Chapter 10

Broadcast Letters to Employers

Broadcast letters are, by definition, distributed to many employers. Thus, they are less focused. Format may appear similar to other letters, and it is most important to have the company name appear prominently early. While less company-specific information is contained, you must still show readers that you know the organization's name and the nature of their business. Be aware that quantity of letters is not as crucial as the quality of content. Broadcast letters can be good first efforts and momentum builders, if you maintain appropriate expectations and follow up effectively.

Administrative Assistant

June 1, 200-

TO: Pat Cummings, Any Medical Office
SUBJECT: Administrative Assistant Position

Are you currently in need of an administrative assistant with over a decade of experience and a commitment to supporting the needs of patients and supervisors and to working effectively with peers? If yes, please review the attached resume and consider my candidacy for a position with Any Company.

Summarizing, the qualifications I offer include:

•  Skills and perspectives gained through progressively responsible administrative roles.

•  Abilities to prioritize tasks and complete tasks accurately and on time in deadline-sensitive settings.

•  Professionalism required to address concerns of patients and clients while maintaining office efficiency.

•  Flexibility required to transform instructions and feedback of diverse supervisors into projects completed independently and thoroughly.

•  Capacities to use, support, and train others to use Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Access, and FileMaker Pro.

As detailed on my attached resume, I have worked in a hospital setting, where I learned all critical terminology, how to address specialized billing and support issues, and what is required to support the needs of physicians, nurses, and health-care practitioners. I now am actively seeking the opportunity to return to a challenging and rewarding medical setting. I do hope that it is with Any Medical Office. I will call to confirm receipt of this letter, to determine if you have current or anticipated openings, and, if you wish, to arrange an interview. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Admissions and Enrollment Manager

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Pat Cummings
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Any School
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345

Dear Ms. Cummings:

I trust the enclosed resume, specifically the Admissions Achievements section, highlights my qualifications for an admissions and enrollment management position. Within my professional capacities, I have held titles of Senior Assistant Director and Director of International Recruitment, as well as Assistant Director and Counselor. I have successfully worked in recruitment, candidate assessment, yield, and retention. Now, I seek enhanced roles and responsibilities and challenges at Any School.

With the assistance of colleagues, I doubled the number of international candidates completing applications and interviews and those receiving offers to enroll at Seton Hall University. The key to successful recruitment has been promoting the educational, cocurricular, and employment assets of undergraduate programs, while providing candidates exceptional and personal customer service and advising. Well-informed applicants, generated through extensive outreach, are the cornerstone of any successful admissions undertaking. Admissions and enrollment management success is a function of sharing knowledge of and passion for undergraduate education with local, regional, national, and international applicants.

My in-depth knowledge of admissions, enrollment strategies, and processes, along with my appreciation for how academic, athletic, cocurricular, and residential communities can be marketed, make me an enthusiastic and, I trust, qualified candidate for a position at Any School. I hope to build upon my experiences at Seton Hall and Rutgers at your school. I would be pleased if I could elaborate on my past experience and future ambitions through an interview; perhaps next week's AAAP convention would be a good time for us to talk. I will inquire soon to confirm your receipt of this letter, to learn if you are currently expanding your operation, and to identify appropriate next steps. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Advertising Intern

Fax from Chris Smith
123 Any Street
City, ST 12345
(555) 555-5555
csmith@email.com

Recruitment Coordinator
Any Advertising
456 Any Street
City ST 12345
FAX (555) 555-5557

I would very much like to interview for an internship at Any Agency. While a typical cover letter might list qualities and refer you to an enclosed resume (as this one will do), I trust that upon review of my resume and this letter, and after we meet, you will conclude that I am not a “typical candidate.”

Honestly, prior to the completion of my active career exploration, I thought all jobs in the field required individuals to be “creative in an artistic way.” Having done my homework, I now know that account management interns and professionals must be “imaginative in a business and project-focused manner” and able to inspire creativity in others. As a founding father of advertising once said, “The consumer isn't a moron; she is your wife. You insult her intelligence if you assume that a mere slogan and a few vapid adjectives will persuade her to buy anything. She wants all the information you can give her.” I do not wish to insult your intelligence, but I do seek the opportunity to give you all the information I can through an interview.

