In today’s knowledge based economy, the majority of work is mental. Knowledge-workers are mind-workers, who render or volunteer their knowledge and skills to help businesses and organizations meet objectives and goals. According to Peter F. Drucker’s "Managing Oneself," effective knowledge-workers demonstrate their value because they understand how to use their abilities to contribute to any organization. Similarly, applicants, especially those with significant experience, will have an edge if their cover letters state specific contributions they will make to a company or an organization.
Job Search Strategies Should Center on Establishing Credibility
Since the cover letter is a type of advertisement, employers don’t have time to waste. They need to quickly identify what “value” applicants can offer them. In business, as Michael E. Hattersley suggests, “Writing the Perfect Cover Letter,” essentially means “every single piece of communication matters.” In other words, communication is the lifeblood of any company or organization. Therefore, preparing an effective cover letter is crucial because it aims at grabbing the attention of prospective employers.
Managing the job search is serious business for earnest applicants. Therefore, they must do their due diligence each step of the way. In particular, they must show care and effort to craft their resumes and cover letters effectively in order to establish credibility in the eyes of prospective employers. As pointed out in the article “Resumes are Applicants’ Personal Advertisements,” cover letters, like resumes, should serve as a crucial hook.
The Purpose of Cover Letters for Resumes is to Hook Employers
Hooking and reeling in prospective employers is the ultimate goal. Cover letters that hook the receiver help establish credibility. To treat the preparation of the cover letter as a mere superficial introduction is to make a serious blunder. Cover letters that only mirror the resume convey nothing of unique value because they insignificantly capture attention or interest.
Similar to shoppers who want value for each dollar they spend, prospective employers expect value for the salaries they will pay to prospective employees. However, if employers do not know up front what value they can expect from prospective employees, they will have little interest in granting interviews. Thus, the best way to illustrate value is to tell prospective employers what specific, beneficial contributions they can expect.
Applicants’ Cover Letters Should State Performance Contributions
Applicants who write effective cover letters will set the stage for drawing prospective employers’ interest. By stating clear and precise contributions to the company in their cover letters, applicants will establish credibility as well as interest from prospective employers. Without work contribution statements, the cover letter will lack force and read flat and boring. Repeating information reserved for the resume will rob the cover letter of its true force: building credibility.
The injunction here is very simple: stay clear of writing cover letters that mirror the resume and convey nothing unique. If applicants are serious about securing employment, they must take the time to carefully think about what performance contribution they will make to a company or organization. This, in turn, shows that applicants are thinking about the interests and needs of the prospective employer, which will increase their chances of getting interviews.
Writing Effective Cover Letters Enhance Applicants’ Credibility
Similar to the resume, the cover letter should be crafted to establish credibility and persuade the receiver. Michael E. Hattersley makes this point clear as he explains: “It’s crucial that your writing makes a strong case to the prospective employer for taking the next step with your application.” Therefore, what goes into the cover letter is very important. There are six ingredients that will make it effective.
The first is that the cover letter should target a specific position. Second, if possible, it should be sent to a specific person, who is usually the person doing the hiring. Third, applicants must make their case about what they will specifically contribute to the prospective employer. Fourth, the cover letter contents must be true and free of exaggerations with regard to past work. Fifth, the letter must be no longer than a page in length except in special circumstances. And sixth, the letter must have concise, forceful, active language. Without these ingredients, the cover letter will lose its true force and cause prospective applicants to lose credibility in the eyes of the prospective employer. The loss of credibility weakens the chances of achieving the goal – the interview.
Sources:
Drucker F., Peter. "Managing Oneself." Boston: Harvard Business Press, 2008.
Hattersley E., Michael. "Writing the Perfect Cover Letter." Harvard Management Communication Letter.
Anthony Lett - Anthony Lett is an educator, researcher and writer. He started writing during college in the 1990s and completed numerous unpublished ...
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