What is My Cover Letter's Fate? Ask These 3 Questions Before You Attach Your Cover Letter
Do you think your cover letter is a desperate shriek into the dark? “BUY ME!”, it cries—and then is deleted by an anonymous hiring manager.
Often times, this is exactly what happens, except for the scream. It's true that most cover letters aren't very compelling. Writing a formulaic letter—or not sending one at all—can detract from the quality of your resume or may leave your reader with unanswered questions.
Template letters are easy to spot and skip right on over. The good news is you really don't need to write, copy or paste a vague introduction after your greeting to Dear Hiring Manager and before a brief rehash of your resume.
Many recruiters and hiring managers read your resume first and then move to your cover letter. So they already have a sense of what they think you can do. But your cover letter is often the last thing your reader will remember. And after skimming its first paragraph, they often stop reading.
Since your letter may be your last word to your reader, make the most of it. Bad cover letters and great resumes work in tandem, just like good resumes and great cover letters.
You have to judge whether your letter is worth sending. There are definitely times when you'll want to use a good one. Knowing what those times are—and when you should scrap your letter—is a great way to refine your job searching strategy.
Ask yourself these three questions when you're not sure if you should send your cover letter:
1. ARE YOU MAKING A BIG CHANGE?
If you want to work in a new industry, always send your letter. Give your reasons for wanting the change and show how you can do it. Discuss your transferable job skills without repeating your resume. Not sure how? We'll give some tips in the next post.
If you want to relocate, explain this in your letter. If you don't, your reader will probably ignore your resume or try contacting you to see if you realize they're far away. Include your moving date—even if it's tentative and depends on your finding work.
If you're receiving licensure, degrees or certifications in the near future and the position requires it, mention when you'll be ready in your cover letter. Otherwise, the hiring manager will just assume they can't hire you.
2. DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS JOB AND WANT YOUR RESUME TO STAND OUT?
Send your personalized cover letter even though it takes more time. This is your chance to make a personal connection with your audience before you even speak with them. We'll give some tips in our next post.
Letters which aren't personalized seem irrelevant. Think about the last junk letter you received in your inbox or mailbox. The writer probably told you why they were sending it. But they probably didn't grab your interest, connect with you and make you want to call them just so you could see their face.
Even though cover letters are business letters, this sense of connection is often what your readers want from your cover letter. And sharing your goals, passions and personality helps you make that connection with recruiters and hiring managers. If you can do this, it will set your resume apart from the majority.
3. DO YOU HAVE TIME TO PERSONALIZE YOUR LETTER?
If you don't have time, don't attach your cover letter. When your resume reflects your goals, aptitudes and skills, let it speak for itself. Making a follow-up call two days after you submit your resume is a better way to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager than writing—or attaching—a cover letter that's not personalized.
Do you think cover letter writing is mysterious or obsolete? A cover letter is still your good friend if you give it some time.
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