Your cover letter should show what you can do for the employer, not what he or she can do for you. Making demands
can put the employer on the defensive. If you are not able to work Wednesday evenings or need time off to take care
of an elderly parent, don’t mention it in the cover letter. Those kinds of preferences can be discussed further in the job
interview. When an employer is enthusiastic about your skills and qualifications, he or she is more likely to work with
you to meet any reasonable needs you might have.
This tip is excerpted with permission from Designing a Cover Letter to “Wow” Hiring Personnel, an e-book by Teena Rose. For more cover-letter tips, visit Teena’s Bookstore to download your copy for $27.77. You can also download a free 19-page excerpt.
