Cover Letters

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a good resource for cover letters?

I am looking for a new job. In-house counsel, fairly senior with an international practice area that is specialized and isn't commonly found in the US, other than NYC. I have found an opening that matches almost perfectly with my interest, skills and experience. In an area of the country that I have been looking to move to that isn't NYC. So, I want to write a letter that basically says "OMFG! You created this for me!".

There are lots of examples of generic letters, but if anyone has a reference to examples where a letter really hammers home the exact fit, that would be helpful.

And yes, I have written letters before. Just not for 20 years.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Not in your field, but I have been in hiring before, and the "omfg you created this for me" approach usually backfires. Employers want to know how you will help them, not that this suits you. If you really haven't written a cover letter in 20 years, you might want to hire someone from Upwork to do it or give you suggestions.

[Anonymous]

recruiters and hiring managers don't have time to read boring cover letters. They spend literally seconds scanning your resume for information that is relevant. and many companies now use algorithms where computers help pick the resumes that are relevant.

Write an effective and powerful "Profile" at the top of your resume and make sure to use bullet points when list out your specific skills and accomplishments - paying close attention to list those skills the hiring manager is looking for.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for examples, you probably won't find them because examples are going to be generic letters, if you see what I mean.

Write the letter to the criteria. If the first thing in the job description is X degree, Y years of experience, you begin the letter: "I am an experienced professional in the field of widget making, with a JD and twelve years of international experience, including at Well-Known Widget Makers International."

Then speak directly to the bullet points in the job criteria.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. It will get me started and that's exactly what I need.

To the poster who said they are boring, at some point in the future, you too may need to do this. As you advance, there are fewer cattle calls and positions become quite targeted. For this, I will bypass HR entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recruiters and hiring managers don't have time to read boring cover letters. They spend literally seconds scanning your resume for information that is relevant and many companies now use algorithms where computers help pick the resumes that are relevant.

Write an effective and powerful "Profile" at the top of your resume and make sure to use bullet points when list out your specific skills and accomplishments - paying close attention to list those skills the hiring manager is looking for.

Some employers actually require cover letters.

I am amazed how many HR people don't read a resume. Not everything will be caught by an algorithm.

[Anonymous]

Especially when the algorithm is "secret" so people don't know what specific words or phrases are key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:recruiters and hiring managers don't have time to read boring cover letters. They spend literally seconds scanning your resume for information that is relevant. and many companies now use algorithms where computers help pick the resumes that are relevant.

Write an effective and powerful "Profile" at the top of your resume and make sure to use bullet points when list out your specific skills and accomplishments - paying close attention to list those skills the hiring manager is looking for.

Depends on your field. A well-written cover letter conveys a lot more about a person's intelligence and writing skills than bullet points can. I'm in a field where the cover letter is always important because of that.

[Anonymous]

I always read the cover letter and agree with the PP above who said make sure it explains why they should hire you.

I am currently recruiting for a position and have read over 100 application packages in the past week.

Here is what is important to me
-I know you are looking for A job but tell me why you want THIS job
- tell me specifically how the work you have done relates to the primary job requirements.

I know this seems simple but you would be surprised how many people don't do it. I have seen cover letters referencing the wrong job. Ones that talk about wanting to work for our company but nothing specific about the job.

You want a job from me so don't expect me do all the work trying to determine how your skills fit my needs. I am not going to do it and your CV will got into the no pile.

You tell me. Sell yourself in 3/4 page or less.

Also as a PP mentioned if you bullet point skills in your CV at least half of them should be specific to the job. If I see one more 10 point list with not one of my requirements listed as a top skill I might lose it.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always read the cover letter and agree with the PP above who said make sure it explains why they should hire you.

I am currently recruiting for a position and have read over 100 application packages in the past week.

Here is what is important to me
-I know you are looking for A job but tell me why you want THIS job
- tell me specifically how the work you have done relates to the primary job requirements.

I know this seems simple but you would be surprised how many people don't do it. I have seen cover letters referencing the wrong job. Ones that talk about wanting to work for our company but nothing specific about the job.

You want a job from me so don't expect me do all the work trying to determine how your skills fit my needs. I am not going to do it and your CV will got into the no pile.

You tell me. Sell yourself in 3/4 page or less.

Also as a PP mentioned if you bullet point skills in your CV at least half of them should be specific to the job. If I see one more 10 point list with not one of my requirements listed as a top skill I might lose it.

Good luck OP!

Thank you!

Sometimes this board os very helpful . . . and encouraging

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. It will get me started and that's exactly what I need.

To the poster who said they are boring, at some point in the future, you too may need to do this. As you advance, there are fewer cattle calls and positions become quite targeted. For this, I will bypass HR entirely.

I am actually quite senior, 30+ years in the same industry. I work for a "millennial-controlled" (think Bay Area), major corporation where the next step, or "advancement" for me would be one step below the CEO. I guess in my industry, cover letters are not as useful as they are in yours.