Comments on: How to Write A Kick-Ass Cover Letter

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:19:53 +0000

Thanks for catching my typo!

By: Krista

Krista — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:16:55 +0000

Thanks for such an informative article. I happened to notice a mistake while reading, and thought I’d bring it to your attention:

“Cover letters are important and all to (should be too) often overlooked.”

It’s an easy oversight. Thanks again for the great article!

By: Shock

Shock — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:58:34 +0000

A great company research site is Glassdoor.com. It is a free inside look at over 37,000 companies. Company Salaries, Reviews, and Interviews posted anonymously by employees. You get an subjective insiders look into a company.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:25 +0000

I’m curious — is this a U.S. thing? Everywhere I’ve applied here in Canada seems to requires them (online application or not).

By: YoungUrbanPro

YoungUrbanPro — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:10:52 +0000

cover letter shmover letter…if you are applying online (specifically related to an online posting) they are a thing of the past unless they are specifically requested.

keyword resume scanners dont scan cover letters and we all know thats the first cut.

By: eric

eric — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:17:54 +0000

Oh interesting tip. Thanks!

By: zapeta

zapeta — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:22:29 +0000

I think it really helps to know the field you’re applying for and how many people work in it as you construct a cover letter. My field is relatively small and so I think a cover letter would get a lot more attention than a cover letter for a job where could be hundreds of applicants. Since there are less letters each one will receive more attention and so a cover letter of 3 paragraphs of 3 sentences each might be way too short. Again, what it really comes down to is doing your research.

By: zapeta

zapeta — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:12:33 +0000

I know that I have mentioned where I heard about the job in all of my successful job applications.

By: saladdin

saladdin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:30:25 +0000

I once got an interview for a job in which I was WAY under qualified for because of my cover letter. The guy that interviewed me came out and said “The resumes and cover letters I have received are full of spelling errors.” Of course I didn’t get the job because I was really not qualified. But I got a shot at it because of a well written letter. You really can’t ask for more then a shot.

saladdin

By: hoht

hoht — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:02:32 +0000

Very informative, did not know a cover letter was so important thanks.

By: Wilma

Wilma — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:04:45 +0000

Good article and very helpful comments. Thanks every one.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:23:27 +0000

Keep it short guys. The average time someone spends on your resume is 7 seconds… how long do you think they can spend on your cover letter?

3 paragraphs, 3 sentence each paragraph, make it punchy.

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:05:58 +0000

Those are good points. You wouldn’t do this as a matter of course, but it would be worth the effort if you’re not having luck going the more traditional route.

It works best with small employers or for jobs you’re very well qualified for and can speak the language of the business fluently. A resume won’t necessarily show that. You have to come accross as being the solution to a problem–harder to do with large employers of course.

Sometimes a resume can be a disqualifier since employers use them to cull the list of prospects. Sometimes it’s best to get them interested before sending a resume. It’s a back door approach in a job market crowded with good looking and often embellished resumes.

It’s killer with a reference included in the letter. I’ve had a couple of situations where I’d gotten far enough into the hiring process that the resume became an after thought.

It isn’t a one size fits all but it’s certainly worth trying.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:54:51 +0000

Are there types of jobs where this is more successful than others? The flip side to your argument is that they may only see a cover letter and discard it because they don’t have time to wait for a resume. I like the novel approach and it’s worth a try, I just wanted to arm someone with your successes to give them more confidence this would work.

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:46:48 +0000

Here’s something a little different that I’ve done with some success. Try sending a letter without a resume. Call it a strong cover letter, but it should summarize your abilities to fill the job with an emphasis on further discussions of the job and your qualifications.

You can write something like “my resume is quite lengthy, but here’s a summary of my skills, here’s what I believe I can do for your company, please call me at your earliest convenience and perhaps we can explore this further.”

A good letter may get the interviewer to pick up the phone and call you, at which point you have three advantages: direct contact, a request for more information and the prospect of multiple contacts. The point is to approach the hiring process as though you’re entering a multi-step business deal.

Everyone sends a resume and cover letter, and at that point the employer has all that they need to begin comparing your resume to dozens or hundreds of others. Using a letter as an ad can invite a phone interview which exponentially speeds up the process. The central idea is to begin a dialogue with someone in a position to hire you and as much as we like to think that resumes do that, they don’t always.

Try it and see what happens.