The importance of including a cover letter when applying for a private service position

I’m always shocked when I see candidates apply for a position without a cover letter, or even worse, a cover letter that doesn’t address the position they are applying for. Unfortunately, today’s system of applying for positions with the click of a button has made some candidates feel like a cover letter is a waste of time. Let’s talk about why that isn’t the case.

The cover letter is your chance to explain to the person on the other end of the screen why they should take the time to review your resume. It’s your chance to speak to them in a more informal manner about why you are interested in their position, why you feel you are a good fit, and what intangibles you bring to the table that they might not see on the resume.

It’s also your opportunity to make a more personal connection so your information stands out from all the other submissions they will be reviewing. The cover letter can also be a great opportunity to address any potential objections or weaknesses you think they may see on your resume and explain how you plan on overcoming them. Here are some tips that will help you in crafting the perfect cover letter for your dream position.

Introduce yourself:

I’ve often reviewed cover letters that start with, “Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. After reading your job description, I am confident that I will be able to fulfill the duties you are looking for. My experience doing X,Y,Z has prepared me well to take on this role.”

There is no personal introduction, and frankly no personality. The first paragraph of your cover letter should grab the reader and make them want to continue reading. The intro above makes a recruiter’s eyes glaze over as they have read this same thing time and again. Instead, try to personalize the introduction. Who are you? Where are you from? What is unique about you or your experience and how does it apply for this role? Remember, your goal is to get them interested in you as a person, not just your work experience. The cover letter should lead them to want to review your resume to learn more about your experiences and skillset.

Build on your introduction and sell yourself:

After giving more insight into yourself in the first paragraph, it’s time to get down to business and show why you would be a good fit for the open role. I often find that the candidates who pick out a key detail or duty that is listed in the job description and reference it in the cover letter receive more consideration. It shows that they took the time to do a detailed reading of the job description, rather than are just submitting their standard information, hoping something will stick. The cover letter is a great opportunity to provide examples of your skillset or experiences that will be relevant to the role. What past experiences can you talk about to show that you are a great fit for this role?

Address any potential weaknesses or lack of qualifications before they see it on the resume:

This is one of the key advantages of crafting a custom cover letter for whatever position you are applying for. Don’t let the client make assumptions about your experience or lack thereof. Use the cover letter as your opportunity to address any potential concerns or objections you think they may have when reviewing your resume. Turn them into a positive if possible. Whenever I see candidates do this on a cover letter, it shows me that they took the time to read through and consider the job description and how they would fit into the role. It shows that they are self-aware enough to know that they don’t have everything we might be looking for but are already looking for solutions to succeed in the role.

Leave them wanting more:

If possible, try to create a hook at the end of your cover letter that sparks curiosity within the reader. I recently worked with a great candidate who ended the cover letter in a unique way that made me have to pick up the phone to talk with him more. He had an interesting name and ended the cover letter by saying, “If we meet in person, I have a fun story to share about how I got my name.”

After reading though a detailed cover letter, being hit with this statement made me wonder more about the story and also helped this candidate standout from all the others I had reviewed for the role.

Even if you don’t have a unique name or story, ending your cover letter with a statement like, “I look forward to being able to explain more about how my experiences and skillsets have made me an excellent candidate for this role,” will set up the expectation that an additional conversation will happen.

Taking the time to write a cover letter for each position you are applying for is time intensive, but well worthwhile. Don’t pass up on this wonderful opportunity to sell yourself for your perfect position!

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