The query letter, generally sent through e-mail, is the first thing potential employers and clients see. If the query letter a professional sends doesn’t grab their attention, the chances that an employer will take the time to look at the self employed resume are slim. Having a great resume is very important…but having a great query letter, more so.
The Query Letter
The best query letters are the ones that are short and direct. In most cases, professionals sending a query letter will be responding to an ad for a potential self employment job or project. This means that the person being queried is going to be receiving dozens, sometimes hundreds, of queries from people quite a bit like you.
They don’t have time to read all the qeury letters they receive. Potential employers scan these queries, searching for relevant information (like what the experience and qualifications are). The best query letter begins with an introductory paragraph (“I am writing to you today because….”). In the introductory paragraph, briefly detail experience (“I feel that I would be excellent in this position because…”).
The second paragraph should, slightly more thoroughly, explain relevant experience and skills the professional may have – only those things pertinent to the job at hand. If you’re great with animals but the job is for writing, don’t include anything relating to your time spent tending sick thoroughbreds. It isn’t relevant.
In the third paragraph, explain any attachments or links which are being included with the query and why (“I have attached my resume for your perusal”). State that you’re interested in learning more about the position, or learning more about working for that company. Close with something friendly, but not too casual or personal.
A Self Employment Secret
Short, simple, the query letter. It’s a self employment must-have and a self employment secret, as many professionals don't spend the amount of time on it that they should. It’s the first thing clients and employers see and it’s the reason they make the judgments they make. Most of the time, the query letter is the difference between getting the job…and not getting the job.
Want to learn more about marketing yourself and the self employment query letter? Check out Marketing/PR, where you can find Small Business Marketing Resources, Marketing for Artists, and much more.
When you’re in the mood to check out your self employment status, take a look at this fun Quiz for Entrepreneurs.
