For many years, it has been common practice in the USA to require candidates for various positions to submit not only a resume but also a cover letter. In recent years, the importance of this aspect has started to decline – by 2016, only of employers required them. This is easy to explain – HR specialists who conduct the initial screening usually have too little time to read letters; statistically, analyzing resumes takes only a few seconds.
However, show that the phenomenon of the cover letter has not completely faded away, especially regarding positions related to creativity, where writing skills are important. A programmer can find a job with just a resume in the form of a polished GitHub profile, whereas testers, analysts, and marketers should spend time crafting a letter – it will be read by managers selecting people for their team rather than by 'HRs.'
I found an interesting post on how to approach writing a cover letter when job hunting in the USA today, and I prepared an adapted translation.
It is Necessary to Use a Template
Usually, when actively job searching and sending out resumes, there are often advertisements that require you to insert or attach a cover letter when responding. A strange fact: while statistics show that less than a third of employers read them, up to 90% require them to be attached. Apparently, it is seen as a sign of the applicant's responsible attitude and a way to filter out the laziest.
But even if you are not too lazy to write a cover letter, doing it from scratch dozens of times is too exhausting. So it's essential to use a template where only the details related to the specific position change. Here’s what such a template might look like.
Be Sure to Include a Header
Most often, the cover letter can be attached as a document, so it's a good idea to format it well. You can follow the norms of business correspondence, which imply the following information:
- Name;
- Phone number or email;
- To whom you are writing (manager's name, if specified in the job posting/company name);
- Links to your social media profiles/website.
Since this is a business correspondence, the style should be appropriate. If you don't have your own domain, at least use email addresses with neutral names, various sexydude1988@mail.com are not suitable. It’s not advisable to write from your current employer's corporate email, even if you are not working in the USA right now – if your resume is reviewed, they are likely to check this site and either not understand anything and be confused or understand and it will look quite inappropriate towards your current employer.
Use the three-paragraph rule
The main goal of the cover letter is to draw attention to your resume. That is, it is an auxiliary tool that should not attract too much attention itself, so it shouldn’t be too long. Three paragraphs will be more than enough. Here’s what they can cover:
- In the first paragraph, it’s important to try to capture the reader’s attention.
- In the second, describe what you offer.
- Finally, reinforce the impression made.
Here are some examples of what specifically can be written in each section.
Introduction: mention relevant experience
According to various data, recruiters spend from up to . It's clear that they are also not ready to spend much time on a cover letter. So, the first paragraph turns out to be the most important.
Try to avoid long and overly formal sentences. It’s important to fill the paragraph with details that will make it clear that you are a good fit for this specific job.
Poor:
I am writing to you in response to the PR Manager job posting. I have 7+ years of experience in PR and would like to apply to this position.
At first glance, this example seems normal. However, if you delve deeper and put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager, it becomes clear that the text could have been much better. For instance, it lacks any details about why this particular candidate is suited for this job. Sure, they have over seven years of experience, but should they be hired just because they have done something they think is similar to the tasks described in the job listing?
Good:
I am an active follower of XYZ company, and so I was excited to see your job posting for the PR Manager position. I’d like to put my knowledge and skills forward to help in reaching your public relations goals, and think I might be a good fit. While working at SuperCorp company I was responsible for nationwide PR activities, working on getting the company mentioned in media outlets like Forbes, and overall reach through this channel has increased by 23% in six months.
TranslationI actively follow your company, which is why I was pleased to learn that you are looking for a PR manager. I would like to help you address the challenges facing the company in this area, and I am confident that I would excel in this role. I worked at SuperCorp and was responsible for PR on a national level, achieving mentions of the brand in media like Forbes, and in six months, the audience reach through this channel grew by 23%.
The difference is obvious. The amount of text has increased, but the informational content has also significantly grown. Specific achievements are shown in the form of numbers, demonstrating a desire to apply knowledge and experience to tackle new challenges. Any employer should appreciate this.
