Covering letter 1500 words? for business development manager
Discussion
Is it under any circumstances acceptable for a covering letter to be 1500 words in length? Its for a business development manager.
Ive written a covering letter describing my relevant experience in the field and some recommendations for initial changes Id make at the business. (this is done very polity) After all that's what the jobs about, Ive just given them an idea of what Id do in my first week there. Its come out at 1500 words.
The vacancy description is very vague. I phoned to ask more and was told that they said weren't exactly sure what they wanted. Which is why Ive given them some idea of what I could offer.
Im trying to cut it down now. But what do you think? Whats an acceptable length covering letter for a job like this?
Ive written a covering letter describing my relevant experience in the field and some recommendations for initial changes Id make at the business. (this is done very polity) After all that's what the jobs about, Ive just given them an idea of what Id do in my first week there. Its come out at 1500 words.
The vacancy description is very vague. I phoned to ask more and was told that they said weren't exactly sure what they wanted. Which is why Ive given them some idea of what I could offer.
Im trying to cut it down now. But what do you think? Whats an acceptable length covering letter for a job like this?
Edited by Work-Shy-Wanabe on Wednesday 30th March 03:04
t. Whatever industry it is, I would guess the covering letter has examples of Development you have made in the past and the value of the contracts gained..
If it was me 1500 seems too much..
Do you know anyone already in the industry that could maybe help you to reduce it down.
I know it is an old adage but I was always told a covering letter should be something that quickly highlight your CV and whet the appetite for more information from the prospective employer, to get you to come to an interview..
If it was me 1500 seems too much..
Do you know anyone already in the industry that could maybe help you to reduce it down.
I know it is an old adage but I was always told a covering letter should be something that quickly highlight your CV and whet the appetite for more information from the prospective employer, to get you to come to an interview..
Edited by black pipebandit on Wednesday 30th March 01:15
Work-Shy-Wanabe said:
Thanks for your opinions.
Ive put 250 words of it into my CV & have put another 750 in a separate document containing "my initial observations"
I'll let you know how well or badly its received! Fingers crossed! I want this job, perhaps a little too much.......
Do you actually have experience of the company in question or are you submitting 'initial observations' based on a vague job description and a wishy-washy phonecall where they didn't clarify much?Ive put 250 words of it into my CV & have put another 750 in a separate document containing "my initial observations"
I'll let you know how well or badly its received! Fingers crossed! I want this job, perhaps a little too much.......
I would argue that two of the key skills of a business development manager is concise, clear, communication and being able to effect change. 1500 words could suggest to the employer that you have neither of these skills, as a) it's either not clear and concise, or b) you are trying to change too much too soon.
Cut it right back and save the rest for the interview, or ask to go in for an informal chat before you formally apply and tell them what you think then.
Cut it right back and save the rest for the interview, or ask to go in for an informal chat before you formally apply and tell them what you think then.
rhinochopig said:
I would argue that two of the key skills of a business development manager is concise, clear, communication and being able to effect change. 1500 words could suggest to the employer that you have neither of these skills, as a) it's either not clear and concise, or b) you are trying to change too much too soon.
Cut it right back and save the rest for the interview, or ask to go in for an informal chat before you formally apply and tell them what you think then.
Couldn't agree more with this.Cut it right back and save the rest for the interview, or ask to go in for an informal chat before you formally apply and tell them what you think then.
Honestly?? It's way over the top.
I write covering letters & executive summaries for major proposals on a regular basis. For a covering letter if I can't get the message across in 2 pages (600 words) then there is something wrong & it will be full of waffle & irrelevance.
As others have said the best advert you can give yourself, is to sell yourself in 1 page.
I write covering letters & executive summaries for major proposals on a regular basis. For a covering letter if I can't get the message across in 2 pages (600 words) then there is something wrong & it will be full of waffle & irrelevance.
As others have said the best advert you can give yourself, is to sell yourself in 1 page.
I rarely get to the bottom of a two page CV before making my mind up. They'll only read your 1500 word thesis if it's full of grammar and spelling mistakes and they fancy a laugh.
Short, concise. All it has to do is get you a first interview. Then you can waffle to your heart's content
Short, concise. All it has to do is get you a first interview. Then you can waffle to your heart's content
rog007 said:
Well done! Was that based upon you being filtered in with a 1500 word covering letter and top notch CV? If so, you may have rewritten the 'covering letter rulebook'! Do you know how many other applicants were filtered in? Do let us know how you get on.
I put 250 words of it into my CV and also had another document with 800 words in it, my "initial observations". So slimmed down a little and restructured from the original 1500 covering letter.Risky strategy, but seams to have paid off. Looks like they aren't interviewing many others in my opinion. I asked what they thought of the "initial observations" document and was told that they had shown it around various people and the feedback received was positive, "showed that you know what your on about".
Well interview went well but I think Im seen as a bit of a risky choice but with good potential. (Ive been working for myself for 8 years, seams to worry employers)
I doubt any lesson should be learnt from this but sometimes its worth taking a risk and being unconventional. But I knew my application was going directly to the boss and had already had a chat with him, so had some measure. I doubt Id send off an unsolicited covering letter like this to a large company HR department.
Interview feed back:
"Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
"Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
Work-Shy-Wanabe said:
Interview feed back:
"Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
Well done - sort of. Nice to get good feedback. I guess you need to decide whether the potential job satisfaction is worth what they're willing to pay?"Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
New start-up could be a good opportunity shares in lieu of salary?? Take the smaller salary and ask for a share deal. It'd certainly focus your mind on the job
Work-Shy-Wanabe said:
Interview feed back:
"Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
I think that's a bit like a bird telling a bloke, look, it's not you, its me, as she dumps him."Thank you for you application and attending ???????????? for the interview. Even though you had been the best candidate for the position, I am unable to offer you the job. I feel that the Salary you had requested was not yet available in such an early hands on venture."
aggggg, what do you think of that? I didnt ask for much in the way of salary.............could this be the start of a negotiation?
You need to call and ask if they want to continue to talk through any barriers to you joining though retain your dignity. Having sat in an interview last week the chap thought he was right and from his perspective the company would be foolish to miss the opportunity. The reality he would not be right overall and so the application failed there.
The moral is that, in your words, their risk in you may be too large. Make the call and if you get blown out, move on.
The moral is that, in your words, their risk in you may be too large. Make the call and if you get blown out, move on.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff