The Art of the Cover Letter: Tips for getting noticed and
getting an interviewApril 21, 2014Resume Services0 Comments 4When
people ask what I do for a living, I tell them I am a professional
career coach who helps people get jobs (the inverse of a recruiter,
who helps a company find people). If they give me a puzzled look, I
usually tell them Im a professional resume writer. That seems to
clear things up, partially because people tend to have an
unrealistic notion that the resume gets you the job. Thats not
really how it works these days. In fact, I often argue that the
cover letter is the most important thing I do for any client. Its
the very first thing a potential employer will read about you,
after all! Its also far less structured than a resume, which means
theres more opportunity to wander outside the lines of normal.
Writing a cover letter can be a terrifying task if youre not
prepared and not experienced, but Im here to shed some light after
reading countless introductions from eager applicants.First, lets
briefly discuss the point and purpose of a cover letter, since this
is where so many people go wrong. A cover letter does not get you
the job. While were at it, neither does your resume. Instead, think
of every step in the application process as merely a first down in
your quest for the end zone. The function of a great cover letter
is to get the reader interested enough to view your resume. If your
cover letter isnt doing anything for them, theyre never
double-clicking on that little attachment that represents all your
hard work and achievement. A great cover letter will get the reader
interested and provide a seamless hand-off to the resume. Oh, and
while were at it, we should stop thinking about a cover letter as a
physical page. In most cases, especially if you read my recent
article on getting straight to the recruiter, a cover letter is
simply the body of an email. This means we dont need to worry about
filling a page, we just need to capture interest.Common Elements of
a Poor Cover Letter:1. Too long If your cover letter is a full page
or more, you might have a problem. Nobody wants to read that much
just to see if youre in the ballpark for their job.2. Beats around
the bush If Im two paragraphs in and I still dont know what job you
want, we have a problem. If you cant be direct in your cover
letter, are you going to get to the point in meetings and in our
day to day talks?3. Too thorough This can go hand in hand with
length, but far too many cover letters are simply a narrative form
of the resume, citing every job and every education bullet point.
If I wanted a complete and exhaustive history on you, Id open your
resume.4. Focuses on the company -If you spend two paragraphs
talking about what a wonderful place Company X is to work, all
youve accomplished is telling the reader he works at a nice
company. Presumably he already knows that. The point is to sell
yourself, not show how much you want to get hired.You can probably
imagine where Im headed, but here are the components of an
excellent cover letter, which I make sure to follow each and every
time I work with a client.Elements of a Great Cover Letter:1.
Concise and Brief Respect the readers time, and respect that youre
very early in the process, which means brevity is your friend. I
like to try for 2-3 paragraphs, only taking up about half a
physical page. This is short enough that it tends to get read
entirely (as opposed to merely skimmed).2. Get to the Point!- In
the very first sentence, tell them what job you want and why youre
an excellent fit. The longer you wait, the more aimless you will
seem. There is something refreshing about walking into a room and
making your intentions known, and thats exactly what a good cover
letter does.3. Highlight dont recite your experience Briefly
mention your academic qualifications and a little of your history
to show them youre in the right ballpark for the position. I hold a
bachelors degree in chemical engineering. For the past three years,
Ive worked at Company X, helping them design polymers that
effectively reduce emissions and increase overall yield. We just
want to give them enough of a glimpse to show were worth a second
look.4. Gracefully Compliment -I like to mention one polite and
personal statement about the company. After all, you want them to
know youre interested in this company for a reason, not simply
because you found it on a website. Heres the key: Save this for the
end of your document. Leading with how great the company is will
just make you look like a suckup. Ending with it shows respect and
appreciation after youve established your value.5. Include a Call
to Action This is natural for sales and marketing folks, but a
foreign concept to many in other fields. Tell them youd like to
meet to discuss further, or that youre extremely interested in
interviewing. It may seem obvious to you, but this shows that youre
a go-getter who is ready to further the process by prompting them
for the next step. The world belongs to people who ask for it.So
there it is. I can guarantee the results for this style of cover
letter, because its been battle-tested for so many of my clients.
Be brief, clear and direct. Walk into the room with a purpose and
state your intentions. Briefly hint at your experience, show some
respect for the company, and include a call to action. If your
skills and history are a match, I assure you theyll take you
seriously and look at your resume. Congratulations on your first
down!
