Yes, You Do Need A Cover Letter

Recently I met with a new client that has been in the market for a job for more than a year. He was home responding to job ads from job boards. His phone was not ringing. No one was calling him back and he was more than frustrated.

At the end of our first meeting the homework I assignment I gave him was to develop a cover letter. I gave him a sample letter that included a strong opening, highlights of his accomplishments using bullet points, and highlights of his qualifications that fit the job ad he was responding to. I met with him briefly this weekend, two weeks since our first meeting. He has received phone call after phone call by adding a strong cover letter to his resume. This gentleman went from no calls, to interviews.

I am a firm believer that like a resume opens the door for an interview, a cover letter opens the door for the organization to want to read your resume. Resumes have a 4 second shelf life. You will move either from being an interested candidate to a potential candidate. But you have four seconds at best to communicate your value through a resume. A cover letter is a little different. If you have a strong cover letter, you will create interest in your resume. The 4 second rule will no longer be in effect because you successfully created interest for you as a potential candidate.

Tips for Developing Your Cover Letter

1. Do not use a template. Write a letter, a cover letter that communicates who you are and give the reader a reason to read your resume.

2. Make sure your cover letter includes key qualifications the job description highlights.

3. Use strong action words that describe you, your skills and abilities.

Cover letters are the appetizer in the full course from interview to job offer. Cover letters help to develop the first impression that organizations will have about your candidacy. So many job seekers skip investing time in developing their cover letter. You need a cover letter if you want to differentiate yourself from other candidates. So take your time and carve out a strong cover letter. If you would like a sample cover letter to get you started, leave me a comment and an email address and I will send it.

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