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