63 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
63 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Cover Letter Reference
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> A cover letter is optional by default. The resume must earn a screen on its own.
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## Decision Gate
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Generate a cover letter when at least one is true:
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- The posting or portal requests one.
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- The employer is a traditional Swiss/DACH institution, public body, NGO or mission-led organization where motivation is material.
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- A credible career/location/domain transition needs a short explanation.
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- Work authorization, language, relocation or a genuine personal connection materially strengthens the application.
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- The user explicitly requests a letter.
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Normally skip it when:
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- The portal provides no upload field.
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- A standardized process already asks motivation questions.
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- It would merely repeat the resume or paraphrase company news.
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Record `Cover Letter Decision: YES/NO` and the reason in the session file before writing.
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## Evidence Rules
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1. Read `resume_builder/canonical/claims.json` first.
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2. Every work claim must be traceable to the resume and canonical registry.
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3. Significance files supply optional context only; reverify external claims from current primary sources.
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4. Company or industry scale never becomes Dennis's personal scale or impact.
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5. Do not introduce a skill, metric, customer, ownership claim or result absent from the resume.
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## International Tech / Industry Letter
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- One page, normally 200--300 words.
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- Two or three short paragraphs.
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- Open with the candidate-role connection, not a company press-release summary.
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- Use one or two proof points and explain why they matter for this role.
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- Add motivation or context the resume cannot show.
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- Close directly and professionally.
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## Swiss/DACH Letter
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- One A4 page.
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- Match the language and formality of the posting.
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- Explain motivation, relevant evidence and practical fit such as location/language.
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- References and diplomas remain separate attachments when requested.
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## Employer-Specific Formats
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For NATO, government or academic applications, follow the employer's explicit format and portal fields. Do not force a generic three-paragraph industry structure when the application requests a motivation statement or competency answers.
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## Hook Verification
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Verify every named product, programme, paper, executive statement or current company initiative before use. Prefer first-party sources. Record the source in the session file. If a hook is not necessary, omit it rather than spending a paragraph proving company familiarity.
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## Quality Checks
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- The resume stands alone.
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- The letter adds motivation, decision context or a meaningful connection.
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- The voice is direct and natural.
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- No generic opening, credential dump, defensive gap list or copied resume bullet.
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- The canonical validator passes for the cover-letter `.tex`.
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- The compiled document is one readable page unless the employer explicitly requests otherwise.
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