By: Shawn Cox
Submitted: 2010-11-08 13:43:37 | Word Count: 682
Stay at home moms or retirees who are considering re-entering the workforce can learn to write effective cover letters, and, yes, get hired for a job even over other applicants who have not taken a significant break from their careers. It all boils down to keeping communication professional and positive, knowing how to highlight not only prior work experience and skills, but also the benefits of time away from work. Below is a brief guide to writing a cover letter for stay at home mothers or retired seniors seeking to return to the workforce.
First Things First... The Basics of Writing a Cover Letter: What to Include
All cover letters follow the same basic structure and should contain several fundamental elements. Here is a brief overview of each of these important sections within a cover letter or introductory email:
Contact Information: When composing a cover letter, you should provide contact information so the employer can get in touch with you. This includes your full name, address, phone numbers, and email address. For a printed letter, this information is presented on the top of the page; for email cover letters, this information should appear at the end of the letter in your email signature.
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A Salutation: Be sure to include a professional and genial opening to the body of the letter addressed to your contact person (if you know of one) with the business or organization, for example “Dear Mr. Jones.” If you have no contact name, then you can open the letter with a general greeting, such as “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”
The Body of the Letter: The body of the cover letter is the “meat and potatoes” of the whole document. Within approximately three short paragraphs, your job is to sell yourself- i.e. convince the prospective employer why you should be hired over the other applicants. The basic information to provide in this section is what position you are interested in and why you are interested in the job. Included in this section you should mention any related skills, qualities, and/or experience you would bring to the position. Do not just cut and paste parts of your resume; make it personal and compelling.
The Closing: Just as your cover letter needs to be opened in a professional and pleasant way, so too should you end the letter on a positive note. Common closing phrases include: “Thank you for your consideration,” and “Best Regards.”
Remember as well that the cover letter is often one of the first lines of communication that you will have with a prospective employer, so you want to make a good impression. This means that you should be sure to check the document for spelling and grammatical errors, and that the ideas expressed therein flow clearly and in an orderly fashion.
What Specifically Should You Write in a Cover Letter When Returning to Work?
The first thing to keep in mind when writing a cover letter after being away from work for a significant amount of time is to keep your overall message both strong and positive. Do not be afraid to mention the gap in employment. Rather, in many cases you can use the time off to your advantage by showing your prospective employer how your break from the working world will enhance your ability to perform the desired position. Did you acquire or develop any new skills or experiences? Most mothers can confidently mention their time and space management skills or their ability to multi-task. Did you attend a relevant class or workshop, take up a new hobby? Be creative and let your personality shine through.
Of course you should also make sure to dedicate at least a paragraph to highlighting your prior work experiences, knowledge, and skills. In short, the goal of the cover letter is to sell yourself.
A Sample of a Cover Letter for a Mother Seeking Re-employment
Though this is specifically for a stay at home mom wanting to return to work, a retiree or anyone else ending a work sabbatical could follow same basic structure.
