Importance of Cover Letters in Job Applications

📢🚨 Attention, Jobseekers! 🚨📢 I've got a confession to make, and it's a bit of a backtrack on my previous stance: Cover letters are NOT worthless. In fact, I've come to realize their immense value firsthand now that I'm back on the job hunt myself. Allow me to explain: As a recruiter and career coach, I used to advocate for streamlining the application process and focusing solely on resumes and LinkedIn profiles. After all, who has time to craft a personalized cover letter for every job application, right? 🤷♂️💼 But here's the thing: As I navigate the job market as a jobseeker, I've come to understand that cover letters serve a crucial purpose beyond just regurgitating information from your resume. They're an opportunity to tell your story, showcase your personality, and demonstrate why you're the perfect fit for the role. Here's why I'm backtracking on my opinion: 1. Personalization is Key: A generic cover letter won't cut it anymore. Recruiters and hiring managers can spot a template from a mile away. Instead, I've learned the importance of personalizing each cover letter to the specific job and company, highlighting relevant experiences and skills that align with their needs. 2. Demonstrates Genuine Interest: Taking the time to craft a thoughtful cover letter shows employers that you're genuinely interested in the position and company. It's an opportunity to express your enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to making a meaningful contribution. 3. Sets You Apart: In a sea of applicants, a well-written cover letter can be the differentiator that sets you apart from the competition. It allows you to stand out, make a memorable impression, and grab the recruiter's attention right from the start. 4. Showcases Communication Skills: As a recruiter, I've always valued strong communication skills. And guess what? Cover letters are the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, articulate your thoughts clearly, and make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job. So, fellow jobseekers, consider this my mea culpa. Cover letters DO matter, and I'm fully embracing their importance in the job search process. Let's start crafting cover letters that pack a punch and leave a lasting impression! 💥📝

Is it worth it to write a cover letter for your application? What the research says (and my personal thoughts): Jobvite's 2020 Recruiter Nation Survey: This survey found that 47% of recruiters consider cover letters to be important in their evaluation process. CareerBuilder Survey (2018): According to this survey, 40% of recruiters said they would be more likely to pay attention to an application if it includes a cover letter, even when it is optional. Robert Half Survey (2017): This survey indicated that 58% of hiring managers believe that cover letters are somewhat important when evaluating candidates. Addison Group Survey (2015): 18% of hiring managers said that cover letters are important to their hiring decision, suggesting that a well-written cover letter can make a difference, but it is not the only factor. As usual, there's evidence to support both sides To understand if a cover letter is going to be valuable You need to understand two things: 1. The different types of recruiters 2. The role a recruiter and hiring manager play in decision making -If a recruiter works in a high volume position (like mine) I could care less about your cover letter Even if I like reading them (which I do, when done right) -If a recruiter works for a company that gets flood with apps (Google, Amazon) I won't speak for them, but a cover letter is probably a waste of time -If a recruiter works in a corporate recruiting role They may have less volume but more than likely don't have time for your cover letter You also need to understand the roles a recruiter and hiring manager have As a recruiter, I do the following: -Review your resume and application to ensure job requirements are met -Phone screen or do a 30-minute virtual interview -Take notes on your responses -Provide notes and recommendations to hiring manager A hiring manager will do the following: -Interview you (sometimes more than once and with a panel) -Rank/score your interview and share feedback with me -Make decision on who to offer -Check references -Finalize offer with budget approval So what does this have to do with writing a cover letter? If you're going to write a cover letter Don't do it for me Do it for the hiring manager instead They have majority control Which means they have the biggest say in the decision on who to offer And they have less candidates to review (because a good recruiter only presents the good ones) Which means they have less to look through And will spend more time on your application So, do cover letters really matter? My take: Yes But only if -They are directed at the hiring manager NOT the recruiter -They are written well (no ChatGPT cover letters please) -They have examples to showcase abilities -It's not a duplicate of your resume But if you don't have the time to write a cover letter, don't sweat it It could just be the nice little cherry on top hiring managers are looking for More research in the comments below:

