so, you’ve been at this since kindergarten
One of the biggest crimes you can commit when you write a cover letter is to tell your life story. Your five paragraph story documenting how design has been a part of you since your first fingerpainting is completely relevant to why you are qualified for the job that I posted. Forget your portfolio, you’ve been rocking design since Pre-K, you’re hired!
Seriously though, cover letters really shouldn’t be anything more than a short, concise statement as to why you are qualified for the job you are applying for. Also, it’s not always all about you, it’s about how you will fit into the company. Laying it on thick is never attractive, and kind of makes you look, how shall I say it - desperate. It’s also one of the biggest resume cliches out there, and you know something, it doesn’t set you apart. As a matter of fact, every single cover letter I’ve ever received that utilizes this method looks exactly the same.
So, how do you write your cover letter?
Start your story in the present. Who you are and what you do. This is how any good story begins.
Why are you contacting me? If you were referred by someone, I want to know. Same goes if it’s an ad I posted, a tweet, or anything else. Also, let me know what job you are applying for.
What makes you a good fit? Don’t lay it on thick. Look at the job description for clues and skills that match your experience. If you are a Project Manager and the job wants someone who is hands-on and is client-facing, know that it’s important to them and you need to let them know.
Add a personal touch, but don’t overdo it. The way to be personal is to NOT sound like a canned cover letter that you send out to anybody. Refer to the company by doing your homework. If there’s something specific about their culture that attracts you, mention it. Just don’t lay anything on too thick.
Lastly, and the most important rule is:
BE CONCISE! Seriously, recruiters literally get hundreds of resumes and cover letters every day. Writing long winded cover letters quite honestly, gets ignored. If you keep it short, sweet, and to the point, that’s the way to go. But remember, your work experience and portfolio are going to speak for themselves. If you have a great background and good work to show for it, that’s really what matters the most.
