Great Technology Cover Letters - Workology

Great Technology Cover Letters Is the Cover Letter Dead? So many technical people ask me about the importance of the cover letter in todays job market. The concern is that no one out there actually reads them. In fact, as many companies have gone to the online resume submission process 100%, they often dont allow candidates to include a cover letter. Is the Cover Letter Dead? The cover letter is definitely not dead! Like everything in life, it goes through cycles. We recently completed a cycle in which the cover letter has been downplayed some, but not totally left behind. Were starting to see that cycle come around to the point where the cover letter is becoming more relevant to a wider audience again. Why? Its simple. The cover letter provides insight into the individual that they often cant get from a resume. So Who Reads the Cover Letter? Statistics indicate that about 33% dont read the cover letter. That leaves 2/3 that do at some point, although some say that they only read the letter if they liked the resume while others only read the resume if they liked the cover letter. When preparing your documentation for an opening, you have no idea where your audience will fall on this topic, so having a strong cover letter is important. What Should a Cover Letter Say? Again, it isnt enough just to throw together a cover letter. Its got to say something. That something should be relevant and communicated quickly. If you spend the whole first paragraph on garbage information that I call fluff, then theyre not going to get past that before throwing it down in disgust. Instead, think about your audience and what they are looking for in hiring for your position. How can you present yourself as someone who is a problem solver in that area of specialty? Thats your lead-in. Then you can highlight a few examples from your work history that prove your claims. If you need to add some other information about your education, qualifications, etc. do so after that. But the essential message is that you want to get to the point right away and stay on point throughout the letter. How do you avoid fluff cover letters and do you still use one?