Developing Your Key Messages: A CEO’s Perspective on Cover Letters

Career Management, Interview, Job Search

Key Cover Letter MessagesChances are you’ve spent hours upon hours refining your resume—and with good reason. There’s no doubt that your resume is oh, so important.

But we’re not going to talk about your resume. Instead, we’re going to talk about an often rushed, but just as crucial, element of the job application process: your cover letter.

Your cover letter is an opportunity to create a clear, compelling narrative of the value you’ll bring to a future employer. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Yet so often, this opportunity goes completely missed.

To tackle your cover letter, I recommend selecting a few key messages that describe your best qualities and then honing in on them using examples, past experiences and numeric proof.

As a CEO myself, here are some of my favorites:

 

You Are a Pied Piper

Showing initiative is the first thing I look for in a new hire. Even if you’re interviewing for an entry-level position, let me know you have the ability to move beyond that role.

For college students: Include experiences in which you led a project or a team. For example, in your strategic management class, you headed up a team that won the class prize for most innovative approach.

For those currently working: Outline an experience in which you were placed in charge, either through the company’s selection or your own initiative, and the results that came of it.

 

You Get Stuff Done

Simply saying “results-oriented” is boring. Instead, make sure you have examples that quantify your accomplishments. Remember, we CEOs like numbers, data and proof.

Statement that’s too vague: “Demonstrated results-oriented approach through fundraising for local nonprofit.”

Statement that gets interest: “Raised more than $5,000 for an American Horse Fund in two months, one month ahead of schedule.”

 

You Work Your Butt Off

Don’t just tell me about your strong work ethic—show me! Provide examples of projects with tight deadlines or times you’ve worked someone else’s shift on a regular basis.

However, don’t confuse this with promoting an unhealthy work-life balance or being a martyr. Most employers are not looking for workaholics. We’re looking for people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Example: A coworker left the company on very short notice, and you volunteered to take on his responsibilities until a replacement was found.  For one month, you worked 12-hour days and a few weekends to get it all done, but it allowed your boss to see you could take on more challenges. Those extra efforts resulted in a promotion!

 

You Play Well with Others

You’re a team player. You don’t always have to be the leader. You can be part of a team that produces great results.

In cases where you were the leader, be humble about your role. The more you move up in an organization, the more you will realize that you can’t do it all by yourself.

Example: While working on a demanding deadline, you kept a team motivated with innovative rewards and recognition. When the deliverable exceeded expectations (and no one quit during the process), you organized a trip to an amusement park to recognize the exceptional contributions of the team.

 

While We’re on the Topic, a Few More Tips to Boost Your Cover Letter:

  • Make every effort to include your recipient’s name and title. “To Whom It May Concern” letters generally don’t make the cut. If that information isn’t readily available, try searching the company’s website or calling the front desk or a specific department and asking who you should direct your materials to.
  • Reference a specific job opening when you can. Specify where you saw that job (on Monster, on their website, etc.) and the exact title.

  • Briefly explain how you are qualified. Relevant job experience is best, but if you don’t have that experience, outline and demonstrate the skills that show you are capable of doing the job.

  • Do NOT use a form letter. Sending a generic cover letter appears lazy or disinterested—and no one is looking to hire someone with those qualities.

  • Sell yourself! What makes you awesome? What would you do better than any other applicant? You’re enthusiastic to add value to their business—make sure they know it.

  • Indicate that you will follow up with an email and a phone call. I’m amazed by how many people will send a blind resume and never follow up.

Remember, your cover letter is one of your key opportunities to control the narrative and craft a story about why a potential employer should be interested in you. Make the most of it!

 

Image: Flickr

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