I would like to be upfront with everyone who happens to read this response. I have never written a cover letter in my life. In classes before this one I have spent an unbelievable amount of time drafting resumes and participating in things that "enhance" my resume. This is because I have always known who I am applying for a job with. Today, I find myself living in a different state from where I grew up and away from the people I know. For me it is more important that ever that I know how to construct a cover letter.
The next time I apply for a job, it may very well be with a company where I don't know anyone. This means that I need a medium to convey my previous achomplishments and qualifications without an interview. A cover letter may be the only way I have to do this. I have always accelled in public speaking. From what I read in “Kairos and the Cover Letter,” a cover letter is much like writing a speech. It is constructed the way a letter is, but there are several key differences. The purpose of a cover letter is to inform, but the way to do that is to be informal. This is the only opportunity you have to tell the reader, just like you are sitting in the room with them, why you are qualified to do this job. They can see a list of the things you have done on your resume, but a cover letter is the venue to describe not only what you learned from those experiences, but what you can do specifically to improve their company.
Although I have never constructed a cover letter before, I know how important they can be to those blindly applying for jobs. I realized while constructing mine for Wednesday's rough draft that they really offer an insight into my resume that most people wouldn't see without knowing me and that is an important tool in today's tough job market.
Cover letters and face time
I agree that your cover letter should be used to tell the reader why you are qualified, just like if you were in a room together. To me the cover letter serves the same function when you are applying for a job listing as a conversation with a recruiter when you are at a job fair booth does: to tell the reader why you are good for the job. Job fairs are great because you have that ability to frame your resume and create that bridge between where you came from (your experiences) and where you want to go (the job). I got the job I have now from talking at a job fair, and I got it because I was able to talk about why my experience and interests made me a good fit. Honestly, if I had instead sent my resume to the company through their online procedures, there's no way I would have gotten an interview. I didn't know how to write a cover letter and my resume just wasn't that strong.
So I liked your comparison to a face-to-face meeting. A job fair conversation gives you the chance sell your resume and attempt to frame a recruiter's reception of you. That's the function a cover letter serves.
Cover Letter Importance
I also have never had to make a cover letter for any reason and have too spent numerous hours slaving away on trying to make my resume perfect.
I totally agree with you about your statement about how cover letters are a means to convey information that is just not possible in a resume. I also strongly agree with TANoNati in that a cover letter basically is the same as talking to a company at a career fair in the way that they both tell the employer what you can do for them. The job of a cover letter is to explain to the company how you can help them, which your resume would not do by itself.
After reading these responses and articles I have learned the importance of cover letters, especially if you are electronically submitting for a job position.
Making the Connection
I understand how you might go through a job search without ever requiring a cover letter, but in most instances it seems to be very applicable. I also think cover letters are becoming more and more important in today’s day and age as job searching is becoming more impersonal and often over the internet. In situations like this, it’s crucial, as you mentioned, to make that personal connection that wouldn’t other wise exist and really give yourself an opportunity to stand out to someone that probably doesn’t know you (unless you’re a celebrity). You should also be using this chance to stress what you have to offer and demonstrate why your skills and experience make you a perfect fit for the position.
A setting
Your response correlates a lot with the reading. I agree when you express that a cover letter allows for you to expand on things in your resume. It gives context to the skills an attributes just plopped on your resume. It provides a sort of setting, if you will, for your resume.
In your first paragraph you touch on why you have never created a cover letter before, you've always known your employers. This is an excellent point that was expressed in a past reading about resumes. Now that you will be working in an environment where you don't know anyone it is important to make yourself sound like a human. It is easy with a cover letter than with a resume because you do have that context.
Evan
Knowing Each Other
I agree with you there Evan. I have had the same thing where I’ve at least somewhat known my previous employers before working for them. I agree that the cover letter helps them to know you a little better to get a feel for you from your writing. As for getting to know them, I think researching the company would be the best way to help get a better feel for them and maybe become more comfortable about talking with them once you know more about them. Once you know some about the company I think it helps a lot.
-Chris