Beyond the Résumé: Why Cover Letters Still Matter

If a job ad requires a Cover Letter should you bother – since many career experts acknowledge there is no universal agreement regarding the value of them? Answer – yes. If a company requires one, you should include it with your resume. Also, just as important, will a Cover Letter help you?

Jobscan.co recently analyzed nearly 1 million job applications to discover whether a Cover Letter, with your resume, makes you more likely to be invited for an interview compared to those who did not include one.

Results showed you are 1.9x more likely to be interviewed than not. This provides you with an almost 2% higher chance of not only securing an interview but of successfully landing the job. ?Giving you a slight, yet meaningful edge, over competition.

While the percentage may seem small: It can be a critical factor in a highly competitive job market where even minor advantages can play a significant role in standing out to potential employers. This improved probability underscores the importance of refining your approach and leveraging every opportunity to enhance your candidacy.

A Cover Letter provides an opportunity to go beyond the confines of a résumé, offering a platform to present yourself in a more personal and engaging way. It allows you to convey your genuine interest in both the position and the organization while highlighting the unique aspects of your personality, and enthusiasm, which may not be evident in a simple and boring list such as found on a resume.

It’s also an opportunity to align your skills and experiences directly with the job requirements. In doing this, you show the employer you’ve taken the time to understand what they need and why you are a perfect fit.

And while a résumé focuses on hard skills and experience, a Cover Letter is the perfect place to emphasize communication, teamwork, or leadership skills - qualities employers value as well.

Also, a Cover Letter provides a place to add in a few accomplishments. In fact, including accomplishments in a cover letter adds significant value, as they demonstrate your ability to deliver results plus provide concrete evidence of your skills. Accomplishments highlight tangible contributions you’ve made in previous roles.

Including accomplishments allows potential employers to see not only what you have achieved but also:

• The positive impact your work has had on the team, company, or project. Also any financial impact on the company. Be sure to add percentages and other facts.
• Tailored accomplishments, specifically aligned with the role you're applying for, clearly demonstrate your understanding of the job requirements.
• Helps provide info re your ability to provide value in critical areas.

7 Tips for Creating a Tailored Cover Letter Which Helps Open Doors:

1) Start your Cover Letter by addressing the hiring pro personally whenever possible. In short, send your Cover Letter to an individual responsible for hiring. Avoid generic salutations like "To Whom It May Concern". ?Find their name in the job posting or company directory.

2) Create a strong opening. In short, your first paragraph should grab the attention of the hiring pro. Mention what excites you about the role or company and briefly touch on why you're the perfect fit.

3) Tailor your Cover Letter to the role at hand. If possible, review the job description (which may be situated on their website) or carefully review the job ad. This allows you to match concrete skills, expertise and achievements to the job to immediately capture their attention.

A hiring pro is more apt to read your entire Cover Letter, and resume, when you start off speaking about actual or related kills to the job they’re hiring for. Bottom line - crafting a tailored Cover Letter involves demonstrating your unique fit for a specific role while showing genuine interest in the company.

Note: : If there are gaps in your résumé, or a career pivot, the Cover Letter is where you can proactively address them, turning potential negatives into positives.

4) Research the company in order to understand their values, mission, recent projects, and work culture, for example. Check out their website, social media, or any news mentions. This helps you align your tone and the focus of your Cover Letter.

5) Don’t forget to add in specific achievements related to the job at hand. These will help you stand out from other candidates. And while many applicants will have similar job titles or responsibilities your accomplishments are unique to your experiences.

6) Proofread meticulously, checking for spelling, grammar, and clarity errors. Ensure your formatting is consistent, the Cover Letter professionally set up. ?Remember, a polished Cover Letter helps demonstrate your professionalism.

7) End with a CTA – call-to-action. Use your final paragraph not only to reiterate your interest but invite further discussion. For example: "I’d love the opportunity to discuss how my skills align with your team’s needs."

Finally:

While a job Cover Letter may seem old-fashioned, it can be incredibly valuable when done well. A strong Cover Letter demonstrates you’re serious about a role and willing to invest time in researching the job and the company plus creating a professional application. This can set you apart from others who don’t include one. Jean L. Serio CEIC, CPC, CeMA, CSEOP

As seen on:

★ Forbes ★ bizcatalyst360 ★ business.com ★ BLR – Daily HR Advisor ★ ERE’s Daily HR Advisor ★ RecruitCon ★ Next Ave. div of PBS ★ Job Conference International ★ beBee International ★ Medium and More ★ Co-author of the Bestseller - "Mission Hope-Thriving Through Seasons of the Soul"