Cover Letter Basics

Cover Letters vs. Resumes:  
Your resume is a general outline of your skills and experience relevant to the general occupation; your cover letter tailors those to the specific qualifications and qualities requested by a specific employer.

The Letter Shows:

a)  How your qualifications (experience, skills, train-ability) can help the organization meet its needs.

b)  How you differ from other applicants; how you bring something more.

c)  That you have some knowledge of the organization and are submitting your application selectively; you hope to work for this specific organization.

Criteria Match: The Cover Letter Process:

● Job descriptions describe the specific criteria necessary to win the job.

"All applicants must have done X, Y and Z."

● Cover letters describe in specific detail how your experience and education meet those criteria.

"For three years I did X for Bob. I was in charge of X-ing 100,000 Y's for Bob once a week."

"While working for Betty, I handled all the Z's and processed her Y's...."

● Most job descriptions list three types of criteria:

a) Education and certification (minimum requirements)

b) Experience

c) Attitude and Approach (team player, ability to meet deadlines, competitive, co-operative and collaborative, ability to work in groups, adaptability, butt-kisser, willingness to be publicly degraded by superiors. . . etc.)

● Your letter should show EVIDENCE of all three.

Bad Letters vs. Good Letters:

● Bad Letters make claims but don't offer concrete, verifiable evidence.

"I'm a highly competitive person but work well in groups."

● Bad Letters are vague and self-oriented.

"I'm a highly competitive person but work well in groups."

● Good letters use developed specifics and You Attitude.

"Four years playing college football trained me how to balance competition and co-operation. I've learned how to achieve my personal best even when I didn't want to, compensate when others didn't play at their peak, and balance my personal needs with those of the team. I can run with the ball when the field is clear and pass it off when it's blocked. I am ready to bring these skills to The Girl Scouts so that I can help girls reach their personal best in a team setting. ..."

As A Set of General Rules All Cover Letters Should:

● Be addressed to a specific person, or at least a specific job title or committee

● Indicate the specific position you are applying for, in the language/terms the employer used

● Be specific about your qualifications, using specific names, dates, places, skills

● Show what separates you from other applicants

● Show knowledge of the organization and the position

● Refer to your resume a couple times (enclosed with the letter) for more detail

● Use you attitude and positive emphasis to make the company want to meet you and clarify that you will work for them (they are hiring you to achieve their own goals, not to help you achieve yours)

● Ask for an interview, and specify when you are available for it.