Writing a Good Query Letter
My recent foray into advertising for writing help has driven home a very important truth; few people understand the power of a good query letter. That may sound like an unfair generalization, and maybe it is, but my mail this past week backs up my theory all too painfully.
As I said before, please for the love of all that’s decent do NOT send your potential employer a one-line note stating something as obvious as “My resume is attached.” While you may think that a pat response is in order when you’re not sure just what kind of work you’re applying for, it is exactly the wrong reason to send out such a curt, almost automatic response. Anyone can do it. That point is again backed up by an alarming number of applicants in my In box. Your job is to stand out and make your employer want to hire you above the others. If this thought is too difficult to understand or if it seems too complicated, stop now. Change your career path to something that does not involve persuasion theory.
Still reading? Good. I knew there were more of you sensible writers out there than I’ve been seeing all week.
Next, make sure you address the topic at hand when you send samples. I know not everyone has experience in specific writing areas, but it’s more to your benefit to explain in your query that your clips are ones you’ve chosen because they best show how you can write, or how you can handle technical/healthcare/consumer/business subjects. That at least explains why you’ve sent an article about gutter repairs to someone hiring you to write a fashion weblog.
Last, but most important, sell yourself. That’s right. Go against what your mother taught you about bragging being a bad thing and let that employer know just how much talent fills up your hard drive on a daily basis. Give your background, your credentials and a list of where your work has appeared or been sold. Frankly, this should be the main part of your query letter if you’re applying for a job, and toward the end of it if you’re pitching an article or a book.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the process, visit the About Freelance Writing website for tutorials on how to put together a winning sales pitch. Don’t let your talent and your opportunities go to waste because of poor presentation on your part.
Great advice, Lori! Listen to her advice, everyone. I can tell you from experience that a query letter can work if you put in the time and craft it well.
Yes, yes, yes! This is so true. Query letters should be more than a Post-It stuck on your resume. They’re your first impression.