Cover Letters for Dummies [Paperback]

Joyce Lain Kennedy (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies | Publication Date: May 2, 1996

Are you in a rut, writing the same boring letter over and over? Have you sent out hundreds of cover letters and have yet to land quality job interviews? Are you tired of being ignored? You're not alone!

In today's tough job market, you have only a few seconds to distinguish yourself from the crowd with a single piece of paper. Cover Letters For Dummies is your essential reference for creating a "RedHot" letter that won't get tossed in the trash!

Starting with the basics, this fun and friendly guide helps you structure a solid letter with an opening line that demands attention. Filled with helpful tips, techniques, and advice, this book shows you how to inquire about a specific position, request more information about a company, ask for an interview, and address salary issues. With dozens of examples of letter writing do's and don'ts at your fingertips, you're ready to tackle the daunting job hunting process with confidence!

Inside, discover how to:

• Create a specific letter to answer ads, approach recruiters, request information, and more
• Determine your employability, transferable skills, and technical skills by using the "JobSeekers Skills Finder"
• Ace the "Cover Letter Anatomy Quiz" so you know where each part of the letter belongs
• Use good grammar, power phrases, and buzzwords effectively in your letter
• Address difficult issues like negative references and salary requirements
• Utilize electronic and computer resources to research salary issues and company profiles
• Wrap up your letter with style and secure the interview!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Glittering advice plus great classic and cyberspace cover letters-the best of the cover letter books. -- Rick Miller, CEO, CareerCast, Inc.

Her distinguished career...has placed her leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. -- Bob Calvert, Jr., Career Opportunities News

If all new college graduates had a Joyce Lain Kennedy to guide them...there would...be fewer unfocused, frazzled, jobless people. -- Dr. Drema K. Howard, Director, Career Resource Center, University of Southern Florida

If all new college graduates had a Joyce Lain Kennedy to guide them...there would certainly be fewer unfocused, frazzled, jobless people. -- Dr. Drema K. Howard, Director, Career Resource Center, University of Southern Florida

Joyce Lain Kennedy is at the top of her field. -- Richard L. Knowdell, CEO of Career Planning and Adult Development Network --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Discover how to:

Follow the new rules for e-mail cover letters Craft a letter that says you're a hot hire Showcase your best skills Grab attention with a great opening line Use action words that get results --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (May 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156884395X
• ISBN-13: 978-1568843957
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,005,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joyce Lain Kennedy is a nationally syndicated careers columnist appearing in newspapers and on Web sites across the country. The author of seven career management books, she has more than 30 years of experience in the career field.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too red-hot!, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cover Letters for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is chock full of cutesy icons and useless advice. The author spends far too much time touting her previous book (resumes for dummies) and dispensing annoying catch phrases as opposed to giving solid writing tips. We've recieved letters like those featured in the book and dumped them directly in the trash. Unless you are applying for a sales job at a used car lot, don't bother using the letters in this book.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars We do not need an entire book on cover letters, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cover Letters for Dummies (Paperback)

While the companion volume, "Resumes for dummies" is excellent and well worth your time and money, this book does not justify itself. It could easily have been condensed into a few chapters and added to the resumes volume. "Resumes AND cover letters for dummies" would have made sense. I bought the resumes volume and am glad I did. I spent an entire weekend reading it and picking up excellent hints that dramtically improved my resume. I was able to peruse this book in 30 minutes at the bookstore, however. If you know how to write a simple business letter, you do not need this book. Definitely get the resumes volume, though.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous job hunting resource, December 6, 2000

By 

Joe Buchberger (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cover Letters for Dummies (Paperback)

This is not just a book on cover letters; it's a wealth of knowledge on the entire job-hunting process. Joyce Lain Kennedy has put together a tremendous resource for the current or soon to be job hunter, which is really most of us.

I know people scoff at Dummies books, especially for highly technical subjects, but this book is the perfect format for the vast collection of job-hunting facts, ideas and wisdom in this book. The author does an excellent job of presenting a lot of material in a way that is clear, entertaining and extremely readable.

I highly recommend this book, and liked it so much I went out and bought her other two books, Resumes' and Job Interviews for Dummies, which I will be reviewing as I finish them.