Example 1
Weak Strategy:
I served as the COO for XYZ Company.
Stronger strategy:
As COO for XYZ Company, I leveraged my leadership skills to lead, motivate, and manage a cohesive team of 13 senior-level direct reports, who in turn oversaw 1,000 cross-functional employees. I specialized in turning-around challenging operational situations into opportunities for growth.
Notice how the writer positions herself as a turnaround specialist who can catapult organizations to new heights. She positions herself as a candidate who not only manages challenges, but actually transforms them into opportunities for growth. For an employer facing operational challenges, this strategy could have worked wonders.
Example 2
Weak Strategy:
Please consider my application for the role of a programmer. I offer 12 years’ experience in coding.
Stronger Strategy:
I am a solutions-driven programmer who understands business needs. During my 12 years’ experience in programming, I played a critical role in developing solutions that maximized operational efficiencies and saved millions of dollars.
Here the writer positions herself as a solutions-focused programmer who understands and fulfills business needs, develops solutions, improves efficiency, and saves millions.
The positioning strategy should not only compel the hiring manager to look upon you as a “must have” candidate, but should also fulfill the employer’s needs effectively.
Showcase accomplishments
The cover letter must compliment the resume and serve to introduce it. As such, it must convey your strongest accomplishments and translate the potential benefits of hiring you for the role.
Weak Strategy:
I have led numerous projects in my career.
Stronger Strategy:
As project manager for ABC Firm, I led 20 multi-million dollar projects during a three-year period. Each of these projects required me to manage cross-functional teams of 15 employees and budgets in excess of $5 million per project. As a result of my strong project management skills, my employer was able to save at least $200,000 every year. These savings, in addition to impacting the bottom line, resulted in 100% client retention and three repeat projects every year.
Focus on a specific target
It is very tempting to create one cover letter and use it for multiple job targets. I have seen many cover letters where the candidate just changes the first couple of lines in response to every opening. If you qualify for multiple functional roles, consider preparing two or three versions of your resume and cover letter, each addressing the needs of the position being targeted.
Address issues
If you want to relocate or diffuse a certain issue, the cover letter is the right place to get it done, not the resume.
Ask for a meeting
Toward the end of the cover letter, summarize your background and politely ask for a meeting or an interview. You will be surprised how this simple step can dramatically impact the response rate.