Do I really need a Cover letter? 

INSIGHT

Each month, Bill Helm reads hundreds of cover letters from people hoping to find a job at Omni Manufacturing, Inc.  Sometimes he likes what he sees, but more often, he is surprised and disappointed by the poor quality and misdirected focus of the letters he receives. 

Whether you are attempting to sell a product, propose an idea, or introduce yourself to a prospective employer, you must begin with a cover letter.  As a sales tool introducing you as the product, the letter is a first glimpse of your personality, potential and value to an employer, and cannot be under-estimated.

“A real pet peeve,” says Bill,  “are the letters that have obviously been sent to hundreds of other companies and read in a very cookie-cutter way.  I only take a letter seriously when it’s apparent the sender has done some research and is able to articulate why they would be a good fit for our company.”

Remember – your cover letter is your first opportunity to introduce yourself, present your qualifications, and may be your only chance to tell your story and secure an interview.  The letter writing process is very different from writing a résumé and should introduce, not parrot the résumé. Although you might write a document that includes information you can use repeatedly, you must also be prepared to tailor it for each new situation. 

As interviewers and interviewees have become increasingly sophisticated, and the job market tighter, it is essential to understand the crucial elements for composing marketing materials that will position you above the crowd.  It helps to begin with an understanding of the purposes served by a cover letter.

ü       To introduce and define whom you are.

ü       Describe and highlight your most notable qualifications.

ü       Identify the value you bring to the organization.

ü       To motivate the reader to invite you in for an interview. 

Although there are no hard and fast rules for cover letter writing, here are some strategies to get you started.

1. Be straightforward.  Make it easy for the reader to understand who you are and why you are writing.

2. Fashion your sentences in a variety of ways to add interest. Rather than saying, “I am an engineer who would like to work for your company,”  you might say, “As a mechanical engineer with 10 years experience in the textile industry, I offer outstanding technical skills and leadership experience.”

3. Use a professional format.  A visually attractive letter goes a long way to make a good first impression.  If you don’t have the tools to produce an attractively formatted letter and résumé, it is well worth the effort and cost to have it professionally formatted.  Computer proficiency is highly valued in today’s workforce – if your skills are rusty, don’t showcase it with unattractive/outdated documents.

4. Highlight your best qualities. What will the prospective employer value most about your strengths and experiences?  Spotlight your most relevant and valuable achievements.

5. Add information that shows you understand the position you desire and relate how your experience can best meet the needs of the company.

6. Explain why you want to work for this company in particular.  Make sure you mention the company name and include details that show you haven’t sent this letter to 50 unrelated organizations.

7. If you are asked to fax or email your documents, try, when possible, to also send a hard copy for presentation purposes.  Not only will your name come across the employer’s desk more than once – it will also show pride and initiative in your portrayal of yourself and your materials. 

8. Spell check!  Spell check!  Spell check!  Even a small error on a cover letter or résumé is unacceptable. But you need to do more than use the spell check feature on your computer.  Proofread carefully several times and have someone else proofread your documents in case you’ve overlooked an error that spell check won’t recognize. 

9. Keep it short and simple!  Remember, the letter is a brief introduction to your résumé.  Don’t write a letter that exceeds one page.

10. End the letter by asking for the interview. 

And last but not least - don’t make empty promises. 

“Some writers end their letters by saying they’ll call in a couple of weeks, but they rarely do, says Bill.  “It doesn’t say a lot for their credibility.”

Next week’s article – what do employers like in a résumé ( a recent survey of HR managers and their preferences plus some tips on how to best highlight your strengths and accomplishments).

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Source: Darren Shartle, M.Ed., CPRW, CEIP , All rights reserved.

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