Let’s be real… writing cover letters might be the least enjoyable, least productive part of applying to a job… yet it’s still a necessity in most cases.
Of course, we want to do a good job because we really want the job we’re applying to, but with so many other stressers throughout the job search process, the last thing we want to be worried about is writing a short story about why we’d be good at this job we want so badly.
If there was a way to put together a cover letter that required less writing, took you less time to create, and was more impactful with the hiring manager, would you be interested?
D’uh!
So let me tell you exactly how it works!
Before I tell you the method… know this:
I’ve been a hiring manager since 2009 as President of my College Student Government, and I was a recruiter throughout Grad School from 2012-2014, and in that time, I laid my eyes on thousands of cover letters.
So I can tell you first hand, there is no “one right way” to format your cover letter. Please don’t get caught up on what you think are the traditional methods for cover letter writing, because this method I’m going to show you is not traditional…
But it works!
I know from experience…
When I completed graduate school, I was trying as hard as I could to land a job that would sponsor me for a work visa so I could stay in the States.
In 8 months, I applied to 116 jobs. Unfortunately, whenever I told my prospective employer I needed a work visa, it was the end of the line.
I would have given up but…
I had another international friend who had earned a work visa straight out of school, so I knew it was possible…
I strived onward.
Even though I struggled with feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, and depression during those 8 months of failed job search, I’m grateful it happened.
Had I not been chasing this “seemingly impossible” goal, I wouldn’t have had so many opportunities to tweak my cover letters and fall upon this highly effective tactic.
P.S. When I finally decided to move back to Canada, I was able to land interviews for the first 3 jobs I applied to, and I was offered (and accepted) the first job I interviewed for!
The Method
As I mentioned, this cover letter format is a little unconventional… but conventional applicants don’t get noticed by hiring managers and we want you to get noticed!
Also, I can tell you this from my hiring and recruitment experience…
I don’t care what your cover letter looks like, as long as it tells me two things:
You can express yourself in writing effectively, and
You will be good at this job!
So have an open mind, hear me out, and if you like what you see… try it out!
Step 1: Write an Introduction (or copy mine)
Honestly, I won’t bother teaching you anything here, feel free to just take what I wrote, word-for-word, and plug in the details about the job you’re applying to:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to submit my application for this [JOB TITLE] position at [ORGANIZATION NAME]. After comparing the job posting to my skills, experience, and career aspirations, it was an easy decision to apply. Below, I have taken some time to elaborate on exactly how my experience will help me to excel in each of the critical elements of this [JOB TITLE] role.
Step 2: Identify 5-7 Key Skills for Your Desired Job
Read through the job posting and pick out several of the main responsibilities for this job you are applying to. Sometimes it will be written out word-for-word, like “Manage Budgets” and sometimes you might have to infer the skills, like “Problem Solving”.
As you’re looking for these, think, “What will they need me to be good at to do this job well?”
Step 3: Match those Key Skills to Your Experience
For each Key Skill you identify from the job posting, find something you did in your own work experience where you utilized that skill. Explain that experience in a short sentence.
By doing this, we’re essentially saying, “You want someone who can do this… here’s where I’ve done this”.
Step 4: Combine Steps 2 and 3 in a Table
Under the introductory paragraph, line up the Key Skills with your experience like so:
| Negotiations |
|
| Cost Saving |
|
| Training |
|
Step 5: Write a Summary Paragraph (or copy mine)
Once again, feel free to write something similar or just completely steal this:
Finally, I am thrilled at the prospect of joining such a high-performing team. [ORGANIZATION NAME] has an outstanding reputation and I would be thrilled to contribute to your continued success. Thank you for reviewing my application and I look forward to further communication.