Let's settle the debate about cover letters once and for all. Yes, they feel like a ton of effort— (because they are)! Many shy away, thinking they're⤵️ →not strong writers →believing no one reads them →or viewing them as a waste of precious time While these concerns are somewhat true, I've seen firsthand how a compelling cover letter can be the tipping point in your favor. It's more than just a formality; it's your chance to tell your career story, particularly if it hasn't followed a straight line, which is the reality for many of us. In a world where standing out matters, your cover letter could unlock doors to new opportunities. Here are my three favorite ways to make your cover letter work harder for you: 1️⃣ Start Strong: "Straight out of the gate, I tackled a $2M budget shortfall..." Grab attention with an opening line that showcases a significant achievement or a unique challenge you've overcome. 2️⃣ Cut the Jargon: Instead of saying you're "innovative" or "strategic," describe how you spearheaded a grassroots marketing campaign that tripled social media engagement in three months. 3️⃣ Narrate Your Journey: If your career path has zigzagged, your cover letter is the perfect place to connect the dots. "Transitioning from healthcare to tech might seem unconventional, but here’s how my experience managing patient data systems ignited my passion for data security..." Your cover letter is a key aspect no matter what career move you're making, so take the time to make it count. Looking for more cover letter support? DM me "COVER LETTER" for my cover letter template you can steal and personalize with your career story. #whatyoudomatters #youractionsmatter #careerdevelopment #jobhuntingtips #careermoves

If you are applying for a job and not including a cover letter with your resume, you are missing a big opportunity. The cover letter used to be more of a requirement and now that it is not always requested, people are opting out. Do not miss this opportunity! Your resume does not always tell the full story. I will give you two examples from clients I am currently working with. One is transitioning his career from over 20 years in real estate to healthcare. The other is advancing her career in IT. Both applicants stand a far better chance at being called for an interview if they have a cover letter. Why? If my client submitted his resume for a position in healthcare, with a resume that outlines 20 years of experience in real estate, they would think he was applying for the wrong job or just not understand his career transition. A resume alone won’t be able to adequately explain that. If my client looking to advance her career in IT just submitted a resume, her experience looks very similar to others. Do not underestimate the power of a great cover letter. The job market is so competitive, you need every advantage and opportunity to highlight who you are and what you can bring to this position. If you haven’t submitted a cover letter, tell me why in the comments below. Is it that you thought it wasn’t needed or did you not know what to include? #coverletter #jobsearch #careersuccess #careercoach

Over the last few months, I've read a lot of resumes for people applying for various jobs in the city. (I like to see what kinds of applicant pool we have for some positions.) One thing I've learned is that we could all use a little help when it comes to drafting cover letters and resumes. Let me share two tips about cover letters with you. 1. Tailor Your Message: Generic cover letters are a missed opportunity. Research the organization and position, and then tailor your letter to reflect how your skills and experiences align with their specific needs and culture. Show that you understand what makes the city unique and how you can contribute to their specific goals. This personalized approach demonstrates your genuine interest and effort. 2. Tell Your Story: A cover letter shouldn't just reiterate your resume. Use it to narrate your professional journey, highlighting how your experiences have shaped your skills and how they align with the job you are applying for. Share a compelling story or an accomplishment that reflects your capabilities and fits the job requirements. This makes your application stand out and gives the employer a glimpse of your personality and enthusiasm. If you are in doubt about your cover letter and want another set of eyes to review it let me know! I'm happy to help people that are looking to better themselves in the field of #localgovernment! #CareerDevelopment #JobApplicationTips #CoverLetterWriting #ProfessionalGrowth #LocalGov #ICMA #TCMA #CityManagement

Apparently, cover letters are coming back…or maybe they never left? 🌶️ Spicy take, but I usually stop reading cover letters after a quick 2-second scan. That’s not because I don’t think they are important (I really do want to read them), it’s because I think 99% of them are poor investments of my time. Most of the cover letters I “quick-read” are lifeless one-pagers that reiterate the same things that they wrote on their resume (but in prose form). They aren’t tailored or personalized in any way, so it becomes a zero-value-add document that gets shotgunned across every company the person is applying to. However, the point of a cover letter is to make yourself stand out, and express why you are excited to engage with the company for the role you are applying to - it’s the part that allows you to show who you are beyond the skills/experience listed on your resume. How did we lose that? 📖 Story time: When I first became a Recruiter at Riot Games I read each and every cover letter - I saw some really creative ones, too. One of my early hires (looking at you, Phil Buonafede) recreated his resume and cover letter in the format of a League of Legends champion spotlight, redrafting the champion abilities to his personal skills/experience. Importantly, he also wrote about how the game had impacted his life and why he wanted to work at Riot. The creativity, authenticity, and effort he put in really made him stand out, and I was super excited to talk to him. 📢 If you want to make yourself stand out, take some time to really plan out your cover letter - think about why you’d like to join this company specifically (ie - product, culture, aspirations), research recent news related to the company, look at what leaders at the company have posted online, and what you believe makes you a great fit. Then put that all on the page. ✏️ Not a great writer? That’s ok! There are so many AI tools that can support you in writing a great cover letter - Grammarly, KickResume, and ChatGPT (or your preferred LLM-based chatbot). All of these can make the actual drafting process a 5 min exercise, just make sure you proofread to make sure it accurately represents your skills, motivations, and even the tone you want to convey. ❓ What are the best prompts you’ve utilized to generate great resumes and cover letters? What tips do you have for people looking to make their cover letters stand out from other applicants?

