Cover Letter Importance and How to Write Yours

Well there folks, this is a key phrase when you're searching for a new gig!: ATTACH RESUME AND COVER LETTER


What the heck is a cover letter? Well it is a sheet of paper that we could compare to the hypothesis of an experiment or summary of professional paper. An introduction, to you! More basics at wiki: Wiki - cover letter link. A cover letter is sometimes a Word Document, PDF, or just spelled out in an email (more like an introduction).

Why is this important? The cover letter is mandatory if someone asks for it, because if you do not give a potential employer what they ask for right from the beginning, there is a solid chance that you will not even get a crack at an interview!

Realistically, this leaves you with two options if you are applying to numerous jobs:
1. Make a new, unique cover letter for every job that you apply to which requires a cover letter
2. Create a form-letter style cover letter that you can change select words to fit every position applied for

Depending on your approach to finding a job, one of these could be more beneficial. Making unique cover letters shows more sincerity, and if that is something valued by the reader (Human Resources), then it will pay off to spend a few minutes, if you actually want the job. If you are "spraying and praying" and sending your resume out everywhere, then the form cover letter could work just fine. Some companies use the cover letter as an introductory requirement- don't follow instructions and they can just drop your resume in the trash and move to the next! Companies have their own strategies and methods to weed people out and the name of the game is this:

First: make yourself equal. Second: set yourself apart.


A more personal, catered, and unique cover letter is going to hit the hardest, without a doubt, if someone actually reads it. There are a few other factors here, and there will always be certain aspects of the job search that are out of your control, so remember that and don't take it personally!

There are some ways that a cover letter can make you equal and set you apart, which is truly ideal. For instance, maybe your experience, per your resume, is not directly relevant or you are lacking in experience; your cover letter can help introduce why  you are a good fit, despite what may be read in your resume, giving you a chance at an interview! Score! The more personal you can be to relate with the job and why you are interested in it could attract the HR/recruiter/reader to take an interest in you, which will benefit you when you get to the interview. Score again!

My personal experience with cover letters is that writing and customizing can be cumbersome and boring, though think about the time spent. If you spend 10 minutes on a cover letter and get to the interview for a job that you really, really want, that 10 minutes will go down in history as a significant part of your approach. No more need just to get lucky; you have the power in your hands, right from the first second you are considered as a candidate!!!

I know that a few of my cover letters got me attention in the past, and got me to the second round for one job. 400 resumes of qualified applicants were received, then the cover letters and resumes were used to get to the next step, where only 10 were chosen. I was one of the 10 because of my solid cover letter + resume combo! Score for me! And just in case you were wondering, I did end up being the top candidate, and there were just 2 hired out of 400 qualified applicants. If that does not show how vital and instrumental a cover letter can be, I am unsure how much more extreme I can go yet!

By the way, if a person looking at your cover letter and resume are owners of the company, realize that these people are much more closely linked to the company than the normal employee; the owner or president or other executive views this company as HUGE part of their life, so take the cover letter seriously, and you will be rewarded for it as your potential employer could become simply your employer.


Get out there and write some cover letters and show them who you are!


-Alex