Make Your Cover Letter Your “First Interview”
Are you baffled why no one has invited you for an interview? Are you convinced that if you could just get your foot in the door, employers would like you and see what a wonderful candidate you truly are? If so, you may need to step back and re-evaluate what you are doing and why it is not working. Often, the reasons you are not being contacted is because either your cover letter is not compelling or because you are applying for a position that is not appropriate for you.
You should always treat your cover letter as if it is your “first interview”. In other words, you should attempt to do in writing what you believe you can do in person during an interview. Do you have a great personality that you desperately want the potential employer to see? If so, your cover letter must convey your personality to the reader. Do you have great skills and knowledge that make you a great fit for the position? If so, your cover letter should demonstrate this with specific examples.
Above all, your cover letter must be geared to the job for which you are applying. If you are submitting a generic cover letter for every position, that action alone likely will explain why no one is calling you.
Writing a cover letter tailored to a specific position requires a great deal of effort, but will yield great results. After all, job hunting is a job. An employer will assume that the efforts you have made on your cover letter are a reflection of the effort you will put forth if you are hired. A generic cover letter indicates that you have expended a minimal amount of effort. What if a position does not ask for a cover letter? You should send one anyway.
Your cover letter must convey the essence of “you” in a way that is personal yet professional. An interview is like a “date”. Dates happen, because there is an attraction, a connection. Employers, like people, appreciate when job seekers show a sincere interest in them. “Personal” means showing your personality – not telling your life story. When employers must choose between several equally qualified candidates, they will choose the person who is the best “fit” for their organization. While your knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential, your personality often will be the deciding factor. That is why it is imperative that you bring out your personality in your cover letter.
While it takes a tremendous amount of time to craft a cover letter that is specific to a particular employer/position, it is necessary if you want an interview. Here are some tips that will aid you in this process:
1) Read the job posting very carefully. If the job requires something that you lack, do not apply. While you may feel like job searching is a “numbers game”, that is, that the more jobs you apply for the better your chances, the opposite is true. An employer may require a specific skill because it is either critical to the position or because they do not have the personnel, time, or desire to teach that skill. Applying for a job for which you are not qualified is not only a waste of your time and the potential employer’s time, but it will add to your sense of despair when you don’t receive a reply. You may think you are clever by writing “I’m a quick learner” when you lack the required skills, but it will not help you in the current job market. In a job market where jobs are plentiful, employers may be unable to attract candidates with all of the specific skills they require. In that case they may interview people who lack the specific skills they desire – but that is unlikely when unemployment is high.
2) Don’t reveal anything about your personal life. Showing your personality and discussing your personal life are two entirely different things. Sharing that you have small children, for example, may be interpreted by an employer to mean you are inflexible in terms of the job schedule or hours. This may be untrue. However, keep in mind that employers often make assumptions based on the limited information you provide. Strive to show your personality and traits that make you a great employee in a way that is personal yet professional. For example, if you will do whatever it takes to complete a project, you could state something such as “I like to take ownership of projects and see them through from start to finish, and will do whatever it takes to see them through to completion”.
3) Your cover letter must address the requirements mentioned in the posting. The body of your cover letter should contain specific examples so that it is evident that you are qualified. For example, if the position requires proficiency in Excel, you could state that you “use Excel daily and look forward to continuing to build my skills in this program”. If applicable, add a sentence or two about how you used this skill to do something beneficial for one of your employers. If you lack the qualifications, don’t apply.
4) Keep in mind that it is OK to apply for a position in a field or industry in which you have no experience. If you have the required skills, it is likely you will be able to transfer them to a new industry or field. However, you may have to spend a little more time in cover letter to convince the employer of this.
5) Show that you have done your homework in researching the company. A dissertation is not necessary or encouraged; however, you should write something to show that you have done some research. Write about their website, products, or other information you have found. In any good relationship, both parties show interest in one another. This is your chance to show your potential employers that you have a special interest in them.
6) Avoid any grandiose or ridiculous statements in your cover letter such as “you won’t regret hiring me”. Such proclamations sound immature and unprofessional. Stick to the skills you possess and how you utilized them in previous employment settings.
7) Address the cover letter to the person who will be reading it. If the posting does not specify that person, call or email the company and ask. This personal touch means a lot. If you are applying to a small company and write “Dear Personnel Manager”, it shows that you don’t even realize that the company is so small that it likely does not have a personnel manager and/or department. Every detail matters and will not go unnoticed.
8) Proof read your cover letter and make certain it is perfect in terms of spelling and grammar. The paragraphs should flow nicely from beginning to end. If writing is not your strength, have someone help you. Your cover letter is a reflection of you, and a well-written, concise cover letter shows that you are professional, pay attention to detail, and have strong writing skills. All of these attributes are important to employers!
9) Include your contact information. This includes your telephone number (s), email, and home address. Not providing all of this information is unprofessional.
10) In your final paragraph, don’t make a statement such as “I will contact you next week”. Some employers find this presumptuous and arrogant. When an employer receives a hundred or so applications for a single position, do you really believe they want to receive a hundred phone calls next week? If you take the time to write a truly exceptional cover letter and resume, and you really do have the skills required, they will likely call you next week. They know how to reach you (assuming you follow step number nine, above).
Finding a job is stressful and not getting an interview can be very depressing. Following these tips should help you get your foot in the door – and ultimately into your new office!
