Claims Insurance Adjuster Resume Sample [+Skills]

Claims Insurance Adjuster Resume Sample [+Skills] Claims Adjuster Resume Sample TemplateJohn Britton, Claims Adjusterjohn.q.britton@gmail.com612-483-2271Professional SummaryLicensed claims adjuster (Minnesota) with 6+ years of experience, skilled in property casualty and investigating. Seeking to further adjustment excellence at UPRA Insurance. At Rappaccini Associates, discovered 28% more frivolous claims than company average. Maintained customer service satisfaction level of 84%.Work ExperienceClaims AdjusterRappaccini AssociatesApril 2014April 2019Found an additional 400 unwarranted claims per year over company average across 25 full-time adjusters.Maintained record-high customer service satisfaction level at 84% through excellent up-front and post-claim communication with clients.Coached 10 new employees. Given coaching role because of excellent performance to goals.Developed 45+ strong business relationships with both external and internal customers.Claims AdjusterAt Home With Us Insurance CompanyFeb 2013March 2014Processed 15 claims per week to determine company liability.Trained colleagues in proprietary investigation and claims processing software.Handled over 400 calls per month, maintaining 85% satisfaction rating.Education20112015 University of St. ThomasB.S. in Business AdministrationExcelled in finance, accounting, and business law classes.Elected as treasurer of student government.CertificationMinnesota State Claims Adjuster LicenseSkillsSoft skills:Interpersonal skills, communication, negotiation, decision makingHard skills:Property casualty, investigating, estimating, policy knowledgeActivitiesVolunteer security administrator, BSA Northern Star CouncilLeader, cross-country skiing club, increased membership 95%.Are you sure you need a claims adjuster resume? See these other guides:Bank Teller ResumeBookkeeper ResumeBusiness Analyst ResumeFinancial Analyst ResumeAccounts Receivable ResumeAccounts Payable ResumeBusiness ResumeConsultant ResumeTax Accountant ResumeTax Preparer Resume SampleRes ume Guides for Every CareerWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Claims Adjuster ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHeres how to write a claims adjuster resume that gets jobs:1. Format Your Claims Adjuster ResumeYoud never turn in a sloppy claims investigation.So why would you turn in a poorly-formatted claims adjuster resume?To show youre on it:Use the best resume format for experienced candidates. Thats the chronological resume format. It shows your most relevant experience right away.Write the address on your resume up top. A header for a resume should also have your name, business job title (Claims Adjuster), a nd license.The best resume font is Cambria or Arial. Use it with big headings for the different parts of your resume.Send a resume PDF file for consistency unless the job announcement says no.Pro Tip: If youre asking how long should my resume be, the answer is a single page. Its not the entire tale of your career. Its the best snips that fit on that one 8x11 sheet.2. Write a Claims Adjuster Resume Objective or Resume SummaryGet noticedYou know the hiring manager is swamped.So put your most compelling features in the first five seconds of your property claims adjuster resume.Do that with a profile for your resume.Been adjusting claims more than 2 years? Use a professional career summary in your resume. Thats an elevator pitch for a job in about three sentences.Making an entry-level resume for claims adjusters? Use a career objective for your resume. It zeroes in on skills, not work history.Add a short list of professional accomplishments to either one.Pro Tip: In a claims adjusting r esume with no experience, highlight your common skills from other jobs, like people skills, communication, or teamwork.3. Make a Claims Adjuster Job Description for Your ResumeHeres who theyll hire:Not the claims adjuster candidate whos handled the job before.Theyll hire the one who proves she did it well.Be #2 by showing your relevant work experience like this:Show the company name, job title (Claims Adjuster), and work months and years.Put some duties in your bullet points, but also tailor your resume to the job like this:Pick the most important claims adjusting skills in the job ad. Then find your past accomplishments that show youve used them.Include numbers like 28% or 84% to show you really helped the company.Use action verbs for resumes to keep them interested.Pro Tip: Want to show claims adjuster experience on a resume? Find achievements in your claims adjuster job that prove skills from the new career.4. Adjust Your Claims Adjuster Resume Education SectionDont waste this ch ance.Your auto claims adjuster resume education section should prove something.Do it by showing more evidence youve done things well:First list school name, degree, and dates.Add things like groups, projects, professor comments, or classes you excelled in.Put your claims adjuster certificate in a bullet near the end.Pro Tip: Does GPA matter in an insurance resume? Only if its shockingly high or really recent. Otherwise, use the extra resume space on something more eye-popping.5. Prove Claims Adjuster Skills in Your ResumeUse this claims adjuster resume skills list:Claims Adjuster Resume SkillsHard Skills:LiabilityProperty casualtyCustomer serviceClaims handlingProperty claimsInvestigatingLitigatingEstimatingBusiness claimsFire insuranceHail and crop damageWater flood claimsHealth insuranceLife insuranceWorking with industry expertsComputer skillsPolicy knowledgeSoft Skills:Interpersonal skillsOral and written communicationListeningProblem solvingCollaborationTime managementPercept ivenessAttention to detailIntegrityInnovationNegotiationDecision makingHeres a tipWhat are hard skills? Those are technical skills that match the job precisely. Mix them in with soft skills. But focus on the ones that this job wants.Pro Tip: If the job youre applying to doesnt care about fire insurance skills and youre a whiz at them, consider focusing on different skills. Orpick a different job opening.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.6. Add Other Sections to Your Claims Adjuster ResumeWhat will make them notice you?Adding other sections to your independent claims adjuster resume.Use them to show energy and passion.Choose from::ActivitiesAssociationsPublicationsConferencesHobbies listsVolunteer workFreelance workGroups, clubsEmployer commen dationsLanguage skillsExercisePro Tip: Put your claims adjuster certification in a special section under education. You can also put it in your summary and in your resume heading. Redundancy is good.7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Claims Adjuster ResumeDo you need a cover letter in a claims adjuster resume?Of course.Most employers want them.But dont be cookie-cutter. Show passion.The format of a cover letter should meet these criteria:When starting a cover letter, lead with a hook like your most impressive insurance moment.Show how your passion will help them meet their mission.Write a cover letter closing that makes them want to talk to you. You can simply promise to explain how you helped a previous insurance biz you worked at.How long should cover letters be? Three paragraphs and half a page.Pro Tip: Send a job application follow up email. That can be a one-line nudge that gets the hiring manager to say, Oh yeah. I meant to call her.Thats it!Thats how to write a resume for claim s adjuster positions.Need more tips on how to write a claims adjuster resume? Got great ideas for new insurance resume writers? Give us a shout in the comments. Wed love to talk!

