#069: Cover Letters Aren’t About You

Career Growth Made Easy

Cover Letters Aren’t About You
Are you avoiding job postings that require a cover letter? If so, this episode is for you.

Maybe you already have a cover letter, but it's not getting great results. Building one is more of an art than a science. If you can't tell a great story and entice the viewer to read on, you could be sunk.

Your cover letter's job is to separate you from the competition. Your resume's job is to get you the interview. Using a generic or canned resume and cover letter will likely get you very limited responses. In fact, doing so with large corporations can even hurt you. If you're not targeting each job posting you apply for, the hiring company will quickly see your lack of effort and move on.

Tune in to find out how to change your resume and cover letter today.

Chapters
[01:08]
What if that job posting you're so interested in requires a cover letter?
[01:47]
The first references to cover letters appeared in newspapers back in the early to mid 1900's.
[02:23]
How is your cover letter written? Is it written to brag on you? You need to remember the purpose of a cover letter!
[03:11]
If you automatically include your cover letter with every resume submission I urge you to think twice.
[04:49]
Cover letters aren't about you! They're about the story you tell, the value you can provide to a future employer.
[05:14]
Minimize your use of "I" statements.
[05:40]
Cover letters have a unique sequence to entice the reader to read on.
[06:33]
Seriously consider the content you put in your cover letter, it's got to tell a great story! A recent Resume Master Class student asked, "What's wrong with my cover letter?"
[08:55]
Avoid using generic resumes and cover letters. This can hurt your chances - find out how.
[09:48]
Make sure you have strong framing, a good storyline, and generous white space.
[11:10]
We're celebrating the release of Craig Ancel's Cover Letter Master Class!
[12:30]
Your cover letter's first paragraph is critical. If you don't hook them from the beginning how likely are they to read on?
[14:32]
There's a special combo deal waiting for you. If you need to create or update your resume then check out our Resume Master Class.
Mentioned Links
Craig Ancel's All-New Cover Letter Master Class
Craig Ancel's Resume Master Class