markewicken in Cover LetterMyths and Realities

Cover letter. Important?

Myth: Nobody reads cover letters anymore. Why send one?

Reality: It’s true…some hiring managers don’t read cover letters, but most still do (at some point). A well-written cover letter serves as the introduction to your resumé, highlighting your strengths and reasons to look at your resumé, which in turn could lead to an interview. A cover letter is a sample of your writing skills and gives you the opportunity to show you know something about the company. Even if no one reads it, the fact that you bothered to write a cover letter gives the impression that you pay attention to detail and you are professional.

There is no downside to sending a cover letter with your resumé. Stand out from your competition with a great cover letter.

Next Read: Your Career Objective...Important part of your resumé? »

How to make a cover letterWriting a cover letter

markewicken: Mark Wicken is a marketing professional with over 30 years of advertising, communications and strategic planning experience within the retail and packaged goods industries. He has been a senior member of agency management teams with both account and brand management responsibilities. His strengths have always been on innovative thinking, solid organization and strong interpersonal skills. Starting in the advertising agency industry, Mark held senior account management positions at several multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Foster, Caledon, Vickers & Benson and Saffer Advertising, and has been responsible for the management of accounts like IBM, McDonald’s, Esso and General Motors. Mark moved from his agency roles to the Client side and held the position of Divisional Vice President of Marketing for Domino’s Pizza International and Director of Marketing for KFC, Hardee’s and Sbarro restaurants in the Middle East. In 2002 he established The Mark Wicken Group, a business specializing in executive search, training and consulting within the marketing, advertising and communications industries. In addition to executive search, Mark has devoted much of his lifetime to teaching, education and youth development. He is President of MusicFest Canada ‘The Largest Annual Music Festival in North America’ and has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design and The Toronto Film School since 1998. Mark graduated from The University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, and is married with two sons.