Writing an Objective For a Resume For Graduate School

Writing an Objective For a Resume For Graduate SchoolWhen writing an objective for a resume for graduate school, many people will begin by going straight for the grammatical errors and the name calling, the well-written statements of purpose and the sentiment that they believe the admissions directors are looking for. In reality, this can only hinder your search because these are the people who are evaluating your application, not the professionals in the business of reading them.The truth is that when it comes to writing an objective for a resume for graduate school, you need to start with a strong objective at its center and then build from there. The words on your resume that really tell the admissions officers why you want to attend this program, how your educational background relates to this program, and why you expect the program to change your life for the better are all words that tell the story. It is also imperative that the messages you convey are directed toward not just one but all of the components of your job description.Personal information is one of the first things that most admissions officers look for and it is also the type of thing that does not change. When you talk about how your education will help you become a more successful employee, you are really asking the question of how well you can meet the expectations of the organization. What qualifications do you have to make this work? If you are just out of college and not yet a senior in high school, you are really not in a position to give any answers that will be of assistance to the director of admissions. You need to tell them what you are looking for.To write an objective for a resume for graduate school, you must choose a unique title for your program and describe it in detail. Most programs require specific qualifications for admission and you should be clear about what those are. For example, if you have taken a program that required you to have worked in a medical office for th ree years or to have operated a plumbing supply business, you may want to leave this section out. That is information that does not change, so why spend your precious time on something that has no relevance to your application?A common problem among students who write an objective for a resume for graduate school is that they start the letter by telling the admissions officer's all about themselves and then work backwards through their experience. Students feel this creates an impression of self-centeredness and it definitely does not look professional. If you are well into your career and you are completing a number of responsibilities that are directly related to your school of choice, then a good thing to do is to start your narrative with that. If you are applying to an education program for which you already have the credentials, you can leave that information out but it is still important to include it in your proposal.Writing an objective for a resume for graduate school is n ot difficult if you are properly prepared. As mentioned earlier, you will want to focus on the specific things that the admissions officers are looking for. It is important to portray yourself as an asset to the institution and as a professional who is not just looking for a chance to earn money and travel.Another thing to keep in mind is that you will not be judged solely on your ability to write a good letter or on your accomplishments. While it is important that you have some sort of educational credential, that is not the only thing they are going to be looking for. In fact, they will be looking for something that tells them what your interests are.Writing an objective for a resume for graduate school will make the difference between being accepted and being rejected. While some people seem to think that the entire process of writing an objective for a resume for graduate school is going to take too much time and energy, it is far from the truth.

