I did not know much about a cover letter before this employment project. I did not think a cover letter was very important, nor did I ever feel like writing one. After completing this weeks readings, I have realized that the cover letter is a lot more important that I thought, but that still doesn’t mean I want to write one.
I absorbed a lot of information from Teena Rose’s article “Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes.” Her statement about the job market being in the companies hands completely changed my thoughts about cover letters. In today’s job market, it seems almost imperative that you include a cover letter with your resume. A cover letter could give you that edge over the next person by explaining why you’re the perfect match for the position. Add to your education and experiences by exploiting certain keywords from the job ad, as suggested in the instructor blog. Give them details and actively tell them how you can and will contribute to the company. It is also very important that both of these documents are tailored to the specific company. Why would anyone keep interest if they don’t think you have an interest in just them.
I also learned how not to write a cover letter from the article “Kairos and the Cover Letter.” These strategies will almost always result in failure, as well as a lot of wasted time for the jobseeker. I have learned that an active, personable cover letter written in a conversational tone will be the best approach for most positions. I don’t know if I completely agree with the conversational tone, though. It seems that some people may take this too far and the reader may find the cover letter to lack seriousness.
Now that I have learned the significance of a cover letter, I will make sure that I have one available for every situation in hopes that it gives me an extra push towards that position. These readings have made writing a cover letter much easier and hopefully they will allow me to write one successfully.
cover letters, ehhh
I was in the same boat as you when it came to cover letters before this weeks readings. On top of this, I also had little motivation to write any in the past, but this has changed after reading about the changing job market. As you mentioned, employers have more much more room to be more picky than in years past, you this makes it more important to put that extra effort out there and really stand out from the crowd. The techniques and perspectives offered in this week’s readings provide really the solid direction that one needs for doing just this.
standout
I totally agree with you too about the cover letters. I was dreading doing this assignment but I also feel that this is probably one of the good ways right now that you can make yourself standout. Some people will avoid or delay applying for a job that requires a cover letter and I think it just shows that you are willing to take extra steps. It can surely help you to show that you aren’t lazy are willing to do what it takes.
-Chris
I agree
That's right! And if you write the cover letter in advance you immediately gain advantage over the people who are dreading to do it in the last moment. A very carefully thought out and well tailored cover letter can really make you stand out. Of course, this is good advice only if the employer ends up reading your cover letter, but since you can never be sure in advance, if time allows you should write it.
Tone
I think that the conversational tone is a very important part of the cover letter. It helps to show the recruiter your personality and if you would be a good fit for their company. I could see how some people could take it too far, but I think that there has to be a decent balance between being conversational and formal. I think it also depends on the company you are applying to. If you know the company takes everything seriously then you should probably make your letter more formal than conversational. I think knowing the right form to use come with time and experience.
first cover letter
I have never wanted to write a cover letter before this project either. Although after the readings and given the current job market, I agree with you that they now seem more important then I gave them credit for. I also think that the "Kairos and the Cover Letter" reading gave many strategies on how to not make a good cover letter. I do think though the point about using a conversational tone is a good strategy and if done right can help make your cover letter stand out even more among all the other cover letters and resumes that have been submitted to an employer.
Patrick Griffin
pgriffin@purdue.edu
Probably Should Start Paying Attention to Them....
I not the biggest fan of them either. I have never heard of a cover letter helping an individual’s chances for a job nor have I ever seen one that makes a good enough impression as the resume. However, you make a good point: because of the economic situation our generation is dealing with, we cannot afford to ignore any opportunity for a position. I’ve taken a lot from these readings given the nature of my past cover letters because essentially my old cover letters were part of the ignored 40%. It is important for a cover letter to speak for you in addition to your resume so you have an advantage of information over your competition.
Different Impressions
We should probably think of cover letters and resumes working together as complements, rather than as two different approaches to the same problem. Think in terms of what a cover letter allows you do and what a resume allows you do. A resume allows you to quickly convey specific information relevant to the job. A cover letter allows to you to contextualize and elaborate upon the information in your resume. Most importantly, however, it allows you to explicitly connect the work you have done, the skills you possess, the qualities you have to the company you are applying to. A resume cannot hope to accomplish this.
Oh Ya Cover Letters
These are some extremely valid points on the importance and use of a cover letter. I feel that the use of a cover letter is strictly based on the method of application for a position. If one is applying online or through some resume sending service, then the use of a cover letter is most definitely important. If one is applying at a job fair or at any type of face to face application process, a cover letter may not play as an important of a role. Obviously it is somewhat of a gamble though, and it doesn’t hurt to include it, so why not!
www.JFlitt.com
Cover Letter and resume as compliments
I agree with Nathaniel in the fact that resume and cover letters go together well. I think that if a person has been working with a company for a long time and are switching careers, it is important to have a cover letter to help elaborate what that person accomplished that would not be stated in a resume. On the other hand, since most of us have not had much work experience, i feel a cover letter might become a little repetitive with what your resume is suppose to say. Like many others have stated, companies tend to look past the cover letter and focus solely on the resume.
Cover letters?
I am in the same boat. I never really had to deal with resumes and I definitely had no idea about what it took in order to create a proper cover letter. There is a lot more that I need to learn, but just like yourself I had learned a lot about cover letters in the article, "Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes." I that letter they had mentioned the main fact that I had not known. Cover letters can be just as important if not more important than the resume itself.