Advice for Getting Your Cover Letter Through the Door
“I don’t get it. I was perfect for that job and I wrote a great cover letter. Why didn’t they call me?”
If you’re looking for a job and are getting zero attention from hiring managers, here’s some practical advice.
Remember that the person who is doing the hiring is not always the person sorting through cover letters. Sometimes, it’s an automated tool. Other times, it’s an assistant or recruiter. This person/machine may have a lot of sorting to do. If they can’t find what they’re looking for at the top of your cover letter, they may move on.
Start with a very short introduction. Yes, you are a fascinating person with a rich history. You can get into that later.
Quickly, move on to how you can solve the problem at hand. Using bullet points in a list format is very handy for this.
It should go without saying that every cover letter is written for the specific open role at hand. Take your time to craft good BUT SHORT cover letters, and let the resume do the rest.
And if you work with a recruiter, we can always help you hone your cover-letter craft.
