Chapter 4

Cover Letters to Employment Agencies and Search Professionals

THE COVER LETTER PHRASES IN THIS CHAPTER are directed to employment agencies and search professionals.

Employment agencies most often deal with temporary, temp-to-perm, or entry-level opportunities. In truth, they don't find jobs for people, they find candidates for jobs posted with them. Search professionals, or headhunters as they are called, regularly source candidates and they also seek retainer or contingency relationships with potential employers. Once employers post, these professionals screen information from candidates to determine those who match. Most often, search professionals deal with management or executive level candidates and opportunities or with very specialized fields.

Search professionals also don't find jobs for people, they find people for jobs that have been posted with them. Cover letters must inspire search professionals to interview and, ultimately, select you as worthy of referral to an employer. If they believe you will get an offer, they envision their contingency or retainer payment already earned, so they are motivated to advocate on your behalf.

Cover Letter Phrases to Use When Contacting Employment Agencies

Phrases for Introductory Paragraphs

What can a staffing/search firm do for you? For the recipient of your cover letter to know the answer to that question, you need to be direct about what type of job you're looking for, and you need to present yourself as a go-getter.

illustration Accounting Manager

The enclosed resume outlines my diverse and in-depth experience in accounting and finance management. I am in search of an appropriate opportunity in the greater Missouri area.

illustration Bookkeeper

If one of your clients is in need of a highly motivated bookkeeper with the experience and enthusiasm needed to handle the day-to-day details necessary to insure smooth operation, I would appreciate your consideration of my candidacy on behalf of that client.

illustration Claims Processor

As a qualified and motivated candidate with a record of past achievements, I now seek opportunities to continue an accomplishment-focused career in claims with a firm that has now posted an opportunity with Any Staffing Firm. I trust you recall that a number of years ago I communicated with you and your colleague, Francis Williams, regarding my interest in claims, and you placed me at Marifield Rehab. Now, I seek your professional assistance again.

illustration Chef

I will be moving to the Dayton area and I would like the assistance of Any Staffing Firm as I search for exciting new positions. The advertisement in Today's Cook is most appealing; I would like to be considered for this particular position. Your announcement also inspires confidence that you will have other client postings that match my qualifications.

illustration Dental Assistant

I am conducting a search for a full-time or part-time position in the Indianapolis area. I have heard about your agency's placement record through several colleagues, so I am very enthusiastic that you may now or soon have client postings that match my professional abilities.

illustration Executive Assistant

Currently, I am seeking appropriate career opportunities in the corporate arena. This particular posting seems ideal, but I would also welcome your consideration for any other client postings you believe match my background.

illustration Legal Administrator

I have recently relocated to Florida and I would like the assistance of Any Staffing Firm to locate a court or paralegal-related Administrator position with one of your clients.

illustration Research and Development Position

I will be relocating to your area next month and I would be interested in a position in which to apply my chemical, electromechanical, and mechanical research skills. I believe I would be a good match for a progressive, technically oriented company seeking support in research, manufacturing, or production. Your professional views and assistance with my job search would be most welcomed.

illustration Sales/Customer Service Representative

I enjoyed our brief conversation at the New Jersey Sales and Marketing Expo. As you now know, I am actively seeking new, challenging, and rewarding sales or customer service opportunities. I am now formally requesting the assistance of your agency with my search.

Phrases for Motivational and Qualification Paragraphs

In these paragraphs, you'll describe your practical experience. Mentioning your current salary is appropriate here because it will help a recruiter make a better match for you. Be honest about your skills and experience; the more accurately you can communicate your strengths, the better chance you'll have of finding work through a staffing/search firm.

illustration Bookkeeper

Although my preference is to stay in Hawaii, I would consider relocation to California, so referral to one of your California offices would be welcomed. Salary, benefits, and future opportunity for growth will influence my enthusiasm for particular opportunities that may now be available via Any Staffing Firm. My present salary is $38,000, so I am motivated to maximize my earnings and increase this amount by at least 10 percent.

