Cover Letters Step by Step

When is the last time someone told you a great story about a friend and you sat there riveted, wanting to know more and more about the person. You asked questions and were insatiably curious about every detail of how this person either overcame a horrific experience or celebrated a great triumph. That is what your cover letter is for.

Tip #9: Cover letters are meant to tell a great story.

Let’s be real – cover letters are rarely read today. Many tech companies don’t even have a place to type or upload a cover letter. But if there is a place to upload or type a cover letter, should you do so? 

NO: If your resume is complete and you are fully qualified for the job, don’t write one. Also, if you are not a great writer, don’t write one. The cover letter could be your first impression and a badly written cover letter could make recruiters not want to learn more about you.

YES: If you are transitioning careers to a new career or your resume has gaps or doesn’t tell the whole story about you, and the online application provides a place to type or upload a cover letter, then write one. Also, if the application requires a cover letter (most don’t anymore), of course write one. 

You won’t know if an application requires a cover letter until you start applying so it’s always a good idea to have one ready and it should be great.

1. Format– Cover letters are three paragraphs at most, with two to three sentences in each paragraph.

• Paragraph 1: Introduction with a catchy first line, what job you are applying to and what skills you have that will make you a great fit for the role. If someone referred you, that person’s name is in the first line.
• Paragraph 2: Your story. What is not on your resume that makes you better than every other candidate out there for this role. What makes you unique?
• Paragraph 3: Close with you are looking forward to discussing your qualifications further.

2. Know Your Audience – How do you know how serious to be if you haven’t worked at the company? You can find information on nearly every company on the internet. Look for how the company describes its culture. Fun? Fast paced? Is the company big or small? Determine if you need to be very serious or a little fun in your cover letter.

3. Write in complete sentences with proper English – If you don’t know how to use a semicolon, learn before using one. If you aren’t a good writer, have someone read it for you before sending it. This could be the first impression a hiring manager has of you.

Let's break it down:

PARAGRAPH 1: Two sentences.

• Sentence 1: Catch your reader with your first words. No one reads. So, if you want someone to read your cover letter (assuming a recruiter even opens it), your first few words should catch them. First line examples:

If you’re not comfortable coming up with something unique without it sounding silly, another way to approach the first line is the traditional way. 

Sentence 2: State what role you are applying to and some information about you that makes you a great fit:

“My stellar track record of A, B and C, in a global organization makes me a stand out candidate for this role.”

A, B, and C are three things from the job description that match your experience.

PARAGRAPH 2: Tell your story and answer the question, “Why you?” 

What makes you more unique, more qualified, and better than any other candidate out there? If you are career transitioning, this is where you look at your experience through the lens of the new job. When I was applying for HR jobs, I focused on the fact that I understood the people, priorities, and pressures of business leaders because I had been one. That made me unique. People who have never worked outside of HR, don’t necessarily have that direct understanding or perspective. 

Example 1: All managers need to be great leaders but the pressures, priorities and people sometimes get in the way. I understand how pressures to grow the business and priorities that consume the day leave little time to focus on the people and their growth. But people are the greatest asset. My deep understanding of how to set up a business for success including all aspects of people management and development makes me uniquely qualified to be successful as an HR Business Partner.

The second paragraph can also focus on soft skills:

Example 2: Remember that time when you were a kid and you couldn’t wait for your birthday to open all those presents? Every problem that needs a solution is like a present to me. Whether it’s a business problem or a conflict among teams, I am the person who is excited to jump in to find the best resolution quickly. That is what makes me a great leader, one who inspires and expects the same level of commitment from my team and cross-functional relationships in our dynamic, fast paced environment.

And of course, the traditional approach:

Example 3: My rich experience, knowledge and strengths are outlined on my resume and LinkedIn profile, so I will take this opportunity to explain how my skills directly translate to this position and why I am the perfect fit for Company Name.  To highlight one of many success stories: (Then tell one success story in three or less sentences.)

PARAGRAPH 3: The close in two sentences.

Example: I hope I have persuaded you to understand how my skills would make me a valuable asset in this exciting role at Company Name. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you about the position.

Putting it all together for a Software Engineering position which will manage a team (all Bold is in the job description):

Some people dream of vacations, or great food. I dream of solving complex issues with code. My stellar track record of overseeing product development from concept to mass production and driving timely delivery of software to the factory would make me an exceptional addition to Company X.

My software engineering career started at the tender age of eight, long before smart homes existed, when I created original code to flash all the lights in the house to scare my little sister. Today people might think they were living in an episode of Stranger Things, but in that moment, I found my passion. While staring at a computer screen and solving coding problems is my passion, I also enjoy and have more than 10 years of experience in providing technical direction with hands on management to large teams.

My experience would make me a great asset to Company X. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you about the role.

Best,

Your name

A couple final tips of what not to write in cover letters:

1. Don’t start every sentence with “I”. Find other ways to start sentences such as “My” etc.

2. Cover letters are not meant to reiterate your resume. That’s why you have a resume. Cover letters are meant for you to enhance what is on your resume with very specific skills that are applicable to the job.

3. Don’t get too personal. Don’t talk about your kids or husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend.

4. Don't talk about what the role will teach you. Cover letters are about what you bring to the role to help the business.

5. Spell check. Spell check. Spell check.

Cover letters should be short, succinct and add to your overall submission. If you don't have anything great to say, don't say anything at all.

Next week: Sharpening your LinkedIn Profile and why that matters as much, if not more, than your resume.