Best Cover Letter Tips for Networking

Creative Cover Letter Help Just for You

Cover letter tips from Jimmy Sweeney offer cover letter help for crafting creative best cover letter solutions...

In his latest book, Jimmy Sweeney, an expert in job hunting techniques using resumes and cover letters, describes how you can use cover letters as a networking tool in finding and pursuing possible job opportunities. I think you'll find what he has to say is fascinating and innovative.

I have to say these are some of the best cover letter tips—or at least the most creative ones—that I've seen in my quest to provide top notch cover letter help for you. So I hope you enjoy them!

Powerful Networking with a Cover Letter

You are not asking for a job but rather their assistance in connecting you with people and opportunities.

A networking cover letter is the "vehicle" you can use to open up a new world of opportunity by tapping into other peoples' contacts, connections, and knowledge.

Tap into your network immediately and produce quality job leads for yourself right away. Create your own list from these available sources:

• Friends
• Friends of friends
• Family
• Current and former coworkers
• Members of professional organizations
• Your spouse
• ... and everyone in between

Use your imagination to develop a master networking list of contacts to whom you can email and snail mail your networking cover letter.

Networking letters should be friendly and professional. You can find and model templates online.

Tips for Networking:
Keep your cover letter brief and summarize your strengths in the middle of the letter using numbered lists or bullet points. Make sure to clearly ASK for job leads and referrals.

In most cases I suggest you attach your resume, as well. Don't be afraid to make a few phone calls to key contacts as part of your overall networking strategy. Always remember to say thank you and to follow up on a regular basis.

Networking is one of the golden strategies of a successful job search and a networking cover letter can greatly expand your reach in any career field.

Remember, if one contact can't help you out, make sure to ask them if they can refer you to another one of THEIR contacts who can!

NOTE: OK, so the networking cover letter might not be the best cover letter for everyone, but I still think it's a great idea for some of us! Keep reading for even more cover letter tips you can use...

The All-In-One Resume Cover Letter

The resume cover letter is also perfect for networking... or it can make a terrific follow-up letter. It is brief by design, and therefore can be used successfully when working with recruiters, headhunters, and agencies where brevity is so important.

It allows the reader to scan one document quickly as opposed to reading the traditional two-piece job application containing both the cover letter and resume.

Creating your own resume cover letter is easy: you are condensing and combining the key elements of your cover letter and resume to create one document called the "resume cover letter." I recommend the use of bullet points to list the highlights of your resume while staying with the format of a cover letter throughout.

I also recommend keeping your networking cover letter to one page in length, two pages absolute maximum. Otherwise you are defeating the purpose of using this type of letter.

Use a resume cover letter anytime you'd like to keep your communications brief, but want to display the highlights of your resume, as well.

Final thought: I believe networking alone can provide YOU the strongest chance for landing a job you love. Tap into YOUR network today!

For more sample resume and cover letter tips like these, you should check out our free gift from Jimmy Sweeney on this page.

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