Do hiring managers read cover letters? Sometimes.
The big problem is that you never know when the cover letter (which you spent so much time customizing) is going to see daylight. The hard truth is that sometimes your letter won’t be read. Then again, your cover might be the first thing that the hiring manager does read. You just never know.
My advice is to hedge your bets and send in a cover letter. Every time. No arguments and no whining! Below are a few trade secrets that I use to set apart my clients from the rest of the pack.
Do your research and address the letter directly to the hiring manager. Sometimes it isn’t easy to uncover the name, but try anyway. You might have to do some serious research on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google, or even have to call the company. If that fails, then try to find who heads the department you are applying for and address the letter to them.
Transfer language from the job posting. The more words you share in common with the job ad, the higher you will be ranked by the automated software reading your resume. It shows that you have skills and experiences in common with the company and will help you stand out as a candidate that really “gets” the company’s culture.
Be creative with the first sentence. How many resumes does the hiring manager see that start out with “I am writing in response to the account manager position I saw advertised on LinkedIn”? Boring. When I was hiring for my department, that line caused me to immediately put the resume aside and pick up the next one. Instead, be creative and don’t be afraid to say something that grabs attention.
Conclude with a call-to-action. This is probably the most important part of writing a cover letter (assuming that you have won the hiring manager’s attention enough for them to get all the way to bottom). Be specific in how you will follow up and then don’t drop the ball! Keep your word and show that you have follow through.
I love to hear creative opening lines, so if you have a good one please post it below.
Thank you for this great information I will put it to good use.
Che
Thanks, Che! Let me know if you’d like me to take a look at your resume. Feel free to upload it through this website or email me at krista@virtuosoresumes.com
Example of a cover letter I submitted: Working in a medical facility has always sparked my interest. I enjoy helping others, so when I saw your advertisement for a Telecommunications Attendant I became very excited for the opportunity to work with the (Name of Hospital) Regional Office. – Unfortunately it didn’t result in a response!
Dollie – Thanks for commenting! I love real world examples. The most important part to remember about cover letters (and resumes in general) is that the employer wants to know what you will do FOR them. They don’t necessarily care about what your interests are, harsh I know, but very true.
I suggest opening with something that will grab their attention like how much you saved your last telecommunications department – or how you improved the network. You need to show your value right up front.
Hope that helps!