A Letter from a Baffled Hiring Manager-Part 1 - CareerEnlightenment.com

The Cover LetterYou’ve got about 60 seconds â€" Go!:Use the two or three paragraphs, the 60 seconds you have to:a) let me know you read the job description,b) understand the duties and responsibilities,c) know about the Company’s mission, andd) convey a keen sense that you know what it takes to succeed.Isn’t getting the job your first assignment for the Company? Show me that you are serious and that you can successfully complete the task.Please do not regurgitate the job posting in your cover letter. I wrote it so I know what it says. A specific detail or very specific, short example of your past success that will directly apply to your future success with the Company will pique my interest and encourage me to read more about you.Stock sentences, clichés, or worse, generic cover letters can prevent your resume from even being looked at by a hiring manager. This applies to entry-level positions as well as for senior management slots.If you plucked content from a “How to Write Cover Letters” tutorial, at best, it says you know how to copy and paste. At worst, it’s plagiarism.   Recruiters and hiring managers are reading more applications than ever and can spot lack of originality and genuineness in seconds.We really are looking for reasons to choose you in order to reach our goal. Don’t give us any reason to dismiss your application at the first pass.Next time well talk about Crossing into New Fields, Fit, and a simple mind shift that I expect to see in my winning candidates. Stay tuned and please comment below.