Cover Letters: A Lost Art?
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In the age of the fast and highly impersonal on-line application process, it seems the art of writing a cover letter has gone by the wayside for many. But, like so many other things in this challenging economy, now more than ever is the time to perfect the cover letter – not neglect it. Here are a few reasons to consider:
- · Reflection of Your Interest – the ease with which you can apply to jobs on-line is the exact reason that a cover letter is paramount. It is a strong indicator that you are serious about your candidacy, not just slinging your resume out there to see where it sticks.
- · Template versus Boilerplate – Having a standard cover letter is a starting point, not something to arbitrarily cut-and-paste each time you apply. Make sure the document reads like it is written for the reader and only the reader. Ask yourself this – aren’t you more apt to take the time to read a letter you can tell was written just for you versus one that is clearly generic? I know I am.
- · It’s All About Standing Apart from the Crowd – as unemployment continues to increase, so does your pool of competition. Differentiating is the name of the game now more than ever. Your cover letter is the perfect platform to do just that.
- · The Interview Before the Interview – Every C level executive I work with says the same thing. They use the cover letter as a barometer to gauge a candidate’s ability to effectively communicate. This is an ideal time to showcase your written communication skills.
- · Recruiters Don’t Read Them – Yes and no. The good ones do and the others should. For all the reasons listed here plus it gives them pre-packaged selling points for their clients, should they consider you a candidate. They, after all, are another example of an interview before the interview.
Are cover letters sometimes overlooked? Yes. On the other hand, they are quite often a deciding factor as to whether or not you will get an interview. So, take the time to put together a document that reflects you and why you should be considered over the other hundreds of applicants. This attention to detail could be the first step towards getting you the interview you want and the job you deserve.
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2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved
love your information..thank you
Recruiters nowadays are pressured by their management and customers to deliver suitable candidates timely and at the lowest operational cost. Hence they will consider first those applicants who are 100% fit with the customer specification. If your application reflects a higher seniority than requested, or a different industry, or …, then you need a very well written cover letter for the consultant to put your application on the right pile !
Good article and well argued case for the cover letter. I’d be interested to hear opinions on the best way to deliver the letter when applying for positions electronically… should it be in the body of an email with the CV as an attachment, or as a properly formatted Word document attached alongside the CV to an application e-mail ?
Kevin, this is great information and another stellar opportunity to introduce and ‘expose’ your brand to an audience. Often overlooked as you mentioned, for those few who leverage any and all opportunities, this can be a real gem.
More peeps could be cutting themselves out of the pack (in a really good way) with this technique!
Nick,
I would recommend making your cover letter the body of your email. When sending multiple attachments you run the risk of a) the email getting flagged as spam and b) the recipient not openning all the attachments.
Best,
Kevin
A poignant article, with good reader’s comments all round.
Good cover letters may often be overlooked by applicants. But even when they do make the effort, good cover letters are only effective with recipients who appreciate good writing skills.
Recruiters often don’t bother with the quality of the writing in the resume. With so many applications received, their priority is to scan the documents and check the job requirements tick-boxes. Very often to reduce the pile quickly, the approach is to find a reason to rule out candidates (process of elimination).
There’s a lot of talent out there that is missed by these blunt instruments of recruitment and selection.
Under such circumstances, how does one get a good cover letter to work in one’s favour?
So true. So true. Thanks Kevin.
I’d like to see an example of a cover letter that has worked for someone. I have tried more than a few versions and still question whether the language is too stiff or too casual.
A good cover letter is a compliment to your resume.
A cover letter can cover points that your resume may not show or go into slightly more detail than a resume bullet point. There are some excellent points in the comments which I will use as part of my job search to minimize the risk of employers not reading the cover letter.
Kevin, I am sure, in today’s economy, that hiring managers and recruiters only have so much time to look at incoming emails. What would be the ideal set up for a cover letter to put it in the right pilr?
Nick,
Most job boards have a separate space to copy and paste, or upload, the cover letter. If applying directly through email though, why not just include the cover letter in the same document as the resume and reference them both in the email. Some job descriptions specifically state to provide one document that inlcudes the cover letter and resume.