Making your cover letter resemble a Valentine?s Card can win you an interview
Love is in the air ? but are your cover letters making hiring managers feel special? AAT career coach Aimee Bateman explains how charm and passion can lead you to an interview date (without a line of poetry in sight).
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1. Make them feel special
Go out of your way to make the company feel like it?s the only place you want to work at this moment (even if it isn?t). No employer wants to feel like you?ve sent the same standardised application to ten companies, just hoping something sticks. Behind each email address is an individual hoping to be dazzled.
Make sure you tell them what it is about their company that excites and inspires you. Don?t just repeat stuff anyone can find on their homepage?? they already know their company was established in 1942, and all you?ve done is proved you can read.
You need to find something which demonstrates your genuine interest. Maybe you?ve checked out their news pages and love that they organise so many events for charity. Perhaps the three partners all started as finance students and built the business from scratch. Show a real interest and connection towards their company and make them feel unique.
2. Show them why they should pick you
Now that you have their attention, you need to demonstrate why you?re their perfect match. Don?t just tell them you are; show them you are. This is your chance to show off a bit ? only, instead of crafting a few lines of poetry, you want to illustrate why you?re a more attractive proposition than all the other applicants.
Give them brief examples of the benefits you could add to their business. Talk about what type of employee you?re going to be. Tell them what your motivators and values are, and what you?ve achieved in your life. Make them think: ?Wow ? I need this person in my team!? Make them desperate to meet you.
Keep it short, full of impact and all on one page. You don?t want to give them your entire life story ? stick to the highlights.
Read more articles from AAT career coach Aimee Bateman
3. Show passion
Now you get to use that little four-letter word we all want to hear: ?Love?.
Yes, really?? after all, which of these sounds more passionate to you?
- ?I would like the opportunity to discuss this application with you.?
or:
- ?I would love the opportunity to discuss this application with you.?
Remember: you?re writing a sales document, and ?love? is a word that is used frequently in sales. I?ve been on many a sales course, and I?ve been told to use this word by lots of top sales trainers.
However, if you?re not comfortable using this word, that?s OK. You need to use language that feels right for you ? this is your application, after all. But do consider using words that have power behind them. ?I would live and breathe this role if I was given the opportunity?, or something similar, can have an equally strong impact on the reader.
You may not have the experience that other jobseekers have, and you?re likely to be one of many CVs in the hiring manager?s inbox. But, as happens so often in life, if you want someone to be genuinely interested in you? you need to make them feel like you?re genuinely interested in them.
Good luck ? I hope you get an interview ?date?!
Book onto an AAT careers event and pick up more priceless career advice from AAT career coach Aimee Bateman
Visit Aimee Bateman?s website, Careercake.com
Check out Aimee?s video of cover letter tips: 5 steps to an incredible cover letter
Watch more of Aimee?s AAT career coach videos
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