07 Jul HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER THAT GRABS ATTENTION
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“You are here because of your cover letter.”
Have you ever heard those words? A friend of mine was told those exact words while in an interview.
The Founder and CEO of a company I interviewed with said to me, “You had the best cover letter I’ve ever read.” I’m confident my cover letter was a significant factor in getting the interview.
If you believe a cover letter can’t grab attention and get you an interview, I challenge you to rethink that.
Here are 6 ways to write a cover letter that grabs attention and helps get you the interview (click for a cover letter sample template).
Write One.
I may be stating the obvious, but in order to have a cover letter that grabs attention, you actually have to write one! I see too many job seekers send their resume without a cover letter. This is a big mistake.
Many job hunters are under the false assumption they don’t really need a cover letter because “no one reads them.” Or a recruiter once told them, “you don’t need a cover letter.” Or, they don’t believe a cover letter can add anything that isn’t already covered in their resume. Don’t fall into the trap of believing them. You need a cover letter.
A cover letter is a critical component of every job search. It should be thought of as a required piece of information when submitting your resume. You wouldn’t apply for a job without a resume, right? You should have that same approach with a cover letter. You shouldn’t dream of applying for a job without one.
Have a Compelling Open.
Just as a good first scene establishes if a movie or novel is going to be entertaining (or not), the first sentence or two of your cover letter will compel the reader to either sigh a “ho hum,” or sit up a little straighter and eagerly read more.
Opening your cover letter by telling the reader what job you are applying for, is the equivalent of Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth or Chris Evans (take your Chris pick) coming onscreen to tell you the name of the move you are about to watch. The viewer already knows that!
The same goes for why you are interested in the job. The reader of your cover letter doesn’t care why you are interested in the job, they care if you can do the job! And do it well!
Instead, write a punchy opening about how your experience aligns with the job responsibilities, and how you are excited to use your experience to produce results for their company. For more about writing a creative opening to your cover letter, check out my post, it includes sample opening cover letter sentences you can personalize and use!
Strategically Place Keywords
You should definitely integrate keywords from the job description in your cover letter (and your resume) to increase the odds of your information getting past the applicant tracking system (a program screening for keywords) and be reviewed by a human.
Rather than “keyword stuff” my cover letters by listing several keywords in a row, I write a paragraph that highlights my experience with two or three of the primary responsibilities from the job description. For each one, I provide a little context on when or how I performed it. I then tie each of the key responsibilities to one measurable result to showcase my success with it.
Include Your Results.
Your cover letter should not simply be a regurgitation of the job description. Use your cover letter to demonstrate how you are a perfect candidate for the job. Not only do you have all the required experience, you have proven results that will enable you to also succeed in this role! Include the results of your accomplishments. The more measurable your results, the better.
This is a good time to bullet point the requirements of the job description you have experience with. Include a few words on your experience with the responsibilities, but spend equal or more time on the results of your activities. Did you increase sales? Revenue? ROI? Page views? Or did you reduce expenses, churn, or save time on processes and procedures? Be sure to include them so the hiring manager will know you can deliver similar results in the new position.
Be Proactive in Your Close.
Many organizations request candidates not contact them by phone, which can make it difficult to follow up. However, just because you may not be able to say you will call them in a week to follow up, it does not mean you have use a passive, boring close to your cover letter along the lines of, “I look forward to hearing from you.”
The close is your opportunity to show you are a go-getter who is enthusiastic about pursuing the opportunity. Choose wording that conveys this, something like, “I look forward to further exploring how I can increase social media engagement for Company Name.”
Customize Each Cover Letter.
As tempting as it may be to use a single cover letter to use with every job application, I strongly recommend you spend a few extra minutes and customize each cover letter for the position you are applying for.
Start with the core version of your cover letter; then customize the key responsibilities and successes you are highlighting to best align with the job description. Not only will this better position you as having the desired experience for the position, the reader will know it is not a canned cover letter and will appreciate the attention to detail you demonstrate.
Cover letters are an important element in a job search. Like your resume, they should not be taken lightly. And like your resume, cover letters are not one size fits all. Write a cover that grabs attention and stand out from the other applicants. When you do, you too may hear it was your cover letter that got you the interview!
For more information on why you need a cover letter (even if someone tells you don’t), check out my blog post and grab a copy of my free ebook Your Complete Guide to Cover Letters.