Picture this, you just finished browsing the classifieds, found your dream job being advertised, get all amped up because you know you're a good fit, and just when your about to burst at the seams your eyes pick up the dreaded buzz-kill sentence…"Potential Applicants Must Provide a Cover Letter with their resume…".
Many believe a highly polished resume is what opens the doors to a new job. If that's the case, then the cover letter is what unlocks that door! More to the point, an amazing cover letter is what kicks the door down and gets the phone ringing with interview requests!
The sad truth is a lot of folks actually forego applying to a position if the company requires a cover letter
{This is often due to fear, and in some cases just plain laziness.|Secretly fear keeps them from doing it because they don't know hot to write an effective letter, tough sometimes they're just plain old lazy|Often this is caused by fear. The fear of not really knowing how to make an amazing cover letter and thinking the company will view them as an amateur, in some case it's just plain laziness.
Nowadays top companies use this tactic to eliminate unwanted candidates from the prospect pool. Their reasoning is quite simple, if you won't follow this one simple direction as a prospect, what makes us think you will follow directions as a full time employee?
Are you ready for another 'Eye-Opener'?Businesses use the cover letter as a sort of barometer to see how you are as a person. If all you do is toot your own horn, scream me, me, me and essentially preach how great you are, then guess what? You have just been relegated to the recycling bin.
Imagine you are at a social gathering and you end up meeting to people for the first time. The first one goes into great detail how accomplished they are, how they are the fruit of the vine and blah, blah, blah….echt!
Now, the second person you meet actually takes the time to get to know you, listens to what you have to say, and takes an genuine interest in you. Who will you follow up with to have coffee? Most likely the second person...
A truly amazing cover letter is much like the second person. It acknowledges the companies needs and how your particular skill set can benefit them. An amazing cover letter will answer the question of "whats in it for me?" from the employers position, and at the end of the day that is their main concern. Finding the prospect that can bring the most to the table…so now go out there and be that person!
