We’re all looking for shortcuts, tips, and tricks to make life easier—and why not job searching too? Here are my top four hacks for creating a cover letter that will help you stand out:
Related: 5 Key Steps To A Cover Letter That Opens Doors
Lead With A Question
What is the employer looking for, and how are you a fit for them? You can tell the employer what you bring to the table by asking them a question about what they need—but by phrasing it in a way that shows them YOU are the answer! An example would be:
Do you need a sales director who can generate $1M in new business by the end of the 3rd quarter of 2016?
The question itself implies that you’re the answer. And you can do this for any industry or position; all you need to know is what the employer needs and how you can solve the problem(s) they currently face.
Keep It Short
Employers are short on time, and so simply hoping they’ll open a Word document cover letter isn’t ideal—and it probably won’t be read. Instead, when you e-mail your resume include your cover letter in the body of the e-mail and write it for a “mobile” audience. More and more employers are reviewing e-mails on mobile devices, so make sure your cover letter is short and doesn’t require a lot of scrolling to be read. Cap your cover letter at 150 words. Keeping it short will ensure you keep the employer’s attention.
Include Metrics
Give the employer three short bullets that are metric-driven. It serves to validate your experience and accomplishments and gives them a picture of what you can offer. Make sure the three you choose are most relevant to the position and the employer’s needs—and also speak to how you’re a great FIT for the role.
An example could be:
85% of my clients secured multiple interviews within 2 weeks.
99% of my clients had 5 or more interviews within 60 days.
50% of my clients increased their salary by 10%-30%.
Compel Them (In Your Close) To Connect
When you are ready to close your cover letter there are several ways you can keep the lines of communication open between yourself and the employer. Invite them to call you to schedule an interview (and provide your phone number); another option is to use a PS at the end of the cover letter with a great one-line statement that will entice them to pick up the phone to chat. You could also include a link to your LinkedIn profile (which I strongly urge you to do!), inviting them to connect with you on LinkedIn or review your profile for more information about what you do and how you’re a great fit for the role. You could also choose to direct them to your professional website or blog, professional video, or any number of other alternatives. The point is to keep them engaged by having them learn more about you!
These are just four quick tips to help you stand out; it’s by no means an all-inclusive list, but it will help you get started creating a cover letter that will get and keep the employer’s attention.
I love to connect and network. Feel free to send me an invite on LinkedIn here.
You can also find me at Great Resumes Fast, where I help busy job seekers create interviewing-winning resumes, shorten their job searches, and increase their earning potential.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.Photo Credit: Bigstock
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
