An Insiders Guide to Cover Letters

Are cover letters a relic of a time that has passed, or are they an important tool to help you stand out?

I don’t think so; I believe a cover letter is a useful tool job seekers can use to stand out among many other job seekers. In its simplest form, a cover letter is like a written “elevator” pitch designed to introduce you and your skills to an employer and their specific needs and requirements – essentially an advertisement for you designed to help an employer decide to offer you an interview. Additionally, a cover letter will also help you and your skills stand out because most job seekers don’t take the time or the care to use one.

Many employers also request that applicants submit a cover letter with their resume, and if you fail to provide one, you will stand out, but for the wrong reasons. Cover letters are a great tool for you to address the wants and needs of your prospective employer.

Should you use AI to write your cover letter? The answer should be obvious; you should not because it is fundamentally dishonest to take credit for work you haven’t done. Perhaps more importantly, if you rely on AI to generate your cover letter and/or resume, your prospective employer will notice your subterfuge when the gap between their expectations and your reality is revealed when they meet you. You can use AI to check spelling and grammar; however, your resume and cover letter represent you and should be created by you.

Cover letters should be unique for every job application you submit. Every employer has different needs, and a cover letter should reflect how your unique skills, experience, and attitude are able to meet their requirements. In the job advertisement, the employer will use “Keywords,” and it is important to incorporate as many as possible because your prospective employer may use AI to scan your application for them.

How to create a cover letter?

1. Start with the job advertisement. This contains who the employer is seeking, the skills, attitudes, and behaviors. If they could “build” the perfect applicant, this is who they want.
2. Copy the job advertisement into a Word document so you can begin working on preparing for you creating your cover letter.
3. Delete everything that does not pertain to solving the employer’s problem. Remember, as an applicant, you want to present yourself as the best person available for the employer, so things like what they are offering you aren’t important to be included in the cover letter. Usually, this step will eliminate up to 75% of the content in a job advertisement, leaving you with their “core” requirements.
4. Remember the “core” requirements represent the perfect applicant; don’t be discouraged if you do not have all of the skills they are seeking.
5. Note the skills that are required versus the skills that are preferred. Required skills are “deal-breakers” if you don’t have them; however, do not exclude your related transferrable skills which may meet the employer’s requirements. If there are skills that are preferred that you do not possess, then delete those as well.
6. What relevant “bonus” skills do you have that you feel would benefit your prospective employer, and consider inserting them into your cover letter. These additional skills might help determine getting an interview or not.
7. When you begin writing cover letters, copy a proven format, for example:
   1. Date
   1. Name of Hiring Manager – If you don’t know, search their website, google, LinkedIn, etc., or call to find out.
   1. The Hiring Manager’s title, organization, and address:
      1. Jane Smith
      1. Director of Hiring,
      1. Acme Manufacturing Ltd, Anytown, ON
   1. re:  The position you are applying for
   1. Dear Jane,
   1. Please accept this cover letter and attached resume as my application for this position.
   1. Put your skills and experiences into sentences that match the skills and experiences from your deleting exercise.
   1. Finish the cover letter by saying:  I am looking forward to meeting you to answer any questions at your convenience, I am available by email, phone, or text. I am looking forward to meeting you.
   1. Sincerely,
   1. Your name.
8. Proofread your letter and use a spell/grammar checker.

Do’s and Don’ts of a cover letter.

• Do remember that a cover letter is a surgical tool, be concise and to the point.
• Don’t forget to focus on the employer’s needs and wants. They have an employment problem to resolve, and you want them to see you as the solution.
• Do take the time to find out who the decision maker is.
• Don’t use a too conversational tone; a cover letter can be used to showcase your enthusiasm while still being professional.
• Do resist the urge to use AI or someone else to write your cover letters unless you are just doing your first few.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to use a Career Advisor to make suggestions.
• Do keep your cover letter to one page; remember to be concise. This is an elevator pitch.
• Don’t use the same cover letter for every job. A cover letter helps build your relationship with a prospective employer; a form letter will not do that.
• Do use cover letters they will help you to stand out.
• Don’t worry that your cover letters aren’t perfect; do the best you can and get better.

While a cover letter takes time to write and they have been around for a long time, they are an important and useful tool to help you stand out. Finding a job is a difficult task for most people; I encourage you to make use of the advice and tools available.

Good luck,

Paul