The Number One Cover Letter Mistake

Last week, I told you what should be in a cover letter. That post was prompted by the realization that I had never really written much about cover letters on this blog. But it was also born out of some professional frustration I’ve been having lately. The long and short of it is, I’ve seen some terrible cover letters from clients lately.

The weird thing is, they’ve all been making the same fundamental cover letter error. So, I wanted to address the one mistake that everyone makes, leading to a plague of bad cover letters.

Don’t Try To Run The Interview In Your Cover Letter

The number one mistake people make when writing a cover letter is to make it way too long. Again, a cover letter should only be 3 paragraphs… 4 paragraphs tops. And it absolutely should be no more than one page.

A terrible cover letter is one that runs on and on and competes with the resume for attention.

I think people forget this because they try to use the cover letter to preemptively address issues that should really be left for the interview. I can understand the impulse. You feel like you can use the cover letter to better explain or buttress things that are in your resume. I mean, sure, you might use the cover letter to briefly address why there’s a gap in employment or why you’re switching careers. But do so briefly!

Don’t give in to the impulse to explain away everything in the cover letter. The resume should stand on it’s own. Any questions the employer might have should be left for the interview.

Don’t try to run the interview in your cover letter. It’s fine to use the cover letter to address a point or two in your resume for greater clarity. But if you go too far down this slippery slope, before you know it, you’re repeating things that are already in your resume to begin with. Soon you’ll find yourself just rehashing your resume in sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph and the hiring manager is left wondering which is the more important document to read, your resume or your cover letter.

Again, let the resume stand on it’s own. The cover letter supports and supplements your resume, but it’s just a formality, an introduction for your resume. It should never compete with your resume for attention.

Related posts:

1. What Should Be In A Cover Letter
2. Cover Letters – Turning Yours Into An Interview
3. Interview Thank You Letter

What Should Be In A Cover Letter

Someone tweeted me the other day that I had plenty of content on this blog relating to resumes, but not much regarding cover letters. So, I’d like to change that this week.

Let’s start with the basics: what should be in a cover letter?

To be really honest with you, cover letters aren’t complicated things. In fact, in my opinion, when it comes to cover letters, simplicity is key. If there’s one mistake I see time and time again, it’s that people try to write a novel in their cover letters. That is simply not necessary. A cover letter is a little bit formality and a little bit promotional tool. All you really need to do is say who you are, say what you want, thank the reader, and get out.

The 6 Things That Should Be In Every Cover Letter

A cover letter only needs 6 main components:

Header/Contact Info. You should simply put your name and contact info at the top of the cover letter. Trying to match the design, or look and feel of your resume is probably advisable. In fact, if you can match the look of your cover letter to the look of your resume, this helps “brand” and keeps your paperwork from being misplaced.

Greeting. This is a letter, so, make a formal introduction. “To Whom It May Concern” is good if you don’t know who the cover letter is going to. But it’s obviously far better if you know the name of the person who’s reading. “Dear Mr. Burns,”

Intro Paragraph. This is a short paragraph, 2-3 sentences at most, where you introduce yourself and say what position it is that you’re applying for. I’m serious. 2-3 sentences tops. I’m this sort of professional; I’m applying for this job; I believe I’m qualified because of these reasons.

Who I Am Paragraph. The 2nd paragraph of a cover letter should be 3-5 sentences, and should tell the reader something about you as a professional. What you’ve done in the past. What sort of qualifications you have. Why you’d be good for the position in question.

Thank You Paragraph. And the LAST paragraph of a cover letter should just say, thank you for considering me, here is how you can contact me (at your convenience, of course) and I look forward to hearing from you. 2-3 sentences tops.

Your Name And Signature.

That’s it. A cover letter should be short and sweet. It’s not meant to supplement your resume. In fact, it should repeat things that are in your resume (highlights of course). But it certainly shouldn’t compete with your resume for attention. Again, the cover letter is just an introduction for your resume.

I strongly recommend staying to the 3 paragraph template I outline above. Maybe 4-5 paragraphs in extreme situations. But I can’t stress enough, you really want your cover letter to be one page only. A resume can be more than one page, but a cover letter shouldn’t.

Related posts:

1. Cover Letters – Turning Yours Into An Interview
2. Ask Brian- Long Distance Job Search
3. Interview Thank You Letter

Are The Holidays A Good Time To Job Search?

Quite simply, the answer is: absolutely yes!

I write one of these posts almost every year around this time. I don’t know why it is, but people just assume that the holidays aren’t a good time for job searching. I guess it’s human nature: you’re putting things off until the new year, so you assume employers are too. I guess we’ve all worked at jobs where things really slowed down in the month of December, and not much work got done.

But I assure you that the Holidays ARE a good time for job searching. In fact, I often tell clients that December is one of the best months for job search.

So, this year, I’ll give you my top 3 reasons why I think that is:

1. Less Competition. I’m telling you. We see it every year. The volume of clients dries up in December, only to more than triple a few weeks later in January. Simply put, January is the most popular month for people to look for a job. So, if you wait for January to start your job search, you’ll by facing twice, even triple the competition. Why not start now when other people are procrastinating.
2. If You Wait, You Could Miss Out Entirely. I won’t deny that a lot of hiring gets done in January. New projects, new start, all of that. But that doesn’t mean that the interviewing process starts in January. Think about it, if a company needs a bunch of new people to start January 2nd, they’re probably lining up those people now, aren’t they? That means they’re probably advertising the positions now and interviewing for the positions before Christmas so that they’ll have people ready to go when the holidays end. If you’re assuming that the hiring might not be starting until next month, you could be right. But if you’re assuming the interviewing won’t be starting until then, you could very well be wrong.
3. The Hiring May Be Seasonal, But The Foot In The Door Is Forever. If you think about it, there is quite a bit of hiring done FOR the holiday season. All those stores need extra hands. And there are numerous industries that have to ramp up with extra help to handle the holiday surge. But Brian, you say, those jobs are just temporary! That might be true. But even temporary jobs are an opportunity. If you get a temp job and show an employer how good you are, that’s the best “interview” there is for any full time work that might be coming up.