Ever notice how some cover letters land interviews while others get no response? The secret lies in the job ad... It's not just a list of duties; it’s a map to the hiring manager’s needs.   By aligning your cover letter with the language and requirements in the job posting, you're speaking the hiring manager’s language. Imagine your cover letter as a direct answer to the job post's call. Each requirement is a question, and each skill and experience you have is a perfect response. This isn't just theory. Job seekers who match their cover letters to job ads see a dramatic increase in response rates. It shows you're not just a candidate, but THE candidate. Next time you sit down to write a cover letter, have the job posting in front of you. Turn it into a game – how many times can you connect the dots between your experiences and their needs? This small shift in your approach is the key to unlocking those interview doors. Reflect on your last cover letter. How closely did it mirror the job ad's language and requirements? PS. Want more insider tips on crafting winning cover letters and acing job applications? Follow me for regular insights and strategies that can transform your job search. #LITrendingTopics #LinkedInTopVoices

Friendly reminder that most of the posts on LinkedIn are opinions. I saw a ‘viral’ post recently bashing cover letters, and the people commenting who were pro-cover letters received a borderline verbal assault. What I took away from the hundreds of comments: 1-There are hiring managers who still read cover letters. 2-There are recruiters who still encourage cover letters. 3-There are job seekers who have gotten a job because of a cover letter. 4-There are a lot of hiring managers who never look at cover letters. 5-There are lots of people who hate cover letters and if offered a million-dollar job only if they included one, would never submit themselves to such out-of-touch tactics. As a job seeker, there are only so many things within your control. Overwhelming evidence suggests that very few people read cover letters BUT as that post showed, that is not to say that no one reads them or that they play zero role in helping get an interview. No one can tell you what hiring managers do or do not read them, so would you want to take your chances on not including something that is within your control? In my opinion - a standardized, error-free, well-written cover letter is worth the time investment. IF you find your dream job posting and want to make sure you pull out all the stops, then you can invest time in customizing it, but most of your efforts should be focused on the resume. There is a lot of information for job seekers to consume on LinkedIn and a lot of very passionate opinions, absorb them wisely. #coverletter #jobseeker #careersearch #resumeadvice

Resume tip no.5: Objective statement or summary statement? Neither. Delete. Take your objective or summary statement and add it to a cover letter. Delete it from your resume. It takes up valuable space. Your cover letter should have three paragraphs: - Intro: who are you and why you're interested — your objective statement can go here - Why you're a good fit: what have you done or what can you do — your summary statement can go here - Outro: your availability to chat and when you can start and contact info Remember the old grade school rule that paragraphs have 3-5 sentences. Shoot for four. That's 12 sentences total. Formatting: - 8-12pt font - use the same font you used on your resume - use the same margins you used on your resume - write your cover letter like an old school letter, including date - drop the "dear" and go with "hello" or "to whom it may concern" - bonus points if you know the hiring manager's name - close with sincerely followed by your name - black text, white background Caveat: I know cover letters seem antiquated. But they're still requested for many positions. It also serves as a writing sample. So, if your job involves writing, put one together. Make sure it's polished. I've seen instances where people submit their resumes twice because they didn't want to put a cover letter together. If that's you, you have no idea how quickly you were rejected. #coverletter #resume #protips #rejected #careeradvice

As we approach the new year, it's crucial to separate fact from fiction in the job hunt. If you are actively searching for your next opportunity, check out the following article to learn more about some key misconceptions that might be holding you back. Here's a quick summary: Holiday Season ≠ Job Search Hiatus: Don't buy into the myth that hiring freezes during holidays. Keep the momentum going; it's a prime time to stand out as others pause. Networking during festivities can be your secret weapon. Job Searching ≠ 24/7 Gig: Quality over quantity. Recent studies suggest 2-3 hours of focused effort is all you need. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter, but remember, networking events and referrals often pack a more potent punch. Company Hopping ≠ Red Flag: Embrace the modern job market reality. Short stints on your resume aren't automatic red flags. Highlight the skills gained, turning diversity in experience into an asset. Perfect Resume ≠ Job Offer: Ditch the pursuit of a flawless resume. Focus on tailoring it for the role, emphasizing authenticity over perfection. Substance speaks louder than aesthetics. Cover Letter Lives On: Contrary to rumors, the cover letter is alive and well. It provides a snapshot of your personality and adds context to your resume. Customize it to the company's tone for that extra edge. In a competitive job market, understanding these realities can be your ticket to success. Build a robust network, tailor your applications, and showcase what makes you uniquely valuable. I wish you all success in your job search! #jobsearch #careeradvice #resume #hiring https://lnkd.in/e9MuzhJp