The Art of the Cover Letter
photo by woodleywonderworks
Cover letters are completely worthless in my opinion. I’m a high-volume recruiter and I honestly don’t have time to read cover letters.
That being said, they probably don’t hurt. In fact, I do notice if there is a cover letter even though I don’t read it. There are some recruiters and hiring managers who do read them, though, and for this reason alone you had better have one attached to every resume.
The question, then, is what do you put in your cover letter? Should it be long or short? Should every one be individualized and unique, or can it just be a form letter? Just like getting resume advice, if you ask 100 people, you’ll get 100 different answers. All I can say is that I work with these things every day, so here is my best recommendation based on my experience.
Content:
- I subscribe to the KISS system—Keep It Simple, Stupid! Keeping it simple here means keeping it short.
- Every resume should start with a 30 second elevator pitch or the Career Summary. This is a great start for your cover letter.
- Every cover letter should be personalized and individualized.
- Do everything that you can to address the cover letter to the right person (Dear Sir or Madam is a last resort due to desperation).
- The easiest way to find out this name is to call the office where you plan on applying. Be kind and ask the receptionist for some direction and help. Quickly explain that you are preparing your resume for ______position and how much you admire the company and that you want to stand out from the crowd etc… ask if she/he can advise you who you should address your application to.
- Very few people do this and it could be the one thing that differentiates you from the masses of applicants.
- This also gives you a name that you can ask for on follow-up calls.
- If you can’t get the hiring manager, it’s ok to settle for the HR person/ Recruiter.
- 5. Keep it quick and to the point, as most people don’t have time to read fluff.
Example
Dear Mr. North,
I am interested in a Civil Engineer position with ____firm name_________. I have followed _____firm_____ for some time and admire the reputation that you hold in the industry. My skills and experience described below would lend themselves well to the open position (even if there isn’t an open position listed, just assume that there is one).
As a licensed EIT, I have developed a passion for _________. I have a proven ability to manage all aspects of project development from conception to completion, utilizing both individual and team resources. My current firm has consistently recognized my high productivity levels as both a leader and an individual contributor. (It’s okay to adjust this “career summary” section to use “I” statements.)
I would like the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the specifics of the position. I can be reached at 888-888-8888.
Regards, Sincerely, or other professional salutation,
John Doe
Resume Attached
And that’s it! You’ve just presented a good pitch while not wasting anyone’s time. Best of luck and let me know what you think?
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