10 Inconspicuous Stress Relief Strategies for a Crazy Schedule

10 Inconspicuous Stress Relief Strategies for a Crazy Schedule Stressed about going back to work today?  This post is perfect for you! Todays post is written by Ashley Josephine, Founder of  Ashleyjosephine.com.   Stressed out of your mind but embarrassed or afraid to do something about it? Recent research from ComPsych Corp. found that 66% of employees are stressed at work and at least half of those surveyed lose up to two vacation days a year because of burnout (this doesn’t include illnesses, such as colds and the flu, which can be caused by stress). While the economy slowly recovers, many employees will forever be responsible for more tasks than ever before in the history of the corporate world, with little help from colleagues and the intense pressure of looming deadlines loath to let up. Here are 10 one-minute quick stress-relief strategies you can do at work without anyone knowing you’re taking a much-needed break. 1.  Breath Counting Bring your awareness to your breathing and see if you can count to 10, (inhale 1, exhale 1) without getting distracted. No need to breathe any louder than normal, and you can keep the counting to yourself. After your first few breaths, see if you can lengthen the exhale so that it’s longer than the inhale. Research shows that lengthening the exhale stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for releasing cortisol-busting chemicals. Breath counting = the alternative version to popping a chill pill. 2.    Perfect Place Visualization Think of a place that makes you feel safe, secure and calm. It could be a beach you visited when you were younger, or your idea of the perfect meadow. For me, it’s my bed. The more sensory input you can attach to the visualization of your perfect place, the calmer you’ll feel when you mentally return to it each time. What do you smell? How do you feel? Are there any people with you in this place? What colors do you see? What textures do you feel? Any time you’re feeling overwhelmed, afraid or confused, mentally return to your perfect place for a few short breaths to resume sanity, security and focus. 3.    Mantra Choose a phrase that makes you feel strong, calm or in control, such as “I am smart”, “I am okay” or “I am capable”. Whatever phrase you choose, make sure it’s in the present tense and make sure you believe it. It could be helpful to keep a file on your computer full of mantras to turn to when you’re in need of a quick pep talk. If there’s one that you especially like, write it on a post-it note and stick it on your computer or desk to serve as a constant reminder. The “Keep Calm And Carry On” poster is a great example of a popular mantra that has become embedded in our culture. To use your mantra in times of stress, repeat the mantra to yourself over and over again for one minute. If possible, sync the mantra to your breathing pattern, for example, inhale, repeat mantra, exhale. 4.    Walk To shake up the monotony of your computer screen, get up and take a quick walk. You don’t have to go far â€" you can even turn your typical walk to the bathroom into a stress-relief strategy. The key is to focus on your footsteps. Become aware of each step you take, placing one foot in front of the other. Focusing your concentration in this way will help you get out of your mind and into your body. If you can’t get outside for a breath of fresh air, literally, try rerouting your walk so that you pass a window. Pause momentarily and take note of any signs of nature, even if it is just the clouds in the sky. 5.    Wrist Stretch When typing and clicking starts to cause you pain in the wrists and fingers, try this simple wrist stretch to relieve physical stress. Place your hands out in front of you and place the four fingers, excluding the thumb, over the opposite hand’s four fingers so that the pinkie finger touches the palm, palm facing away from you. Press your fingers toward you for a stretch on the inside of your wrist. Take a few breaths, increasing pressure on your exhales. To stretch the top of the wrist, point your fingers down, palm facing toward you and lay your four fingers on top of the bottom knuckles of the opposite hand. Press your fingers towards you once again, increasing pressure on the exhale. After a few breaths, switch sides. It helps to have the arm of the hand being stretched straight out in front of you. 6.      Do Nothing Seriously. Turn your chair away from your computer and stare into space. No chatting with co-workers, no checking Facebook, no tidying up your desk or twiddling with your thumbs. Even stop thinking. If your boss asks you what you’re doing, tell him you’re thinking about the solution to a job-related problem. Doing nothing gives you the opportunity to disconnect from all the things that are distracting you and stressing you out, providing space for new insight. 7.      Guided Meditation Download this guided meditation and listen to it on the subway, in your car or on your headphones at work. It’s most effective if you actually disengage from multitasking. 8.    The Yoga Routine You Didn’t Know You Were Doing Check out this video and practice the stretching routine throughout the day. Only you’ll know the exact benefits of the poses. To everyone else, it will just look like you’re simply stretching. If they ask you more about, it, email them a link to the video. You probably didn’t know you were doing yoga all this time, did you? 9.    Hand Yoga Mudras, or postures for the hands, have long been considered powerful gestures in the yoga tradition and in energy medicine. The palms of the hands have more nerve endings than any other area of the body, making them more receptive and energetically charged than any other area of the body. There really is a scientific reason for why we say “healing touch.” This hand gesture is meant to invoke guidance for when you’re feeling at a loss at work. Placing the palms face up is a universal signal for receiving. The best part is, it looks like you’re checking your nails. Sit with a straight spine and bring your palms face up to chest level. Leave just a tiny space between the two little fingers, extend your thumbs straight out and curl your four other fingers in, without allowing the pads of the fingers to touch the palms. Gaze out over the tip of your nose and take long deep breaths for one minute. 10.   Self-Massage When your hands have had enough at the keyboard, give yourself a quick massage to loosen up tense fascia and tendons. Using the thumb, start by applying moderate pressure on your opposite palm and move the thumb in a clockwise motion. Next, using your thumb and index finger, lightly pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger of the opposite hand, and then between each of the other fingers. Finally, with all fingers excluding the pinky grab hold of the base of each finger in succession, starting with the thumb and pull the opposite fingers away from you as if you were pulling off a ring that won’t come off. Imagine you are pulling out all the old static energy that you no longer need. Then repeat the previous three exercises on the opposite hand. Now see how many days you can inconspicuously follow these stress-relief strategies before anyone catches on to your cool composure! How do you try to relax during your workday?

