Using a P.S. in a Cover Letter (cover letters, applying, job)

[Buzliteyear]

In marketing, the P.S. following a letter is critical as it is often the most read portion of the letter.

I was curious if anyone has any thoughts about using a P.S. in a cover letter to highlight something in your background. It would just be a one-sentence piece. Interestingly, I have found websites on both sides of the argument.

Thanks.

[joe from dayton]

I would wonder why you did not go back and modify the document.

[veuvegirl]

Originally Posted by joe from dayton

I would wonder why you did not go back and modify the document.

Exactly. I haven't seen a P.S. in years. To me, a PS is antiquated, meant for hand written letters.

[HeadhunterPaul]

Originally Posted by Buzliteyear

In marketing, the P.S. following a letter is critical as it is often the most read portion of the letter.

I was curious if anyone has any thoughts about using a P.S. in a cover letter to highlight something in your background. It would just be a one-sentence piece. Interestingly, I have found websites on both sides of the argument.

Thanks.

Buz,

Yes, you can use a P.S.

It is crude but it works to draw additional attention to something you do not want buried in the text of the Cover Letter.

But not 'another' bullet about yourself (achievements/experience/knowledge) so much as something useful but separate from the gist of the Cover Letter:

"P.S. I am currently renting and will relocate at my own expense."


This could useful in the event you are applying for a distant job and you are not using a 'local telephone number/address' to mask your not being local to the job.

The screener is ready to screen you out but for your P.S.




Paul


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[LexusNexus]

IMO, a P.S. in a cover letter is an indication that the cover letter wasn't well-written.

[dmills]

Originally Posted by HeadhunterPaul

Buz,

Yes, you can use a P.S.

It is crude but it works to draw additional attention to something you do not want buried in the text of the Cover Letter.

But not 'another' bullet about yourself (achievements/experience/knowledge) so much as something useful but separate from the gist of the Cover Letter:

"P.S. I am currently renting and will relocate at my own expense."


This could useful in the event you are applying for a distant job and you are not using a 'local telephone number/address' to mask your not being local to the job.

The screener is ready to screen you out but for your P.S.




Paul


....

I agree with Paul, it is probably not necessary in this day and age, but it is a subtle way to get a crucial piece of information noticed. I don't think anyone would hold it against you. Just make sure you make whatever you say count.

[HeadhunterPaul]

Originally Posted by dmills

I agree with Paul, it is probably not necessary in this day and age, but it is a subtle way to get a crucial piece of information noticed. I don't think anyone would hold it against you. Just make sure you make whatever you say count.

Thanks, D, well said.

What you said, "...make sure you make whatever you say count..." is the key to using a P.S.




I wonder.....

A 'P.S.' has historically been an eye magnet since it is usually known to contain additional information of interest:

"P.S. Oh, by the way, your Uncle Robert is coming into town next week!"


With fewer [personal correspondence] letters being written and the P.S. mode falling out of vogue, I wonder if corporate Millennial resume screeners -not 'knowing' a P.S. contains 'good news'/something worthwhile- have a tendency to not bother reading that last line of text, not recognizing it has information of merit.


For this reason, I have in the past used "Note:" instead of P.S.

I have done this in the Cover Letters I use in the body of an email message when presenting a candidate/recruit.

"Note: Mr. Jameson, Robert is renting so if he is hired, he will relocate at his own expense."

I choose "Note:" instead of "P.S." since historically, 'P.S.' is normally used in personal correspondence while "Note:" has a more neutral connotation and fits into a business conversation more smoothly than a 'P.S.'.



Paul.............


...

[joe from dayton]

I came back to state that "Note" would be more appropriate, but I see Paul and dmills beat me to it.