General Cover Letters Don’t Work
Hiring authorities do not want to receive a cover letter or resume that was obviously mass mailed.
Your cover letter as well as your resume should be customized to fit the opportunity and company you have targeted. Your career summary should be keyword rich to avoid being eliminated by automated systems. Only target jobs that require your credentials and interests vs. applying to any and every lead you surface. It is best to target the individual who would be your bosses’ boss.
When applying to job boards and website postings, too often your resume seems to end up in a deep black hole. It is for this reason that a hard copy sent to an individual is a great backup plan. You have much better chance of scheduling an interview when you get your resume in the hands of a hiring authority vs. the human resource department. You can often find this contact information on a website where the key people are listed or LinkedIn is another great source. It is well worth the time invested to make sure your targeted resume and cover letter actually gets in the hands of a decision maker.
Actually mailing your resume in a large envelope will get the attention of the hiring authority. It is more likely to be opened and at least reviewed. Too many people take the easy way and just mass email resumes and cover letters.
This plan definitely results in more interviews, but there is the additional challenge to track your job search activities. Track which version of your cover letter and resume you send to each particular employer.
Remember, finding a job IS your job if you are unemployed. You need to use the same tactics and organizational skills you used in your earlier career.
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Michael Greig was absolutely fantastic in every way! 