AVERAGE FEMALE SALARIES IN THE U.S. SINCE 1990

AVERAGE FEMALE SALARIES IN THE U.S. SINCE 1990 Reflection on the progression of average female salaries in the U.S. since 1990 While the gap between average female earnings in the U.S. has narrowed since 1990, the difference earning rate as compared to those of male workers is still significant. Notably, this change has been as a result   of legal and social advances made by women starting 1990. However, it can also be noted that while womens employment increased in the mid 1990s, the level of womens employment has remained almost constant to date. Starting the year 1990, the average annual earnings for female workers in the United States was $25, 451 as compared to those of male workers, which stood at $35, 538, a difference of 18.7 percent.  This g has risen at a relatively constant rate reaching about $30, 203 in the year 2002 and representing an increase of about 47.5 %. By the year 2012, the average earning had risen with about 48 percent as compared to the average earnings for a female worker in the year 1990. This indicates that women are increasingly being absorbed into employment. However, this has also been dependent on the level of education that a female worker commands. According to an independent research, writing skills are extremely important and correlate to an average household. According to assignment help experts, a high school graduate earned an average income of $18, 319 in the year 1990 as compared college graduate who earned an average of $28, 017 in the same year. These figures have improved over the years with a high school graduate earning an average income of $30, 000 while a college graduate earned an average of $47, 000 as per 2010 official figures.  This is a clear indication that while there is still an existing gap between the average earnings of male and female workers, there has nonetheless been a significant improvement since 1990.

