Cover-Letter Deal-Breakers

Is your “Maybe” pile of potential employees just begging to be lessened? It’s really nice of you to consider so many applicants for the position you’re trying to fill, but let’s be realistic: there are only a few in that pile who will really make a difference for your company. The secret is right in front of you, too – in the cover letter.

If a prospective employee doesn’t include a cover letter, he or she usually isn’t really worth a second glance. Someone could have all the skills you need and even all the desired ones, but does he or she really expect you to take time to read through qualifications when you haven’t even been invited to? Because that’s what a cover letter is – an invitation for an employer to consider a resume for a position. Handing over a resume is the application equivalent of breaking a door down instead of ringing the doorbell (well, more like knocking). It may not seem this way – it’s just a few pieces of paper, after all – but in today’s world, a cover letter is a must and not a polite addendum.

A cover letter should not be a summary of one’s qualifications; that’s what a resume is for (which, by the way, should never be more than two pages – then they’re just showing off, and no one wants to read all that gibberish). Cover letters are, as I mentioned before, an invitation to get you to read the resume. They should be formatted correctly and contain very few to no errors. More than two or three typos are usually a sign that the applicant cares little about the first impression.

Also, don’t get caught up in fancy diction. An applicant who throws around big words like there’s no tomorrow and has nothing else to offer may not be a worthy candidate (for example, using the word “utilize” instead of “use” – they mean the same thing, but “use” is much shorter and doesn’t sound like you’re trying to impress with wordiness).

The first paragraph should aim to impress. It should show that the applicant has done research on the company and prove that her or she wants to work for you and not just any (insert general company type here). That first paragraph should really get you to want to continue reading. A general intro (“Hi, my name is Joe Schmoe and I want to work for you”) won’t cut it. The writer has only that first paragraph to really get you initially interested, and if your company is one he or she really wants to work for, you’ll know.

The second paragraph should tell you why the applicant is perfect for the position. Sometimes this includes a very brief summary of his or her qualifications that relate directly to the position. However – and this is very important – the applicant should be telling you what he or she can do for your company instead of the other way around. A bunch of “I believe this position would help me grow”-type sentences are a big no-no – why should you care what the company can do for the applicant? Of course there is potential for that later, but you’re not looking for now. At the moment you begin reading that cover letter, think “What can this person do for me and the company I work for?”

The last paragraph should wrap everything up nicely and emphasize again how strongly the applicant wants the specific job he or she is applying for, complete with a thank you. If an applicant has these characteristics within his or her profile, then they deserve a second glance.