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One of the most difficult commodities to sell is YOURSELF. To many, having to convince people that you are the absolute best choice does not come easily. However, at no point in your lifetime is it more important to think like a top-notch salesperson and start selling the benefits of YOU.
Imagine that you’re considering the purchase of a major appliance, what would be the important factors to you in making the decision on what you buy. Reliability? Price? Features? Versatility? Service?
It’s simple to make the transition from thinking about the key factors for you in making any purchase and how an employer thinks in making a hiring decision.
Start with the specifics of the job description, responsibilities and background qualifications. Those will give you the basis for the information you need to focus on including in your resume and cover letter. For each point, describe how you can meet the needs of the decision maker. For example, if they’re looking for someone with worker’s compensation experience, don’t simply say that you have experience in the area. Detail the years of experience that you have in comp, the actual number of files that you’ve handled and the trials/hearings that you’ve handled on your own.
Consider doing a summary like this in your cover letter.
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Your Requirement
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My Experience
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(Use each point in the job description)
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Extensive experience in handling product liability cases for major insurers.
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Acted as first chair in over 15 product liability cases for the following carriers:
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Don’t expect that potential employers will be able to read between the lines and figure out how you can benefit the organization. You have to tell them specifically and then tell them again. While the “hard-sell” approach may not always the best, egotistically focusing on the benefits that you can bring to an employer should be conveyed in a direct manner.
If you have references that can attest to your experience and skills in a particular area, don’t hesitate to quote them in your cover letter, providing their contact information.
In determining interview schedules, hiring personnel are looking for the candidates who can articulate in print that they can provide benefit and are worth the interview. Remember with your resume and cover letter, all that you want the hiring person to buy is giving you an interview.
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