Resume Writing Tips - How to Write an Introduction

Resume Writing Tips - How to Write an IntroductionIf you're in the position of needing a resume, and you're wondering where to begin, I'll help you out with my first tip - and this is about your resume writing an introduction. In particular, let's talk about writing a good introduction. Since so many people find themselves having to write one, let me give you some guidelines for you to follow, and hopefully make things easier for you.First, if you are writing a resume, you need to make sure that it covers what you want to say in the introduction section. It can be a short paragraph or two. But be brief and clear about what your reason for wanting to apply to a particular job is. If you don't give them enough information to know why you are being interviewed, you won't get the interview.Second, if you are writing a resume, keep your content simple and brief. Don't clutter your resume with too much information. This can be tempting to do, but over-stuffing your resume will cause the re ader to skip certain sections and skip them quickly. Too much information is hard to skim, and I suggest you leave the information that you think you'll need for the position in your resume.Third, do not place any other material on your resume before you've read the entire resume. The resume must be the focus of your resume writing. That said, if you do decide to add some text that is complimentary of your resume, then place it on a separate sheet for the purposes of presentation.Fourth, when you are writing an introduction for your resume, don't start off with a second paragraph of information. Instead, use a bulleted list to briefly tell your reader about yourself and what your background is. Also, use the following format: First Name, Last Name, Employer, Phone Number, or Email Address. Don't worry if you don't know these things; they will come in time.Fifth, the best way to learn how to write a resume is to practice. Get a friend or family member to read through your resume, and provide feedback. In addition, you can take a free resume writing course online.Sixth, never, ever, cut or delete a section of your resume. Don't edit your resume to make it fit a particular job. That means no cutting out information about any educational background that you have.In conclusion, remember that the best way to learn how to write a resume is to practice and read through some of your resume after it is written. After you have read it a few times, and practice, you'll find that you can go back and add information to your resume in a jiffy. This also applies to your introduction.

How to Fast-Track Your Way to Promotion - CareerMetis.com

How to Fast-Track Your Way to Promotion A job promotion happens when an employee moves up the organizational ranks of a company and takes on often harder, more advanced tasks that are still related to his or her former position.Aside from taking on new After all, improvement in terms of their skills and career is one of the things workers aspire.It is also essential for HR personnel to know the right time to give this career advancement, as it involves providing additional benefits and higher salaries for the promoted workers, which will definitely incur costs for the company.Moving someone up and not awarding them what is rightfully due because there’s not enough budget, despite delegating more responsibilities, just don’t seem right.For the employee, aside from getting more benefits, a promotion is sort of a bragging rightâ€"something that will be great on paper. A higher-level job title is a credential that they can attach to their resume, and something will pique the interest of their future, potential employer.Com panies also benefit from job promotions. A promoted employee definitely has higher morale, allowing him or her to do a better job, which is always good for business. This can also boost other’s confidence and know that they, too, can achieve something similar if they choose to follow the same commitment.Maybe a particular skill that one worker has can be more utilized in a higher position, which in turn, can reduce labor turnover for the company.Of course, promotions are also given to reward employees who consistently have shown excellent performance and dedication to their job and the company.evalIt used to be that seniority and number of years in service merit promotions because loyalty does mean a lot to an organization.The longer an employee has been with a company, the more knowledgeable and skilled he or she is of the particulars of the job, which is one of the things needed to get promoted.Customarily, promotion by seniority is also based on the belief that the first one sh ould also be given the first chance in all benefit and privileges.But with the corporate landscape changing, everyone now has a chance for quick career advancement. Both old and young employees are on an even playing field because it’s been proven that promotion isn’t just based on age or years in service.evalYour chances to move up the ranks are high when management sees that you demonstrate the knowledge, skills, values, and behavior of someone fitting to lead.These strategies, as shown in this infographic, may be helpful to those who are looking to climb up the corporate ladder fast.

