8 ways to kill it on the cover letter

Back in the day, when I was helping my friends with job applications, cover letters were my specialty.

I’m a writer, after all. And I loved telling stories, which is what cover letters are all about.

In this ATS/A.I. era, the importance of the cover letter has definitely changed. It’s probably better to spend the majority of your effort customizing and tweaking your resume (see last week). With some online application processes, they might not even have a place for you to provide a cover letter.

But if they accept a cover letter, even as an email intro to sending your other materials, definitely do it. It’s your chance to move beyond the bullet points and stats of a resume into the realm of emotion, which can be a powerful motivator for a potential employer.

Some of these points echo ones I made last week about resumes. But they are worth saying more than once.

1. Tell a story.

The cover letter is perhaps the first thing that a prospective employer will see of you. It's your opening argument. It's the equivalent of your time in an elevator with the CEO, finally able to tell her why you can solve the company's problems. So approach it that way. Tell the story of how your path has brought you where you are, ready to step in and make their lives easier. The cover letter is *not* just a prose version of your resume.

2. Proofread. Proofread.

Things like typos, grammar mistakes and run-on sentences are the kiss of death on a cover letter. No matter how many times you've proofread your text — and that should be many — make sure someone else you trust looks at it with fresh eyes. It's all too easy to gloss over an error because your brain has become used to it.

3. Verbs not adjectives.

This is just another way to say "show, don't tell." If you use your precious cover letter real estate to use words to describe yourself like organized, enthusiastic, and creative, you're wasting space and the employer's time. Use verbs: you managed, you created, you planned, you taught. Those are active words that actually show specific examples of what you did to end up an amazing potential employee.

4. Use what you've learned.

Make sure you've done as much research as possible into your prospective employer. Definitely go beyond the job listing. Not only does this show initiative, it also is the only way you are going to figure out exactly what they need and how you can provide that. Focus on: what is the problem they need solved? Show that you've done your homework by weaving into your cover letter story the problem and how you would solve it.

5. Rewrite — every time.

It's tempting to use canned, recycled cover letters. "Hey, this one worked that other time, so I'm sure it's fine. The industry is sort of similar, even." No no no! Write a new fresh cover letter for every job you apply for. If you're being choosy about where you apply, which you should, this shouldn't be too much of a burden. The more specific and targeted your letter is, the more it will make a positive impression.

6. Watch your language.

If possible, tailor your writing in the cover letter to the industry and circumstance of the job. A little light humor, for example, can be a plus in many circumstances, but probably not if you're applying to be a bank security guard. In most cases, lean toward writing as you would speak – your best self.

7. Emphasize your connections.

Were you recommended for the job by someone the reader knows? Do you have a history in the industry or with the specific company? Personal connections are the best, but other kinds of connections can resonate too. I often start cover letters with something like “My friend [person they know] told me you were looking for…” (Read more about using persuasion in your job search.)

8. It's not about you.

If there's one lesson to take away from everything at Mighty Forces, it's this. Your job search isn't about you, your goals or your dreams. It's about learning what someone needs, and presenting yourself as the answer to that need. In general, just make sure your cover letter makes a case that the reader won't be able to dismiss — you are the person for this job.

Hearing from you

Did you ever write a cover letter that you’re particularly proud of, or that you believe helped you get a job? Let me know in the comments.