Cover Letters/Job values/etc.

[Fierce Critter]

Jon actually found a job listed on Monster.com in Madison Heights working for a company that installs & repairs the things he makes now, as well as other "portal" devices. Exactly what he was looking for.

Now, I'm damned good at cover letters for things like clerical, printing, desktop publishing & related fields. Where I'm looking for assistance is in the area of manufacturing, service, repair & installation.

Right now, Jon earns $14.00 (GOOD for the south) for doing this: He takes big metal boxes, assembles electrical, mechanical & circuitry parts into "channels" which are then affixed to the top of security turnstiles, revolving doors, etc. He knows how to build probably a dozen or more different models.

In addition, he has come up with improvements on some, can advise people over the phone how to install & repair, has been on a few installs, and can repair & rebuild them on-site.

His product knowledge is vast in this area. If pressed for a brief description of what he does, I'd state "manufacture of security portals & entrance/exit devices."

The area he is looking to get into is twofold. First, repair & install of similar devices - that's what he's major qualified for. Second, these places he's applying also manufacture totally different "portals", including roll-up warehouse doors, automatic grocery store-type doors, etc. So he's applying for a job that would require him to repair/install all sorts of things besides that which he is already very familiar with.

If pressed for a brief description of what he's looking to get into, I'd state "repair & installation of entrance/exit devices".

The biggest question is this: What in the hell are people who do that worth? I'm pretty sure it's a lot more than $14.00 an hour. This one job in particular asks for salary requirements. I'd sure like to know what the national average is for someone who does this. Jon is coming into the job with partial, extensive knowledge of part of their product/service line. So he's NOT a beginner, and deserves more than start-up pay.

So, I'm inclined to include language akin to the following to answer that, "Seeking salary commensurate with current average for someone with my skills & experience."

I'd appreciate ANY help in this direction. You headhunters, personnel experts, etc. can really assist me here. Thanks in advance.

[Msterbeau]

Madison Heights! That's where my new job is at. :grin

What kind of resume is he using? Functional or chronological? Scribble down EVERY possible talent, skill, hobby related expertise and put the most relevent ones in a functional style, as that would seem to be the best way to showcase his talents. I can send you one of mine for a sample if you like. As for the salary thing... There are web sites that have that sort of information. Monster might... I forget. Google "average salaries" or something like that.

Good luck to you both!!!!

[Fierce Critter]

My standard resume is, according to your description, chronological. And I'm pretty good at eking out every possible useable skill from a person to slap on there.

I searched high and low on the internet for information on what kind of salary that kind of position pays, and I'm coming up empty - and I'm pretty damned good at searching stuff out on the 'net.

Thus, my plea for help from people who do this sort of thing on a regular basis.