If you have been following my articles you will be aware of how much I have insisted that cover letters are customised for each application as they are, as the name implies, A LETTER!
Think of a cover letter as the bridge between your resume (which is a static picture of your experience and education) and a future interview (which is a spontaneous conversation). In other words, a cover letter allows you talk to the employer/recruiter directly and expand upon what your resume states.
Do you need to write a cover letter for each application you make?
I meaaaaan, if you have the time I can tell you a cover letter can only improve your chances. However, if you do not have the time then I recommend you to write cover letters for those applications which do not go through a recruitment agency.
And why is that? Well, according to 2017 Jobvite data, only 26% of recruiters find Cover Letters important. And that implies that if you apply to a recruitment agency, it is very unlikely your cover letter will be read. You have to think that most recruitment agencies handle thousands of applications and they peruse through them very quickly.
Employers on the other hand tend to receive a handful of applications and that is when a cover letter can help you put the foot on the door to get invited for an interview.
Ok fantastic, now how do I make a cover letter successful?
Well actually it is simple to explain (maybe not so simple to write). In order to make a cover letter successful you need to make sure that you:
- Explain how you fulfil the requirements of the job spec, and
- Show that you really want to work for them.
Now be mindful that a cover letter has to be about ¾ of an A4 long so your space is veeeery limited. So since many companies include a massive list of requirements (like kids writing to Santa) you won’t have space on a cover letter to explain how you fulfil every single one of them. As such, try to explain those which cannot be easily identified in your resume, and those that are not just a random list of soft skills (a team player, ability to work under pressure, …) you need these for most jobs so they are a given.
In terms of showing that you really want to work for them, try to make a connection between what you know about the company and what aligns with your values. Find a way to make it personal without sounding cliché.
If you think having someone with experience helping you prepare the contents of your cover letter and reviewing it timely might be useful, you can always contact me so that I can support you.
