1. The devil is in the details
The trusty cover letter like all other aspects of the recruitment industry is in a moment of unprecedented change. The rules are being made up and torn up quicker than ever before and yet, yet some standards are evergreen. No matter how creative or how unconventional your industry is nothing says I am a careless employee quicker than incorrect grammar and spelling in your first point of contact.
I know it should go without saying but remember no matter how innovative your cover letter it still what (won’t-see what I mean?) survive a typo.
2. Write an opening line that says “I’m here”
The first thing to remember when writing a cover letter, or resume, for that matter, is that you are one of many and that it is your job to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
Therefore think before you start your cover letter with, ‘I am writing to you to apply for the position of trainee accountant Gerald Ferguson Inc.’ I am not explicitly saying don’t write it. Indeed it may be appropriate for a position of trainee accountant at a conservative company. However even accepting that you are seeking a traditionally conservative position in a traditionally conservative industry you can still write a first sentence that aims to stand out.
For example, When I chose to study accountancy at university it was not because it was something I felt I should do, it was not chosen to please parents nor as a ‘safe’ option. I chose to study accountancy because I love numbers. I love the detail of numbers. I love their disregard for brash opinion and ill-prepared conjecture. I love how they respect diligence and due care. I still get the same thrill and sense of satisfaction making sense of numbers as I did when I first encountered them in accountancy class in secondary school.
Judging from the exceptional reputation that Gerald Ferguson Inc. has earned in the accountancy world I expect this degree of vocation and passion for the field is the mere starting point expected of potential accountant trainee candidates so allow me to describe my achievements to this point in the hope of helping myself stand out.’
Here you can see that the second example bristles with a level of passion and personal insight that the former just doesn’t possess. As with any correspondence you have to decide what is right for you and what is suitable for the company. However do so taking into account that you are one of many; so be prepared to stand out. Read this article from Forbes Magazine for further examples of why a banal opening just doesn’t cut the mustard.
3. Show don’t tell
Following on from the hypothetical introduction to the fictional Gerald Ferguson Inc. accounting company where I was about to talk about my achievements in my field. This would be an excellent point to provide quantitative examples of how you can improve company performances based on past work. Talking convincingly about the passion you have for your field is a wonderful beginning but nothing serves to mitigate a recruiter’s fears about the risk they are assuming in taking on a new employee like cold, hard figures which testify to your having performed in a similar position.
So, this time taking the example of a radio broadcasting position, if you can say that during your time at CDL Radio’s mid-morning show you increased viewer listenership 25% from an estimated 40,000 listeners to 50,000 then do so. If you are in a position where you can’t offer exact figures you may need to draw on concrete examples of your positive influence on a previous company which ring as true as possible.
4. Match the tone of your writing to the culture of the company
This is implied previously but be sure to match the tone of your writing to the culture of the company. Traditional, conservative companies will reflect that in their communication and will look favourably on a candidate who adopts that tone. Creative industries will look for someone who can demonstrate a creative spark from their first contact so be willing to take more risks if you want to catch their attention.
In general use your detective skills and try to write a letter which uniquely complements the company’s culture and presents you as a future employee who would fit right in.
5. Make your cover letter complement your resume
Your cover letter should work in tandem with your resume not merely reiterate the information provided. Therefore seek to expand on any details given in your CV which you think would strengthen your position. For example if you have described yourself as having certain qualities such as leadership, communication or strategic thinking skills use your cover letter to provide a concise, and if possible quantifiable, example of your employment of these skills in a previous position.
Make sure that your CV and cover letter are designed as a unit and do not look like two completely different items aesthetically. To this end they should share a similar template, the same font and if delivering a hard copy they should be printed on the same paper.
6. Be concise
Ernest Hemingway wrote in his memoir of life in Paris A Moveable Feast that “the only type of writing was rewriting” and while it’s true we are not trying to write a book the advice of this great author holds true. A second or third draft of your cover letter will always improve on your first attempt and when rewriting it let your focus be on stripping away the unnecessary and communicating the same level of information in as concise a manner as possible.
7. Address your letter to a person
Doing your research and finding the name and correct title of the person who maybe reading your letter is an important way of avoiding the generic, and insipid, ‘Dear Sir or Madam.’ Even if the name you have used is not the person whose hands your letter ends up in, as is often the case in large companies, it still shows that you have researched the company.
8. Don’t apologise
While self-deprecating humour can be charming in social company a job application cover letter is not the place for it. So don’t try to apologise for certain skills you don’t possess or abilities you think you might not have. It is your job to strike the balance between self promotion and integrity in your communication in order to come across as humble, determined and capable.
9. Is a cover letter all about you?
What a really effective cover letter does is it tells them all about what you can do for the company. It is, therefore, all about you in relation to them. Endlessly listing your achievements has the potential to come across as egotistical and vague. However consciously relating your professional and personal skills, experiences and achievements to the field, culture and work practices of the company in question shows that you have researched them and thought deeply about how you would be a good fit for the company.
Writing a great cover letter can be a time-consuming and, at times, frustrating task but if you really want a chance to interview you must become a detective of sorts. Research the company and try to find the specific details that will set your letter apart from the rest. If you are genuinely excited by the company tell them why with concrete references to their latest initiatives. Give real life examples of your experiences and tell them how you think the skills you have developed will add value to the company.
10. Show it to a friend whose judgement you trust
A cover letter is a task where two heads will often be a lot better than one. Of course you will make the final decision but a little bit of perspective from a knowledgeable friend can often be the difference between a cover letter that sounds a little off and one that really hits the mark. So use your team mates and draw on their experience too.
Written for CareerJunction by Mark Dempsey.
