Cover Letter Secrets

One of the most emailed articles at the New York Times last month had a surprising topic: "A Cover Letter Is Not Expendable." [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/jobs/15career.html?_r=2&em] As more people search for jobs, the basics of resumes and cover letters are of greater interest to everyone; people want to know the hiring secrets that can land them a better paying, more secure job.

It's true that cover letters can make a critical difference in your job search and networking; you just need to know a few things to separate your cover letter from the others in the pack. Here are a few secrets about cover letters from the other side of the hiring process.

1. Cover letters are still required.

As the article in the New York Times notes, it's easy in this day and age to assume that a cover letter simply isn't necessary. With the speed of email and the ease of contacting potential employers, it may seem like a waste of time to write a cover letter. But a cover letter will help set you apart from the crowd. It is an opportunity to sell your skills for that specific job, and it gives you the chance to explain any unusual circumstances, such as your interest in a move or a career change. It also proves to the employer that you are really interested in that particular with their company.

When I worked as a recruiter, I received many resumes without cover letters. Some of them appeared to have been mass-mailed to every job opening in the universe; there was no explanation of why a sales manager wanted to become a computer programmer, for example. A cover letter might have made the difference between the resume being sent to a hiring manager-or being filed away with hundreds of others. Use the cover letter to your advantage; always include one with your resume, whether you're in an active job search or are just networking with professional contacts.

2. Cover letters aren't the first things recruiters read.

In a perfect world, recruiters and hiring managers would carefully read every word that you write, taking time to absorb all the wonderful nuances of your career. But in truth, most recruiters are getting dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes and cover letters for each position. Sorting through stacks of resumes and cover letters becomes a time management issue.

The fastest way for most recruiters to manage the pile is to glance at the resumes first-very quickly. In a matter of seconds, an experienced recruiter can determine whether the candidate meets the basic qualifications for the job. By eliminating large numbers of resumes in a short period of time, the recruiter can bring the pile down to a more manageable number, usually a group of ten to twenty-five resumes. At that point, the cover letter really enters the equation. If there is no cover letter at all, that's already one count against you; the resume may be removed from the pile, with the recruiter assuming that you aren't really that interested in the job.

3. Cover letters are often the tipping point in a recruiter's decision.

Once there is a smaller stack of resumes, cover letters become much more important. If there are typos or other errors in the cover letter, your whole resume will probably be kicked out of consideration. If there is a cover letter that has not been customized for the particular job, particularly one that is recognizable as a form letter, the resume may also be knocked out.

When the recruiter is deciding which candidates will be considered for interviews, the cover letter can make a crucial difference. The best cover letters focus on how your skills would serve the company in this particular position. Outline your accomplishments as they relate to the job requirements. If you create a cover letter that proves you understand the company's needs, you will have a much higher chance of landing the interview-and the job.

A cover letter is a definite must, whether you are searching for a new job or making contact with your professional network to let them know that you're looking. Including a short email cover letter or a more formal cover letter with your resume proves that you're professional-and that you're worth hiring.