Google the words “cover letter” and you will find lots of opinions on the best tactics: which format to use, the right salutations, and to whom you should address your letter.

Our guest expert this week, Susan Rich, author of How to Write a Kick-Butt Resume Cover Letter, says people are missing the most important point of all: an employer has a problem that needs to be solved.  The applicant who shows she or he can solve problem has a huge advantage. Susan shares her advice how to focus your thoughts into to key talking points that address the employer’s needs. A dynamite headline and a powerfully structured cover letter showcases your skills in a way that is uniquely appealing to employers looking for help.

In this 26-minute episode you will learn:

• How to frame job seeking as a business transaction
• Why being a problem solver is the key to your job search
• How to organize your thoughts to focus in on your key points for a cover letter
• The elements of a strong cover letter headline
• How to structure a cover letter that actually gets read

This week’s guest:

Susan Rich (Twitter | LinkedIn)

Author, How to Write a Kick-Butt Resume Cover Letter

Portland, Ore.

Susan Rich deliver results, not promises. People call her an idea refinery, always creating a new way forward. She is widely recognized for her strategic business and marketing savvy, her internal & external communications strategies. She is an expert speaker and trainer, and professional journalist with more than one million words in print.

Listener question of the week:

• “With email as the primary form of application these days, how formal do cover letters need now?  Do I still need to include the employer’s address?” - Beckie

If you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode, please contact Jenna Forstrom, Mac’s List Community Manager at [email protected].

Resources from this week’s show:

• Weekend Resume Kit
• The Muse's 185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome
• RichWriting.com

Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond) – On sale through June 15!

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource you’d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac’s List Managing Director at [email protected].

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Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support! Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

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