You’ve probably heard the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” When it comes to applying for jobs, however, expect possible future employers to break that golden rule and judge you by your cover letter.
As Lauren Nelson, communications specialist and Vice President at Aesthetic Cogency, tells Business Insider, cover letters are often even more important than the resume. Nelson always requires a cover letter for every position opening, but only 40% of people bother to write one…which means she says, “Bye bye!” to 60% of applicants right away. Of the cover letters she does receive, only 25% are tailored to the job so another 75% of applicants are thrown out of the running.
Still not convinced that you need to rescue your wrinkled cover letter from your desk drawer ASAP? Here are three reasons why knowing how to write a killer cover letter can be your secret weapon when job hunting.
When you think of a resume, what comes to mind? Bullet points of your job experience since eighth grade? Lots of numbers like your college GPA and how many awards you’ve earned? Put simply, your resume is a paper without a face. Not so with your cover letter – it gives employers a hint of the “real” you! You can use imagery, unique wording and smart choices of detail to let your personality shine through a few sentences of writing. This is when you want to explain why you’re passionate about this job and make your employer interested in meeting you. If the choice comes down to two equally qualified applicants, but you have a more colorful cover letter, you’re more likely to win the position.
At the same time, don’t treat your cover letter like an excuse to write a riveting autobiography! Employers want to see that you fit the role that they’re looking for. For this reason, you should write a custom cover letter for each position you apply to rather than sending a generic one to every job. On the job posting or even the company’s site, you can find what the business looks for when hiring employees. Make sure that you have the desired qualifications and traits, and then let them know. Compared to your resume, which just lists generic skills, your cover letter is your direct message pertaining to this specific job.
How long does it take you to submit a resume online? If you already have a generic version ready, probably not longer than it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn. Because you shouldn’t send out the same cover letter to all 45 jobs you apply for – like you can with a resume since your list of achievements and schools rarely change – a cover letter takes more time and effort. Crafting one shows employers that you are taking the time and effort to let them know why you deserve to be hired for this particular position. So sit down at your computer, look up the jobs you want to apply to, and start typing!
