The Truth About Cover Letters

If you're in pursuit of an outstanding entry level position, you need to know the truth about cover letters. Contrary to some of the more fashionable books on job search, no one ever got a job because of a spiffy (or "perfect") cover letter. Cover letters are extremely limited in value, even when used properly. So take everything you've ever heard, read, or seen about cover letters and throw it out! That's right, 99.44% of the information about cover letters is useless. Why? Three reasons. First, most people assume that the cover letter is actually read before the resume. Wrong. Just ask anyone who reviews resumes--they go straight to the resume (if it's read at all) and only look at the cover letter if they're still interested. In my review of over 20,000 resumes, I've probably read only 4,000 cover letters, and that was done only after finding strong interest in the resume. It's actually rather amusing to watch a Hiring Manager reading his mail. The cover letter and resume are pulled from the envelope, the cover letter is immediately placed behind the resume, and the resume is reviewed. Usually scanned first, then read. And you know there is interest if they finally make their way back to the cover letter. Second, most people assume that the cover letter should be about you. Wrong again. It should be about the company, your prospect, your target. Your resume will tell them the basics that they need to know about you (if it's well written). Third, and most important, many college students end up using the cover letter/resume mass mailing as a crutch to fool themselves into believing they're actually doing something to further their job search. In reality, all you're doing is generating rejection letters. Mass mailing of your cover letter and resume does not work in today's job market. Understand that at the entry level a resume and cover letter on their own do little good. Most larger companies have established college recruiting programs that serve as the focal point of entry level hiring. Therefore, most entry level resumes are ignored. Most medium and small companies don't have the resources to train entry level hires, so the entry level resume will again be ignored. The best you can hope for in a blind mailing campaign is that you will be filed away in hopes of being miraculously resurrected at some future date. Very unlikely. So when should you use a cover letter? Only as part of a limited, targeted campaign to reach potential employers. Take the time to research and understand a company before committing yourself on paper as their next potential employee. If you have no idea what a company does, don't just send your resume and cover letter in blind hope of making a potential match. If you're not willing to invest the time and energy to find out whether a match is possible, why do you expect the Hiring Manager to do so? When a cover letter is used, it should be specific and personal. It should be clean, clear laser copy, yet not mass generated. Each letter should refer to a specific person at a specific company and provide a specific next step of action that you will be taking. Don't expect the employer to make the first step. If you wait for them to call you, your odds of contact decrease dramatically. It typically requires a proactive response on your part to move the process forward to the next level. The "Squeaky Wheel Theory" is alive and well in the employment field. If you respond to me, I'll respond to you. If not, you will likely find yourself buried underneath reams of other resumes. Be the one who stands out. Remember, you need to make any mailing specific and follow-up on each letter personally by phone. Sound like a lot of work? Not when you consider the payback. The initial investment per letter is certainly greater than a mail merge mass mailing, yet the benefits are far greater. Mass mailings often generate zero results, while a targeted mailing and follow-up program can generate ten to fifteen percent or more in interview production success. In future columns we will be covering how to gather research about companies and hiring managers, including how and when to make direct contact by phone. For now, if you have your resume put together, make sure you have it on file with the Career Placement office at your campus. Many companies will use this "resume book" as a pre-screener for those students they meet with on campus. Make sure your resume is among the counted few. Better yet, ask the Placement office if you can review the resumes that are already on file, then rework yours to be the standout in the crowd. -Article provide by CollegeGrad.com