cover letter tips

April 22, 2020

How Important Is Your Cover Letter?

Guest Contributor: McLean Mills

Job applicants across all industries and level of employment are typically asked for two key documents when applying for a position: a resume and a cover letter. In most of our eyes, it’s the resume that dominates the stage. We think it’s what hiring managers really care about and what will ultimately make or break our chances of being given an interview. The cover letter, on the other hand, is seen as something that compliments the resume. It provides a little intro that leads up to the main act performed by the resume.

However, before you simply dismiss the importance of cover letters and just treat it as a mindless chore to complete within the application process, you should be informed of new research that challenges our preconceptions of its worth. In a recent study conducted by resume writing service, ResumeGo, the majority of hiring managers and recruiters indicated that a well-written cover letter that highlights the candidate’s qualifications was, in-fact, very important. So let’s go into the details of it a little:

Applications With Tailored Cover Letters Get More Callbacks

In the study, it was found that including a tailored cover letter increases a candidate’s odds of getting an interview by 50% compared to those without a cover letter at all. That is a staggeringly high number to throw out there, but one backed by hard evidence and a large sample size.

As part of the study, 7,287 fictitious applications were submitted either with no cover letter, a generic cover letter, or a customized cover letter. These applications were tracked during a 6-month period between July 2019 and January 2020.

Applicants in the study who did not submit a cover letter with their applications had a callback rate of 10.7% in the 30 days following the submission. So about 1 in 10 applicants with no cover letter were extended an interview.

Comparatively, applicants with a generic cover letter received a 12.5% callback rate and those with a tailored cover letter that perfectly matched the position hung at 16.4%. The results were undeniable, a cover letter resulted in a better chance of getting a callback. But more specifically, applicants with a customized cover letter tailored to the specific job application ended up receiving the highest callback rates of all.

What do Hiring Managers Think of Cover Letters?

The two-part study by ResumeGo also surveyed 236 recruiters and hiring managers to find out how they view cover letters. Through a series of questions, they found that the vast majority of recruiters and hiring managers do appreciate a cover letter in the applications they read and report that it does positively influence their perception of the applicants.

87% of hiring managers will read cover letters. If you always assumed hiring managers just skipped over cover letters, think again!

More than half of hiring managers report that cover letters can influence their hiring decisions. To be exact, 65% of recruiters and hiring managers say that content contained in a cover letter has directly influenced their decision to pursue a candidate. So not only do hiring managers read cover letters, they also find them important.

76% of recruiters will not reject an applicant due to a poorly written cover letter. Interestingly enough, recruiters aren’t just throwing away applications just because they see a poor cover letter. While it certainly doesn’t help, submitting a poor cover letter doesn’t necessarily mean you’re entirely out of luck.

81% of hiring managers prefer a tailored cover letter. This reiterates the main takeaway from the study – tailored cover letters lead to more interviews! Remember that hiring professionals are likely reviewing hundreds and hundreds of applications for every job opening. They don’t have time to read through template cover letters so give them something valuable or nothing at all.

78% of hiring managers find it easy to tell if it’s a template. Even if you have found a good template that you are happy with, you are probably not fooling the hiring manager. Most of them report that it is easy to tell if a candidate has used a generic cover letter or if they have taken the time to craft a unique one.

74% of hiring managers do not punish candidates that do not provide a cover letter. Interestingly enough, although the field experiment found that candidates with a tailored cover letter are more likely to get interviews, most hiring managers insist that they do not “punish candidates” if they don’t submit a cover letter at all.

Bottom Line

I get it, tailoring your cover letter for every job submission is tedious stuff – and perhaps even impractical if your strategy is to mass apply for jobs. You may only be able to tailor your cover letter for the job openings you truly have your eye out for. However, the data is mounting, and it’s important to be aware of just how potentially impactful a tailored cover letter is in the job submission process.

By planning ahead and prioritizing which job openings to spend more time on, you can hopefully muster up a job application strategy that includes having personalized cover letters that get the job done.

McLean Mills is a career coach and blogger. He was also a career counselor for the University of Florida. When not on the work grind, you can catch him rereading Harry Potter for the billionth time.

Written by Guest Blogger

January 20, 2020 0 Comments

5 Tips For a Winning Cover Letter to Get You Hired

Ah, the cover letter – the sister document of your resume! It’s an important but often overlooked part of the job searching process, and one that demands more attention. Whether cover letters come across as an afterthought, are too lengthy, or simply lack any depth, there can be a number of errors avoided by taking a second look.

Grab their Attention

Realize the hiring person may get 30-50 resumes (or more on mega job sites). And the resumes that get read are the ones with something that GRABS their ATTENTION! Something like, “Let Me Take More Off Your Plate!” Or, “I thrive on being proactive in ways to make your life easier! Hire Me!”

Don’t be afraid to add some personality to your cover letter and show your “go-getter” attitude. No one wants to hire a bump on a log. Also, the P.S. is the most read part of ANY email or letter. P.S. Your “Go Getter Attitude” so that you stand out

Be Diligent

You want your first impression to be a good one! Be sure that your grammar is perfect, your spelling is correct, and your sentences well-structured. Don’t rush through this because it tells the hiring person you aren’t paying attention to details and aren’t putting 100% effort in.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t inject some personality into your letter, but proper writing rules remain a required element of the job application documents.

