Cover letters are something many job seekers dread writing. They’re not sure what to say or even whether a hiring manager will actually read it. But keep this in mind: if you send a cover letter, you have a 50/50 chance of the person reading it; if you don’t send a cover letter, you have a 100% chance that it won’t be read. A cover letter can be a wonderful opportunity to attract a hiring manager’s interest and provide a little more information about yourself and why you’re a great fit for the role.
Once you’ve crafted your cover letter, here are a few considerations to make it more impactful:
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- Paste it into an email: If you’re emailing your resume to someone directly, use your cover letter as the content of the email, not as a separate attachment. This makes it more likely they will read it because it pops up as soon as they open the email. No extra clicking or downloading of attachments necessary. Don’t forget to attach your resume, however. You don’t want to just paste that into the email.
- Add it as an attachment: When you’re applying online, there is often a section to upload documents such as your resume and cover letter. Always include a cover letter unless the job opening expressly says not to, or you can only include one attachment. If it says a cover letter is optional, it’s still a good idea to write one just in case a hiring manager does choose to read it.
- Combine your resume and cover letter: If you can only attach one document or don’t see a place for a cover letter, you can always save your cover letter and resume together as one file. This ensures that everything is together in one place. Make sure your cover letter is no more than one page and is the first page of the document.
Don’t forget to tailor your cover letter to the role as much as possible as well. Try to find a specific person to whom you should address it, and touch on the most important points of the job opening and how your experience aligns with them. Remember that your cover letter should complement your resume, not regurgitate it. Be selective about what you include and what you really want to stand out to a potential employer in order for them to want to learn more about you through your resume.