Heres the after version. Its awesome. It tells us who the
candidate is and why shes great at what she does. And shes
genuinely enthusiastic. This isnt a generic letter; its a letter
abouther.Dear Hiring Manager:It is with great enthusiasm that I
submit my application for the position of Sales Coordinator for the
Westeros Castle Project. As an administrative professional with
over ten years experience, I know my diverse skills and
qualifications will make me an asset to the Westerosproject team.As
you will see from the attached resume, Ive built my career in a
variety of roles and industries, mostly in small companies where I
was not just the admin but also gatekeeper, technology whiz,
bookkeeper and marketing guru. Im not only used to wearing many
hats, I sincerely enjoy it; I thrive in an environment where no two
work days are exactly the same.In addition to being flexible and
responsive, Im also a fanatic for details particularly when it
comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved
coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the
narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets,
and generally made sure every line was letter-perfect and that the
entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the
RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe
in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as
visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as
mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.Last but
certainly not least, I want you to know that Im a passionate
Westerosfan and a longtime supporter of the new castle. Ive been
following the new castle movement since the earliest days of the
original Save the Tombs campaign, and I am so excited to see this
vision becoming a reality. Ive already checked out the new castle
website, and the renderings of the new throne and great hall are
stunning, to say the least I particularly love the vintage murals
and art featured throughout the building. Nice touch!In closing, I
am thrilled at the possibility of being involved in the new castle
almost literally from the ground up, and would love the opportunity
to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring to the
Targaryen organization and the Westeros Castle Project. I
appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from
you.Warmest regards,Catelyn Star
The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received David SilvermanJUNE 15,
2009 SAVE SHARE COMMENT TEXT SIZE PRINTThe Best Cover Letter I Ever
Received
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SAVE SHAREIn my last postI talked about how to make your rsum more
likely to catch the attention of a hiring manager. As a follow up,
Id like to discuss cover letters. Heres my basic philosophy on
them: dont bother.Thats because the cover letters I see usually
fall into one of three categories:The recap:The rsum in prose form.
Its redundant, harder to read than the rsum, and provides no
additional insight.
The form letter:This says, essentially, Dear Sir or Madam: I saw
your ad in the paper and thought you might like me. And its clearly
a form letter where maybe they got my name and company right. If
theyre lucky, I will still take the time to read their rsum after
being insulted with a form letter.
The Im crazy:This ones rare, and it expands on the rsum of
experience with some personal insights. Examples range from the
merely batty (I find batik as an art form has taught me to become
both a better person and project manager.) to the truly terrifying
(I cast a pentagram hex and the central line pointed towards your
job listing. I know you will find this as comforting as I do.)
There are really only a few times to use a cover letter:1. When
you know the name of the person hiring2. When you know something
about the job requirement3. When youve been personally referred
(which might include 1 and 2)Under those conditions, you can help
your cause by doing some of the rsum analysis for your potential
new boss. To illustrate, heres the best cover letter I ever
received:Dear David:I am writing in response to the opening for
xxxx, which I believe may report to you.I can offer you seven years
of experience managing communications for top-tier xxxx firms,
excellent project-management skills, and a great eye for detail,
all of which should make me an ideal candidate for this opening.I
have attached my rsum for your review and would welcome the chance
to speak with you sometime.Best regards,Xxxx XxxxHeres what I like
about this cover letter: Its short. It sums up the rsum as it
relates to the job. It asks for the job.The writer of this letter
took the time to think through what would be relevant to me.
Instead of scattering lots of facts in hopes that one was relevant,
the candidate offered up an opinion as to which experiences I
should focus on.And that means the writer isnt just showing me
skills related to the job, hes showing me hell be the kind of
employee who offers up solutions instead of just laying problems on
my desk.What do you think? Have you ever secured a job thanks to a
cover letter? Whats your view on the value or lack thereof of cover
letters?This content was adapted for inclusion in theHBR Guide to
Getting a Job.Editors note:For a different take on whether you need
a cover letter and advice on how to write a great one, read our
Best Practice How to Write a Cover Letter
HIRINGHow to Write a Cover Letter Amy GalloFEBRUARY 04, 2014
SAVE SHARE COMMENT TEXT SIZE PRINT
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10 Must Reads)LEADERSHIP & MANAGING PEOPLEBOOK , Peter F.
Drucker, Clayton M. Christensen, Daniel Goleman, Michael E.
