How to Make Your Cover Letter Matter (If It Gets Read)

Cover Letter: Waste of Time or Opportunity?

The much-hated cover letter! It seems to be the most annoying part of writing an application to most job applicants. My clients often ask me if anyone actually even reads cover letters – the answer is sad, it’s unlikely. A survey by reCereered found that 90% of hiring contacts surveyed simply ignored every cover letter sent to them. On the other hand, some hiring managers do pay attention to cover letters and even say that, If I hate a cover letter, I won’t even look at a resume. You may wonder, what is the purpose of a cover letter? For the employer, it is often times just a formality but it can also serve as a highly effective screening tool.

And if a hiring manager does pay attention to cover letters, it offers you the opportunity to build a relationship with an employer, to showcase your personality, to address gaps in employment, career pivots, short job tenures, a place to “name drop” if you have any, and to substantiate claims made in your resume. Therefore, I still consider a cover letter a relevant part of your application that you should put some effort into.

Here is my advice on how to approach your cover letter.

Advice from the PhD Hiring Manager’s Perspective

Cover letters matter, but resumes matter more.

Don’t assume that your cover letter will be read but write it as if it will be read because a poorly written cover letter will almost certainly exclude you immediately.

Grab the reader’s attention in a professional manner.

Show why you are a better fit than the rest of the applicants.

Be brief, succinct, and to the point.

Focus on the company and how you will fill a gap.

Overall Cover Letter Guidelines  

Here are some general guidelines to writing a strong cover letter.

1.    Stick to 3-4 paragraphs.

2.    Do not exceed 1 page. A little shorter than that is optimal.

3.    Do your best research to find an individual’s name to address your letter to. Try to avoid “Dear Hiring Manager” whenever possible. And, make sure you use the correct title prefix (e.g. Dr. or Ms.)

4.    Write a memorable opening.

5.    Finish with a strong closing.

6.    Keep in mind that your letter should tell an employer…

• You are passionate and enthusiastic about working there.
• You are the best candidate for the job, based on what you know about the position and their industry.
• You are a genuine, likable person that they are going to want to meet and hopefully hire.

7.    Your cover letter should be employer focused, not you focused. For example, “I’m excited to offer my expertise in...” vs. “through this position I hope to gain…”

8.    Let the employer be the judge of your skills, rather than tell the reader you are “great” at certain things. Use language that shows them how successful you’ve been.

9.    Quantify the evidence of your accomplishments where possible.

How to Build the Perfect Cover Letter

1.    Review the position description thoroughly.

2.    Understand what skills the organization seeks.

3.    Think about what skills you possess and how you measure up to skills desired.

4.    Identify most relevant technical and transferable skills that you possess and choose 3-4 skills that are essential for the job and refer to these in the body of your letter.

5.    Consider your audience and the culture of the organization you are applying to as you thoughtfully choose your words and tone. 

Now, start writing!

I will continue sharing more tips and strategies on topics such as career exploration, resume and cover letter writing, and using LinkedIn. Follow me and STEM Career Services on LinkedIn, and Twitter to see new posts and updates.