How to Land a Job in Four Paragraphs

In the world of digital job applications, cover letters are often a highly contested and confusing subject. Many people wonder if writing them are a waste of time, if employers even read them, or if maybe they aren’t needed in the first place.

Today we will explore the when, why, and how of cover letters and how four paragraphs can land help you land your dream job.

WHY WRITE A COVER LETTER?

Before even starting to write a cover letter, let’s consider why you need one in the first place. As we have talked about before, the most important aspect of job searching in the digital world is differentiation. How can you stand out among thousands of qualified applicants in your field?

Resumes and personal brands are great examples of differentiation, but cover letters can often make you even more unique than your competition. In general, the decision to write a cover letter boils down to this:

“86 percent of executives said cover letters are valuable when evaluating job candidates.”

Cover letters are so important! They may seem like a massive waste of time at first, but realize that these short paragraphs are your chance to truly catch the eye of a potential employer.

WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?

The most important thing to recognize when writing a cover letter is what you want the employer to get out of it. This answer will vary depending on your field of expertise, but here are some quick tips to remember.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL COVER LETTER

• Professionally Personal- If you are writing to try and get the job of your dreams, let the hiring manager know that! There is nothing more attractive to potential employers than actual care and genuine excitement! While you should show your passion in the letter, make sure that you maintain a professional mindset as well. Be passionate and personal but remain professional!

• Numerically Strong- As with resumes, cover letters should contain strong quantitative data. What percent did overall revenue grow from your strategies? How many people did you sell a product to? How much did you increase engagement by on social platforms? Letting an employer know exactly how you work is extremely important. Not only will this showcase your expertise, but it will show that you actually accomplish important things in the workplace.

• Well Written- The only time when you should not include a cover letter is if you have not written one properly. Make sure that your cover letter is free of typos by asking friends and family to double check. If you are applying to a dream job, ask colleagues and past mentors to give advice.

• Create Action- At the end of your letter make sure to create action and next steps for the hiring manager or recruiter. Instead of saying the generic “I look forward to talking with you”, say “You can reach me at any time to talk about how we can increase your web traffic by 70 percent” Give the potential employer a real reason to set up an interview with you. Showcase your worth.

FORMAT PROPERLY.

After completing the content side of the cover letter, it is important to realize that formatting is also extremely important. If you have a personal brand (Read our last blog post!), then make sure that your cover letter matches it!

Formatting Tips

• Use a font that will be easy to read, but still matches your personality. Times New Roman is not the only “professional” font out there! Your cover letter can still be personal and professional without looking like a generic form letter!

• Create a header with a combination of your personal branding elements. Use your logo or branding mark combined with contact information to make sure that potential employers remember you.

• Use a single page with one inch margins and keep things simple. You may be tempted to include multiple pages and complicated formatting. The truth is that three to four well written paragraphs will land you the dream job. Keep things simple and focus on why you care and why the employer should too.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED.

Despite all of these tips, sometimes it is not enough. Your cover letter may get ignored. When this happens, it is important not to lose hope and also to save what you wrote. Every time you write a new cover letter, use it as an experience to get better and better.

Go easy on yourself, and keep on writing.

You will get that dream job, You just have to keep going.