Focus on the Company

The number one goal of your cover letter is to show why you would be a great fit for the job! Your letter shouldn’t go on and on about your accomplishments, but rather convey them in a way that shows relevance to the employer.

You should always look up the company to show that you’ve done your homework and took the time to learn about them. (Hint: Read their “About Us” page and a few blogs to get a feel for the person and company).

Bullets are Key

Begin your cover letter with a brief paragraph or two, then consider using bullet points to highlight key selling points on why you think you’re the best candidate. This breaks up large chunks of text, allows the employer to see your points quickly and easily, and makes you appear considerate and well prepared.

Show Why You’re a Fit

What do you bring to the table? List specific character traits, past experiences, and job roles that are a direct fit to this specific position. Have a testimonial from a past client? You may want to consider adding it to your cover letter.

You may have had 10 jobs that you’re proud of, but which jobs, and more importantly, which qualities from those jobs, will allow you to shine in this new role?

By focusing on the company and job position, you’re focusing on the employer’s needs, not your own. Be sure to include succinct, relevant information that will allow the employer to see what they would get from you immediately.

Lastly, make it easy for them to read, add some personality, and show them your “go-getter attitude”!

Click here to see some of our Newest Job posts.

Ready to apply? Click here to add your resume and start applying!

What have other Job Seekers said about HireMyMom.com?

Click here for some helpful blogs on resume and cover letter tips.

Written by Jessica Nicklos

August 20, 2018 0 Comments

4 Key Components Of a Great Cover Letter

Your cover letter is often the first thing that a potential employer will read from you, so it’s a very important document! Of course, your resume will be crucial since it lists all of your experience and accomplishments, but your cover letter is a place to add personality and make a case for your hiring.

Read along for some of our best advice for a cover letter that stands out.

Restate

When you start your letter, it’s best to restate the position and company which you’re applying for. This ensures that it goes to the right place, and states again what you’re seeking.

In addition to restating the position and company, it’s helpful to restate some of the key qualities that the employer is seeking, especially those that match you very well. Be sure to make the connection between the job posting and yourself as a great fit.

Add some personality

Cover letters don’t necessarily have to be boring! Especially if the job is more “informal,” use it as a place to add your personality. It can be a bit conversational in nature, while still adhering to solid grammar. Adapt the cover letter to match you, as well as the position. If it’s a very prestigious job that requires a strong vocabulary and a lot of formality, it may be best to stick to the basics.

One page

As with most things in your job application, do your best to keep it to one page. All the information you should need should fit on one page:

Restate the position and employer where you hope to be hired.
Include some qualities from the job posting that fit your personality and work experience.
Use bullets for stand out job experience and highlights that make you a great fit.
End with a request for further contact and an interview, as well as a note that your resume is attached and your recommendations are available upon request.

Be specific

When you go to write your bullet points, be as specific as you can! It’s great to say, for example, that you planned an event that’s relevant to the position. It’s even better to write that you planned an event with a $250,000 budget for 500 attendees that resulted in $400,000 being raised for a charity. Using specific facts, figures and numbers helps to drive home your point even more, and it shows that you have the detail on your accomplishments.

Your cover letter should be personable, short, and include reasons why you are the best possible fit for this job position. Tailor each and every letter to each specific job posting with the tips above, and you’ll be well on your way to a more successful hiring process.

Written by Jessica Nicklos

August 13, 2018 0 Comments

5 Tips for A Professional Job Application

We all know the importance of a resume when you apply for a job, but there’s often more to the application than just that. There’s the cover letter, recommendation letters, resume, and anything else requested by that particular position.

We’re sharing our best tips to keeping your whole job application professional and effective, so you’re ready to apply when those ideal positions come along.

Keep it up to date

Even if you’re not actively job searching, sometimes the right position just pops up. Be ready for these opportunities! Every month or so, take a few minutes to update and review your materials. This will keep things fresh, keep you from scrambling, and help you avoid losing future opportunities due to time.

This is also a good time to prepare all potential documents. If you only have a resume so far, draft a cover letter and seek out at least 2-4 professional recommendations to have on file.

Short and sweet

A professional application is short and sweet! You may think you need to elaborate or sound wordy to be impressive, but employers receive a ton of applications. They will greatly appreciate that you kept to the most essential information.

Use bullets

Along with keeping things short and sweet, don’t be afraid to use bullet points liberally! It allows employers to easily scan your information for items that jump out, and keeps information in bite-sized pieces.

You can utilize bullet points in all areas of your application – the cover letter and resume, as well as any other documents required by the posting.

Free from errors

If you want to submit a professional application, it should be free from spelling and grammatical errors. Take the time to really proofread well, and ask a friend or family member to take a look as well. We can miss small errors by seeing the same piece of writing so many times, so don’t be afraid to have several sets of eyes on it.

Errors and mistakes can make you come across as careless, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s worth the extra time to ensure that all of your materials are perfect!

All materials

These days, not all job postings are standard. Some of them require additional writing samples, tests, and so on. You need to read very carefully! They’re often looking for someone who follows directions.

Be sure that you include everything that is asked for, and don’t include other things that are not. Each employer usually has a very specific skill set and documents that they’re requiring, so it’s best to stick to that.

To start, ensure that you have a cover letter, solid, updated resume, and recommendations, which can either be attached or ready upon request. This will give you a foundation, and any other requested materials can be created quickly!

Hire My Mom

Legit work from home jobs