Re: Testing

[Rick Lippincott <RJLIPPINCOTT -at- DELPHI -dot- COM>]

Karen had some questions as a follow-up to my example about sending a cover
letter that I'd written, vs. the "professional ghost writer."

1. Did I get my job through the Sunday ads? I was just using that as an
example, but oddly enough I -did- find my current job by answering an ad in
the Boston Globe's Sunday Help Wanted section. I know that this is -not- the
way we're supposed to find jobs any more. I used every resource available,
and it just happened that the Sunday paper was the one that clicked in this
case.

2. How do you slant a cover letter if you don't know the company? Many of
the display ads contain some discriptive info about the company, and if I've
got some particular experience that matches with the company or product
line, I bring that out. I look at the qualifications/requirements in the ad,
and respond point by point from my own background. "Your ad calls for
someone familiar with all phases of desktop publishing. At my previous
employer, we were required to chop down the trees and drag them to the paper
mill....etc."

3. What if you don't even know who the company is? Those are the toughest
ones, I didn't have to face that as often as most of the ads in the Boston
papers gave company names. I'd just look for whatever I could get. Again,
I'd look at what they wanted, and try to match it against my background.

I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, but it bears repeating: my callback
rate on resumes went up dramatically when I switched from a boilerplate
cover letter to one that clearly showed I'd read the ad, and thought about
it for a few minutes before responding.

Rick Lippincott
Eaton Semiconductor
Beverly, MA
rjlippincott -at- delphi -dot- com