Porter125.00ADD TO CART SAVEHow to Write a Cover LetterNo one likes
job hunting. Scouring through online jobs boards,spiffing up your
rsum, prepping for grueling interviewsnone of its fun. But perhaps
the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective
cover letter. Theres so much conflicting advice out there, its hard
to know where to start. Indeed, in an age of digital communication,
many might question whether you even need a cover letter
anymore.What the Experts SayThe answer is yes. Not sending a cover
letter is a sign of laziness. Its akin to making spelling and
grammar mistakes in your rsum. You just dont do it, says Jodi
Glickman, a communications expert and author ofGreat on the Job.
John Lees, a UK-based career strategist and author ofKnockout CV,
agrees. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, thats
still a 50% chance that including one could help you, he explains.
Its an opportunity to distinguish yourself, Glickman adds. Still,
as anyone whos ever written a cover letter knows, its not easy to
do well. Heres how to give hiring managers what theyre looking
for.Do your research firstBefore you start writing, find out more
about the company and the specific job you want. Look at the
companys website, its executives Twitter feeds, and employee
profiles on LinkedIn. Do some research beyond reading the job
description, says Lees. Find out what challenges the company is
facing and how your role would help address those. Knowing the
company better also helps you decide on the right tone to use in
your cover letter. Think about the culture of the organization
youre applying to, advises Glickman. If its a creative agency, like
a design shop, you might take more risks but if its a more
conservative organization, like a bank, you may hold back.Open
strongPeople typically write themselves into the letter with Im
applying for X job that I saw in Y place. Thats a waste of text,
says Lees. Instead, lead with a strong opening sentence. Start with
the punch linewhy this job is exciting to you and why youre right
for it, says Glickman. For example, you might write, Im an
environmental fundraising professional with more than 15 years of
experience and Id love to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to your
growing development team. Chances are the hiring manager or
recruiter is reading a stack of these, so you want to catch their
attention. But dont try to be funny. Humor can often fall flat or
sound self-regarding, says Lees. Stay away from common platitudes,
too. Say something direct and dynamic, such as Before you read any
further, let me draw your attention to two reasons why you might
want to hire me.If you have a personal connection with the company
or someone who works there, also mention it in the first sentence
or two. And always address your letter to someone directly. With
social media, theres no excuse to not be able to find the name of a
hiring manager, says Glickman.Emphasize your personal valueHiring
managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems.
Drawing on the research you did earlier, show that you know what
the company does and some of the challenges it faces. These dont
need to be specific but you might mention a trend thats affected
the industry. For example, you might write, A lot of healthcare
companies are grappling with how the changing laws will affect
their ability to provide high-quality care. Then talk about how
your experience has equipped you to meet those needs; perhaps
explain how you solved a similar problem in the past or share a
relevant accomplishment.FURTHER READING Stand Out in Your
InterviewCAREER PLANNINGARTICLE Amy GalloHow to ace your first
meeting with a potential employer. SAVE SHARE Convey enthusiasmMake
it clear why you want the position. In todays economy, a lot of
people have the right skills, so employers want someone who really
wants the job, says Glickman. Enthusiasm conveys personality, Lees
adds. He suggests writing something like Id love to work for your
company. Who wouldnt? Youre the industry leader, setting standards
that others only follow. Dont bother applying if youre not excited
about some aspect of the company or role. Sending out 100 rsums is
a waste of time. Find the 10 companies you want to work for and put
some heart and soul into it, Glickman says. At the same time, dont
go overboard with the flattery or say anything you dont mean.
