I Review Hundreds Of Cover
Letters—Here's What I Instantly Reject
An experienced
hiring manager explains what makes her eyes glaze over and what grabs her
attention.
I’ve read a lot of cover letters throughout
my career. When I was a fellowship program manager, I reviewed them in
consideration for more than 60 open positions each year. So I saw it all—the
good, the bad, and the standout examples that
I can still remember.
As a result, I’ve become the go-to friend when people need
feedback on their job applications. Based on my own experience putting people
in the "yes" (and "no") pile, I’m able to give these cover
letters a quick scan and immediately identify what’ll turn a hiring manager
off.
While I can’t give you
insight into every person’s head who’ll be reading your
materials, I can share with you the feedback that I give my own loved ones.
First things first, I skim
the document for anything that could be disqualifying. That includes typos, a
"Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom It May
Concern"salutation, or a vibe so non-specific that it reeks of
find-replace. I know it seems harsh, but when a hiring manager sees any one of
these things, she reads it as, "I didn’t take my time with this, and I
don’t really care about working here." So she’s likely to pass.
You don’t need to thank
the hiring manager "so incredibly much" for reading your
application—that’s his job.
Another thing I look for in
this initial read-through is tone. Even if you’re applying to your dream
company, you don’t want to come off like you think someone entertaining your
candidacy is the same as him offering you water at the end of a lengthy hike.
You don’t need to thank the hiring manager so incredibly much for
reading your application—that’s his job. If you align considering your
application with the biggest favor ever, you’ll make the other person think
it’s because you’re desperate.
So, skip effusive thanks
and demonstrate genuine interest by writing a cover letter that connects the dots between
your experience and the requirements of the position. Telling the reader what
you’ve accomplished and how it directly translates to meeting the company’s
needs is always a better use of space than gushing.
2. THE OPENING SENTENCE
If your first line reads:
"I am writing to apply for [job] at [company]," I will delete it and
suggest a swap every time. (Yes, every single time.) When a hiring manager sees
that, she won’t think, "How thoughtful of the applicant to remind me what
I’m reading!" Her reaction will be much closer to, "boring,"
"meh," or even "next!"
Compare it to one of these statements:
I’ve wanted to work in education ever since my third-grade
teacher, Mrs. Dorchester, helped me discover a love of reading.
My approach to management is simple: I strive to be the kind of
leader I’d want to work for.
In my three years at [prior company], I increased our average
quarterly sales by [percentage].
See how these examples make you want to keep reading? That’s half
the battle right there. Additionally, it makes you memorable, which’ll help
when you’re competing against a sea of applicants.
To try it out for yourself, pick a jumping-off point. It could be
something about you or an aspect of the job description that you’re really
drawn to. Then, open a blank document and just free-write (translation: write
whatever comes to mind) for 10 minutes. Some of the sentences you come up with
will sound embarrassing or lame: That’s fine—no one has to see those! Look for
the sentence that’s most engaging and see how it reads as the opening line for
your cover letter.
Most often, people send me just their cover letter and resume, so
I don’t have the benefit of reviewing the position description. And yet,
whenever a letter follows the format of "I am skilled at [skill], [skill],
[skill], as evidenced by my time at [place]." Or "You’re looking for
[skill], and I am a talented [skill], " I could pretty much re-create it.
Surprise: that’s actually not a good thing.
If you write a laundry
list, it’ll blend into every other submission formatted the same way.
Again, the goal isn’t just to show you’re qualified: It’s to make
the case that you’re more qualified than all the other applicants. You want to
make clear what distinguishes you, so the hiring manager can see why you’re
worth following up with to learn more. And—again—you want to be memorable.
If you write a laundry
list, it’ll blend into every other submission formatted the same way. So, just
like you went with a unique opener, do the
same with your examples. Sure, you might still include lists of skills, but
break those up with anecdotes or splashes of personality.
Here’s a real, two-line excerpt from a cover letter I’ve written
before:
If I’m in a conference room and the video isn’t working, I’m not the
sort to simply call IT and wait. I’ll also (gracefully) crawl under the table,
and check that everything is properly plugged in.
A couple lines like this will not only lighten up your letter, but
also highlight your soft skills. I got the point across that I’m a take-charge
problem solver, without saying, "I’m a take-charge problem solver."
Plus the "(gracefully)" shows that I don’t take myself too
seriously—even in a job application. If your submission follows the same
list-type format all the way through, see if you can’t pepper in an example or
anecdote that’ll add some personality.
You want your cover letter to stand out for all the right reasons.
So, before you click submit, take a few minutes to make sure you’re putting
your best (and most memorable) foot forward.
SARA MCCORD MUSE https://www.fastcompany.com/3064221/hit-the-ground-running/i-review-hundreds-of-cover-letters-these-are-the-ones-i-instantly-rej
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