“I just got done with the resume, now I have to write a cover letter too? Ugh…"
Who hasn't thought this at some point?
Related: Does Your Cover Letter Get An A Or F? Here's The Test
A cover letter seems like a formality, a quick handshake before handing over the resume.
But what if it could be more than that? What if it could be a conversation-starter instead?
What makes you interesting? What would spark that human connection that makes someone say, “I like this person!" and trigger a call or email? Answer this and you can dramatically increase how often your resume gets read (and how many interviews you generate).
Step 1: Answer "Why You?"
Skip the cookie-cutter intro and share a personal story or anecdote.
Getting a reader interested in you is more important than stating your name and the position you're after. And yet, this is the way the vast majority of people start a cover letter!
Replace the generic opening with a story that ties into the job you're after.
Here's an example:
I come from two generations of doctors, so you could say that treating patients runs in our blood! My journey in healthcare, which spans over 2 decades and includes my most recent tenure as Director of Cardiology for Ithaca Hospital, has been about much more than just a job. I'm so proud of the strides we've made in increasing quality and service standards, particularly with limited access to resources, but running underneath it all is the same core desire which fueled by years as an Interventional Cardiologist: transform outcomes and the long-term outlook for those in our care. It's a passion shared by the other M.D.s in my family, as well as the staff at [institution name]. Can we schedule a call to discuss the [position title] role?
Step 2: Answer "Why This Job?"
Create a few powerful bullet points highlighting value, and place them right in the center of the page.
Bullet points are a great way to control what gets read first. Any recruiter or HR manager needs reassurance that you do, in fact, possess the key requirements for the job at this stage. So that's what you should highlight. Just keep it big-picture and avoid directly copying any language from the resume.
Here are some examples:
12-Year Track Record of revitalizing brands and bringing impact and agility to corporate communications and product launches. Fortune 500 background with a deep understanding of what truly drives customer engagement.
Able to forge Key Opinion Leader (KOL) relationships, work effectively with cross-functional teams, and leverage an extensive network of industry contacts to maintain market leader status (and drive new market development).
Expert in managing multiple revenue stream operations (Hotel, F&B, Retail, Spa, Entertainment, Off-Site Catering) and turning F&B operations towards rapid market share and profitability growth.
STEP 3: Answer "What's Next?"
Don't forget to include a clear call-to-action.
Make following up simple by explicitly communicating your expectations at the end.
Here's an example:
Please accept this letter and enclosed resume as an introduction to my skills and background. I'm actively pursing opportunities and will be available for a follow-up this week. You can reach me at [phone number] or [email]- looking forward to it!
Recap: Thinking of a cover letter as a conversation-starter, and actively addressing initial questions any new contact would want to know, will dramatically increase response rates during a job search.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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