The woman is sitting at a desk and writes the cover letter on PC monitor in front of her
The new year is here, and the race for top jobs is already heating up. According to a recent survey, Monday, January 13, was the most popular day of the year to submit resumes nationwide. But don’t stop there— a strong resume is only half the battle in today’s job market. The often-dreaded cover letter is your secret weapon for standing out. Despite its importance, only 38% of candidates submit one for a job posting when required. The truth? A generic, formulaic cover letter might as well not be submitted at all. A killer cover letter isn’t just a formality; it’s your chance to grab attention, prove you’re the perfect fit, and leave a lasting impression. Tailoring it to every job posting takes effort, but the payoff is worth it. In a competitive job market, the candidates who rise to the top are those who go the extra mile. By following these strategies, you’ll turn a daunting task into an advantage— and leave the competition behind.
Make it extremely personal to the company, role, and your background.
No one understands your qualifications and fit for the role better than you. Do you have a transformational story from your life that has to do with the company’s mission? Tell it here. Did you have an epiphany about one of your superpowers, and is it consistent with the job description? Describe that upfront. It will also benefit you to research, research, research: explore the company website, read press releases, study their mission statement, and review social media platforms. Go deeper— listen to interviews with leadership, read news coverage, and consider reaching out to current and former employees. Don’t forget to review the job description more than once, underlining repeated phrases, desired skills, and core values. Use these insights to craft an application that reflects your expertise and genuine interest. Don’t overlook the small but critical details, like addressing the right company or triple-checking for spelling and grammatical errors. A well-researched, thoughtfully written cover letter shows hiring managers you’ve done your homework— and positions you as the candidate for the role.
Don’t just copy and paste keywords from the job description.
It might fool applicant tracking systems, but it won’t impress a hiring manager. A copy-paste cover letter feels lazy, generic, and inauthentic. Instead of wasting valuable space regurg