Why a high impact cover letter is still important
Writing cover letters for senior executive applications is tedious and may seem pointless – but you need one now more than ever, even when you are approached about a new opportunity and here is why.
Your cover letter is “your one opportunity” to stand out – to show off what you bring to the role in a way that you can’t fully describe in your CV or with your LinkedIn profile. Trust us, they matter.
Having reviewed hundreds of senior executive applications over the last few days, those with poorly written or generic cover letters were put to the bottom of our pile, only to be reviewed IF our first cut could not present a viable longlist for our consideration.
Surprisingly, a small number of senior leaders applying for executive roles had not provided a cover letter with their application - even where the application process had clearly stated what we were looking for. Those with no cover letter were instantly rejected, regardless of how experienced or suitable, they may be.
You may ask - Why?
If you can’t take the time to write a role-specific cover letter demonstrating that you have reviewed the advert, position description, candidate pack, and all relevant company information, why would a recruiter or hiring manager invest the time to take you through a process? Especially when your competition for the position has made that investment in their application - executives who no doubt are as time-poor as you are.
Here are a few reasons why submitting a high impact cover letter as part of your job application remains vital.
A cover letter shows that you have taken the time to research and understand the context, role purpose and organisational setting.
A cover letter provides you with an opportunity to explain your career trajectory and the decisions you have made, including any employment gaps in your CV.
Your cover letter may come into play further in the evaluation process – and could be seen by multiple decision-makers along the way.
By writing a detailed cover letter, you are signalling your intention, showing the hiring manager that you are serious about landing the role.
And when it comes to your cover letter, here are some useful tips to consider:
Avoid simply copying your resume into letter format. Copying your resume is one of the worst things you can do in your cover letter.
Often, a job advert will ask that you provide specific information within the cover letter. Failing to provide this information can be a red flag, as it shows that you either didn’t read the posting carefully, can’t follow instructions or are not able to provide what the employer requires.
You should be creating separate cover letters for each job you apply to, weaving in keywords from the job posting throughout.
Your cover letter is your platform to share why you’re a great prospective candidate — but you need some specific examples to back these claims up.
Recycling an old cover letter is one way to signal to the hiring manager that you are applying for multiple roles.
Spelling mistakes or typos, make sure you proofread your cover letter carefully — then read it again and again.
Beyond the value of the well written and role-specific cover letter, here are some additional tips which may help you in your job search process.
Not all roles are advertised. In fact, only 50 per cent of the clients we represent will see us take a role to market using social media or job boards. We rarely, if ever recommend print advertising to our partners - the return on investment is negligible. The ‘hidden’ job market for executive positions is a significant opportunity for you to tap into.
Invest in relationships. It really does pay to form direct and personalised relationships with recruiters. Our team strong encourage this, and more often than not we can provide ‘real-time’ market feedback which could lead to your next role.
Equally, if there is a role you are interested in, and yet you don’t have a relationship with a firm representing the role, call them. Get on the front foot, introduce who you are and why you are the ideal candidate. It will help you in being noticed and to stand out from the crowd. Of course, if you are not the right fit for the role, work with the recruiter to understand what else they may be able to assist you with.
Lastly, interact and be active on LinkedIn. Ensure your profile is accurate, up to date and represents the direction you are headed.
Remember, a well-constructed cover letter is your opportunity to convince a prospective employer that you’re the right person for the role. It’s too good an opportunity to let it go to waste.