You’re putting a lot of time and effort into applying to jobs. But nothing seems to be working! You’re not even hearing back from the companies you are applying to. Is anyone even looking at your application?! It’s just so frustrating and stressful. What is wrong with your Cover Letter or Resume?!
We know that recruiters spend about 7 seconds reviewing a Resume. I can only imagine that they spend even less on the Cover Letter.
We already explored how to overcome the top Resume mistakes and how to differentiate yourself by making subtle changes to your Resume. So, that leaves the Cover Letter!
[Note see bottom of this post for a FREE Cover Letter template].
But first…
Do I really need a Cover Letter?
I know some hiring managers that don’t even look at them, and some positions that do not even accept them. So, job candidates can get lazy with the Cover Letter because the value is not clear. Therefore, candidates simply recycle the same generic Cover Letter over and over again.
When your Cover Letter doesn’t explain why you are a good fit, it may actually make the hiring manager think you don’t want the job. As a result, your application gets discarded.
So, yes, you need to have a Cover Letter!
What is the purpose of a Cover Letter?
Essentially you want the Cover Letter to get you to the next step of the process, which is likely an in-person interview (or a phone screen). The Cover Letter can help you do that by connecting the experiences on your resume to the job you want.
Essentially, your Cover Letter needs to explain how your skills and experiences on your resume make you qualified for the job for which you are applying.
If you do that, you will likely make it to the next step in the process. From there, you need to nail the interview.
Now that we discussed why you need a Cover Letter, let’s talk about…
Why No One is Looking at Your Cover Letter
There are 4 potential reasons why no one is looking at your Cover Letter:
1. You Didn’t Say You Want the Job
It should be obvious that you want the job since you are applying to it. But, as a hiring manager, I can tell you that I like to hear an applicant explicitly state that they want the job. You can tell a lot from how the candidate states their interest, specifically their word choice.
Let’s look at 2 examples:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the XYZ position…..
OR
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to learn about the open XYZ position. I believe I would make a substantial contribution in this role…
Ok, enough said! You’d rather receive the 2nd Cover Letter, right?
So, state you want the job! Say you are excited about it! Mention you would think you would be good at the job.
2. The Experiences/Qualifications You Describe are Not Specific to the Role
You need to tailor your Cover Letter to the job. Specifically, you need to state the experiences and/or competencies that directly relate to the job you want.
To do this, look at the job description and pick out the required competencies.
Then, describe how you have demonstrated those required competencies in your Cover Letter.
So, for example, let’s say that a job description mentions these required competencies: strategic planning, collaboration, and management experience.
Here is how you should write your Cover Letter:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited about applying to the XYZ position. After spending 10+ years in Marketing, I believe I would make substantial contributions in this role due to my experiences in:
- Strategic planning: demonstrated success in assessing changing markets and developing 3-year plans; developed strategic plan for Product X that resulted in a 10% increase in year-over-year revenue.
- Collaboration: 5+ years leading cross-functional teams for over 7 product launches, including Product A which grew to 20% market share in 6 months
- Management Experience: over 5 years of management experience, including winning a Manager of the Year award
But, Mrs. Type A, writing a Cover Letter for EACH role you apply to is time-consuming!! Do I really have to?!?!
Yes.
Oh, I thought you were going to say I really didn’t have to. I do really have to?
Yes.
How in the world does anyone have time for that?!
Honestly, you probably only need 2-3 Cover Letters. If you’re applying to jobs that fit your experiences, you’re probably not going to see competencies that are drastically different.
Over time, you will probably see that you have to make minimal changes for each position. But, you need to read the job description and pick and choose what is most relevant from other Cover Letters.
3. You Do Not Have a Strong Close
Most Cover Letters end with something like, “Please reach out to me at XXX-XXX-XXXX with any questions or next steps. I hope to hear from you soon.”
OK, that’s not wrong. But it’s not really inspiring action on behalf of the hiring manager. It feels a little like you are begging them to call you.
Instead, you want to assume you’ve demonstrated your qualifications for the role, and, therefore, will be moving on in the process.
How do I do that?
Well, once you’ve stated you wanted the position and the reasons why you would make strong contributions, then you can add something like one of the options below (with varying degrees of “closing”):
“You can reach me at XXX-XXX-XXXX to discuss my candidacy in more detail.”
Or, even more direct:
“You can reach me at XXX-XXX-XXXX to discuss the next steps.”
I’ve also seen this and, while risky, it caught my eye:
“Should we connect to discuss the next steps? You can reach me at XXX-XXX-XXXX.”
The key with the close is to assume you will get an interview. You’re simply providing your contact information so they can reach you.
4. Your Cover Letter is Longer Than 1 Page
This is all too common. Please do not have a Cover Letter longer than 1 page. Ever. There is no reason why you would have to have a long Cover Letter. All you are trying to do is to get to the next step in the process. Just give enough information to explain your qualifications and secure an in-person interview. You do not need to say anything else besides your interest in the role, why your experiences will lend themselves to success, and how to reach you for the next steps.
Do you want a free Cover Letter template?
Ok, thought you would! You can get it when you sign up for the weekly Mrs. Type A newsletter here:
[If you need help on your Resume, check out my How to Create a Standout Resume Course]
Hopefully, these tips help you write a fantastic Cover Letter! How about you? What tips do you have for writing Cover Letters? I’d love to hear what has worked for you below in the comments!
If you like this post, then be sure to check out:
- How to Answer the 5 Most Common Interview Questions
- Resume Tips: How to Overcome the Top 3 Resume Mistakes
- How To Make A Stand Out Resume
- Career Tips You Need to Ignore
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