Next to a well-constructed resume the only other written document that counts big time in your hunt for a new job is the cover letter. And just like a resume, getting a good one requires a lot of thought, research, and for many of us, guidance. Unlike the resume, which is about you, the cover letter is mostly about the company or organization to which you are hoping to apply. To be more precise, the cover letter is your attempt to show that you would be a great fit for an organization whose needs you know well.
The mistake commonly made with cover letters is that writers think it is just another variation on the resume. In other words, it is just another means of presenting yourself, like how you approached the resume. Therefore, cover letters often read like a rehash of language found in the resume. This will not impress hiring managers.
Remember, when writing a cover letter, display that you have discovered the organization has a need for talent to satisfy some function or problem they are experiencing. Your tone should not be to say, “I’m here and I need a job and I would like to work for you”, but rather, “I understand that you have a need for [something very specific] and I’d like to suggest that my background, training, and interest will meet that need.”
This should not be too hard to do if you are attempting to secure a position for which you are qualified. Where this gets problematic is if you are grabbing at job straws because you are desperate. Even during times of despair, knowing who you are professionally and building upon the career you have already established, positions you better than what might be otherwise the case.
Other errors with cover letters include making them too short or too long or too generic. This should be a highly customized document. If using a professional writer, don’t hire one who simply writes it for you, but rather one who works with you through multiple drafts. Working together on the writing process and on conducting the necessary research will mean you will come up with a genuine co-authored piece that will be much more effective.
If you are going it alone, be very careful to stay away from trite phrases and clichés. “I’d like to be considered for…” and “Allow me to introduce myself…” are deadly to someone who reads many of these. Assuming that you are passionate about the idea of taking the position and working for the organization, then let that enthusiasm come through in your writing. Start off with something like, “I was excited to read in HealthCare Journal about Jordan Hospital’s expansion of your Medical Records and Health Information Department. This move is consistent with Jordan Hospital’s well known progressive health care service to Central New Hampshire. I have a history of success with electronic data storage and retrieval technology that could augment this initiative.”
The second paragraph is where you really show what it is the organization is looking for. Totally pick through their web site, any ads they have posted, and the brains of networking contacts to show that you know this company and what they want. Use keywords from their publications and in any way possible show that you have done your homework.
Also, as much as possible look for ways to quantify what your accomplishments have been when trying to make the connection between yourself and their needs. Never lose sight of the objective of cover letters, which is that they need something specific you have done or are doing or something like to it. Emphasize that you can do for them what they want. If they want to know much about you specifically, then they will read your resume.
It is all about giving yourself an edge these days. Knowing how to prepare quality cover letters is an important part of what you need to do.
