The Value of a Good Cover Letter
By: Pat Donahue, Executive Director for Career Development
In the Internet Age, do you still need to write cover letters?
Won’t a brief email work just as well?
No. And here’s why.
Although the Internet has spawned all forms of new communication styles through email, social media, and texting, the Internet fails to teach students what they need most in the workplace.
Professional organizational communication skills.
According to a 2018 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, the #1 skill employers are seeking from applicants is professional communication skills.
Guess what document demonstrates to prospective employers that you know how to communicate in a business setting?
Cover letters.
The purpose of a resume is to land you an interview and an accompanying cover letter is your opportunity to stand out from equally qualified candidates.
Resumes should be targeted to a specific position, but cover letters are even more pertinent.
Do not regurgitate your resume on to a cover letter.
Don’t use clichés, such as “I’m a hard worker”, “I’m a people person” or “My one weakness is that I’m a workaholic.”
Don’t say how much you love the company and their products. “I have eaten Frosted Flakes every morning since I was four years old, so that why Kellogg’s should hire me for their marketing position.”
Do research the company. And not just by googling the organization.
Visit your local library and see what recent media articles have written about the organization, including financial statements.
Talk to someone who works for the company.
Your cover letter should not just focus on the open position, but also discuss the organization and how your skills and experiences will help the organization achieve its mission.
The organization’s mission is not to help you.
Your mission is to help the organization.
In the cover letter, give specific examples of projects you have worked on and how they relate to the needs of the open position.
It’s also okay to suggest new ideas on how you can help the company. Although the employer may not agree on every idea you suggest, it at least shows the employer you are already invested in helping the organization achieve its goals.
The Career Development Center has a great handout on Cover letters that can be found at https://cdc.indiana.edu/documents/cover_letter.pdf
Of course, you should also meet your assigned career coach.
Your career coach can help you write a cover letter that enhances your application and proves that you are a good fit for the organization.