Why employers hate your cover letter
Imagine some of the dumbest, most ineffective pick-up lines you’ve heard or (gasp!) used on someone while at a local nightclub or gathering spot. Chances are the worst ones were either:
- So over-the-top cheesy, they invoked an immediate grimace or slap
- So boring and overused, they were barely noticed by anyone within earshot
And, in all likelihood, none of these wretched one-liners led to success for the picker-upper. Because first impressions matter. They matter a lot.
Now let’s talk about your cover letter.
As a recruiter and career strategist, I see this “horrible pick-up line syndrome” play itself out again and again at the front end of cover letters. In fact, the vast majority of cover letters I review are terrible. (There, I said it.)
They’re cheesy, generic, or completely redundant to the person’s resume. They tell me more about what you want than what you can do for me (or for the hiring manager).
Sounds grim, until you realize that you can totally turn this reality into a massive advantage—if you play things right.
Construct a conversational, memorable, and directly relevant cover letter, add a strong and conversational lead, and then send it to an actual contact within your targeted organization—and you’ve just set yourself miles ahead of the pack. Remember, most of your competition is creating cover letters with loser lead-ins that make reviewers cringe, snooze, or (in extreme cases) want to slap them.
Allow me to illustrate: Imagine you are a talented field engineer who needs to find a new job due to a family relocation to Texas. You’re targeting a large company that makes and installs wind turbines. Which cover letter intro do you think is more likely to command the reviewer’s attention?
Cover Letter A
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please consider me as a candidate for the Wind Turbine Technician position. I want to work for a thriving company in the field of alternative energy that will allow career growth. I feel I am a good match.
Cover Letter B
Dear Mr. James,
I recently relocated my family to Texas. As we neared our new home, I noticed with intrigue the many wind turbines dotting the landscape. Suddenly, it hit me: “This is the career for me.” After unloading the moving van, I promptly researched companies in this sector that may benefit most from a skilled field engineer with expert electromechanical skills. That’s when I found you.
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What Businesses/Employers Are Doing
Accenture
Accenture has developed the Skills to Succeed program, which will equip 250,000 people, including veterans, around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. As part of their efforts, Accenture is one of several companies underwriting NPower’s Technology Services Corp and will work with the nonprofit to expand IT training, professional skills and mentoring, internships, and job placement for service members and veterans.
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