How to Avoid an Impersonal Cover Letter

@Robert starting a cover letter with "to whom it may concern" is really quite impersonal. Take a few minutes and research the company, if you can. Check out their website and see if you can't find out who is hiring. Look at Linkedin and see if you can learn more about the company - or maybe you might find someone that you know. Either way, try to find the name of the hiring manager. You can always call the company and ask. That way your cover letter will stand above those who didn't take a few minutes to find out who the hiring manager is. If you still can't find anything out, then yes - you can use to whom it may concern.

When starting the letter is it To whom it may concern

Many times unfortunately, a hiring manager does not fully read and or review the completed resume. A well crafted cover letter is an exceptional took to put your best foot forward. Make sure your grammar and spelling is spot on. The higher the position the more important the Cover Letter.

To avoid regurgitating information found on my resume in a cover letter, I pick out one or two job tasks listed on my resume and then expand on these tasks by describing specific on-the-job experiences I've had to highlight my expertise. This way, both my cover letter and resume remain related and logically connected. By working in tandem, my cover letter and resume provide enough information for hiring managers to determine whether to call me in for an interview.

Is there a clear cut way to navigate the requirements of a personal cover letter and outwitting the ATS programs that most employers use? Crafting a personalized, engaging letter that is also laden with keywords and phrases enough to land on the hiring managers desk seems like a recipe for a very choppy and disappointing cover letter.

@Duncan as long as the cover letter is about the company and not about you. The cover letter should inform the hiring manager how he will benefit from hiring you - what you can do to help increase the bottom line. You have already included your skill set on your resume. This is a time to tie your skills and knowledge into the company's future. So very true - you should never repeat your resume in the cover letter.

I believe that by the time you decide to apply to that specific company, you have done your home work well by going through their activities and requirements for the job. This should prompt you to only give them skills that run in line with their requirements. This is why I recommend a cover letter that does not repeat your resume, so that it only brings out the outstanding skills that you possess.

It’s a great idea to read the company’s blog to see what tone the company prefers to communicate in. It’s hard to write a cover letter that stands out from the rest in a good way. Knowing what type of writing the company itself uses gives you an advantage that can help make your cover letter memorable.

I disagree with the point about a robot approach; no one knows what another applicant's cover letter looks like, so there's no way they'd know how to copy it. I feel there is value in reusing elements from one cover letter to another, just as the resume is virtually the same from one application to another. Uniqueness is good, but there's no sense reinventing the wheel, so to speak, for every cover letter.

@Erin the ATS doesn't care if we personalize or not. As long as your cover letter and resume are readable, it will be fine. The way to get through the ATS isn't with formatting but with keywords appropriately placed on your application. Then, after it gets through ATS, human eyes will have the opportunity to view your application. You just need to get passed the gatekeeper first.

How can a personalized cover letter pass the HR software test? Assuming the company uses software to pre screen applicants, what would make your cover letter stand out to the program? Would the use of longer syllable words be of any help or should an applicant attempt to tailor a cover letter to a prospective employer while attempting to incorporate all of the keywords that a program might pick up?

It is so true that hiring managers can detect a template right away. When I worked in HR and reviewed cover letters on a regular basis, it was the letters that had unique introductions that captured attention. In addition, applicants who detailed information about the company also surpassed the competition.

@Shaday certainly they are open. The 3-4 paragraph cover letter is just the standard. But it would depend upon your industry. As a creative type, take some liberties as it would probably be expected. When I submit a cover letter, I will typically try to include a short comparison chart from their desires to my qualifications and then explain how their company would benefit from hiring me. Remember, this is when you get to toot your own horn.

Are hiring managers generally open to other formats besides the typical 3-4 paragraph letter, as long as it's simple, clean and free of graphics? I have achieved positive results in the past with an opening paragraph, comparison table and closing paragraph. I have read about other job seekers successfully using other types of non-graphic formats, but it would be interesting to hear the employer perspective. These formats accomplish the same thing as standard letters, but they can help to break up a mundane layout and provide a side-by-side breakdown of the job requirements and your qualifications. However, it may limit space for personal experiences, and I wonder if some hiring managers view it as a sign that the candidate isn't comfortable with writing.

It takes time to craft an original letter for each job application — and that can make it very tempting to reuse the same document multiple times. But there's an upside: it's valuable writing practice. Even if you're not going to be doing much writing in the job you're applying for, creating unique cover letters forces you to think outside the box many times over — and that type of original thinking is an asset in any vocation!

In today's competitive job market, it's very important not to sound like a robot. I think the key is not to write to a recruiter or hiring manager as if yours is the only letter they'll receive in a day. If you send a robotic, form letter, chances are high that you'll be overlooked no matter how well qualified you are. So definitely compose a letter you'd read and want to know more about if you were the recipient.

I think a cover letter is the perfect place for an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch lasts 30 seconds, and it gives you a chance to display your passion for the position. That's exactly what a cover letter achieves--it shows a potential employer you're the perfect fit for the job by giving HR an impassioned, personal reason for why you want to work for a particular firm.

@Abbey only you can answer that one. Personally, I would never include a name for someone who is not going to give me a glowing report. You don't have to even say a person's name because you could simply say my former supervisor, etc. without name dropping.

I have always heard people suggest networking and name-dropping, but where do you draw the line? Obviously you don't want to mention the name of someone with a poor performance record, and certainly not someone who might have bad things to say about you. But, how well should you know a person before using their name to your advantage?