In many of my blog posts I have emphasized the importance of developing a well-crafted resume and left the cover letter on the back burner. However, the cover letter can create distinctions between you and an equally qualified candidate that go beyond the resume.
Job recruiters receive tons of cover letters each day and, truth be told, grow bored reading mundane templated summaries that make claims of a candidate possessing certain skills, but lack evidence of self-reflection and growth. If your cover letter repeats bullet points listed on your resume you are likely struggling to move forward in the job search process. When writing your cover letter you may want to consider a non-traditional approach: telling a story. A personal narrative in which each detail moves toward a particular outcome or achievement is your best bet for a captivating cover letter. Digging up your old college admission essays is a great way to get started, as they will help you understand your motivation for pursuing your degree and how that evolved to help you gain more work experiences. From there, talk about a conflict you faced in a previous role, how you overcame that conflict, and the end result. In one of my cover letters I discussed a specific class project for a Communications class involving an outside client and a project I completed during my summer internship at VH1 Save The Music. My story begins with a conflict and a rising action and ends with a resolution. Your cover letter should show the same progression. The final draft of your cover letter should be limited to one page and convey your personality, unique motivations, and overall work style. Depending on how much space you take up, you can include one or two stories in your cover letter. Through storytelling you have the freedom to write a cover letter that is more likely to be read from start to finish and portrays who you are as both a candidate and a person. Crafting your cover letter as your story helps employers understand if you’re a true fit for the company and its culture. It also speaks to how you can adapt and think critically when problems or unexpected situations arise. You have a lot to bring to the table so make your cover letter a prominent document that puts you at or near the top of the applicant pool.
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