So how are you going to take what’s in that resume, your past, and apply it to where you’re going. The cover letter is really about the future. How can I write a cover letter if I feel like I don’t have enough to write about?ĪMY GALLO: Yeah, so that’s a good question, because the cover letter shouldn’t be focused so much on the past.
How about if I just got out of college, and I’m looking at these jobs that are asking for three to five years or more of experience. Amy also found the top two qualities that people generally look for is adaptability, and the ability to learn quickly. Figure out what that reason is, and how you can best solve that problem. Emphasize your valueĮLAINY MATA: Figure out what problem the company is facing. Write something that’s short, to the point, but shows both enthusiasm, as well as experience that’s relevant to the job. “I saw your listing on this website, and I was thrilled to see it, because it’s exactly the kind of job I’ve been looking for to apply my skills in X.” I promise I won’t steal it.ĪMY GALLO: You’re allowed to steal it. Amy, can you please give me an example of a strong, bold, opening line for cover letter. So you have to write yours to grab their attention. The hiring manager has a stack of cover letters. I’m based here, and I’m applying for this job.” No, no, no, no, don’t do that. Sometimes, I’ve heard people just reach out and say, “Who’s the hiring manager for this job? I’d like to address my cover letter to that person.” Start strongĮLAINY MATA: You’ve probably written this 100 times before. You may not know for sure that that’s the hiring manager, but at least it’s a little more personable. Usually, with LinkedIn, you can see who’s posted the job, who is sharing it with their network. So I have to kind of creep a little bit, and be like a private investigator.ĪMY GALLO: Yeah, creeping is definitely part of the process. It is so much better to address your cover letter to an actual person and a name rather than, to whom it may concern. What is the company that you’re applying for talking about now? You should actually go into their LinkedIn, their Twitter, see what they’re sharing, see who are they’re talking to, see what they’re talking about, so you can get a sense of what is currently happening. So you’ve got the broad stuff, but let’s dig a little bit deeper. Go on the company’s website, go to their “About Us” section, and read what they’re about, see their mission statement, see their tone, see what that company is actually looking for, and what they stand for. Let’s say you’re applying for a job here, at Harvard Business Review. Do research, find a nameĮLAINY MATA: This should be a no-brainer, but let’s get specific. Just really figure out what is the most essential things that need to go on one page. Make it one pageĮLAINY MATA: So how long does a cover letter actually have to be? Just one page, one.ĪMY GALLO: Don’t play with the font, and make it like eight point font, and like make your margins really wide. And I’m going to tell you exactly what she told me.
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I write about how to write cover letters, and I also hate them.ĮLAINY MATA: She’s done the research. I talked to Amy Gallo, an HBR editor, and the author of one of our most popular articles, “How to Write a Cover Letter.”ĪMY GALLO: First of all, you’re not alone.
This sounds like I’m - this doesn’t sound like me at all. I am a passionate, detail-oriented person. I would like to respectfully submit this cover letter. To whom it may concern, to whom it may concern, to whom it may concern. In front of me right now are three cover letters that I’ve written in the past, for three different jobs. So if you are ready to tackle the cover letter, stick around and keep watching. These tips are going to help you go through the process a lot easier. I got you, and we’re going to do this together. It’s time to face our fears, and just figure out how in the world we are actually going to write it. I hate cover letters.īut the cover letter is important. Subscribe to HBR Ascend on YouTube for more videos on work, life, and everything in between.ĮLAINY MATA: So you want to know how to tackle the cover letter. (Scroll down if you’re in need of an expert-approved example.) I even wrote a new cover letter that has her blessing. From doing the research, to starting off strong, to emphasizing your value - Gallo taught me exactly what I need to do to get my cover letters noticed by hiring managers. I asked Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review editor and author of “ How to Write a Cover Letter,” for her advice. Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” But, there are some ways to make the process a little less terrible. Every time I’m writing one, I find myself wondering: Do people even read these? They add so much stress to the already uncomfortable and grueling job hunt.
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