Chris Smith
123 Any Street • City, ST 12345 • (555) 555-5555 • csmith@email.com

June 1, 200–

Pat Cummings
District Manager
Any Retail Chain
456 Any Street
City, ST 12345
FAX (555) 555-5557

Dear Ms. Cummings:

I would very much like to join the Any Retail Chain's management team. A very strong and clear sense of career focus, previous retail experience, knowledge of your stores and target markets, and a desire for a full-time management position have prompted me to forward the attached resume. I have uploaded this document and provided additional information through your firm's website, but I also wanted to share my candidacy directly via this fax.

During the past seven years, as documented on my resume, I have held progressively responsible positions in retail sales, from salesperson to manager. In my most recent position as store manager for Raintree Designs, by motivating my colleagues and completing efficient buying, we accounted for an increase in branch sales from $.5 to $1.2 million in one year. I have hands-on experience in sales, inventory control, and product promotion. As assistant manager for Rips, Inc., in Brooklyn, I supervised a staff of twelve, oversaw the production of a promotional video, and assisted in selecting chain-wide promotion techniques.

As my resume indicates, and as is the history of many who build successful careers, some of my retail management experience has been part-time. I am now seeking a permanent position and the opportunity to build a career while I contribute to the growth of Any Retail Chain. Please allow me the opportunity to share in an interview how past experiences and accomplishments can predict future achievements. I will call to clarify all steps associated with the selection process and, if you judge appropriate, to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Smith

Comments

• First paragraph identifies goal, summarizes background, and refers to Web-based efforts.

• Closing paragraph reveals knowledge of the field while focusing on part-time history as traditional and the foundation upon which success can be built.