So you have finally reached resume precision and are ready to put yourself out into the market. Now it’s time for an effective cover letter to make the match between what you have to offer and what the hiring company needs. Your cover letter is an opportunity to let your personality shine through and to really set yourself apart from other candidates with a targeted, well written document.
But Do I Really Need a Cover Letter?
A recent survey says that 55% of hiring managers don’t pay attention to cover letters. Not so fast! That means that about 4 out of 10 hiring managers do want to see one. Unless you are sure which camp your hiring manager falls into, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Even hiring managers and recruiters who say they never read cover letters might find themselves drawn in by a particularly compelling letter.
Like the resume, a cover letter will only get a quick glance at first. If you can help to tell an amazing story by connecting the dots, then it’s definitely something worth doing. Another rule of thumb? Anytime you can’t hand your resume directly to a hiring manager, you definitely need a cover letter.
It serves as a letter of introduction and allows you to share information that otherwise wouldn’t be included on a resume, for example, why you made a job change in the past or why you’re seeking one now, and so certainly helps to communicate your qualifications and interest in this specific job. And very importantly, a great cover letter can help your resume get found in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Should I Customize My Cover Letter?
Absolutely! It’s important that you take time to research the hiring company and hiring manager before crafting your cover letter. Take a look at their website, their LinkedIn company page, Google results, and take time to explore websites like Glassdoor and Vault in order to get to know their needs and how the specific industry the position you are applying for plays into those needs. This will help to ensure that your cover letter is attention getting and relevant to the reader. As a bonus, the research will help you prepare for the job interview as well. By knowing the company and their needs, you can use your cover letter to show that YOU are the missing link they need.
How Should I Format my Cover Letter? (Attach examples or do screen shots)
Traditional Business Letter Format
The Traditional Business Letter format is the most formal of the three cover letter styles and should always maintain the same style and look of your actual resume. This letter is printed on copy paper and delivered in person or submitted via mail.
In this format, you should utilize short paragraphs, no more than three to four lines in any given entry. Use bullet points if necessary, to illustrate some key details and accomplishments. You will want to talk about relevant work history, why you are a good fit for the company, and should be able to fit in more detail than any of the other styles. Be sure to always use formal salutations and signatures in your traditional business letter format.
T Style Format
The T-style cover letter is a very useful cover letter style that uses a two-column format to demonstrate the match up between the job requirements and the candidate’s qualifications. This is the fastest way to showcase that you are a great fit for the position. Be careful though – this style works best when you meet all of the position requirements almost exactly.
In the left column, list the job requirements, which are pulled directly from the job posting. In the right column, match up your qualifications in order to demonstrate your fit for each and every item. Use your skills, your education, and your experience to showcase how you can be an asset to their company and fulfill the role.
E Note
An E- note is a cover letter that accompanies a resume and is sent via email. There is an appropriate time to use an E-note and an inappropriate time. Whenever you are submitting your resume via email as an attachment, you should include an E-note as the body of the email – never as an attachment.
The E-note is crucial because it gives the recipient the information they need to decide whether or not they should even open your resume attachment. Keep the E-note to just one to two paragraphs long,
and even though you won’t provide the depth and detail that you would in a traditional cover letter, make it as compelling as possible for the reader. Grab their attention quickly and spell out up to three different relevant qualifications or top accomplishments.
An advantage of the E-note is the opportunity to provide live links to your social media profile(s). This is your chance to include your LinkedIn profile or other professional places on the web where the hiring manager can find out more about you with the quick tap of a mouse.
Be sure in the subject line of an E-note to include the title of the position you are seeking. And certainly, if you are applying through an ATS online, you will likely include an attachment cover letter as well.
Conclusion
While your resume would remain fairly consistent for all job applications. your cover letter should absolutely be customized each and every time you submit to a new organization. The first and obvious point of customization will be to include the hiring managers contact information. And once you’ve updated those specific elements, you’ll also want to make sure that you tailor the content of the cover letter specifically for the company that you are targeting. Hiring managers can absolutely tell when you have taken the time to research their organization. These details can definitely make the difference and help to have you stand out as a candidate.
