A Scary Job-Query Fairytale

Once upon a time, one of our polishers worked as a company's gatekeeper in a land far, far away.  She had developed quite the reputation for ruthlessly denying documents entry to the PayCheck Castle after only a glance!  One day, she received a hand-written résumé and cover letter. With an evil laugh, she promptly sentenced both to the shredder for their villainous informality and for flouting the laws of the kingdom:

The next day, another cover letter was about to become confetti for displaying a date that had passed before the job had been posted when a good citizen spoke out against the brutality and insisted that the gatekeeper at least give the poor document a fair trial! Moved with compassion, she agreed to give the letter another look - perhaps it had only been a minor oversight. To her dismay (but not surprise), the letter and résumé were filled with similar careless errors.

As the cheap, out-dated, fire-breathing shredder choked on the first page of its prey, our polisher realized that it was time to use her knowledge of career-gate-keeping for good. She now spends her time helping countless individuals create happily ever after stories with their desired employers by polishing documents - and sharing the keys to successful cover letters.

#1
You who?

The biggest mistake that most people make when writing a cover letter is to make it me-centered. "I want to learn more about computers."  "I want to work in a team environment."  But at this stage, the person in charge of hiring only cares about what you want insofar as it will ultimately help the employer's bottom line.  A better alternative would be "I want to apply my computer skills toward the development of innovative software applications."  You can often convert me-centered statements to company-centered statements - and we encourage you to do so!

 #2
Don't reinvent the résumé.

Employers expect the résumé to contain standard information about your educational background, work history, and applicable skills; so if your cover letter includes the same information - "From 2003 to 2005, I worked at Xyz Brands" - it will be... well... redundant. The cover letter is your opportunity to convey your interest in the specific position (and company) to which you are applying and to share your personality and passions, which may not come across accurately (or at all, alas!) in your résumé.  For this reason, you should avoid repeating information that is on your résumé unless you plan to provide a more in-depth explanation of the experience.  You have their attention - say something interesting!

 

#3
Did you get the memo?

The cover letter should show that you have [1] read and understood the job description and [2] have, at the very minimum, a basic understanding of the company or organization. Don't simply repeat the job description -explain how your skills, interests, and past experiences are a perfect match for what you will be expected to do. Most people will need some sort of training to successfully begin a new job, so start learning about the position and the company before you are hired. To put it simply: good things come to those who do their research!  Discussing a specific project or product line with enthusiasm in your cover letter will be a sign that you are interested in more than just a paycheck, which is an important consideration for companies that are tired of high turnover rates.

#4
Be one step ahead.

If something on your résumé raises suspicion, your application may be discarded unless the problem is satisfactorily addressed and resolved in the cover letter.

You should anticipate and answer any questions that may arise from your résumé or current situation. 

What situations are red flags for an employer? 

How can some of these situations be explained in a cover letter? If your home address is in New York but the position is in Seattle, you might want to add a sentence about why you are interested in relocating.  If you have a large gap of time in your work history, you may want to mention that you were "traveling", "volunteering", "studying", "taking time for family", or any other explanation. If you are overqualified for a position, you may want to explain that, for example, you are seeking part-time employment to pursue a personal project. 
 

#5
Be polite and follow directions.

While you should always be positive (don't trash talk your old boss and expect your new one to welcome you with open arms!), you should also avoid language that may come across as pushy or overconfident. For example, if the employer requests "no calls please," do not say "I will call you in a week to discuss my qualifications." Encourage the company to contact you if additional information is required or if someone has questions about your qualifications.  Remember to thank the reader for his or her time.