Write An Unignorable Cover Letter

Are cover letters a thing of the past? Nope. 🫠

Even though most of us hate writing them, they can be your secret weapon to get to the next stage of the hiring process.

Keep reading to learn the ingredients to make your cover letter stand out!

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Cover letters are typically needed when you have to explain a career pivot, a career gap from when you got laid off, a relevant side hustle, business-owner experience, or anything else from your resume that you think needs additional context. 

However, 83% of managers say they prefer job applicants to submit cover letters for every application they submit. But when a cover letter is done well, it can be the deciding factor that pushes the hiring manager to give you a call. Here’s how to stand out:

1. Avoid anything unnecessary.

The most common advice for writing a cover letter often includes many things you don’t need. 🚫 You don’t need to pull any design punches on your cover letter (unless you’re applying for a designer position, of course), and your cover letter doesn’t need to have your picture, street address, or the employer's street address. A heading with your name, phone number, email, LinkedIn profile link, and date is all you need. 

2. Start off strong, and don’t waste any time in your introduction.

Your introduction should lead right into why the position is perfect for you and what you bring to the table. Discuss why you’re interested in the position and show that you understand the company and its challenges. You can even list 1 or 2 things you would do or past results from your career actions to address the company’s needs.

“When it comes to writing a unique cover letter, I recommend starting with a bold, specific opening that immediately demonstrates your knowledge of the company,” says Lauren Mastroni, a career expert at Resume Genius. “For example, ‘When I read about [Company's] recent innovation in [specific area], I knew my experience in [your expertise] could provide exactly the strategic approach you're seeking.’”

3. Be short, sweet, and straight to the point. 

Avoid giving a generic summary of your resume or adding excessive flattery and filler words. A cover letter shouldn’t be longer than one page. ☝️

Imagine you’re a hiring manager who’s short on time. They may review your cover letter in 1 to 2 minutes and judge from that short amount of time if they’ll be calling you for an interview. You’ll need to pull some creative punches in that amount of time to keep them engaged and curious to talk to you.

4. Write your cover letter with intention and purpose.

Don’t just talk about why you’re perfect for this position, back up your claims with past results that align with the job description. Show them your value and why you aren’t like every other job candidate. (This will also help you when negotiating salary and why your market salary is what it is.)

Your value illustrated in your resume and cover letter will naturally lead to the interviewer’s questions and answers, and will stay at the top of the hiring manager’s mind.

Keep reading here to get more detailed advice on how to write an unignorable cover letter and a fool-proof template!

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