Drafting Cover Letters That Get Interviews
While searching for a job, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time on your resume, perfecting the language, format, and information to show the excellent employee you would make. It’s tempting to feel “done” at that point, to believe that your resume will open the floodgates to interviews galore and infinite job offers, but hold on a second. You should consider drafting cover letters.
Avoid the temptation to waste this space by drafting a general, form letter. A targeted cover letter can land you in the interview chair.
Follow these tips to get yourself in the door, in the chair, and in a position to negotiate a salary:
1. Make it consistent.
Nothing says sloppy like a cover letter with different fonts (sizes and styles), spacing, and indentation. Even with the best resume and qualifications, a poorly formatted cover letter can land your application in the recycling bin. Make sure you produce a clean and consistent cover letter.
2. Make it personal.
The cover letter is a good place to show that you can follow directions and find information. If the job call lists a contact person, make sure to use their name. If it doesn’t, try to find the name of the human resources representative or hiring manager. If you can’t determine the application recipient, then use “To Whom It May Concern.” Make sure to include the job title and requisition identification if available.
3. Make it specific.
Your resume provides a lot of information on the professional you. The cover letter tells a potential employer how to interpret that information. Use the cover letter to explain how certain experiences or details in your resume make you an excellent candidate for their position. Do not just restate your resume in the cover letter. Use it to represent the most important aspects of you and your history to the employer.
4. Make it meaningful.
The cover letter also provides you with the chance to show who you are and explain anything you might need to explain, specifically job gaps, reasons for leaving a job after a short time, etc. While the resume doesn’t provide the opportunity to discuss these concerns, the cover letter allows you the chance to provide a reason if necessary.
Also, don’t forget…be gracious, thankful, and excited.
They may seem like platitudes, but thanking someone for their time builds good will, which goes a long way! It’s easy to want to skip the cover letter after toiling over your resume for so long.
Resist. The. Urge.
Write a cover letter that will build on your resume and propel you into an interview.
