Tips for Creating a Standout Cover Letter

“Should I include a cover letter when submitting a resume?” This is a question I have been asked countless times in my years of recruiting. I always give the same answer.

When seriously considering new employment, it is always best practice to leave nothing to chance. Control all things controllable, which means writing a standout cover letter.

Over my career, I have had the fortune of working alongside hiring managers from a wide spectrum of industries. I built professional relationships with these individuals while recruiting talent for their organizations, and I learned firsthand about candidate screening etiquette. So, while I don’t represent a national consensus, I can offer professional insights along with these few lessons I learned that will be sure to make for a standout cover letter.

• To each their own!
  • Some hiring managers highly value cover letters, others not as much. I haven’t noticed a majority leaning one way or another, which means you should never underestimate the value a cover letter will add to your job hunt! You never want to miss out on an opportunity to make a lasting impression, especially when it’s you first impression. I still remember the most unique cover letter I ever reviewed. She is a software developer, she quoted The Office’s Dwight Schrute, she got the job.
• Make it your own and be original!
  • With workplace culture and brand identity playing such a large role in today’s marketplace, no one wants to hire a “template”. Being yourself is at a premium in the workplace, so make sure to capitalize on the opportunity to do just that with your cover letter. Clean formatting, a tone of professionalism, along with an authentic representation of who you are is the way to go.
  • I would highly encourage writing a new cover letter each time you apply to a company. It’s okay to use a few recycled strong phrases but stay away from overusing a template to the point that it drowns out your authenticity! Generic letters infer that you are either applying everywhere or not very interested in the role that you are applying for.
• Speak, specifically, to your target employer!
  • Make sure to craft your cover letter with your target audience in mind; the hiring manager and the company they represent. Speaking to your target employer directly in a “voice” that acknowledges the company’s core values demonstrates your aptitude, resourcefulness, and desire to work for that employer.
  • Spend some time scrubbing the company website/social media to formulate an understanding of the environment and culture. Fifteen minutes of browsing will help you establish a sense of tone, level or formality to use, and clue you in on company culture.
  • Be sure to address the letter to the hiring manager as opposed to using clichéd salutations (“to whom it may concern”, etc...). Addressing your cover letter to the hiring manager feels less stiff and more personal. Plus, managers take notice if you had to do a little pre-work on the company website to identify who to address!   
• Paint the picture, create the reality!
  • Resume is to “what”; as Cover Letter is to “how”.  Your resume documents relevant work experience and accomplishments, so your cover letter should creatively highlight how you delivered on them. Take time to reflect on your approach to responsibilities you have listed, methods implemented that led to your accomplishments, and processes that make you especially good at getting the job done. Write about that!
  • Don’t let a fear of bragging get in the way! I understand not wanting to sound too enthusiastic or overly sure of yourself, but don’t undersell yourself. Be honest, a little modest, and proud to share the work that you have done.
  • Make sure not to shy away from topics like how you accomplished a goal, overcame obstacles, received relevant praise or earned accolades. Focus on how you plan to impact company pain points, or how your unique set of skills will benefit a new system.

Thanks to the advent of the internet, there is a deluge of exemplary cover letters available for review that anyone can and should review while job hunting. Combining these lessons with those resources available online will leave you with a standout cover letter. Be authentic, be resourceful, be original and you’ll be successful!

By: Niko Cinquepalmi, Student Recruiter