The Great Cover Letter Debate
I want your vote in the Great Cover Letter Debate.
I cannot deny: as a former hiring manager in Big Tech (Meta specifically), I’ve historically held suuuuper strong opinions about cover letter writing for job applications. I mean, STRONG.
As in: don’t write them. I hardly had time to review the résumés my stellar talent acquisition team sourced for me. I also needed to be on top of rapidly evolving individual contributor work.
BUT (and this is a big BUT that cannot lie!), as we navigate an ever-changing job hunt landscape, one question I still get from all my clients is: Do I need a cover letter?
My answer now: YES (well, maybe 90% of the time.)
A cover letter allows you to tell your potential employer about
who you are,
what motivates you, and
your unique qualifications.
Here’s what you should keep in mind when drafting your cover letter:
Customization is Key
Of course, we should all have a template cover letter – it’s a great starting point. But, it’s essential to customize the letter for each application. Tailor the content, skills, and experiences you talk about to the requirements for the role. By tailoring your accomplishments, the reader will know you’ve done your homework!
Connection
A cover letter lets you personalize your application, demonstrating your interest in the role. Let the reader know who you are and the value you’ll add to the company as soon as you submit that application.
Addressing Gaps and Explaining Transitions
Took a break? Made a career shift? A cover letter is the perfect place to explain these situations professionally, demonstrating resilience and adaptability!
Highlight Your Value
Most importantly – use the cover letter to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements. This allows you to narrate your career story and shows YOU are the best candidate for the job!
Tip: Use the job description as a guide to explain how you meet the listed job requirements.
My vote? Don’t overlook a cover letter!
It can be a crucial tool on your job hunt. Invest the time and effort (and it will be an investment in both!) in creating a cover letter that showcases your abilities and aspirations – I promise it will be worth it!
Let’s dig into some Cover Letter Pros
Introduction and Personalization
A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself and personalize your application. Bonus: If you can address the hiring manager by name, it will tell the reader you’ve done your research.
See who posted the role (available on LinkedIn Premium), reach out to them, and find out who the hiring manager is. You can also investigate roles by scrolling (I know, this piece takes time!) through the People tab on the company’s LinkedIn page.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Highlight Your Value
With a unique cover letter, you can emphasize specific experiences and skills most relevant to what that company is looking for for a particular role. Keep this as a tight, bulleted list. Tell them only what they need to know… which is why your experience makes YOU the best fit for the role.
Personal Story
A cover letter lets you tell your career story while allowing you to showcase your enthusiasm for the role. Adding a personal touch could make a memorable impact on the reader.
Demonstrates Your Writing Skills
A well-written cover letter showcases your ability to effectively communicate in writing, which is essential to many roles. Everything communicates! Don’t miss this opportunity.
and some Cover Letter Cons
Time and Effort
Writing a tailored cover letter for each application can will be time-consuming. This is a big part of the application process.
Redundant
Some might say that a well-crafted résumé would already cover the key points a cover letter would, making it unnecessary in some ways. BUT this shouldn’t be the case. If it’s in your résumé, it shouldn’t be in your cover letter. You build on your accomplishments in this space to highlight alignment with the role.
Not Always Read
Do you ever really know if the hiring manager or recruiter read your cover letter? No. If they might not read it, is it worth spending so much time crafting? Perhaps not.
Information Overload
There is a risk of including too much information in a cover letter, making it lengthy or overwhelming for the reader, leading to it not being read or the reader missing the key points.
Do you need help getting started on your cover letter? I’d love to chat about how we can craft your compelling story together! Book a free consult or, let’s jump right in!
Taking the time to craft the perfect cover letter for every role will take some grit and resilience (and maybe a whole Saturday afternoon!), but it’s a valuable way to introduce yourself to the hiring team, show your worth, and prove your skills right off the bat.
Let your light shine!
🥂 nicole:)
