Written Collateral COMPONENTS

Clear and consistent positioning  of your candidacy must be built into all you do to market yourself effectively, in order to achieve top-of-mind consideration from the marketplace.  The litmus test is whether or not your materials carry the message of your communication strategy in meeting the needs of the person or organization to whom you have written.  Your targeted employment opportunity should be treated like an RFP, assuring the following elements of GREAT written collaterals; First, an effective OPENING...

1. USE A STRONG OPENING… Be straight forward and assertive with letting your reader know WHY you are writing.
2. ALWAYS INCORPORATE YOUR KEY STRENGTHS… Like your resume, your supportive correspondence should reflect a compelling message, based on your strengths that meet an organization’s needs. If you have researched and networked your way toward a particular opportunity, you should be able to "echo" your abilities relative to their needs.

One example, from a very common piece of correspondence: Your response to a classified ad.

WEAK: Please consider me for your sales representative openings.

STRONGER SUGGESTION: I’ve read recently of your need for a top producing Sales Representative in the Dallas marketplace. It seems an excellent match for my recent three year track as a #1 ranked, multi-million dollar account representative.

• ALWAYS INCORPORATE YOUR KEY STRENGTHS… This point bears repeating.  Your written collaterals should reflect a compelling message, based on your strengths that meet the needs of any potential employers. If you have researched and networked your way toward a particular opportunity, you should be able to "echo" your abilities relative to their needs.
• TAKE DUE CREDIT WITHOUT OVERUSING THE WORD "I"… Your "letter of introduction" or a "cover note" for your resume is not an autobiography. Focus in on meeting needs or requirements. Specifically, minimize the use of the "I word" in beginning your sentences. Third-party statements can create credibility.
• USE YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT YOUR RESUME… NOT DUPLICATE IT! Your written collaterals can be designed around compelling examples of your strengths—little mini-stories to prove your worth from actual experience and results.

In a LETTER, you should have the opportunity to introduce or reinforce three key strengths from your actual experience.  They can be distilled from the accomplishment statements within your resume.  In the case of a cover NOTE, you can reinforce one key bit of information, thus drawing the reader's attention to your complete resume.

For example, in tabular form…

A well written LETTER of Introduction or Referral LETTER serves to script the first few minutes of your follow-up phone call, establishing an efficient bridge to your new contact.

• PRACTICE POLITENESS, making mutual respect for their time and attention a valued commodity. Proper protocol, here, can pave the way for high quality relationship building.
• CLOSE WITH A CALL FOR SPECIFIC ACTION AND YOUR CONTROL OF THE FOLLOW-UP… Instead of mass mailings where you request response, personalize your attention to the detail of follow up.

For example:

-OR-

I would appreciate your time in a personal conversation. I will follow up with you soon to answer any immediate questions you may have. Should you have more immediate needs, do not hesitate to call me directly at 555-555-5555.

Waypoints...                    Overview | Components | Templates

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