When you are applying for a job, there are a lot of things you need to think about. One of the most important things is your cover letter and the sample project manager (PM) write-up you need to write. This is because your cover letter and PM Sample will determine whether or not you get the job. Therefore, it is very important that you get both of these right. Although it may seem obvious, many people do not do this and end up wasting their time applying for jobs that they are not suited for. This is simply because they do not know how to write a good cover letter and they do not have a good sample project manager (PM) write-up, so they do not stand out from the crowd. Luckily, we are here to help and we have collected a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding cover letters and sample project manager (PM) write-ups so you can easily find the answers to them all. Below, you will find detailed answers to all of these questions along with some tips on how to improve your chances of getting the job. Let’s get started.
Q: What Is A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is simply a letter that provides additional information regarding your application for a specific job. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job and your cover letter mentions that you have experience working with BizEaze, then the hiring manager will know exactly what kind of marketing experience you have and how much effort you will put in. Your cover letter is your chance to sell yourself and make yourself STAND OUT FROM THE CAST. It is often the first thing a hiring manager (or any person reading your resume) will see. Thus, it is extremely important that you put a lot of thought into your cover letter and make sure that it is perfect. Below, we will discuss some of the most common myths and mistakes concerning cover letters and give you some tips on how to avoid them. For more information, you can always check out this useful guide on cover letters or this great guide on writing a winning resume.
MYTH: I don’t need a cover letter because my resume is enough.
One of the most common mistakes people make is thinking that they do not need a cover letter because their resume is enough. Although your resume may contain all the information a hiring manager needs to know about you, this does not mean that a cover letter is not needed. Your resume is simply the FIRST STEP in the application process, it does not guarantee you will get the job. Your cover letter is the SECOND STEP and it serves as additional proof that you are the best candidate for the job. In some cases, your resume may be too short or it may not contain enough information; in such cases, a cover letter certainly wouldn’t hurt. Below, we will discuss some of the most important things your cover letter should include.
1. Personal Information
It is a common misconception that writing a cover letter is just a formality and it does not actually matter what you write in it. In fact, your cover letter is one of the most important parts of your application because it allows the hiring manager to get to know you better. Your cover letter can be used to establish several things such as your level of interest in the position, why you are applying for the job, and whether or not you are the right person for the job. Therefore, it is extremely important that you put a lot of thought into your cover letter and make sure that it is concise yet contains all the necessary information. Below, we will discuss some of the things you should include in your cover letter.
a. Your Name
The first thing a hiring manager will want to know is your name. It is very important that you put your name in the upper-left corner of your cover letter so it catches the eye of the reader. You should write your full name in the upper-left corner of your cover letter and use full stops and periods correctly. In fact, there is a common misconception that people confuse capitalization with punctuation. You should NOT capitalize any words in your cover letter, you should use full stops and periods to separate words (i.e., Mrs. Victoria Beckham doesn’t need to be capitalized because it is a person’s name).
b. Email Address
Next, the hiring manager will want to know your email address so they can reach you if they have any further questions. You should write your email address at the top of your cover letter. You should make sure that your email address is valid and that you actually send emails from this address. If you have a business email address, then make sure that it is listed in your LinkedIn profile or other social media profiles (such as Twitter or Facebook).
c. Phone Number
Next, the hiring manager will want to know your phone number. You should write your phone number in the upper-right corner of your cover letter. Just make sure that you have a phone number, you do not have to provide your phone number in your application, however, you should provide your phone number in your cover letter so the hiring manager knows how to reach you. If you do not have a phone number, then include your cell phone number or best phone number.
2. Objective
The second thing the hiring manager will want to know is your objective. Your objective is the reason you are applying for the job. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job and your objective is to become a marketer, then your cover letter should begin with the phrase, “I am applying for the marketing manager job at Company X because…” This will provide the hiring manager with the necessary information they need to know upfront and save them the trouble of looking for your résumé online later.
Your objective should be a short and sweet sentence that sums up why you are the best candidate for the job. You should write your objective at the top of your cover letter and use a verb-noun combination. For example, if you are applying for a job as a project manager and your objective is to “manage complex projects”, then your cover letter should read, “I am applying for the project manager position at Company X because I want to manage complex projects.”
3. Education
The next thing the hiring manager will want to know is your education. Your education is your degree(s) and the fact that you are currently pursuing further education (e.g., an MBA). You should write your education at the very top of your cover letter. Make sure that you include your name and contact details for the institution that you are currently attending. Remember: your education is what allows you to apply for the job. You should also include your GMAT or GRE score if you are applying for a position that requires a business administration degree.
You should also include the year that you graduated and the name of the institution you graduated from. If you are applying for a position at a different institution than the one you attended, then make sure to include the name of the school in your cover letter. In some cases, you may want to include a short bio about yourself (e.g., I completed my Bachelors at University of Oxford and I am pursuing my MBA at Harvard Business School). Remember, your bio should include only the necessary information and should be concise yet detail enough for the hiring manager to understand your skills and qualifications.
4. Summary Of Qualifications
The next thing the hiring manager will want to know is your summary of qualifications. The summary of qualifications is simply a short list of your skills and experience. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job and your summary of qualifications includes that you have experience writing blog posts, then the hiring manager knows exactly what kind of articles you have written. Your summary of qualifications should be concise yet detailed enough for the hiring manager to understand your experience. You should use a combination of verbs and nouns to create a short, yet accurate list of your qualifications.
It is often very difficult to get your summary of qualifications right. You need to take your time and make sure that everything is written correctly. You should consider using some of the internet’s most popular websites to easily find the necessary information (e.g., LinkedIn, etc.). Remember that the hiring manager has to sift through a lot of material, so make sure that your qualifications are easy to find.
5. Résumé
Your resume is a shortlist of your skills and experience that can be used to create a job offer. Your resume is also a chance for you to briefly summarize your work history. Your resume should be short and sweet, yet comprehensive enough for the hiring manager to understand your skills and experience. Your resume should be no longer than three pages and you should use an easy-to-read font, such as Arial or Helvetica.