If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me: “do employers actually read cover letters?” I’d have lots of dollars. My answer: “some don’t, most do.” So you don’t want to waste this chance to humanize yourself in the application process.
Whereas resumes are basically a blueprint of your credentials and experiences, cover letters answer the question: “why?”
- Why do you want this position?
- Why are you passionate about this field?
- Why are you a strong fit for what we need?
Answering “why?” (cover letters) can be harder than answering “what?” (resumes). You don’t want to just follow the cookie-cutter template, restating what’s on your resume and proclaiming to be a good fit (that’s just more “what”). You need to prove it. Here are two elements that should be incorporated into every cover letter you write:
1. Excitement!
Show excitement and enthusiasm (you can literally use those words) about the position, company, and/or field. Your motivation is crucial to the reader since hiring someone is a significant investment, and they want to know that you’re in it for the right reasons. Someone who’s truly interested in a job/company/field is going to last longer and work harder than someone who just needs a job to pay the bills. The trick here is not to go overboard, so be mindful of how frequently you’re inserting words of enthusiasm, and limit the number of exclamation points you use (if any).
2. Your Story
Providing anecdotes and examples will make for a much stronger cover letter, because they make your points more believable. What if I told you that I am really good at motivating employees? Just that. Did I convince you?
OR… what if I said that I’ve supervised college students and professional staff for over a decade and I intentionally incorporate fun team builders, food at every event, and birthday celebrations to show that I care, which ultimately helps motivate the people I supervise? Would you believe it more? Probably.
Stories pull people in. Examples provide evidence to support your claim. And I don’t mean just spell out what’s on your resume in paragraph form. Give some background or context to a relevant experience. Better yet, write about what you learned from an experience and how you’ll apply that to this job.
The goal is to provide a clear picture to the reader that you have what it takes (the interest, skills, knowledge, and experience) to do the job. Connecting with them through authentic excitement, stories, and examples is a sure way to get their attention.
Of course different industries have varying standards of formality, so how exactly you go about doing this could look different based on your field. Consider checking out their website and other jobs listings to get an idea of the tone they use.
Want a professional review of your cover letter to make sure you’re hitting the mark? Check out my Document Editing services page for more details.
