In an article for the New York Times, David Koeppel highlights the danger of using templates when writing cover letters: employers may recognize the difference from a personalized letter, and decide that the applicant is not serious about the position.
But making use of a template does not have to result in generic job applications, so long as the job seeker crafts it him or herself. Using a clever template can allow applicants to save time and spare themselves the stress of having to come up with a dozen (or more) "unique" cover letters.
Grab the Employer's Attention: Format
A cover letter with a standard three body paragraph structure that gets to the point quickly is best, writes Nancy Dahlberg of the Miami Herald. The job seeker can also include a one-sentence opening paragraph to grab attention by stating what he or she can bring to the organization.
While it might be tempting for job seekers to showcase their creativity with a unique format, they should remember that the goal is readability. Employers often take less than thirty seconds to determine if an application is worth putting in the “consider” pile, writes Dahlberg.
The University of Alberta's School of Business recommends making each of your three body paragraphs respond to a key skill the employer is looking for.
Get the Job Interview: Content
Now that the cover letter's structure is planned out, work on planning the content.
Often, job seekers' cover letters tend to play up the same achievements and experiences, especially if they are looking for work in one specific field. It is important to avoid writing the same thing over and over again. Doing so may actually hurt one's chances of being interviewed, because it can result in writing that sounds mechanical or forced.
The Financial Post's Bob Weinstein recommends determining the key skills employers are looking for before writing the cover letter. Communication skills and interpersonal skills are a good start, but one should not forget to consider skills that are specific to one's field (for example, record-keeping skills for an administrative job).
After assembling the list, job hunters should look through their resumes and portfolios and write down, in sentence form, how they came to possess each of those skills. Don't just tell, show, writes Clare Whitmell of The Guardian. Rather than saying, "I planned a successful public event," say, "My promotional efforts resulted in one of the highest turnouts in the event’s history." Be results-oriented. It doesn't matter if this lengthens each example – it’s better to use a few powerful examples than many uninteresting ones. Use action words to add impact.
At the end of the process, job seekers should have a word document with a list of skills and examples, after which they can start crafting their cover letters. For each job description, determine which three skills are most important to that employer. Look through the list of examples and pick two or three relevant experiences to highlight in each “skill” paragraph. Copy and paste into the cover letter.
A good template will help any job seeker create well-written, results-oriented cover letters that are tailored to specific employers. Crafting the template should take a good amount of time and effort, but this will pay off for someone who is applying for multiple positions. Listing all of your relevant skills and backing them up with examples is also a great way to prepare for a job interview.
References
Alberta School of Business, The University of Alberta. Cover Letters and Resumes.
Dahlberg, Nancy. "A Case Study in Presenting Your Case in Job Hunt." Miami Herald. June 27 2010.
Koeppel, David. "Want Your Letter to Stand Out? Here's a Tip: Write It Yourself." New York Times. May 22 2005.
Weinstein, Bob. "Chuck Your Resume-Try a Well-Written Letter Instead." Financial Post. September 9 2009.
Whitmell, Clare. "How to Stand Out with Your Cover Letter." The Guardian. June 22 2010.
Heather Fawcett - Heather Fawcett is a Vancouver-based writer and editor. She holds an M.A. in English Literature and specializes in teen fiction, having ...
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