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[QUOTE=potato38;99853][B]Part II: Writing a Cover Letter[/B]

(Source: [url=http://www.successgogo.com]SuccessGoGo | Southeast Asia's Leading Application Review Platform - Home[/url])

[B]1. Formatting[/B]

Length
Less is More. The recruiter is not expecting an full length essay about your life and your passion for the company. The actual substantive content of your cover letter should not exceed 3 – 4 paragraphs or half a page.

Who to address the letter to
Always address your letter to someone directly. With Google and LinkedIn, there’s no excuse to not be able to find the name of a hiring manager or professional in the department you are applying to.

Format
PDF is recommended. Not every office computer can read your .docx or .pages file, and in many cases there may be formatting issues. Save yourself the hassle and save your cover letter as a PDF.

[B]2. Tone[/B]

Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Look at the company’s website, its publications, its employee profiles (from Google, LinkedIn or your personal network). Do some research beyond reading the job description. Find out what challenges the company is facing and how your role would help address those. Knowing the company better helps you decide on the right tone to use in your cover letter.

Think also about the culture of the organisation you’re applying to. If it’s a creative agency, like a design shop, you might take more risks but if it’s a more conservative organisation, like a bank or law firm, do adopt a business tone.

[B]3. Content[/B]

Now that the basic layout and tone of your Cover Letter have been settled, we come to the most important part: the substantive content. Ensure that you DO NOTsimply repeat your CV. Your cover letter is almost always stapled to your resume and given to your future boss for review. Repeating what is on your CV is not only a waste of words, you come across as lazy and unenthusiastic about the position. Rather, use your cover letter to convey your personality and enthusiasm for the job, and why you would be a great addition to the company.

[U]First Paragraph - Start Strong[/U]
Job applicants typically start by saying "I am applying for the "[position]" that I saw listed on the [source]". This is a total waste of text. Start by saying why this job is exciting, and why you are perfect for the job. For example, being with “I am a corporate lawyer with more than 5 years of experience in Public M&A work and I would love to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to your growing and international team”.

If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, don't be afraid to leverage on it. The job market is highly competitive these days, and you will need to rely on any benefit you can get. Be sure to mention this connection in the first paragraph.

[U]Second Paragraph - Your interest in the company[/U]
Share your interest in the company or industry you are applying to. There are many ways to show your interest in a company. Common methods include (1) sharing a unique personal story that drew you to the company, (2) sharing interesting historical facts about the company that drew you to it (you can source for such information from Google) and (3) sharing an insight into the industry trends and challenges facing the company.

Our favourite is the third option. For example, if you are applying to Apple, talk about how the launch of the first iPhone 10 years ago has truly changed the world (apps like Uber would never have taken off without the iPhone), and if the past 10 years are any indication, the next 10 years would truly blow our minds away. If you are applying to SPH, talk about how mobile devices and social media has fundamentally changed how people get their news, and then go on to propose an idea to address this, perhaps by reducing the length of content to cater to reduced attention spans, covering exciting topics that appeal to the millennial crowd, or to be more mobile friendly and encourage sharing on social media.

Not only does this demonstrate that you understand the industry well, it also shows that your have spent time actively thinking about the company's role in their industry, and how to tackle challenges facing the company.

[U]Third Paragraph - How can you help the company[/U]
In the third paragraph, discuss how your skills and experience can help the company. Again, do NOT simply repeat whatever is stated in your CV. Either (1) pick out specific experiences or (2) chart the broad outline of your working/academic reference, and then link this back to the question of how you would be a strong addition to the company.

[U]Last Paragraph - Close the deal[/U]
Close strong and sum up how your passion, experience and skills will be of great use to the company. This will serve as your closer, and should not be longer then 1 to 2 sentences. If they need more details about you, they will ask you at the interview.[/QUOTE]