Seven Deadly Myths of Job References - Pathfinder Careers

Seven Deadly Myths of Job References - Pathfinder Careers Seven Deadly Myths of Job References Today, we have a guest column generously provided by www.jobreferences.com operated by Allison Taylor Reference Checking, Inc., which is headquartered in Rochester, Mich., and has been in the business of checking references for individuals since 1984. The firm’s services have been listed and recommended in bestselling books authored by Martin Yate. In addition, numerous articles have been published about the service in newspapers and magazines including Glamour, New Woman, Worth, NBEW, The Detroit News, and St. Petersburg Times. For more information, please visit www.jobreferences.com or call 800-651-2460. Thinking about your prospects for landing that new job? You should think first about what your former boss and other references will say about you. There is no doubt, for many job searchers, a person’s past will have a direct bearing on his or her future. “No matter what the nature of the job or pay scale, people should take their references very seriously,” said Heidi M. Allison, Managing Director of www.jobreferences.com. “They can make or break a hiring decision. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what your references are really saying about you during a job search?” (There are several companies including this one who can provide that service to applicants who want to know the scoop on what previous employers are saying about them.) Myth No. 1: Companies are not allowed to say anything negative about a former employee. Reality: While many companies may have policies that dictate only title, dates of employment and eligibility for rehire can be discussed, people do break the rules every day. Due to human nature, providing a reference may be an emotional call for some. How about the boss with whom you had philosophical differences or the supervisor who sexually harassed you? Maybe a boss was just jealous of you? Fifty percent (50%) of our clients do receive a bad reference, despite the strict policies in place. Myth No. 2: Most employers send reference checks to their human resources departments, and these people won’t say anything bad about me. Reality: Most human resources professionals will follow proper protocol. However, in addition to what is said, reference checkers often evaluate how something is said. In other words, they listen to tone of voice and note the HR staffer’s willingness to respond to their questions â€" both critical factors. We have often heard “Check this person’s references very carefully” or on another note, the human resources department will divulge if a person is eligible for re-hire. Are you? Myth No. 3: If I had any issues with my former boss, I can simply leave him or her off my reference list and nobody will ever know. Reality: Many companies actually check references without an official list or you even knowing. They conduct what is known as a “social security check” to determine where you have worked in the past and then call the human resources department or office administrator at each employer for a reference. This practice also is in place to see if a prospective employee has left any significant places of employment off of a resume â€" another bad move that should be avoided at all costs. Myth No. 4: I should have my references listed on my resume and distribute them together. Reality: Your references should be treated with kid gloves. Only provide them when asked. The last thing you want is a number of companies that may or may not have a real interest in hiring you bothering your references. What’s more, you want to meet with a prospective employer first to leave a favorable impression before any reference checks take place. If you suspect a less than favorable reference from someone, you can use the interview to address the situation proactively, from your perspective. Myth No. 5: Once a company hires me, my references really do not matter anymore. Reality: Many employment agreements and contracts include a stipulation that says the employer can hire you with a 90-day probation period. Not only are they evaluating your job performance but, in some instances, are checking your background and references. During this time, your new employer may call your former companies and, should the results be less than expected, they have the legal right to fire you. Myth No. 6: I sued my former company and they are now not allowed to say anything. Reality: They may not be able to say anything definitive, but do not put it past them to carefully take a shot at you. There have been plenty of instances where a former boss or an HR staffer has said, “Hold on a minute while I get the legal file to see what I am allowed to say about Mr. Smith.” Many employers may be uncomfortable hiring someone who has a legal history, dashing your job prospects. Myth No. 7: There is really no need to stay in touch with former references. Reality: As the saying goes â€" out of sight, out of mind. Honor these etiquette guidelines and your references should continue singing your praises for a long time. First, call your former boss(es) periodically and update them on your career, asking them to continue being a reference for you. Make sure you thank them for their time. Next, as you move further up the career ladder in your profession or achieve new educational goals, make sure your references stay abreast of your success. As you progress, a reference is more inclined to see you in a positive light. Finally, acknowledge your references with a personal thank you letter or email; offer to take a former boss to lunch or dinner; or send them a thoughtful gift.

Cover Letter Basics and the Biggest Mistake to Avoid

Cover Letter Basics and the Biggest Mistake to Avoid For some strange reason there is a great deal written about how to craft the perfect resume, but much less attention is focused on the cover letter. The fact is that quite often it is the cover letter that the convinces the reader to even bother looking at your resume. It can certainly be the difference between a cursory glance and someone actually reading it and considering you for an interview. The worst part is that people quite often make the biggest mistake in cover letter writing almost immediately. They make this mistake by addressing the letter to a hiring manager, or worse, to whom it may concern. Trust me, if you start your letter like this, it doesnt concern them. No one likes to be thought of as a non-entity, and that is what you are doing when you address the letter to whomever happens to open the envelope. Take the time and effort to find out the name of the person that is doing the actual hiring. Call the company and ask the secretary if you need to do so. Then address the letter to that person directly. The body of the cover letter follows, and generally there need to be three short paragraphs. In the first one, briefly discuss why you are writing, what job you are applying for and mention where you learned about the job. If you have a mutual contact person, mention it here. Move on to the second paragraph and briefly mention your skills, what you offer the company. Discuss how the skills listed in your resume translate into the job you are seeking. In the third paragraph, thank them for their consideration and let the person know how you will follow up within the next week. Be sure to actually follow up. If the cover letter is mailed, then it needs a handwritten signature. If it is emailed, then a typed signature is fine. Be polite, be concise and be brief.