At some point in high school or college, someone probably showed you how to create a resume. Even as you get older and your resume needs tweaking, there are several coaches, programs, and services out there to help you accomplish your goal. Afterall, almost any job you apply to will require your resume. You will also most likely be asked for a cover letter.

While the cover letter often accompanies the resume, it doesn’t get as much time and attention. This is interesting because a resume is pretty straightforward. You list your past positions, what you did, and how long you did them for. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for a detailed resume in order to get to know you better and determine if you are the right fit for the job. Cover letters can be a bit more complicated.

Creating the right cover letter can be challenging because it is not always clear what the aim is supposed to be. If your resume showcases your experience, what does your cover letter do? This type of ambiguity often leads to long, boring cover letters that recite the same things that can be found on your resume. If you submit this type of document, you are missing a golden opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants.

 

Keep It Short

When writing a cover letter, put yourself in the shoes of the person reading it. This individual is most likely tasked with reading dozens of cover letters and resumes everyday, on top of scheduling and conducting interviews. They do not have time to read a long essay about who you are and what you have done in your career. If they see it’s too long, they may skip over it completely.

Your cover letter should be no more than three paragraphs, unless directed otherwise by the job description listed. The first paragraph introduces who you are and why you have chosen to apply to this specific job. The second paragraph should call out specific projects you have worked on and their results. The last should showcase your interest in the position and a pitch as to why they should bring you in for an interview.

Tailor It to the Position

The biggest mistake that candidates make is writing a generic cover letter and submitting it to each position they apply to. Hiring managers and recruiters can tell when you do this, and it can be a turnoff. Yes, you can create an original version and let that serve as a template for moving forward. Each time you apply to a job, you can tweak that template accordingly.

Read through the job description and make a list of the skills and experience you have that are relevant. Those are the only ones you should highlight in your cover letter. For example, you may be great at Microsoft Excel, but if the position doesn’t require that skill, you are just wasting time that could be spent highlighting more impressive qualities. Remember, this cover letter is telling the story of a candidate who is a perfect fit for this specific role.

Showcase Relevant Experience

Your resume is the place to present all of your career experience. Your cover letter allows you to get specific and highlight your relevant experience. Again, review the job description and brainstorm what projects you have worked on that would be relevant to this position. What processes and procedures have you created or managed that would help you perform well in this role?

For example, if the job you are applying for requires you to manage a team, you can go into detail about a specific project where you had to supervise various people or departments. If this new position places an emphasis on organization, you can walk the hiring manager through the time you created a new process that helped everyone stay organized and on the same page. A cover letter is a perfect place to choose one or two detailed examples that showcase your value.

Show Your Passion

It is difficult to display your passion in a resume that focuses on presenting facts. If you are excited about a position and working for the company that posted it, you should be using that to your advantage. Remember, the hiring manager reads through a lot of applications and will be looking for anything unique or that stands out. If you are able to talk about why you want to work for their company, they will be more inclined to push your application to the next step.

Write out all the reasons that you are excited about working for them. This list may include their mission, products or services they sell, people they help, or events they host. Then list out what about the role prompted you to apply. This includes new skills you will learn, projects you will get to work on, or the impact you will get to make. This proves you did your research and will be passionate about your work if hired.

Give Them a Reason to Interview You

It is difficult to truly showcase who you are, the passion you have, and the value you provide through two written documents. Your best shot at landing that job is interviewing face-to-face with the hiring manager. This is true for every other applicant as well. Therefore, it is your job to close your cover letter with a compelling pitch for why you should be brought in for an in-person or virtual interview.

This is where you can talk about your genuine interest in learning more about the position and the company. You can also hint at wanting to go into detail about additional projects and tasks you have worked on. It is important to relay the fact that you feel your true value can best be experienced via a face-to-face interview.

Conclusion

Your cover letter should tell a story. A story of a passionate, experienced, and talented candidate who can bring a tremendous amount of value to the position they are applying for. This is your shot to set yourself apart from the crowd by presenting yourself as a unique candidate that the hiring manager cannot afford not to interview.

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