Not long ago, the Wallstreet Journal published an article:
Job Hunters Take A Stand: We’re Not Writing Cover Letters
According to the article, with employers somehow struggling to fill “millions” of openings, jobseekers are leveraging their position to put their foot down: we are not doing cover letters anymore!
“People are fundamentally fed up with having to do so much to get a job,” said Gianni LaTange, a 27-year-old in New York who works in tech.
LaTange, among others, calls cover letters an antiquated hiring practice that no longer apply to jobs that require them; that it’s too torturous and time-consuming to be worth the effort for a less-than-dream role, and even insulting thanks to the automated algorithms in place that screen and sort applications.
Instead, job seekers seem to be getting creative in their job search. According to the article, LaTange sought out employees at companies she wanted to work for through LinkedIn, asking questions about the work culture and how they like doing what they do. Eventually, an employee connected her with a company’s recruiter and the rest is history.
Other job seekers will seek out those positions where the application process does not require a cover letter as it’s just another time-consuming task in an already time-consuming and stressful process.
As a job seeker myself, I understand the frustration, even as a writer! There never is just one cover letter for all: you have to go back to the draft, replace the names and addresses of the company you’re applying for; you have to re-analyze and explained why you’re applying and why you’d be the perfect fit; you have to research again who the letter should be addressed to specifically because, let’s face it, “To whom it may concern” and “Dear hiring manager” are more fake than the recipient of “Dear Santa”.
However, here are two reasons you need to buck up and write the cover letter anyway.
- Take advantage of the dreaded ATS systems
The application tracking systems (ATS) that most are basically the Google for hiring managers. It allows them to search through resumes via keyword searches, and the resumes with the most keywords in the right places and used most frequently will likely rise to the top.
This would imply that accompanying cover letters are secondary because they’ll only be read after the resume has been reviewed. But improving your keyword count, usage and ranking can only increase your database visibility in recruiters’ searches, and it will never work against you. If you want in, go all in!
Also, when you see a dialog box on the application for inserting a cover letter, or a dialog box either requesting or demanding a cover letter or specific information as to your suitability for the position, don’t leave it blank.
2. Prove to them you’re a great, adaptable cultural fit
If the resume is the first impression showcasing your success, then the cover letter is the first impression showcasing your character.
“If you don’t write a compelling cover letter, you miss the opportunity to showcase your character and personality,” writes Jill Stuart on LinkedIn. Jill is a Communications Consultant & Writing Coach who runs a workshop called “Compelling Cover Letters” designed for mid-career professionals.
“Well written and concise,” she continues, “your cover letter can set you apart. It can tell stories you don’t include in your resume, but that says a lot about you as a worker, as a person, as a good fit for a particular position.”
Where your resume shows the responsibilities and specific successes from your previous positions, the cover letter gives potential employers a picture of the circumstances surrounding how you achieved them. When your resume shows you were an executive assistant at a marketing startup, but also wrote copy for the company and some of their clients, you explain in your letter that they hired you as their assistant but, when they realized you could write, they made you the editorial go-to member of the team.
Some other things to remember when writing your cover letter:
- Keep it short
- Follow the submission instructions
- Proof for errors and accuracy (especially if you are using the same template!)
- Use action verbs
- Use the same doc file style as you do your resume to further your personal brand
Now, no more excuses. Get writing and get hired!
Eric Kambach 