Tips@work is a monthly feature of job-related topics that include tips from men and women working in different fields who share what they've learned along the way. THIS MONTHS TOPIC: > Achieving a work-life balanace PREVIOUS TOPICS COVERED: > Transitioning effectively from one job to another > E-mail etiquette > Managing first days on a new job > Tapping into the hidden job market > Challenging Interview Questions > Impress in interviews > Question Time > Reducing job interview anxiety > Re-entering the workforce > Effective cover letters

On the Job is a weekly column profiling various employment options in Nova Scotia.

THIS WEEKS FEATURED CAREER:
> PARAMEDICS

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For more career options, check out Nova Scotia Education Department Career Options website.

Welcome to the first Tips@Work column -- a monthly feature tackling job-related topics. This time, our focus is effective cover letter writing. I say our, because while the byline is mine, the column is based on tips from women and men working in different fields who are willing to share what they've learned along the way.

• A cover letter is in essence the opportunity in 150-200 words to entice your prospective employer to read the remainder of your resume. Make it compelling to peak their interest.
  Jyl MacKinnon Crowell
  Director, Annual Giving
  Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation
  

• You want the reader to understand that you, as a potential employee, get the vision. For a restaurant position that means researching industry trends as well as the restaurant that you are applying to -- the number of awards they've won, the type of cuisine they provide, and where they've come in the past say five years.
  Gary MacDonald
  Restaurant Manager
  The Five Fishermen and Little Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar
  

• A cover letter is your opportunity to encapsulate your professional experience and qualifications and show the employer why you are the best fit for the position. It needs to be well-written and unique. Keep in mind that the employer will see a lot of cover letters, and in about four paragraphs you need to show why you are a professional fit for the organization.
  Krista Grant
  Communications Advisor
  Department of Community Services
  

• A good cover letter should do more than highlight your talent, skills and attributes; it should demonstrate how well those will meet the demands of the position for which you are applying. Don't leave the employer to do all the work connecting the dots.
  Gerry Martin
  Executive Director
  Centre for Women in Business
  

• In a sense, you're trying to honestly match your personal brand with the brand of the company. 1. Research the company and the opportunity. 2. Identify something about your personality and skill set that fits with the organization. 3. When writing the cover letter, point out something about the organization and opportunity that matches your personality.
  Roger Seward
  President
  ThreeTon
  

• You only get one chance to make a first impression. Too often cover letters arrive with improper formatting, incorrect dates, and typos. This tells your potential employer that you are not detail-oriented and that you do not care about the impression you make. Please proof your work!
  Sherri Turner
  Human Resources Manager - Kentville
  OLS (On-Line Support)
  

• When I sit down to write a cover letter for a particular position I act as though I am solution selling. I use the exact descriptive words used in the job posting to prove I understand what the company is looking for and to demonstrate how my skills are a perfect fit. I also try to keep the letter as brief and concise as possible without leaving out any important information.
  Gwen Butler
  Home Improvement Advisor
  Windows Plus Home Improvements