Job Seekers: Think Like a Recruiter – Part 5

There is so much conflicting information on the topic of cover letters that it is proof positive of the theory that it is common for experts to disagree on just about everything. If you talk to a career counselor or job coach you will no doubt be told that it can make or break your application. The operative word in that sentence is “can” and the idea that this is a deal killer is somewhat overstated. Do a Google search on cover letters and among the results you will discover several infomercial-like hits where you will be guaranteed to get offers based on some fantastic generic super colossal offer letter they want to sell you. It is so ironic that they use glitzy words in various fonts and colors backed up with multiple substantiating videos to convince you that they can write a clear and concise letter. Don’t go there. If you are capable of writing a coherent, grammatically correct paragraph or two by yourself and have a spell checker, there is no need to pay someone to do it for you.

By now you know that the purpose of the “Think Like a Recruiter” series is to coach job seekers to think using the mentality of a recruiter, but this is one topic where that can be a little difficult to do with consistency. In spite of claims to the contrary, most recruiters do not read cover letters even if they say that they do. There are surveys that state the opposite viewpoint, but recruiters are not some sort of magical clones who always conform to the same ideas and it really depends on the individual situation and the type of recruiter receiving your application. It is much more important to agency recruiters who take this as a part of the total package they will present to a client, but most corporate recruiters will probably never read your cover letter. Knowing your target audience goes a long way to making it an effective communications tool, but with all this ambiguity you really have no way of knowing for sure. Confusing? Simply stated, the fact is that some recruiters may want a cover letter and some will ignore it. Being clearly optional, it is always better to err on the side of caution and write one to be on the safe side. You are more likely to be penalized for not having a cover letter by those who expect it than to be overlooked by recruiters who could care less.

One thing is absolutely clear: There may be different opinions on whether or not it is essential to have a cover letter, but all tend to agree that having a bad one is always a negative. Fluff and pompous statements never add to the message and can be a huge disadvantage if it takes the reader too far off target. It is virtually impossible to write a cover letter that will be applicable to all situations, so that generic, one-size-fits-all letter you bought or copied out of a book of 1001 cover letters will probably not work. In fact, this is why most corporate recruiters don’t bother to read them anymore…most cover letters are terrible at best and are seen to be a waste of their time. You do not have to suck up to recruiters by telling them how great their company is, make the laughable claim that this is the dream job you have always wanted, that it is ideal for your needs or that you are exactly the perfect match for the job. That conclusion is not yours to make. Just the facts, please! Don’t embarrass yourself or insult the reader with unsupported grandiose statements.

It is important to know what a cover letter does and does not do.

1. Cover letters do not compensate for resume shortcomings – If the bullet points in the resume are not a match for the position, there is not much that can be said in a cover letter to hide the fact that you are not qualified for the opening. The worst possible combination is a cover letter that states facts not brought into evidence by the resume. If you are qualified why not tweak the resume to prove that you are? Your self-analysis has given you insight into the types of position where you can succeed. Recruiters can usually scan a resume in 30 seconds or less to determine a match. If the match is not there, the cover letter will probably not have any impact. Most company applicant tracking systems even “stack” the cover letter behind the resume and some do not recognize keywords unless they appear in the resume. A good “Summary” or “Objective” paragraph at the beginning of a resume is actually a mini-cover letter which has a better chance of being seen by recruiters and hiring managers.
2. Cover letters can supplement information in the resume – Assuming that your resume already includes the facts of education, experience, skills and accomplishments needed for the job, a well crafted cover letter can be useful in highlighting how those facts match the criteria mentioned in the job posting. The emphasis should be on calling the reader’s attention to matching your skills to the dimensions of the job. Rather than a jumble of fluff, this gives concrete evidence of your ability to perform the responsibilities of the position when hired. It is never a case of proving how the job can help you. If applying for a stretch job, this is the place to show how your past accomplishments give you believability in moving to the next level. It is always about how you can bring your skills to bear on problems the position will ultimately solve.
3. Cover letters do not get interviews – Aside from the point that they may not even be read in the first place, they are not proof of writing ability as some would claim. In fact, the opposite is often true and a poorly crafted letter can leave no doubt that you have absolutely no writing ability. In a perfect world where reading the cover letter precedes reading the resume, it is simply an introduction to who you are and why you are applying. The resume alone or a combination of resume/cover will get you in the door, not a bloated cover letter. The concept of a perfect generic cover letter again assumes that one-size-fits-all approach to getting in the door. Cover letters that appear to be copied from a template or purchased from a letter writer can be spotted immediately by the pro and can actually be detrimental to your image. It must be a representation of your ability to do the job and not that of some ghost writer.
4. Cover letters should be short and to the point – You will hear advice that a cover letter should not exceed one page…which is about three times longer than actually needed. If you have a well constructed resume, a simple three paragraph format is all that is necessary. Sandwiched between an introductory paragraph and a closing paragraph is the meat of the letter…and remember to skip the relish. Starting with “Hi, my name is…” is totally unnecessary unless you are applying to a company of idiots. “I saw your job posting on your website for…” or some other source information might be useful to the recruiter who is tracking metrics.  “Please call me if you are interested…” is not necessary unless you are assuming that the recruiter would prefer using telepathy to reach you. “You may call my mobile number at any time…” may be useful to highlight available times or including a work number not on the resume could be a good idea. Read, edit, then repeat the process several times and trim unnecessary verbiage on each pass.
5. Cover letters do not have to be attached to an email – An online application which allows you to upload documents could include both a resume and cover letter. Job boards give you the ability to store cover letters which can be tweaked for each application. However, if you are sending the resume to someone by email, the body of the email is your cover letter and the only attachment needed is the resume. In fact, an insider secret is that even recruiters who may otherwise skip the cover letter will probably read the body of an email. Even if you apply online, going through more than one door often helps to get noticed and emails to people in the company may be that other door.

The biggest problem with cover letters is that the whole idea assumes a post-and-pray mentality for job applications. Networking will get you in the door faster than a shotgun approach of sending blind resumes out to the world. Friends, former colleagues and people to whom you have already been introduced do not need to have a cover letter to be coaxed into digging through your resume and helping you to find other sources of assistance. Employee referrals are the biggest slice in the employment pie chart, so their endorsement is your cover letter. Do you have recruiters in your network? Talk to them. Ask for their best advice on how to provide information for their clients or their company. The best way to think like a recruiter is to ask them how they think.