.

 

[rvsm410]

Tony, You da man!

Tony,

Thnaks so mach four the advice wit mi coverd leter...Me rite mine jus like you say to did! I jus got mez an ofer too wash them thing-a- ma bobbers out on dat cement slab! Dis dude eevn giv me $ 4 bucks evry hour I her doin it too.

tanks fo not chargin fo dat leter,dat waz da bes mony I evr save,jus lok at me now! boy am i hapy.

tanks agan !
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Just my advise, Resume writter was instrumental, for me. I mean she really made it happen for me on paper and her interview coaching polished off the rest....stop and think about what has been said on this thread...it is a very small investment in your future, this is the "last place" you should skimp on spending after all you have done to prepare yourself for an airline job.....

All my years of Military and civil flying, college degree and licenses were perfectly described on a single page that inticed the employers to contact me requesting an interview! The stuff I did on my own, was ok, but it just did not get me in the airlines door.....Spend the money, you wont be sorry Pal.

Col. Bill Williamson USAF (ret)

 

[ThomasR]

Fleeting Moments

I've learned with the passing of years that fleeting pleasures are far less satisfying than enduring pleasures. A balanced life will likely contain both, but there are times when one must be sacrificed for the other.........

Don't pass up on opportunity; and when there is no opportunity, create some.

 

[BankAccount=0$]

I'll throw my support behind Resume Writer as well. After sending out resumes for quite awhile, I finally decided to admit to myself that perhaps I was not going to ever be able to write an effective cover letter about myself (I'm not afraid to admit that I'm terrible at selling myself). I called Kathy and told her what it was I was looking for, and 3 days later there was my new resume and cover letter. If everything in the aviation business was as easy as working with Kathy there would be no reason for any of us to be constantly complaining on message boards like this one

I just recieved the resume and CV this week, so it's still a bit premature to say what effect it will have on my marketability with the airlines. What I can say is that the gain in confidence by having a resume I know is the best available takes some of the anxiousness out of waiting for a invite to interview.

And if you still might be on the fence about spending a couple of bucks on a professionaly prepared resume and cover letter, I'll just say this. I showed my old resume and cover letter, followed by my new K. Sweeney(as I like to call it) version to one of my students. This guy is a very senior exec at a Fortune 100 company who probably has a couple hundred executive level resumes cross his desk every year. His reaction was worth every penny I spent on them, He said, "that first resume and cover letter would have never even made it past my screeners, but the second one is exactly how it should be written.....I don't know what you paid for this, but this resume and letter is what gets people hired"

If nothing else, the money spent was very little in relation to the fact that in this ultra competitive industry any little advantage can be the difference in getting hired and not ever knowing why you didn't ever get a call.

Good luck to all in in your job search,
TJ

P.S. One more thought. Even if I never get one single call from an airline, I'll still be happy with the job Resume Writer did on my resume, I never could have written it the way she did. But to justify the cost,I'll have to print up a copy to mail to Kathy so she can autograph the bottom. I'll put them in a frame and tell people it's my K. Sweeney art collection........

 

[350DRIVER]

I have gotten interview offers in the past from most regional carriers and one casino operator simply by using a resume and cover letter that I have come up over the years through using different techniques. I would be more than happy to share with you a "general" resume that will work, just pm me with your email address...A "resume" will not get you the interview, what will is what is on that piece of paper that most call a "resume".

most airlines have been pleasantly impressed apparently with the format that I have come up with given the results and feedback thus far. I would not change what I have done for anything, well ok maybe for a Mercedes 500SL.


If you are strapped for money then I would be more than happy to extend a helping hand.


3 5 0

 

[bobbysamd]

Cover letters

Having lived and learned, but also considering myself to be a competent writer, I would second the recommendations about having a professional, such as Resume Writer, prepare your documents. I prepared my resume and cover letters myself and did get interviews and jobs, but perhaps if I had known about Resume Writer fourteen years ago and used her I might have gotten more interviews and job offers. Back then, the only resume prep service that I knew was Kit Darby and he plastered his forms all over his materials. So, it was easy to make his forms mine.

Having said all that, here's a sample cover letter format:

Joe Blow, Pilot Recruiter
CheapAir Airlines
123 Fourth Street
Podunk, USA 12345

Dear Mr. Blow:

Please consider me an applicant for a Flight Officer position with CheapAir Airlines. Enclosed is my resume.

My qualifications include an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, a First Class Medical Certificate, 2000 total hours, 700 multi, 500 turbine pilot-in-command, and a four-year college degree. I have been employed as a pilot for Just On Time Air Taxi Service in East Armpit, Alabama. Just On Time hired me originally as a First Officer for its KingAirs. Last year, I was promoted to Chief Pilot and check airman.

The recent Podunk Times business section feature on CheapAir stated how the company has acquired new EAS routes and will be adding staff during 2004. Perhaps you might find my experience and abilities valuable as the company expands.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to present my qualifications in person. Thank you for your time and for considering me for employment with CheapAir.

Respectfully,


Crizz

Here again, having a professional draft your materials might give you just the edge you need to set yourself apart from the hoardes of riffraff. Perhaps I should have done it. Good luck with your job search.

 

[350DRIVER]

not a fan of that ending at all....

this is much better in my opinion>

I am sure that you realize that a brief letter and a resume (which I have attached) can convey only a limited sense of a person’s dedication, motivation, and abilities. I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss my accomplishments and experiences, at your convenience. I can be reached at the above number and look forward to hearing from you and possibly meeting with you in the very near future.



Sincerely,

3 5 0

*"attached" may be substituted for the word "included" depending on how you are sending HR/Recruitment your resume.