Related posts:

1. Ask Brian – Job Search During the Holidays?
2. Happy New Year! Welcome To Job Search January.
3. Job Search Hack- Organize Your Search Using The Rule Of Thirds

How to Change Jobs

Step 1 – Detach Yourself from your Current Job

To move on and change jobs you need to detach yourself from your existing job. The more emotionally attached you are to your role, your environment and its traits the more difficult it is to move forward. This emotional baggage is like heavy weights on your shoulder which can paralyse you from making a decision.

The decision is either to remain in the job or to change jobs, a decision in between means you will continue to remain attached to the current job.

Before making the big decision to change jobs, it is recommended that you list the compelling reasons WHY you should change jobs (find the positive reasons) and why you should stay. If the reasons for the change outweighs the reasons against the change this should work as a tipping point to change jobs. HOW to change jobs will then miraculously follow.

Is it a combination of boredom, lack of challenge, working environment, stress, remuneration, misaligned values, other? Take some time to assess your current situation.

Step 2 – The Destination as a Motivation

If you have made up your mind to change jobs, you will now need to know or have an idea of where you want to go that is, a destination, without a destination there is no clear action.

Do some research on where and what your next job could be. If you can find and narrow in on a job or industry that interest, challenges and excites you, this will motivate you further to make that change into your desired career.

Step 3 – Standout Resume and Cover Letter (First Impressions)

Given that a recruiter is likely to receive multiple resumes, your resume must stand out from the competition.

From a recruiter and employer’s perspective, the first thing that they see is your resume and cover letter therefore, you must polish off your writing skills and create a standout resume and cover letter.

A standout resume simply addresses what the employer is looking for. If the employer is looking for a checklist of 10 requirements then ensure that those key points are notably and clearly addressed n your resume.

Consider also the following:

Customise your resume for each new role. There should not be a one resume fits all approach. Make some changes to mirror what the employer is looking for even if it may be just some minor adjustments.

Use bullet points to address their requirements and your experiences.

Be concise and get straight to the point.

If you have a long working history, leave out any previous roles that are totally unrelated to the role that you will be applying for (from the employment history section of your resume). For example, if you’re applying for a Finance Analyst role, there is no reason to list your previous positions as a Teacher or a Personal Trainer. The exception would be if you are new to the industry then it helps to display your working history.

Other points to consider are preparations for the Interview and etiquette.

Step 4 – Three Key Personality Traits (Apart from Experience)

Apart from experience, employers will more likely be interested in you if you are naturally enthusiastic about the position. If you are going to the interview, ensure that you are 100% committed (leave any doubts at home, you can cast any doubts after the interview) and ensure you bring with you three essential qualities that they are seeking for from job candidates:

A) Aptitude – Your ability, readiness and intelligence or quickness in learning.

B) Motivation – Your drive and enthusiasm for the position

C) Optimism – Your confidence, ‘can do’ and positive attitude

For any given position it is likely that you will be up against competition for the role, so if you possess the above qualities more so than your competitor then you are in the lead.

Step 5 – Cast a Net

To accomplish your ideal job there is the fast way and the slower way. Using fishing as an analogy, to catch fish the fast way would be to cast a wide net into the ocean versus the slower way which involves using a single rod to cast a hook one at a time.

In relation to job hunting this mean to contact multiple recruiter’s and organisations that you have an interest in simultaneously and as many as you can. It is likely that you will be rejected several times depending on how far you are trying to reach however, your acceptances are likely to be the great catch. So expect rejections, the harder something is to catch the more satisfying it is once caught, the easier it is to catch the lower the satisfaction.

Step 6 – Timing

Timing is quite important based on the laws of supply and demand. Generally if you are looking to change jobs during tough economic conditions there will be fewer supply (jobs) with more demand (job seekers). In this case, as a job seeker you are more likely to be disadvantaged as your bargaining power is lower. For this reason, it is prudent to be aware of current economic conditions before making that move, weigh up the options in whether it is the right time to move for you.

This is a guest post. About the author:

Gordon Chen is a Motivational Speaker, Career Consultant and Business Analyst

He blogs at: http://www.sparklife.com.au/blog

 

Related posts:

1. Seven Reasons You Might Need a Career Change
2. Career Change After 50 – How to Market Your Experience
3. Should You Consider A Career Change?

How To Use Google Voice As A Job Search Tool

In many ways, I think that Google Voice is the best job search tool to become available in the last several years. How can you use Google Voice to help find a job? I have 5 great ways over at my ResumeWriting.com blog!

Google Voice Is The Best New Job Search Tool In Years! (ResumeWriting.com)

Related posts:

1. The Google Jobs Experiment – Brilliant Job Search Idea
2. My New Resume Writing Book Free For 2 Weeks! Help Me Edit It!
3. Can Facebook Harm Your Job Search?

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