The cover letter ends like many
others: “I am confident that my background, skills and abilities make me the
perfect match for this position and your organization.” It is not that this
statement is necessarily wrong, or that projecting confidence in an application
and interview is not important. The problem, in so many cases, is that the
applicant has either not fully understood the nature of the job they are
applying for when making this statement, or has not documented in his or her
resume and application materials how, specifically, he or she is uniquely
suited for the position. An assertion without evidence falls flat.
In the course of my job, I have
served on many hiring committees, and have learned more about applying for jobs
through the lens of a hiring officer, than I ever did through application
processes. Today, I will share some of the most common issues I see to help you
in your own job search. Most of the issues are easily corrected with some
effort and attention to detail, and will help you to find a position that is
the right match.
The first step to a successful
application is to step into the shoes of a hiring official. Competitive
organizations must find employees who have unique talents that complement the
skills of the existing workforce, believe in the mission of the organization
and, and are committed to its success. Failure to match candidates on these
three levels wastes time and money for both the organization and the employee.
As you prepare your application, think about how the position creates a
positive synergy between your goals and those of the organization, and then
take the time to make this explicit. The first place to do this is in the cover
letter.
Hiring officials are taking time
out of very busy days to review the materials you submit, and you have a very
short amount of time to convince the official that your application deserves
more thorough consideration. There is no easier place to do this than in the
cover letter. The cover letter should be professionally formatted, with
attention to spelling and grammar. As basic as this seems, many cover letters
lack this attention to detail, and hiring officials do notice this as a symptom
of the level of professionalism they can expect when you are hired into the
position.
In terms of content, make the
letter is relevant to the position, showcase your strengths, and project your
enthusiasm for the position and the company. Be sincere! Officials can tell if
your enthusiasm is more about having a job than having the job that is posted,
and will favor individuals that seem like they will be committed to the
organization. This takes more time and effort than submission of a generic
cover letter, but the effort is worth it if the position is important to you. In
today’s job climate, hiring officials have multiple qualified candidates to
choose from. Anything that gives you an edge is worth doing.
Over the years, I have seen letters
that focus on experience that is irrelevant to the posted position, are
addressed to the wrong hiring official or department, or state ambitions that
will not be satisfied with the posted position. For example, a cover letter or
resume that has a stated objective of obtaining a position in marketing is not
attractive to the official looking for a candidate to fill a technical support
job. Hiring officials are giving you their time when they review your
application. Make them want to learn more about you by showing that you
understand that, appreciate it, and have taken the time to research and respond
to their needs.
In the process, do not forget the
job search process is one of mutual evaluation. While companies are evaluating
you for how your involvement may benefit them, you should also be making the
same evaluation. How would this job, or involvement with this organization, fit
into your long-term strategic plan? Does the position leverage your competitive
advantages? Provide for the kind of lifestyle flexibility you are looking for?
Offer you an opportunity for aspirational growth? Taking the time to define
these for yourself will help you define which opportunities are important to
you and clarify to prospective employers how you are a fit for the position and
the organization.
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