What comes next: describe the benefits of collaboration
After initially capturing attention, you need to build on that success and provide even more details – this requires a second paragraph. In it, you explain why collaboration with you would bring the company maximum benefit.
In the example above, we discussed a cover letter in response to the PR manager position at XYZ company. The organization may need someone who:
Has extensive experience working with various media, bloggers, and blogs, and has handled incoming requests for product reviews, etc.
Understands technology and keeps up with trends in this field – after all, XYZ is a startup in the artificial intelligence sector.
Here’s how to respond to these needs in the cover letter:
…
At my current company SuperCorp, I am responsible for organizing and managing PR support for new releases, from planning to media outreach, media relations to reporting. For instance, this year my key challenge was to boost media coverage in top-tier technology publications (TechCrunch, VentureBeat, etc.) by 20%. By the end of the first quarter, the number of mentions in the selected media increased by more than 30%. Referral traffic now accounts for about 15% of overall website traffic (up from 5% the previous year).TranslationAt my current job at SuperCorp, I handle PR support for new product releases, plan campaigns, and draft reports. For example, one of my primary goals this year was to increase mentions in major tech media outlets (TechCrunch, VentureBeat, etc.) by 20%. By the end of the first quarter, the number of mentions in publications from that list grew by 30%, and the share of referral traffic now represents about 15% of the website traffic (compared to not exceeding 5% last year).
At the beginning of the paragraph, the candidate outlined their responsibilities at their current job, noted that this work resembles the tasks facing the new employer, and illustrated their achievements with numbers. An important point: the entire text revolves around the benefits for the company: greater audience reach in top media, increased traffic, etc. When the hiring manager reads this, they will immediately understand what specifically the company stands to gain by hiring this specialist.
Explain why you want this job.
It’s clear that there’s no need to dwell too much on why you are attracted to our company, but at least briefly explaining what draws you to the specific tasks of the vacancy would not hurt. This can be achieved through three steps.
Mention a company-related event, product, or service.
Explain why this interests you, demonstrating a certain level of engagement.
Reiterate how your experience will help improve the results of this project/product.
For example:
…
I’ve read a lot about your new AI-based shopping recommendation app. I am interested in this project both personally (I am a passionate shopper) and professionally (it is always an exciting challenge to launch a new project). I believe that my professional experience in media relations and my network of contacts in online technology media will help generate traction for the project.TranslationI have read a lot about your application with recommendations for future purchases based on AI. I like the project both as a user – I often go shopping – and as a professional – I love working on promoting freshly launched products. I believe my experience working with top media outlets and my extensive network of contacts in tech journalism will be valuable for attracting new users.
Important: everything needs to be double-checked
Once again, the cover letter should not be long. You need to apply the 300-word rule – anything beyond this limit should be cut.
Additionally, you must eliminate typos and grammatical errors. To do this, run the text through a specialized program.
Bonus tip: the postscript can be useful
The P.S. section of any letter grabs attention – it's a psychological point. Even if the reader is just scrolling through the text, their gaze will catch the postscript, as we subconsciously think that something important will be in this part of the message. Marketers know this well and actively use this fact, for example, in .
In relation to composing a cover letter, this method can be used to provoke feedback, offer assistance, etc.
P.S. If you are interested, I would be happy to share my ideas on getting into TechCrunch and Business Insider as well as attracting more leads around your new product based on my previous experience with SuperCorp.
TranslationP.S. If you’re interested, I’d be glad to send my ideas on how to launch your product on TechCrunch or Business Insider and attract more users – all based on my experience with SuperCorp.
Conclusion: Mistakes and Tips
In conclusion, let's reiterate the mistakes in writing cover letters for job applications to American companies and how to avoid them.
- Focus not on yourself, but on the employer and the benefits the company will gain if it hires you.
- Use the three-paragraph rule. You can add one more line for P.S. The entire text should not exceed 300 words.
- Use a template in which you add key words from the job description you’re responding to, tying your accomplishments to the tasks mentioned in the ad.
- Double-check everything – ask someone to proofread the text and run it through software to check for typos and grammatical errors.
Source: habr.com
