Cover Letter Tip: “Thank You” Magic

The holiday decorations are down. The carolers have put away their songbooks. A new calendar page awaits your comments and appointments and to-do list. It’s also time to say thank you to everyone who sent you a gift or a card or a cheery e-mail.

It’s also an ideal time to spread your appreciation to your business pursuits and contacts. As you write your cover letter to prospective employers, be sure to tuck in a few words of gratitude for the opportunity to introduce yourself and your skills, even as you ask for an interview for the job you want.

“Gratitude is the rosemary of the heart,”
according to 19th century American writer, Minna Antrim.

Keep in mind that the hiring manager has no obligation to respond to your cover letter. But if you sprinkle your letter with a bit of ‘rosemary’ he or she won’t be able to resist contacting you. Why? Because you will be among the very few who are more concerned with gratitude than greed. You will display your good heart and your interest in others, not just yourself. This small addition to any cover letter will put you in a class by yourself and it will be a signal that you are someone who would be a welcome addition to the company staff.

Some Ways to Say ‘Thank you’ Within Your Cover Letter

Use clear and simple language in your cover letter to convey your appreciation while at the same time displaying your talent and skills for the job you are interested in.

1. Thank you for taking a moment to consider my cover letter and resume. I appreciate how busy you are.

2. I appreciate the time you give to prospective employees such as me. I do not take it for granted.
3. I welcome a chance to talk with you about my skills and your expectations. Thank you for this opportunity to hear about your company and to share how I might fit into your plans.
4. I appreciate the job application guidelines you provided online. I’d like very much the opportunity to express my thanks in person for making it easy to introduce myself and my background and to find out how I can contribute to your company.

Avoid gushing or being sentimental. Focus on clarity and sincerity. You have what it takes to land the job you want. Make gratitude a high priority and you will succeed.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career-related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job-Search Secrets.”

Visit Jimmy on the web at Amazing Cover Letters.com for your ‘instant’ cover letter today. In just 3 ½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!