Mar 12, 2002 06:30 PM
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(Updated Mar 12, 2002 06:46 PM)
Writing an Impressive Covering Letter is very important. But I do not understand one thing. What does a Covering letter cover ? Logically speaking, it carries the main document. Completely analogous to the Carrier Wave in Radio Transmission. In all cases it does not always carry job related documents. Of course, for a country like India, the fact is that thousands of students pass the Matriculation Examination and look for a job, for which they make applications. When they do this they write a Covering Letter.
Assume that everything has worked in your favour, and you are ready to write ( or type ) the Covering Letter. In which language ? It need not be always in English. The use of a particular language depends upon the nature of the main document. What is it ? A Calendar ? A Price List ? A Job Vacancy ? An Information Brochure on Entrance Tests ? Recruitment Notices from Employment Exchanges ? Every language has rules relating to its Grammar and usage.
The language must be concise and clear. There should not be any 'fog' in it. Then the question is what to write. How to begin the letter ? How to close the letter ? How should you salute the receiver ? There are differences between the British pattern and the American pattern. According to the former, a letter is addressed as Dear Sir or Dear Sirs, Dear Mr. so and so or Dear Ms. so and so. But the American usage is less formal. Just one example. In the American usage the letter is closed as 'Sincerely', whereas in the British pattern the letter is closed as ' Yours faithfully '.
The Chicago Manual of Style contains the 'Tricks of the Trade'. It should be around your elbow when you do any correspondence.
To do all these things, you need a good letter head printed in good paper preferably in Black Ink, for use on formal occasions. It projects your image. It does the Public Relations exercise for you. The top left corner should show your identity - your name, designation etc. The top right corner should show your address containing your telephone numbers, fax number, mobile number, if you have one, and your e-mail address, if applicable.
Then the body of the letter. After salutations, begins the main contents of your letter. It should be clear and to the point. In advertising '' The More You Tell, The More You Sell '' might have worked wonders, but in the Covering Letter that principle has just no place. It should be very straight forward in its approach, so that the person/s or organisations to whom it is addressed immediately understands the purpose of the letter.
If you have become lucky, and everything has worked in your favour, you are ready for the next phase. You, instead of writing the letters, receive such letters. Which means you have become somebody after years of work and experience. Good, relax. You have achieved a lot in life. Now you should give your skills to the young people. They will be too happy to receive the same from you either individually or in groups.
After all this is achieved, you should open a Consultancy Organisation, and be a Consultant. Your reputation will spread as a Consultant, who gives useful service to society. So, you have become a Consultant. That's what I am !
