Current Events > What exactly goes into a cover letter?

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In the past I've done basic cut/paste jobs for cover letters but I was told HR actually reads them for a job I'm currently interested in. The field is pretty specialized so I need to stand out too. Would it also be a waste to mention that I don't have all the certificates needed for the job yet? I'm due to get it in around 2 weeks or so but I wanted to get my name out there.

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Shin Kudo posted...

Would it also be a waste to mention that I don't have all the certificates needed for the job yet?

Lol don't do that.

Cover letters basically are your chance to give a sales pitch that's a bit more catered to the position than your resume would be. You use it to express your interest in the position and why you're the best candidate instead of just listing out your qualifications.

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Cover letters are huge. It's your opportunity to present your credentials in an articulate and logical manner while introducing yourself both confidently and graciously.

A lot of places won't even invest much or any time in your resume/CV unless your cover letter got them excited.

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As others have said, cover letters are basically a sales pitch to why you are the best candidate for a job. While resumes provide a list of your accomplishments, cover letters actually take your accomplishments and tie them into the job.

When I write a cover letter, it generally follows this format:

1st paragraph- An intro with the position the cover letter it's for. Basic info on how I came across the job and my enthusiasm for the position

2nd paragraph- A brief overview of the job description and how my experience specifically meets each job responsibility/requirement (if there are too many just pick the most important ones).

3rd paragraph- A description of unique traits about me that makes me stand out from other candidates. Whereas the 2nd paragraph shows I meet the job minimums like all other qualified candidates, the 3rd paragraph provides reasons why I'm a better choice than the others

4th paragraph- Summary and conclusion, thanking them for their time and hoping to hear from them soon

Depending on the job and the requirements, the 2nd paragraph may be split into two, but I try to keep a cover page to just one page. Two pages is just too much.

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I'm convinced there is no true strategy for cover letters, interviews, etc. Everyone thinks they have a strategy, but it's all just the luck of how that HR person is feeling that day.

You can be a perfect fit with a good sales pitch in your cover letter and then they think you're overqualified or bragging.


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Go to the HR subreddits, most of them don't even care about the cover letter anymore

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Forget writing an actual letter, just make an introductory and closing paragraph, and for the body, make a table listing the qualifications they want and how you meet them.

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UnholyMudcrab posted...

Forget writing an actual letter, just make an introductory and closing paragraph, and for the body, make a table listing the qualifications they want and how you meet them.

This is also a good strategy I've seen more applicants use.

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Cover letters are the effin' worst. There are so many 'rules' around resumes and cover letters, only to be continuously told that "recruiters only spend .0000000000007 seconds looking at any potential candidate, so you need to WOW them without being obnoxious or seeming insincere."

BignutzisBack posted...

Go to the HR subreddits, most of them don't even care about the cover letter anymore

How DO they hire, then? All I hear is that they don't read resumes, they don't read cover letters, they let automated systems screen the resumes they get that they don't read and, on Bloomberg Radio, there are multitudinous ads for services that outsource hiring and recruitment away from actual HR.

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It's all about the ATS these days.
Feed all the crap in, get a report out if all the candidates, dump anything below a 95% match.
Then a human might read a cover letter. Till then you're just a name in an Excel Cell with a Percentage beside it.


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Hi

I am willing to give sexual favors if I get this job

Thanks