I have a confession.  Early in my role as a career coach, I HATED writing cover letters.  I actually shied away from working with cover letter clients because I didn’t feel like I knew enough about the purpose of the document, and I didn’t think I had the writing chops to compose an effective one.  Like most things that I’m not very good at, I did some research and I started to practice.  Now, I’m proud to say I enjoy writing cover letters.  Through practice I learned you don’t have to be a poet laureate to write one of these things.  As long as you know a little bit about the job, the employer, and your value, you can compose a strong letter that enhances your resume and makes you stand out among other candidates. 

Below are three “dos” and three “don’ts” of cover letter writing.  If you are interested in learning more about what type of content to include in a cover letter, check out my earlier blog, A Cover Letter Writing Process You Can Count On.

Do

• Keep it to one page. Unlike the resume which can extend onto a second page after your second job, whether you have been working for two years or 20 years the cover letter will always be one page.
• Tailor your cover to each job application. You can do this by explaining why each employer’s mission appeals to you and synthesizing your background explaining specifically how your past professional experiences will add value to the role.  This will help connect the dots for your employer between you and the job opportunity.
• This might be an obvious one, but a lot of people don’t do it, so I figured it would be worth adding. Have someone read your cover letter before submitting it.  Cover letters usually take a while to write, and like anything you’ve spent hours staring at, it’s a good idea to have someone with fresh eyes look it over before you officially add it to your application.

Don’t

• Use the same cover letter for each application. The reader will be very aware if you are swapping one employer’s name for another and clicking the submit button.  Doing this could suggest to an employer that you are lazy, and no one wants to hire a lazy employee.
• Restate what is listed on your resume. It is ok to go into more detail about experiences that are on your resume, but do not use the cover letter to restate your entire professional history.
• List skills that you have without backing it up with proof. For example, “I’m motivated, hard-working, a good communicator, and a strong team player.”  That sentence would serve you better if stated, “My unique background which includes eight years of military experiences and five years as a financial advisor has provided me with the ability to communicate with clients effectively, lead a team in a fast paced environment, and motivate others by using my strong work ethic to provide service that meets the standards of my clients.”
• BONUS DON’T: Use the cover letter as an opportunity to tell your life story. Although this is your cover letter, the cover letter is not about you.  It is about letting your future employer know how you can help them and add value to their organization.  Outlining an attention-grabbing story that explains how you got into a certain career and how your work adds meaning to your life is not appropriate for a cover letter.  It is, however, amazing content for your LinkedIn About section.  If you are reading this post and saying, “Oh no!  My cover letter could win an Oscar.”  Don’t worry.  Just edit your cover letter, thank The Academy, and add that epic story of your life to your LinkedIn profile.

Now that you are armed with a cover letter writing process you can count on and a few key dos and don’ts, you are ready to write a cover letter that will support your resume and help you land an interview.  If you would like to work with a professional to assist in writing your cover letter, I’d love to hear from you!  Click here to schedule a consultation.  If you enjoyed this post, scroll down to subscribe and my blog will be sent straight to your inbox 😊!