CVs and Interviews

Cover Letters – Creativity for results

A question was asked recently on Linkedin about whether you should send out naked CVs (send CVs without cover letters). Below is part of my response. By the way – If you are sending application after application with no response perhaps you should try a creative approach like the below example. Put it like this – if you are not getting positive results you have nothing to lose

QUESTION

You don’t send out naked resumes without cover letters do you?

MY REPLY

Yes you do send out naked CVs without a cover letter if I am the decision-maker. Writing a cover letter would be wasting your time as I never read them. Stopped reading cover letters years back as I was sick of reading the same old stuff.
Now if you were a creative job hunter and tried this approach then I would read your cover letter……

1. Write out your cover letter.
2. Crumple the page into a ball.
3. Open it back up, fold it and place it in the envelope with your CV.
4. Post and wait.
5. Reader receives the envelope and opens it while drinking a coffee
6. Crumpled page – what is going on here?
7. Reader is intrigued and opens the cover letter and begins to read.
8. Dear Paul, I took the liberty to crumple up this page to save you time when throwing it into the bin.
9. Reader laughs out loud before picking up the phone to set up an interview.

How do I get the most out of my cover letter?

Although I rarely read them many employers do. With this in mind an expertly crafted cover letter can enhance your job hunting efforts. An important point to remember is your distribution strategy as most applications are sent by email nowadays. Below are a couple of points to ensure that your cover letter gets read and delivers the punch intended.

1. Only include a short message on your email and do not put your entire cover letter. It will not be read. Use a message that is at most a couple of lines and something snappy.

2. Put your cover letter and CV in the same file. When the receiver opens the file/document, they will have both and be able to print both easily. It is possible that the receiver will open two separate documents and will probably gravitate towards the CV meaning the cover letter may not be read.

3. Focus the cover letter to respond to the requirements in the advert, this will lead them to your CV, which is the purpose. Don’t try to make your cover letter a mini-CV.

4. Differentiate and personalise the cover letter. Use the cover letter to comment on something you found out about the company in your research, especially if it is something that you have in common.

5. Put energy into your letter. Starting your letter “I am responding to your ad. . .” is boring. Starting it with “I was excited to read your advert for . . .” could work.

Hope these help

CV Writing Service Ireland

OK – I highly recommend that jobseekers invest in a professional CV. Your CV has 30 seconds to make an impact and maybe even less in a competitive market. If you want to successfully generate interviews your CV has to make an impact. I also realise that not everyone can afford professional help and this site provides loads of free advice with CV Tips & Interview Tips.

I would be interested to get the views of our readers. The site is still young but there is about 80-100 readers per day. I would like your views - How do you find the site? How do you find the information? Has it helped you and your job hunting? Please feel free to leave a comment and we will post all comments both positive and negative.

More CV Writing Tips & Help, Cover Letter Tips and Interview Skills, Tips & Techniques

Preparing a cover letter

I believe formal cover letters are becoming like the dinosaurs. There is less emphasis on them for a number of reasons. Firstly change in technology means that most applications are online application or emailed applications. Therefore cover letters are now in the form of a few lines to support the CV. The other reason is that most cover letters resembled solicitor letters rather than sales pitch documents. Most jobseekers used standard letters and language regurgitation their CV.

Cover letter for impact

Having said all of this I still deal with employer who put emphasis on cover letters. It is important to use them properly. I rarely read a cover letter because of the second point above. I find them all the same and very boring to read. I normally go straight for the CV but I guess that is because I have review millions of the applications over the years.

A cover letter is an opportunity to get your personality across and to provide information not appropriate for the CV. You can get as risky as you need but this will depend on you and your circumstances. For example if you have sent off many applications without any response you might try a riskier or creative strategy. I heard of one jobseeker that crumpled up his cover letter before he put it in the envelope. His opening line on the cover letter was “I took the liberty to crumple up this cover letter to save you time before you threw in the bin”. I like it!!

Cover Letter Template

Below is an idea about what you should include in the body of the cover letter. Please not that I am not providing information on the layout, salutation etc. You will see that the middle paragraph is your license to get creative.

Cover Letter – Opening Paragraph
You should state the reason for writing the letter (try and catch the eye)
You should state the position / type of work you are applying for.
You can mention how you heard of the position or company.
Mention the enclosed CV

Cover Letter – Middle Paragraph
This is your opportunity to sell yourself.
Your CV has the detail so just point out key skills and unique selling points.
Explain why you want to work there (try to mention something relevant about the organisation – i.e. recent market performance, new product or its recent expansion).

Cover Letter – Closing Paragraph
Indicate your availability for interview with times when you can be contacted.
State when you will follow up.
Thank the reader for the time and consideration given to your application.

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