illustration Chef

Areas of expertise include all aspects of food preparation and presentation, as well as kitchen management including ordering, hiring, and training. I now work at the McGuiness Inn and I will leave this establishment with positive references and a history of planning seasonal menus, overseeing all preparation of traditional American cuisine. In addition to cooking to order, I perform in scheduling, controlling inventory, and customer relations roles.

illustration Dental Assistant

Highlighting all that is detailed on the resume and revealed through the attached letter of recommendation, my qualifications are as follows:

illustration Executive Assistant

In addition to five years of staff experience at Bradstreet and Associates, I have worked for three years as Executive Assistant to the president and to the executive vice president of a software development company.

illustration Legal Assistant

As described on the enclosed resume, in Washington, D.C., I was a Legal Assistant for a well-respected law firm. There my responsibilities included completion of legal research, drafting and proofing documents, interviewing witnesses and clients, and preparing documentation needed to support litigation activities of attorneys.

As a result I have highly refined technical and organizational skills, including comprehensive computer expertise. I have extensive experience working on multiple projects and meeting deadlines in a team-oriented legal environment.

illustration Research and Development

Some colleagues identify my greatest strengths as related to building and maintenance of testing equipment, prototypes, and maintenance of manufacturing equipment.

illustration Sales/Customer Service Representative

My current ambition is to gain management and supervisory responsibilities. I am willing to travel and I would be interested in a salary in the $35,000 to $45,000 range.

illustration Security Guard

For the past three years as a bank Security Guard, I was responsible for ensuring the safety and security of customers, bank employees, and bank assets. My compensation for that position was about $30,000. I am an experienced, motivated, and well-trained professional. I do hope that Any Staffing Firm has current clients, and related postings, that match my background.

Phrases to Use for Closing Paragraphs

When writing to a recruitment/talent acquisition firm, a strong closing paragraph requests a meeting (or at least suggests future communication) and communicates confidence in your candidacy for a position that matches your interests. Always be sure to thank the agency for their time and review of the materials you submit.

illustration Accounting Manager

I do hope that you judge me qualified for one or more searches being conducted by Any Employment. After we speak, I trust you will refer my candidacy to employers who have posted those opportunities with you.

illustration Claims Processor

I would very much like to discuss all of my professional and personal goals, including salary, with you or one of your Any Staffing Firm partners.

illustration Chef

Perhaps we could meet to discuss my ambitions and qualifications? Ideally, you now have employers in search of candidates and I could also interview with them during my upcoming visit. Also, please be aware that I would welcome consideration for positions within an hour commute from Dayton.

illustration Dental Assistant

I am available to start as soon as needed, and relocation is easy to arrange. Please, let's talk by phone regarding appropriate next steps, and should you judge appropriate, arrange an in-person meeting. I would be happy to travel to Indianapolis to meet with you or one of your clients whenever necessary.

illustration Executive Assistant

I hope you identify my candidacy as worthy of referral to those who posted the Executive Assistant position, and to other clients. I do believe Any Staffing Firm can help me with my overall job search.

illustration Legal Administrator

I hope you will find me a qualified candidate for the position posted and refer me to the client seeking to hire the Legal Administrator.

I also hope you have additional clients who have engaged you to find candidates for immediate full-time or part-time opportunities.

illustration Research and Development

Please, let's discuss by phone your thoughts regarding my candidacy and whether Any Staffing Firm might help. Do you know of any openings that match my qualifications? Would you refer me to an employer interview? What are the appropriate next steps?

illustration Sales/Customer Service Representative

I would be interested in further discussing my candidacy and identifying any employment opportunities you feel would be applicable to my skills. Please do keep my candidacy confidential and I respectfully request that you or any prospective employers only contact references cited in the contract.

