Like the late great Rodney Dangerfield, the “humble” cover letter gets no respect.
Job seekers spend so much time and energy on their resumes that they have nothing left to offer their poor, sloppy cover letters.
Big, BIG mistake!
It’s the well-written cover letter, not the resume, that alone can get you more job interviews. The cover letter is your only chance to truly “market” yourself to an employer using proven marketing strategies rarely found in the typical cover letter.
In contrast, there is not much you can do with the traditional CV or resume. I believe that the carefully crafted cover letter is more important to the success of your job search than any other written document, including the resume.
As a direct marketer for over 20 years, here are my 7 secrets to a highly effective resume cover letter:
1. ADDRESS your cover letter to a specific person. Do your best to find out “To Whom” you should address your cover letter. “Dear Manager” is lifeless.
2. OPEN with an attention-grabbing first sentence to really grab the reader. This will almost guarantee that your cover letter and resume will get a closer look.
3. REMEMBER that less is more. The best cover letters have a lot of white space. Cover letters that are clear, focused, short, and sweet are more suitable for job interviews.
4. FOCUS on what you can do for the employer. How can you benefit the company specifically? Do some research and relate this simply and clearly in your letter.
5. CHOOSE WORDS that show enthusiasm and passion for the position you’re seeking… (big, big secret!) Then bring this passion to the interview with you.
6. REQUEST AN ACTION you want the employer to take: “I would really like the opportunity for a personal interview this week.” (You never know until you ask.)
7. END your cover letter with something enthusiastic and revealing like: “I look forward to being interviewed as soon as possible. Thank you very much for this opportunity.” Sincerely, Jane Jobseeker. (Notice how Jane assumes she’s going to get the interview? This is clever, clever, and works like a charm.)
Think of your cover letter like a sales letter. The sole purpose of your resume cover letter is to get you more job interviews. That is the conclusion. By using the proven marketing strategies I’ve outlined above, you’ll get more quality job interviews than your competition.
You must find a way to get your “foot in the company door” to have any chance of getting the job. With the right cover letter, you can throw the doors of opportunity wide open. And remember, more job interviews means (drum roll, please)… more job offers.
Finally, the most important piece of advice I can offer you is this: FOLLOW UP every job opportunity, contact, and communication. Follow-up is the “golden key” to getting hired at your dream job. Use follow-up cover letters, thank-you letters, even follow-up phone calls. Following up can literally double your chances of success. It’s also the one secret ingredient missing from 99% of every job seeker’s playbook.
Good news for you!
