How to Introduce Yourself to 1000 People without Meeting Anyone at All
The Full Time Job to Find a Full Time Job
Job hunting is a full-time job. Once you’ve cleaned up the ole resume and dusted off your best interview attire it’s time to start applying. Unfortunately, in the new digital age, no one goes job hunting door to door anymore. The time has long passed when you introduced yourself, shook hands, and passed off your CV. The way employers sift through candidates is much less personal now than it ever was in days long past, but all hope is not lost. With every application, you’ll have the chance to wow potential bosses with your qualifications, personality, and excitement for the job. The vehicle through which you’ll express these important aspects is the cover letter. While occasionally optional during the job search, it should always be mandatory in your mind. Here are some ways to make your cover letter truly express who you are as a person and as a potential employee.
Keep It Simple
First, introduce yourself as a person. Who are you and why would you be a good fit for the position? Angle your skills and experience to be most beneficial to them as a company. It’s not what they can do for you, it’s definitely what you can for them. The typical hiring manager looks at hundreds of cover letters each week. Keeping your letter simple, straight forward, and to the point in as concise a manner as possible will give you a better chance of your letter being read. It isn’t necessary to be overly long winded or to try and knock them out with your use of big words.
Watch your language.
Words are important and the use of those words can mean everything. Use active voice when writing the letter. You did these actions, you accomplished those goals, etc. Refrain from using negative language, keeping things positive will allow the person reading it to finish your cover letter with strong connection to you. Negativity pushes people away.
Homework is Key, Remember to Turn It In
For your cover letter to be noticed, remember to do your homework on the company. By understanding what they do, who their customers are, and where they are looking to go, you can get a better idea of how best your skills and experience fit within their framework. Good research can also reveal how your values align with the company and give you an opportunity to stress those similarities during this initial introduction. Also, know who is receiving the cover letter or to whom it should be addressed. A little extra digging can reveal who the decision maker for hiring is. By addressing the letter to them directly, you personalize the experience and have the potential to connect with them.
Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, It’s Not Just For English Class
The key foundations that your English teacher from 10th grade couldn’t stop talking about could be the do or die. Even if you’ve done the homework, kept it positive, been concise, and addressed it to the right person; a major spelling error or giant run on sentence could be the end of things. The letter should be formatted correctly (block formatting if you aren’t familiar) and free from mistakes. Proofread the letter before it goes anywhere, then proofread it again.
