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One-Page Tailored Response To Want Ad For Technical Sales
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Third-party endorsements, also called "testimonials," often help a sales effort. They're seldom seen in job-search correspondence; therefore, a good addition.


RODNEY B. RICHMOND
8447 W. 74th Place | Arvada, Colorado 80005
H: 303-421-3444 | C: 303-755-9879 | rrichmond@example.net

April 29, 20—

Ms. Sandra L. Susilovich
Lexmark International, Inc.
425 Market Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

Dear Ms. Susilovich:

I am answering your ad for a salesperson in the April 19 Rocky Mountain News. I am very interested in a technical sales position, and your product line sounds particularly appealing. As my resume shows, I have 12 years experience in the computer field and I have used, repaired, and recommended the purchase of laser printers and support products. I am familiar with the Lexmark printer marketed under the IBM name.

Although my recent sales experience is limited, my interest and ambition is not. Through my own initiative, I enrolled in an intensive nine-month sales training course. Although I was working full time, I graduated number one in my class.

To attest to my people skills and work ethic, I have included three comments from letters written about my work:

  1. "We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for your excellent work during the Barcode Technology Project... Your dedication and hard work were an integral part of the project's success."
    —COVIA, Field Service Support Manager

  2. "Congratulations on being selected as the most productive computer technician at United Airlines for the first quarter of 20—. You have earned this award through your excellent efforts..."
    —United Airlines, Field Services Support Manager

  3. "Martin Marietta Corporation would like to take this opportunity to commend the fine job performed by Rod Richmond, at our Open House, held July 15, 20—. Rod was most helpful in every way..."
    —Martin Marietta Aerospace, Food/Vending Services Manager

I would be delighted to talk with you about this position, and look forward to hearing from you soon. I can be reached at 303-555-1212. Please leave a message if I am not there to personally receive your call.

With great interest,
Rodney B. Richmond

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William S. Frank, M.A., President/CEO
25 Reasons I love consulting.
by William S. Frank
  1. Brand. You are your own brand, and you can define it any way you want. For many years, I provided outplacement to the ex-employees of Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield service corporation. When departing employees left the company, they didn't request outplacement in their severance package. They said, "I want Bill Frank."
  2. Demand. The world will always be full of terrible problems that need solving.
  3. White Hat. I can be a helper and get paid for it.
  4. Pay. I can be paid to do things I'd gladly do for nothing.
  5. Variety. Every day is different.
  6. Happiness. At this stage of my career, I only work for people I respect and care about. If a client micromanages me or is otherwise no fun, I complete the assignment and replace them.
  7. Talent. I'm using 110% of my talents and stretching myself to the max.
  8. Change. I can change my focus any day I want. If you're a McDonald's franchisee, you don't say, "Hey, I've got this great idea for a meatball sandwich—let's try it out today." In consulting you can adjust your focus hour-by-hour, as long as your clients still understand and appreciate what you do.
  9. Income. No one else would pay me as much as I pay myself.
  10. FUN. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.
  11. Retirement. I can write and consult as long as I am physically and mentally capable. Peter Drucker worked into his 90s, and when asked which book was his best, he said: "My next one."
  12. Job Security. Although clients come and go, no one can come into my office and say, "Pack up your stuff . . . You don't work here anymore." In 29 years, I've only had one employer: ME.
  13. Travel. I don't have to travel unless I decide to. I travel if it's both FUN and profitable—or at least FUN.
  14. Commute. I live five minutes from my office, a corner office in an upscale six-story tower. In winter, I leave a heated garage at home and drive to an underground heated garage at work. There's seldom time to hear even one song on the radio.
  15. Vacation. Consulting is more fun than vacation (except on Wailea Beach in Maui).
  16. Friends. I have developed hundreds of close acquaintances and several lifetime friends.
  17. Time. I can work as much or as little as I like: four-hour days or 18-hour days. (Of course, my income will reflect that.)
  18. Employees. I can work with employees, subcontractors, partners, or alone—I've done it all.
  19. Passive Income. I've developed several products that provide "mailbox money." I earn while I'm sleeping.
  20. Ethics. I've never had to violate my values or personal code of ethics. I've never had to lie, purposely deceive or harm others, or promise things I can't deliver. I go to bed with a clear conscience. That doesn't mean there's never any conflict. But the conflict is conducted according to generally accepted business practices.
  21. Virtual. My career is fairly portable. With the Internet, e-mail, cell phone, and FedEx, I can work nationally, even internationally from my office—or anywhere in the world.
  22. Purpose. I make a difference in peoples' lives every day. I see it in their faces, hear it in their voices, and read it in their thank-yous.
  23. Experience. Every painful or joyful life experience makes me a better consultant. So does every person I meet or book I read. Grey hair can be good in consulting.
  24. Structure. I have to work very hard, and the clients expect superb results—but I get to structure my days, weeks, months, and years.
  25. Boss. Most of the time, I love my boss.
As I was posting these letters online, I realized I want to communicate my love for consulting. It's just a great business. The single letters, taken together, may create a picture of enjoyment, but in a burst of creativity I listed some of the reasons consulting is such a good fit for me—and perhaps for you, too. They are not prioritized; this is just how they came out.