Aug

13

Job Search Cover Letter

Posted by Dan

August 13, 2007 |

Take advantage of this powerful job search tool… 

My years of recruiting in the high tech industry have given me many opinions on resumes and cover letters.  Bottom line regarding a cover letter — always send a targeted cover letter with your resume. 

Why put in the extra effort you may ask?  First off, that’s one answer right there — extra effort.  Spending time to develop a targeted cover letter tells the employer you are interested in “them” specifically, which stands out far above those who spew their resume out to every employer on the planet, never mind putting zero attention into targeting the position they are seeking.  I can’t tell you how many hours of yawning I’ve spent looking at resumes that seem to be tossed at a job like a dart to a dartboard.   

Secondly, a well-crafted cover letter will allow you to quickly address the employer’s “pain” and tell them why you are their solution.   In a quick paragraph you can tell them how you meet their “must have” experience requirements. 

I strongly suggest you skip the boring intro. paragraph and start out with why you are the best candidate.  Recruiters don’t need to know that you are aware the hiring market is tough, or that we are in an age of advanced technology… I’m sure you get my point here.  Start right out by telling them how you will solve a need they have. 

Third, and don’t forget this one, most of the time your resume goes first to the Human Resources recruiter who then makes a decision on which resumes go to the hiring manager.  The hiring manager usually does not have the time to sift through several hundred resumes, so they count on the HR department to do the first scan.  You may believe that your cover letter will not get any attention, but I can tell you that even if it gets a brief scan to begin with once you are in the possibility pool’ and closer to becoming a candidate your letter will standout. 

I could go on and on about why you should send a cover letter, but if the few reasons I’ve given here aren’t clicking with you (aka: ah ha) then you probably won’t take the time to send one anyway.   And that is just it…time, it does take time to design and write each cover letter, but it is time well spent when it comes to showing an employer you are truly interested in them — and the employer is always looking at “what’s in it for them”.   

And this brings me to my last point, which is:  Be sure your cover letter is designed for each employer you send your resume to.  The only thing worse than not sending a cover letter is sending a “one size fits all” to every employer.  You’ll get no cover letter credit for that stunt.  Not only will it waste the reviewer’s time with useless babble, it sends the message that you don’t go the extra mile - an  important attribute every employer is looking for.

Posted by Robin Ogden - FiredUP Careers

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