Defense contractor cover letter tips

http://www.ehow.com/how_2057255_write-cover-letter-defense-job.html 1 Understand the components of an effective cover letter. You need to indicate that you know something about the employing organization. Your cover letter should invite the reader to look at your resume. You should explain why you would be a good candidate for this defense industry job and why you are sending the resume. 2 Write specifically how you learned about the position or the organization. Describe whether you heard about the position from a friend, an advertisement in the paper or on the web. Employers want to know how effective their recruiting is so make sure you mention the website or newspaper by name. 3 Convince the reader to look at your resume. The cover letter should be in a format that is easy to read, and not cluttered with fancy fonts or be too wordy. Your sentences should be clear and to the point. Make sure that the cover letter is directly targeted to that defense job. 4 Call attention to the most important points in your background including your education, experience and any leadership positions you held that are relevant to a position you are seeking. If you currently hold a security clearance, that should also be mentioned. 5 Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm and communication skills in your cover letter. Be as specific as possible; use examples if you have them. 6 Provide any information that you believe to be important that may not be in your resume. 7 Make sure that you include any information about security clearances and veterans status you may have. Defense contractors are veteran friendly. 8 If this defense contractor is working on a project that you have information about, state why you want to work on this project and how you can be an important member of the team. Tips & Warnings Use the name of the Human Resources person that does the hiring, if you can. A phone call to the defense contractor or agency can usually accomplish this for you. Proofread your cover letter and resume. Defense jobs are attention to detail jobs and a careless mistake such as a typo could result in your resume being discarded.

http://www.baseops.net/transition/cover_letters.html

You have an impressive resume, you know how to present yourself well in an interview, you know what kind of position you are best suited for. . .now all you need is a chance to get your foot in the right door. Just what can you do to make that happen? Make sure you write a knockout cover letter, advise career planning specialists. A cover letter is your chance to explain to an employer why he or she should consider you for the job. The best cover letters are specific and give examples that directly relate to the job you are trying to get. Your cover letter is a targeted sales tool which should be tailored to the specific position you are seeking. Check out our latest offer - 100+ Cover Letter Examples for less than $20.

The cover letter is also a good opportunity to show potential employers your writing skills, says Jennie Rothschild, and for those job-seekers whose native language is not English, a chance to show that you are comfortable with the language. Whatever your writing and language skills are, though, make sure that your letter has no mistakes. "Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!" emphasizes Ann Harrell. A cover letter, like most business correspondence, says Ms. Rothschild, has three basic parts: *Paragraph 1, in which you state: who you are; how you heard of the position or the company; why you are writing. "Your goal in this paragraph," says Ann Harrell, "is to convince the reader why you are the only candidate to interview." *Paragraph 2, in which you discuss: why you are interested in the position and/or company; how your qualifications fit the specific skills needed for the job; some specific examples of how your past experience has prepared you to do the job for which you are applying; any other relevant skills, qualities, achievements, and experiences that make you the best candidate for the job. "The second paragraph is your chance to shine," says Ms. Harrell. "Discuss your experiences and skills that match the criteria for the position. If you met your contact through networking, refer to your meeting notes. Use the company information you found if this is a cover letter for a direct mailing." *Paragraph 3, in which you: repeat that you are hoping to be considered for the job; give specific information about your plans to follow up; thank the employer for his or her consideration. "And then be sure to follow through," says Ms. Harrell. When closing, "Sincerely" or "Sincerely Yours" with your typed name and signature will be appropriate. Jennie Rothschild suggests these additional DOs and DON'Ts:DOs... In the first paragraph, name the title of the job for which you are applying and be specific about how you heard about the position or company. Try to find out the name and title of the person who will be able to hire you and use the name, instead of writing "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam." Write the letter based on exactly what the ad or job listing says the employer is looking for; try to give an example from your experience for every qualification listed in the ad. Type the letter and use paper and font that is the same or looks similar to your resume. Don't forget to sign your name. Reread the letter carefully and check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. It's a good idea to have someone else proofread the letter as well. Keep the letter brief--under 1 page. Keep the paragraphs to 2-4 sentences each. Say that you are enclosing a resume. Include your phone number in the last paragraph. Make sure the envelope is clearly and properly addressed. DON'Ts... Send a resume without a cover letter. Discuss salary unless the ad or job listing requires it. Repeat information that appears on the resume, except in the briefest, introductory manner. Generalize about personal qualities or past job titles. Instead, give specifics about your skills and experience. Talk about what the job will do for you. Give unnecessary personal information. Include anything that you will not be able to explain in an interview. Send Xerox copies. Say you will follow up without having a specific plan to do so. Staple or paper clip items. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sample Cover Letters

COVER LETTER 2842 South Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60228 March 12, David C. Johnson Director of Personnel Bank of Chicago 490 Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60222 Dear Mr. Johnson:

The accompanying resume is in response to your listing in the Chicago Tribune for a security officer. I am especially interested in this position because my experience as a senior security professional in the Army has prepared me for a disciplined, secure work environment and the challenges associated with unexpected events. I'm looking forward to using this experience for enhancing the security of a growing and community-conscious bank. I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to discuss how my experience will best meet your needs. My ideas on how to improve your bank's security posture may be of particular interest to you. Therefore, I will call your office on the morning of March 17 to inquire if a meeting can be scheduled at a convenient time. I look forward to meeting you. Sincerely yours, Joyce Peterson

