| How important is researching a company you | | | | |
| want to work for? Some say pretty important. | | | | While not a particularly powerful |
| We think it's absolutely vital. | | | | introduction, consider how it matches the |
| | | | language on their website. The letter is now |
| I have a friend who spends hours each day | | | | much more likely to generate a positive |
| researching companies on the internet to find | | | | response from the HR division as it reveals |
| "winners" to add to his share portfolio. He | | | | the writer to be a person who shares the |
| looks at everything: cash to debt ratios, new | | | | values of the company. (And it did get the |
| product developments, press releases, | | | | writer a job offer) |
| shareholder information, etc. He probably | | | | |
| knows more about these companies than most of | | | | Example 2 |
| the employees -? or potential employees, come | | | | |
| to think of it. | | | | A reader wanted a position at a firm called |
| | | | Ultimate Electronics and didn't know where to |
| My point is this: the internet is full of | | | | begin. We did some research for them and |
| websites for companies large and small. On | | | | found that the company had experienced a very |
| these websites you can find all sorts of | | | | rough Holiday period which really drove down |
| information that helps you understand your | | | | its share price. With this in mind, we |
| potential employer. You can use this | | | | suggested to the reader that they use a cover |
| information to make you STAND OUT from the | | | | letter introduction like this: |
| crowd by bringing it up in the interview. | | | | |
| | | | Dear ............, |
| Saying something like: "I see you?ve just | | | | |
| been awarded a patent for your xyz | | | | I see you've had a bad holiday trade season |
| technology, you must be proud of that!", not | | | | which has affected your share price. I |
| only shows you have done some research, it | | | | believe my training expertise can get you the |
| makes you look like someone who wants to work | | | | results you and your investors are looking |
| for the company and is not simply looking for | | | | for. In fact my customer service training |
| any old job. | | | | experience is almost exactly like training |
| | | | your customers to spend more. I have training |
| Remember that the interview process is a | | | | experience with some of the biggest names in |
| battle of perception and is not simply | | | | the electronics business like |
| limited to facts and figures. As one | | | | PANASONIC....... |
| executive chef described it to me: | | | | |
| | | | We used a little research to take the letter |
| We have won nearly every award possible when | | | | in a direction that would definitely have |
| it comes to restaurants. So one question I | | | | gotten a sales manager's undivided attention. |
| ask a chef who wants to work for us is: why? | | | | What do you think? Do you think with a strong |
| Why do you want to work for us? If they don't | | | | solid direction like that you'd be able to |
| mention our awards in their response then I | | | | finish the letter? |
| instantly know they simply want a job. | | | | |
| Responses like 'my wife and I want to | | | | Let's give you another example or two, just |
| relocate to this area' simply leave me cold. | | | | in case you're still hungry. :) |
| There's nothing in that response for me. One | | | | |
| click to our website and you'd see all our | | | | Example 3 |
| awards plus customer comments and reviews on | | | | |
| our restaurant. I want someone who wants to | | | | A very simple strategy which nobody takes |
| be part of all that and can help us continue | | | | advantage of is to use a company's motto in |
| our reputation into the future. | | | | their cover letter in some way. It may sound |
| | | | like a cheap shot, but I assure you, it works |
| Makes sense to me. So spend some time | | | | and works well. |
| researching the company and get to know | | | | |
| everything you can about what makes it tick. | | | | This example refers to a company who used "A |
| While you're searching the internet, find | | | | Quest for Excellence" as their corporate |
| other companies that do similar things and | | | | motto. We tried to merge it seamlessly into |
| send them a letter as well. You never know | | | | an introduction to make it seem like our |
| what could come out of that. Employers are | | | | applicant was speaking in the same "language" |
| always on the look-out for good staff. You'd | | | | purely coincidentally. |
| be surprised at how often they would like to | | | | |
| get rid of a bad staff member, but need a | | | | Dear ....., |
| good reason to do it. Often that motivation | | | | |
| comes in the form of a good candidate or | | | | I have exactly the talents and skills your |
| application turning up on the doorstep at the | | | | company is looking for to reduce costs, |
| right moment. | | | | create better production methods and |
| | | | innovative products that all add up to a |
| Example 1 | | | | company that LEADS the industry and leaves |
| | | | competitors in the dust. In short, a project |
| One of our readers wanted a job with a | | | | manager who can give you your company mission |
| particular insurance company. A quick trip to | | | | a quest for excellence. |
| their website revealed a treasure trove of | | | | |
| information that would have focused any | | | | Example 4 |
| application effectively. Here's a snippet: | | | | |
| "At XPZ, responding to the life and health | | | | Here's another good one. We landed on the |
| needs of Americans isn't just about business. | | | | company's page http:/ |
| It's about responsibility. We care about our | | | | www.americangreetings.com/corp/index.pd and |
| commitment to you and strive to project that | | | | without much effort at all we were able to |
| dedication through our products and | | | | note down dozens of useful nuggets for the |
| services." | | | | applicant to use in both their letter and at |
| | | | the interview. |
| Things like this suggest language and | | | | |
| phrasing to adopt for your application, a | | | | Here is their mission: "Our mission is to |
| mindset to try on, a business outlook and so | | | | become the premier personalized content |
| on. We quickly suggested to our reader that | | | | delivery company on the web, providing |
| they start their letter as follows: | | | | communication & commerce solutions to our |
| | | | customers and partners through a broad |
| Dear sir, | | | | selection of content, features, and |
| | | | functionality." |
| I know you have hundreds of applications | | | | |
| talking about how they will be the best | | | | So there you have it. Check out the link of |
| person to sell your products. I realize that | | | | any company you'd like to work for, and |
| you don't sell products at all. You sell | | | | literally picture yourself working for them. |
| peace of mind, integrity and commitment. With | | | | Get comfortable with their language, their |
| this in mind, I would like to show you how I | | | | goals, and most importantly, the image of |
| think me and my experience can help you do | | | | yourself being a part of their team, and the |
| this... | | | | job will be yours. |