I know you meant well. You did what the experts told you to. I don’t doubt you spent hours and hours refining it (you did, didn’t you?!?). Despite all that, I’m confident your cover letter sucks.
Here’s how I know:
- You googled ‘cover letter,’ ‘cover letter examples,’ ‘cover letter sample,’ ‘cover letter template,’ or ‘cover letter tips’ and went down the rabbit hole.
- You addressed it “to whom it may concern’ or some other generic greeting.
- It’s one page (or longer) in paragraph form.
- You didn’t write one at all.
Why is a Cover Letter Important?
To be honest, there’s a good chance a hiring manager or recruiter won’t read your cover letter. BUT you should still write one. Here’s why:
- If a hiring manager is on the fence they will look to you cover letter for additional information. It’s a great opportunity to reiterate your greatness to push him or her over the edge in your favor.
- It gives you a chance to further contextualize (not duplicate) your resume. Maybe you only have three years of experience instead of the required five. Here is where you make it a non-issue. Or maybe you’re making a career transition – you can explain it all here.
- It shows you a care and will give you an advantage over candidates who don’t write one. Put in the work and go the extra mile. 80% of the work in obtaining a new job happens before your first in-person interview.
A Cover Letter Template With RESULTS
I received this email last night from one of my clients, “Btw, your cover letter is one of the best I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing!”
The reason she said this is because it truly stands out from the pack. My cover letter template secures an interview at least 60% of the time. The reason for this is it addresses the two things companies care about most:
- Why should I hire I hire you?
- Are you truly passionate about my company?
We attack these two questions with the following format:
- A personalized introduction
- List the top three reasons the company should hire you
- List the top three reasons you are passionate about the role company
- Assertive Conclusion
That’s it. Pretty straight forward, right?
And because I value you as a reader, I’m going to give you my cover letter template and brainstorm activity for FREE. This template is a total game changer for those who are struggling with their job search. For example, one of my clients was looking to switch careers (Director of Activities at a Senior Citizen Center –> State Park Ranger) and was struggling to get interviews.
After a 30-minute chat, she started to implement some of my tactics. Within a few days, the interviews started rolling in. Last month, she moved to Washington to work in a state park. Not only was she able to land her dream job and move to a cooler part of the country, but she secured a $12,000 salary increase in the process!
I have refined and tested this cover letter with hundreds of clients over the past five years. I know it will create value for you.
Reach out to me on Twitter if have any questions or comments. I’d be happy to take a look at your first draft if you’d like, and hear you how you make out.