Authenticity is crucial. You dont want to sound like a gushing
teenager, Glickman warns. Be professional and mature. Lees notes
that in some industries, like fashion or technology, its more
appropriate to say how much you love a companys product or
services. A good rule of thumb is to use only the kind of language
that the hiring manager would use with one of his customers.Keep it
shortMuch of the advice out there tells you to keep it under a
page. But both Glickman and Lees say even shorter is better. Most
cover letters I see are too long, says Lees. It should be brief
enough that someone can read it at a glance. You do have to cover a
lot of groundbut you should do it succinctly.When you cant submit a
cover letterIn the black hole of an online system, the rules may be
different, Glickman concedes. Many companies now use online
application systems that dont allow for a cover letter. You may be
able to figure out how to include one in the same document as your
rsum but thats not a guarantee, especially because some systems
only allow for data to be entered into specific boxes. In these
cases, use the format youre given to demonstrate your ability to do
the job and your enthusiasm for the role. If possible, you may try
to find someone who you can send a brief follow-up email
highlighting a few key points about your application.Principles to
RememberDo: Have a strong opening statement that makes clear why
you want the job and why youre right for it Be succincta hiring
manager should be able to read it at a glance Share an
accomplishment that shows you can address the challenges the
employer faces
Dont: Try to be funnytoo often it falls flat Send a generic
cover lettercustomize each one for the specific job Go overboard
with flatterybe professional and matureCase study #1: Demonstrate
an understanding of what the company needsMichele Sommers, the vice
president of HR for the Boys & Girls Village, a nonprofit in
Connecticut, recently posted a job for a recruiting and training
specialist. I was looking for someone with a strong recruiting
background who could do everything from sourcing candidates to
onboarding new hires, she says. She also wanted the person to hit
the ground running. Were a small team and I cant afford to train
someone, she says.More than 100 candidates applied for the job. The
organizations online application system doesnt allow for cover
letter attachments but one of the applicants, Heidi (not her real
name), sent a follow-up email after submitting her rsum. And its a
good thing she did because she wouldve been weeded out otherwise,
Michele says.Heidis rsum made her look like a job hopper very short
stints at each previous employer. Michele assumed she was a poor
performer who kept getting fired. She was also the only candidate
who didnt have a four-year college degree.But Heidis email caught
Micheles eye. First off, it was professional. Heidi stated clearly
that she was writing to double-check that her application had been
received. She went on to explain how she had gotten Micheles name
and information (through her husbands boss who was on the board)
and her personal connection to Boys & Girls Village (her
father-in-law had done some work with the organization).What really
stood out to Michele, though, was Heidis understanding of the group
and the challenges it was facing. Shed done her research and listed
some things she would do or already had done that would help us
address those needs, says Michele.The personality and passion she
conveyed in the cover letter came through during her phone
screening, Michele says. Heidi ended up being more than qualified
for the job. I wanted this role to be bigger from the get-go but I
didnt think that was possible. When I met her, I knew we could
expand it. Three weeks later Michele offered Heidi the job and she
accepted.Case study #2: Catch their attentionOver the past four
years, Emily Sernaker applied for multiple positions at the
International Rescue Committee (IRC). She never gave up. With each
application, she sent a personalized cover letter. I wanted my
cover letter to highlight my qualifications, creative thinking, and
genuine respect for the organization, she says.Sarah Vania, the
organizations regional HR director, says that Emilys letters caught
her attention, especially because they included several video links
that showed the results of Emilys advocacy and fundraising work at
other organizations. Emily explains, I had prior experience
advocating for former child soldiers, human trafficking survivors,
vulnerable women, and displaced persons. Its one thing to make
statements in a cover letter, like I can make a pitch, I am a
creative person, I am thoughtful, but showing these qualities
seemed like a better way of convincing the recruiter that the
statements were true.This is what Emily wrote to Sarah about the
video:Here is a short video about my story with activism. The
nonprofit organization Invisible Children made it for a youth
conference I spoke at this year. It is about four minutes.As youll
see from the video, Ive had a lot of success as a student
fundraiser, raising over $200,000 for Invisible Children. Ive since
gone on to work as a consultant for Wellspring International and
have recently concluded my studies as a Rotary International
Ambassadorial Scholar.
In each of the cover letters, Emily also made clear how much she
wanted to work for IRC. To convey enthusiasm is a vulnerable thing
to do and can come off as naivet, but, when it came down to it, my
enthusiasm for the organization was genuine and expressing it felt
right, she says.This is how Emily conveyed her interest in working
for IRC:You should also know that I have a sincere appreciation of
the IRC. I have enjoyed learning about your programs and have
personally visited your New York headquarters, the San Diego New
Roots farm, the We Can Be Heroes exhibit, and the Half the Sky
exhibit in Los Angeles. The IRC is my top choice and I believe I
would be a valuable addition to your fundraising team.Emily learned
throughout the process that the organization had hundreds of
applicants for each position and it was extremely competitive. I
appreciated that I wouldnt be the best for every opening but also
remained firm that I did have a significant contribution to make,
she says. Eventually, Emilys persistence paid off. Last June, she
was hired as a temporary external relations coordinator and, in
October, she moved into a permanent role.
Amy Gallois a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review and
the author of the forthcomingHBR Guide to Managing Conflict at
Work. Follow her on Twitter at@amyegallo.