At first, I can present my qualifications and motivations via this letter and attached resume. After, through telephone interviews, I can answer any questions you have and support my candidacy for an internship at Any Agency. I plan to be in New York during spring break, in mid-March. If an in-person interview is required, we could meet then. Should you wish to communicate with me, please do so via the e-mail or phone above. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Chiropractor

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Pat Cummings
Managing Partner
Any Practice
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345
FAX (555) 555-5557

Dear Mr. Cummings:

I am a certified chiropractor currently exploring affiliations with established practices. As cited on my attached resume, I have worked in the Chicago area for over twenty years and, as a result, my reputation for quality care is well known. While I am confident your practice can offer me much, I do offer much in return.

Currently, I work as a chiropractic therapist with the Chicago Chiropractic Center, a position I have held for the past fifteen years. In this capacity, I provide spinal manipulation and handle necessary musculoskeletal needs of sports-injury patients, alleviate pain in elderly and work-related patients, and assist the industrial-accident-injured in regaining strength and stamina.

Like you and your Any Practice colleagues, I am an active member of the American Chiropractic Association, Illinois Chiropractic Society, Chicago Chiropractic Society, and the Sports Injury Council of the American Chiropractic Association. Perhaps we could discuss my desire to join your practice during the upcoming Illinois State ACA conference here in Chicago?

I look forward to hearing from you if my qualifications are of interest to you. Please feel free to e-mail or call via the information above and on my resume.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Credit Manager

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Pat Cummings
Director
Any Company
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345

Dear Mr. Cummings:

I am seeking a position as credit manager, to which I bring many years of successful credit-management experience. Ideally, you and your colleagues are in need of someone to oversee credit operations, motivate credit professionals, and train those involved in this crucial area.

During the past ten years, as credit manager with a $20 million manufacturing and distribution firm, I have successfully set up and enforced credit controls, resulting in reducing DSO from 60 days to 33. I am continually involved in training personnel in credit and collection policies and procedures, troubleshooting and resolving sales and customer disputes, and making credit and collection decisions to reduce bad-debt risk and increase cash flow. Now, as I prepare to relocate to your area, I remain enthusiastic that I can find an exciting and challenging new employer and continue an accomplishment-filled career.

Based on my past contributions to the credit profession, I received recognition through NACM New England as Credit Executive of the Year in 2000 and was elected the president of the same professional credit association for the 2002-2003 term.

I look forward to hearing from you if you have a suitable position available or if you have any referrals. While I would welcome consideration for employment with Any Company, I would appreciate your suggestions regarding others I should contact in the area. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Freight Supervisor

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Human Resources
Any Corporation
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345
FAX (555) 555-5557

During the past thirteen years, I have been actively involved in positions as field manager of container operations and night operations supervisor of freight stations and service centers, dealing with domestic and international freight deliveries. Now I seek to continue my career as a freight supervisor, ideally with Any Corporation.

In addition to supervising day-to-day operations, my experience encompasses hiring, training, and supervising drivers, office, and support personnel, as well as providing cost-effective, quality service within a multiple service network. All my previously held positions and references are listed on the attached resume. You will also find enclosed a letter of recommendation written by one of my freight and transportation colleagues. After you review these supporting documents, you will see that I have sound knowledge of computer systems for freight movement management. I am also clearly skilled in both troubleshooting and resolving problems related to the movement of materials and to the personnel who make these activities possible.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss whether Any Corporation has a need for someone with my background and whether you would be willing to consider me for immediate or future employment. Please feel free to contact me through the information above. I will, of course, call the human resource office to confirm your receipt of this fax (originals to follow by mail) and to confirm the appropriate person to contact directly. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Marketing/Sales Executive

Date: June 1, 200-
From: csmith@email.com
To: pcummings@email.com
Subject: Marketing/Sales Candidate

TO: Pat Cummings, Chief Account Executive
RE: Marketing and Sales Position

As you will see when you review the attached resume, I am a seasoned marketing and sales professional seeking to join an aggressive young firm like Any Corporation. Through telephone or in-person interviews, I can share my extensive experience and achievements in marketing, business development, and product management at national and international levels.

During an interview, I will describe how my past successes, described below, required skills that will lead to future achievements with Any Corporation. My sales and marketing accomplishments to date include:

•  Developing sales programs and new businesses to increase penetration, market share, and revenue using advanced, technically sophisticated systems-management services.

•  Participating in development and marketing teams for new service products for a service business generating $3.7 billion worldwide.

•  Assuming profit-and-loss responsibility for an added-value services business generating $90 million.

•  Establishing a record for producing positive bottom-line results in a high-tech, service-oriented business with worldwide markets.