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29-08-2017 11:12 PM
potato38	Part II: Writing a Cover Letter (Source: SuccessGoGo \| Southeast Asia's Leading Application Review Platform - Home) 1. Formatting Length Less is More. The recruiter is not expecting an full length essay about your life and your passion for the company. The actual substantive content of your cover letter should not exceed 3 – 4 paragraphs or half a page. Who to address the letter to Always address your letter to someone directly. With Google and LinkedIn, there’s no excuse to not be able to find the name of a hiring manager or professional in the department you are applying to. Format PDF is recommended. Not every office computer can read your .docx or .pages file, and in many cases there may be formatting issues. Save yourself the hassle and save your cover letter as a PDF. 2. Tone Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Look at the company’s website, its publications, its employee profiles (from Google, LinkedIn or your personal network). Do some research beyond reading the job description. Find out what challenges the company is facing and how your role would help address those. Knowing the company better helps you decide on the right tone to use in your cover letter. Think also about the culture of the organisation you’re applying to. If it’s a creative agency, like a design shop, you might take more risks but if it’s a more conservative organisation, like a bank or law firm, do adopt a business tone. 3. Content Now that the basic layout and tone of your Cover Letter have been settled, we come to the most important part: the substantive content. Ensure that you DO NOTsimply repeat your CV. Your cover letter is almost always stapled to your resume and given to your future boss for review. Repeating what is on your CV is not only a waste of words, you come across as lazy and unenthusiastic about the position. Rather, use your cover letter to convey your personality and enthusiasm for the job, and why you would be a great addition to the company. First Paragraph - Start Strong Job applicants typically start by saying "I am applying for the "[position]" that I saw listed on the [source]". This is a total waste of text. Start by saying why this job is exciting, and why you are perfect for the job. For example, being with “I am a corporate lawyer with more than 5 years of experience in Public M&A work and I would love to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to your growing and international team”. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, don't be afraid to leverage on it. The job market is highly competitive these days, and you will need to rely on any benefit you can get. Be sure to mention this connection in the first paragraph. Second Paragraph - Your interest in the company Share your interest in the company or industry you are applying to. There are many ways to show your interest in a company. Common methods include (1) sharing a unique personal story that drew you to the company, (2) sharing interesting historical facts about the company that drew you to it (you can source for such information from Google) and (3) sharing an insight into the industry trends and challenges facing the company. Our favourite is the third option. For example, if you are applying to Apple, talk about how the launch of the first iPhone 10 years ago has truly changed the world (apps like Uber would never have taken off without the iPhone), and if the past 10 years are any indication, the next 10 years would truly blow our minds away. If you are applying to SPH, talk about how mobile devices and social media has fundamentally changed how people get their news, and then go on to propose an idea to address this, perhaps by reducing the length of content to cater to reduced attention spans, covering exciting topics that appeal to the millennial crowd, or to be more mobile friendly and encourage sharing on social media. Not only does this demonstrate that you understand the industry well, it also shows that your have spent time actively thinking about the company's role in their industry, and how to tackle challenges facing the company. Third Paragraph - How can you help the company In the third paragraph, discuss how your skills and experience can help the company. Again, do NOT simply repeat whatever is stated in your CV. Either (1) pick out specific experiences or (2) chart the broad outline of your working/academic reference, and then link this back to the question of how you would be a strong addition to the company. Last Paragraph - Close the deal Close strong and sum up how your passion, experience and skills will be of great use to the company. This will serve as your closer, and should not be longer then 1 to 2 sentences. If they need more details about you, they will ask you at the interview.
19-08-2017 07:01 PM
potato38	How to get a Job in Singapore Hi Guys! In this multi-part guide, we will be giving you some tips on getting a job in Singapore (Source: SuccessGoGo \| Southeast Asia's Leading Application Review Platform - Home) Part One: Commonly Asked Interview Questions These are the essence of commonly asked questions at job interviews. You should ensure that you have prepared and rehearsed your responses to these questions before your interview. About you Tell me about yourself. (Give a short introduction about your academic qualifications and your key working experiences. Be prepared to address tricky questions about a bad grade or gap in your CV.) What attracts you to a career in this industry? What are your hobbies / interests? Employer Why did you apply to this company / department? (Specific reasons, rather than vague or general reasons, show that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the role) What makes you qualified for this specific role / Why should we hire you (This is perhaps the most important question of the interview. A convincing answer would include explaining to your interviewer your specific accomplishments and experiences, and how these experiences clearly demonstrate that you possess the relevant skills required for the job.) What do you think this job entails? What other positions have you applied to? (A candid answer is recommended. A good answer illustrates a clear strategy in your application.) Knowledge / Experience Market and Technical Knowledge (This depends on the specific job that you are applying to. Ample preparation is key and never pretend that you know something that you don’t. In those situations, you can highlight a similar experience that you have which demonstrates transferable skills.) Tell me about your internship with XYZ? (The best candidates tailor their answer to showcase a relevant skill they have gained through the specific internship that can now be applied for the current job. Do not speak badly about your ex-employers.) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? For more experienced candidates: Why did you leave your previous job? What was your last drawn salary? What is your expected remuneration? Working Style What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you handle stress? Do you work well in a team? What are your expectations as to working environment / working hours? Parting Words Do you have any questions? (This is an opportunity to show that you have researched your employer. Good questions include questions about a major deal the company clinched recently, broad industry trends or company culture.)

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