‘Outplacement Outtakes’ v.6 – Covering Letter Examples to Help Jon Make a Positive First Impression on Every Application!

As we can all generally attest to, writing about ourselves for ourselves, can be a bit of challenge.  The same was true as we worked through the CMS outplacement program with Jon.  

Jon worked in IT as an End User Support Team Leader with his previous company.  He was well trained in his field and had a long track record in a variety of progressively responsible positions.  

His résumé, once we completed it, was a testament to his career history and his accomplishments.When it came to the marketing component of the program, it became apparent to Jon that he needed to develop customized covering letters depending on the role he applied to and the audience he was writing to.

As part of the CMS program materials that he had access to, Jon was able to see a variety of sample covering letters that he could copy and edit, customizing them for his own job search.

In one particular instance, Jon had learned that his brother’s employer was looking for a new IT Support team member and he wondered how he could use his brother’s influence to get a shot at the job!

The CMS sample letter that he used in this circumstance was one that referenced a mutual acquaintance.  And, with the help of his CMS Program Coach, Jon put together a customized, friendly and professional cover letter that referenced his desire to join the company and the key contributions he could bring to the role – along with his brother’s name as an immediate reference.

As it turned out, Jon was granted an initial interview and made it to the third round, but he ultimately accepted a role with a different organization which was closer to his home and held promise for future advancement.

Nonetheless, having access to the broad spectrum of CMS sample covering letters, which cover almost every situation, was instrumental in helping Jon to strike the right tone, include the required depth of detail, use the proper format, and effectively communicate why he was a good fit for the job in each letter he wrote throughout his career transition.