Cover Letter Phrases to Use When Contacting Executive Search Firms:

Phrases for Introductory Paragraphs

These letters begin much like letters to employment agencies. If anything, your introductory paragraph may focus more heavily on your work experience. Check out these samples to see how you might start this cover letter.

illustration Director of Information Services

During our meeting at the Minority Professional Recruiting Expo, we discussed opportunities with your client firms that are of great interest to me. As we discussed, I am currently seeking a challenging environment where I can apply my combined technical knowledge, experience, and ability to create and implement innovative concepts for greater information systems efficiency.

illustration Management Consultant

To date, I have played a key role in designing, implementing, reorganizing, and managing a variety of functions — including operations, manufacturing, materials, engineering, and quality assurance — for nationally and internationally recognized corporations. The attached resume documents past achievements. My contact with you reveals ambitions for future challenges and rewards.

illustration Operations Manager

Any Search Firm is well known within the industry, so I am confident that ours will be a positive and mutually beneficial relationship. I am actively seeking a new and challenging position and I am confident that, ultimately, you will find me a candidate easy to place.

illustration Plant Manager

During the past ten years, I have held positions ranging from production supervisor to plant and operations manager with a $16 million manufacturer and importer of electrical products. I am now seeking a new position where I can contribute to a company's cost-effective, quality operation and profitability.

illustration Senior Accountant

The varied accounting, finance, and general management experience gained over the course of my career should be of interest to you as you conduct current or future client searches. As you may recall, you once contacted me regarding a Senior Accountant position, but at that time I was not ready to seek new opportunities. Well, now I am ready, willing, and eager to do so.

Phrases for Motivational and Qualification Paragraphs

Why are you qualified for the type of job you seek? What are your areas of expertise? What have you accomplished in past positions? You must highlight this information in your cover letter, specifically in these paragraphs

illustration Director of Information Services

Qualifications, all detailed on the resume attached to this e-mail, include the following:

illustration Management Consultant

Currently, I am seeking a position within management consulting. I strongly believe this firm, and their clients can benefit from my twenty years of progressively responsible management experience. Areas of expertise, and those that can ultimately yield value-added assets within consulting roles, are diverse and include the following:

illustration Operations Manager

Because of diversity of past achievements, I am able to transfer skills to marketing, manufacturing, distribution, and service of other products. In addition to a strong marketing and sales background, I have also established a record for setting up, staffing, and managing top-producing, profitable district sales and service operations.

illustration Plant Manager

In my current position as plant manager, I developed a stable workforce and environment following a restructuring. Under my direction, the company has benefited from efficient supervisory staff and support personnel in all phases of plant operations, including production, purchasing, inventory control, warehousing, distribution, and maintenance of a 325,000-square-foot facility.

illustration Senior Accountant

As a manufacturing plant controller, I managed accounting activities of a $35 million manufacturing plant. Accomplishments include:

Phrases for Closing Paragraphs

If you're planning a move (or are currently in the process of relocating) or need to keep your search confidential, now's the time to say so. Set the agency's expectations. This includes salary requirements. It should be noted that this is one of the rare times when discussing salary in a cover letter is acceptable. Request a response from the agency, and as usual, be sure to say thank you.

illustration Director of Information Services

Relocation is not a problem, target cities remain Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco, and my compensation requirements are in the low $70,000 range. Please keep my candidacy confidential and do let's continue our conversations regarding opportunities as they arise.

illustration Management Consultant

Please review your current contingency and retainer client relationships to determine those that might match my strengths. I would greatly appreciate your consideration and, ultimately, your referrals for interviews with one, or more of these consulting organizations or with a firm seeking to hire an internal consultant.

illustration Operations Manager

Should you be aware of an advanced marketing and development position in the $100,000–$150,000 range, please consider me an eager and qualified candidate. I would welcome your assistance with my search efforts and I would be happy to discuss my background with you or one of your client firms at any time.

illustration Plant Manager

I would welcome the opportunity to apply my proven track record to one of your client firms. Relocation is not a problem. While salary and compensation is negotiable, my current salary is in the low $70s, so I would anticipate a new position to offer an increase or the potential to earn more. Please, let's discuss my candidacy and how Any Search might assist me with my search.

illustration Senior Accountant

While my prime interest is securing a position on the East Coast, I am willing to relocate for the right opportunity and compensation (ideally $85,000–$95,000, annually).