I am well qualified to direct areas that are key to achieving your sales and profit objectives. If you have such a position open, I look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me in care of the information below. I will, as any good salesperson should, follow up this e-mail with a phone call and assess your interest in arranging an interview. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Chris Smith
123 Any Street
City, ST 12345
(555) 555-5555
csmith@email.com

Optics Researcher

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Pat Cummings
Any Corporation
456 Any Street
City ST 12345

Dear Mr. Cummings:

My postgraduate objective is to begin a career in optical engineering research at Any Corporation. Relevant courses in optics, mathematics, and physics, as well as my co-op and related experience, have enabled me to develop related practical skills and perspectives. These include:

•  Knowledge of optical engineering theory and its application.

•  Skills gained through optics, chemistry, imaging systems, and physics courses and laboratories.

•  Product management skills, including the ability to identify a client's problems, implement solutions, and produce a desired end product.

•  Quality-control experience including ISO and scratch/dig standards attained through work experience, technical courses, customers, and suppliers.

•  Experience representing a company by interfacing with potential customers at a national trade show.

•  Proficiency in applications including Matlab, Photoshop, MathCAD, Mathematica, MS Office Suite Applications, Explorer, and Netscape.

As noted on the attached resume, I will be graduating in December from the University of Rochester. I have experience working as a researcher and as an optical engineer. Specifically through my experience at Sine Patterns, I developed qualifications applicable to Any Company, including:

•  Ability to operate microlithography and photographic equipment.

•  Capacity to transform stated needs of customers into completed products including optical masks, resolution charts, reticles, and custom film.

•  Knowledge of product management and quality-control issues.

•  Specialized skills associated with team and independent tasks and projects.

Because I will be available to start immediately after receipt of my degree, around January 1, I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to speak with you soon regarding your anticipated hiring needs. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Project Manager

Date: June 1, 200-
From: csmith@email.com
To: pcummings@email.com
Subject: Project Manager Position

As a program manager interested in establishing connections with a new, up-and-coming firm, I submit the attached resume for your review. The qualifications presented on my resume include over twelve years' managing experience with Ricochet Data. In this capacity, I developed and coordinated short-and long-range plans for designing and introducing four new microcomputers. I also created master charts to track major milestones and critical-path activities, directed a management task force to develop a set of work instructions for introducing outsourced products, and reduced product time to market by 25 percent. Thus, my project management achievements are well documented. Through an interview, I can share my potential to contribute to Any Company's manufacturing, marketing, operations, and distribution efforts.

My experience in retail management might also be of interest. While employed at Lorenz Company, I generated gross annual sales in excess of $2 million for four consecutive years, managed a sales and service team of twenty people, and provided superior customer service and support. Academically, I earned my bachelor's degree while employed, without negatively impacting my performance in any way. I also completed numerous project-management training seminars, all noted on my resume, and related cases and projects. I welcome the chance to discuss these with an appropriate Any Company representative by phone or in person. Should my qualifications match your current or anticipated needs, I hope to hear from you. Please use the information below if you wish additional information or if you want to schedule a formal interview or informal conversation.

Sincerely,
Chris Smith
123 Any Street
City, ST 12345
(555) 555-5555
csmith@email.com

Senior Vice President, Banking

Chris Smith

123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200-

Pat Cummings
President
Any Bank
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345
FAX (555) 555-5557

Dear Ms. Cummings:

As you know through our regular interactions as members of the Missouri Bankers Association, I am currently a senior vice president at Central St. Louis Bank. The recent acquisition of CSB necessitates my communicating with other financial institutions, actively seeking consideration for a Senior Vice President position. Highlighting what is detailed on the attached resume, my qualifications and capabilities include:

•  Fifteen years of diverse experience, ranging from acting branch manager and district manager to senior vice president.

•  Supervision of all internal departments, including sales and account development, human resources, customer relations and customer service, and product and sales support.

•  Responsibility for an increase in new business by 25 percent in one year through extensive interface with clients, decision-makers, and support personnel.

Although my present position is challenging, and I have a record of success within these capacities, my future is with another organization, like Any Bank. Ideally, my next position will address both national and international banking markets and will call upon me to continue an accomplishment-filled career as a leader, motivator, and achiever. Let's discuss your reaction to my request for consideration.

I look forward to hearing from you if an appropriate opportunity is currently available or if you anticipate one becoming available in the near future. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith