| By Nora Fogarty |
So you’ve found a job you like, tailored your resume, and you’re ready to apply. It’s an exciting time, but can also be very stressful. The process of applying, especially if you’re required to submit an application via email, seems fraught with opportunity to make mistakes or commit embarrassing social faux pas. Add all of that up, and you might be ready to panic!
The key to avoiding a full-scale breakdown is to do a little research first and to follow some quick, easy tips. Cover letters don’t have to be the end of the world, and can even be one of the most enjoyable parts of the job application process.
So what is a cover letter? What are they for, and what does the creation process entail? Essentially, a cover letter is your first chance to impress a hiring manager or department, or your new potential boss. According to Salary.com, cover letters are also one of the most neglected pieces of your application for a position. Think of it this way: you’re being given an opportunity to tell potential employers, in your own words and with plenty of time to think in advance, exactly why you are the right person for the job. It’s a sales piece, with your qualifications and abilities as the products.
Before drafting a cover letter, you should consider a few things:
- Why do I want to work for this specific employer, or in this particular position?
Cover letters should always be tailored to the position you’re applying for. It’s fine to have a base model, so to speak, on hand, but submitting a generic cover letter to an employer or HR department isn’t likely to garner great results. Think carefully and critically about what, exactly, attracted you to the company or position to begin with, and then use that information to craft a cover letter that exemplifies those of your strengths that fit best. Applying for 18 jobs? Sorry, but for the best results, 18 even-slightly-different cover letters will give you a stronger shot, assuming they’re specifically written for those positions.
- How do you, personally, stand out as an applicant, especially in relation to the position or company?
What makes you, the applicant, distinct? Are you exceedingly proud of your writing skills, or did you experience success in a lot of group projects? Push your strengths forward and make sure you’re clear about exactly why you should be chosen.
- What about your personality or abilities do you most want the potential employer to know about?
This may seem repetitive, but if there’s a quality about yourself that makes you an ideal candidate, SAY IT! Applying for a Marketing or Sales job and specifying that you’re “outgoing” is all well and good, but that’s hardly specific. In what situations are you outgoing? Is this something that has always come easily to you, or did you work hard to improve your people skills?
- How is this cover letter different from my resume? Am I just repeating the same dry information over and over again?
Ah yes, the fatal flaw in so many cover letters. Don’t just restate the information on your resume. They are two separate documents and should be treated as such! Your resume offers the run-down on your experience and a quick look at your skills, but your cover letter is your chance to really express who you are, both as a person and as an employee, and you should use it to show off, just a bit.
Having considered all of these things, the cover letter should be much easier to write confidently, but if you need more help, there are a wealth of resources online about the topic. Our own Career Center website offers a helpful handout about how exactly to make yourself distinctive via the cover letter. Another great, easy-to-read resource? Try this Forbes.com primer, for some solid advice about how to truly make your cover letter stand out, or check out these examples of attention-grabbing cover letters from The Muse.
Remember, if you’re feeling a little lost or in over your head, the UP Career Center is here to help! Give us a call at (503) 943-7201, or email with questions at career@up.edu. You can stop by the front desk as well – we love to see new faces!