APPROACH LETTER Referral 821 Stevens Points Boston, MA 01990 April 14, Terri Fulton Director of Personnel TRS Corporation 6311 W. Dover Boston, MA 01991 Dear Ms. Fulton: Alice O'Brien suggested that I contact you about my interest in personnel management. She said you are one of the best people to talk to in regard to careers in personnel. I am leaving the U.S. Army after seven years of experience in personnel administration. Because of my positive Army experience, I would like to continue working in a large organization. However, before I venture further into the civilian job market, I would like to benefit from the experience and knowledge of other professionals in the field who might advise me on opportunities for someone with my qualifications. Perhaps we could meet briefly sometime during the next two weeks to discuss my career plans. I have several questions which I believe you could help clarify. I will call your office on Tuesday, April 22, to schedule a meeting time. I look forward to discussing my plans with you.

Sincerely yours, Kristine Kellerman

THANK YOU LETTER Post-Informational Interview 9910 Thompson Drive Cleveland, Ohio 43382 June 21,

Jane Evans, Director Evans Finance Corporation 2122 Forman Street Cleveland, Ohio 43380 Dear Ms. Evans: Your advice was most helpful in clarifying my questions on careers in finance. I am now reworking my resume and have included many of your thoughtful suggestions. I will send you a copy next week. Thanks so much for taking time from your busy schedule to see me. I will keep in contact and follow through on your suggestion to see Sarah Cook about opportunities with the Cleveland-Akron Finance Company. Sincerely, Daryl Haines

THANK YOU LETTER Post-Job Interview 2962 Forrest Drive Denver, Colorado 82171 May 28, Thomas F. Harris Director, Personnel Department Coastal Products Incorporated 7229 Lakewood Drive Denver, Colorado 82170 Dear Mr. Harris: Thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the marketing position. I appreciated your hospitality and enjoyed meeting you and members of your staff. The interview convinced me of how compatible my background, interest, and skills are with the goals of Coastal Products Incorporated. As I mentioned during our conversation, my experience as an Army recruiter has prepared me well for direct sales opportunities both in the U.S. and Germany. I am confident my work for you will result in increased profits within the first two years. For more information on my success as a recruiter, please call Lieutenant Colonel Dave Garrett at 202/726-0132. I talked to Dave this morning and mentioned your interest in this program. I look forward to seeing you again.

Sincerely yours, Thomas Potman

THANK YOU LETTER Job Rejection 564 Court Street

St. Louis, MO 53167 April 29, Ralph Ullman, President S.T. Ayer Corporation 6921 Southern Blvd. St. Louis, MO 53163 Dear Mr. Ullman: I appreciated your consideration for the Research Associate position. While I am disappointed in not being selected, I learned a great deal about your corporation, and I enjoyed meeting with you and your staff. I felt particularly good about the professional manner in which you conducted the interview. Please keep me in mind for future consideration. I have a strong interest in your company. I believe we would work well together. I will be closely following the progress of your company over the coming months. Perhaps we will be in touch at some later date. Best wishes.

Sincerely yours, Martin Tollins

THANK YOU LETTER Job Offer Acceptance 7694 James Court San Francisco, CA 94826 June 7, Judith Greene Vice President West Coast Airlines 2400 Van Ness San Francisco, CA 94829 Dear Ms. Greene: I am pleased to accept your offer, and I am looking forward to joining you and your staff next month. The customer relations position is ideally suited to my background and interests. I assure you I will give you my best effort in making this an effective position within your company. I understand I will begin work on July 7, ______. If, in the meantime, I need to complete any paperwork or take care of any other matters, please contact me at (303) 777-1234. I enjoyed meeting with you and your staff and appreciated the professional manner in which the hiring was conducted. Sincerely, Joan Kilmer

http://www.job.com/job/Law-Enforcement-Security/San-Francisco/Security-Guards-For-Overseas-PositionsNeeded/125769055/ Security Guards For Overseas Positions Needed for International Employment LLC in San Francisco, CA Salary: $178,000 - $216,000 Category: Law Enforcement / Security Posted on: 03/19/2013 Travel Required: 1-10%

Security Clearance: Yes Type: Full-Time Company Type: Private Job Description Security Guards For Overseas Positions. We now have openings for male and female security guards, duties include;Patrol team member, general armed security work. Starting salary = $178, 000 to $216, 000 per year, plus bonuses. A full benefits package that includes;housing, travel allowances, life insurance, health insurance for family members and paid on the job training for applicant training including advanced firearms and advancement to management positions. This is a career that provides great pay, a stable future and is an exciting job working with great people. A sign up bonus is available to all applicants ! ! Apply Today and get started toward a great future. We have openings in the following countries;Brazil, Kuwait, Argentina, Afganistan, Iraq, Panama, Dubai. A Complete Resume Is A Must! The employer that sponsors this ad requires a International Background Report before hiring. Only serious applicants should apply! Job Requirements Armed security guard, Patrol team member Job Benefits Starting salary = $178, 000 to $216, 000 per year, plus bonuses. A full benefits package that includes;housing, travel allowances, life insurance, health insurance for family members and paid on the job training for applicant training including advanced firearms and advancement to management positions.