Posted: 11/4/2007 10:27:04 AM EDT
|
Hey all, I am applying to a number of departments and a few of them are asking for a cover letter. What generally goes on one? Anything in particular I should add since these are police applications? Thanks. |
|
TGMoore 12345 ARFcom R Anywhere, KY 55555 (859) 555-5555 [email protected] November 4, 2007 Anytown Police Department 123 Main Street Anywhere, KY 55555 Dear Sir or Ma'am I am writing with interest in the Police Officer position with the ________________________ Police Department. Based on my extensive military background and policing experience in Baghdad, Iraq, I am extremely interested in furthering my law enforcement career with your police department. Following a one year tour of duty serving as a United States Army Infantryman in Operation Iraqi Freedom, my interest in law enforcement has continued. As my resume indicates, I have served our country as both a United States Marine and United States Army Infantryman and I am presently enrolled at _________________ College to further my education. My career to date, both in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, has been devoted to service. I would like to continue in the public sector and would be honored to serve the citizens of _____________. My military background has instilled in me a deep sense of professionalism, discipline and teamwork. This experience will allow me to make a significant contribution on the _____________Police Department. Throughout the past year during daily peacekeeping and security operations alongside the Iraqi National Police, I gained considerable insight into the daily challenges police work entails. Working in such a demanding and unique law enforcement atmosphere has afforded me valuable hands-on policing skills. Based on my year long experience in a very difficult and unstable police environment, I know that I am prepared for the challenges of a career in law enforcement and that I will excel as a professional police officer. Please do not hesitate contacting me with questions or concerns at (555) 555-5555. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Cordially, TGMoore |
I beg to differ. I am explaining how my job experience is relevant to the job they are hiring for, makes me suited for the position. You want a window to my personality, well there it is. My dad was in the Navy 27 years, I grew up on Navy bases and attended DoD schools. I enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18. So unless they want to hear about my job as a fry cook in high school thats what I have to go on. Job offers go out between the 6-8 of November. Considering I am ranked number 2 out of 400 applicants we will see if I layed it on too strong or not. |
|
I say keep the cover letter down to only about two sentences. That is the general attention span of the HR person scanning a stack of resumes. Make sure your contact information is on every sheet, in case one becomes detached. Let your resume do the talking. Be sure to cover skills. Many HR persons do not give a rat's ass about cryptic MOS numbers, equipment numbers, operations acronyms, etc. Define your skills. Yes, I am former-.mil, and I hate that shit when I look at a resume. You need to get the interest of the person who is seeing if your resume will fit with the job requirements. Your resume will never reach my desk, unless my HR manager selects it from basic skills detailed on your resume. I made that part bold. Read it twice, let it sink in.  Powers of arrest, civil rights, criminal codes in Iraq are not the same and may not offer any significant advantage to Joe-Blow-off-the-street who is applying for the same job. How well you do in testing and oral boards will move you up on the list, assuming LE is the field you are interested in...... |
With all that experience, I would have guessed you might have thicker skin. It wasn't a personal attack, merely a suggestion. A suggestion from someone that actually participates in hiring processes, not someone looking for a job. You're in for a tough training period if you can't take a little well-intentioned constructive criticism. Congrats on being ranked number 2 out of 400, I genuinely hope it works out well for you, even with that bad cover letter.... 
|
Smarmy "constructive criticism" on the internet is worlds away from receiving training/correction in real life (of which I have received my fair share). You didn't tell me how I can improve, just that I over mention my military service. What would you suggest in lieu of that since it is the only job experience I have? |
|
Well hopefully this will stop the thread hijack TGMoore, I looked at the basic outline of your cover letter and tried to fashion mine in a similar manner. Here is what I came up with.
|