Oh, the never-ending confusion and debate over cover letters.
Do I need one? Will anyone read it? How, exactly, can I make sure an actual hiring manager reads it?
Never mind the whole—and rather crucial— “what should my cover letter say?” piece of this equation. There’s so much to consider, it’s no wonder why people often under-use or forego the cover letter altogether when looking for a job.
I’ve long been in the “heck, yes” camp on cover letters. Let me explain why and share some essential tips on what to incorporate in your next cover letter if you want to grab the attention of a hiring manager and get them to call you for an interview.
Why should you write a cover letter?
I’d like to tell you not to worry about crafting a cover letter for the next role you pursue, but here’s the thing (and you’ve probably noticed it): Competition’s fierce in more than a few career fields right now. Given this, you’ll be wise to do everything you can to stack the odds of landing an interview in your favor.
This includes a cover letter. If a recruiter or hiring manager is on the fence about you as a viable candidate, a thoughtfully written cover letter might just nudge you into the “yes” pile.
So, for this reason alone, I’d make the time for it.
Now here’s the good news—most people squander the opportunity. They either opt out of writing a cover letter entirely or, nearly as bad, they submit bland, cliché-filled, or redundant-to-the-resume clunkers.
Given this, hiring managers and recruiters don’t expect to lay eyes on a cover letter that’s memorable, compelling, and on point. When they do? They take notice.
Essential tips for your next cover letter
So how do you pull off a winning cover letter, one that conveys your passion and talent and makes the recruiter or hiring manager’s day? Follow these steps:
1. Choose the right salutation
We are well past the days when “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam” were considered gold standard business salutations. Unless you’re hoping to look like a nonagenarian on paper, plan to address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager or recruiter involved with the search.
It may seem difficult to sleuth this out, but it’s often easier than you may think. Just mosey over to LinkedIn and do a People search using the company’s name as your search term. Scroll through the people working at that company until you find someone who appears to be the hiring manager. (Hint: the job description may tell you who the position reports to.) If you can’t find a logical manager, try locating an internal recruiter or, in smaller companies, the head of HR.
If you aren’t able to pinpoint this information, go with something more general but still personal and appropriate for current times, like “Dear Muse Marketing Team,” or “To the HR Business Partner Hiring Team.”
2. Convey your interest and value
Decision makers never want to feel like you’re wallpapering the universe with the same cookie-cutter cover letter. They want to know you’re approaching their organization for specific reasons. Maybe you love their mission, their products, or their reputation as a great place to work.
Lead with this then, using the job description (and whatever other information you’ve gathered) as your guide, then outline what, specifically, you can walk through their doors and deliver. Make it clear as quickly as possible that you’ve got the goods.
Here's an example: “As a long-time cyclist, I know a thing or two about chafing. I also know that plenty of chamois creams just don’t do the trick. Yours does, and I’ve been a loyal fan and user for years. You’ve reduced friction for me and now I’d like to do the same for you as your next Customer Service Manager.
I’m [Name], a personable and solution-focused customer service professional who consistently ranks among the top 5% of performers at my current employer. Here’s what I can deliver in this role:”
And then expound on a few of the skills you bring to the table, with particular emphasis on the priority requirements for that role (they’re typically listed first on the job description or mentioned more than once).
3. Finish strong
You certainly don’t want to fizzle out at the finish line. In fact, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve read this exact sentence on a cover letter, I’d have a lot of dollars:
“Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear from you soon.”
Instead, work to sum up why you’re a great candidate and welcome an opportunity to meet to discuss their needs and your qualifications further.
Here's an example: “I believe my collaborative work style, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strong belief in the value of your products will enable me to make considerable impact, quickly. I would love to learn more about your specific goals and needs and share details on how I may contribute. I hope to meet soon!”
And a last, critical tip when it comes to delivering a great cover letter to a hiring manager: Be you. Honest, genuine writing always goes much, much further than trying to emulate the tone and structure encouraged in outdated career guides and textbooks.
Rules can be bent. In fact, if you’re working to make a lasting impression and land that interview? Oftentimes, they should be.