Cover Letter Tip from The Essay Expert What Color is Your Cover Letter

Cover Letter Tip from The Essay Expert What Color is Your Cover Letter The content of most cover letters that come across recruiters desks are bland and unexciting. They sound like everyone elses letters. I call them gray. And gray doesnt stand out. It just blends into the background. Get the hiring managers attention with this cover letter tip. Cover Letter Tip:  Add Some Color! Start with a Splash Even the first paragraph of your cover letter can make you stand out. Sure, you need to tell them what job youre applying for, and where you found out about it, but you dont have to end there. To get their attention, say something about what you understand about the companys needs, and why youre the person to meet those needs. Most people dont take the time to tailor cover letters, so any mention of specifics about the company youre applying to will distinguish you from your competitors. Time for a Paint Job The gray cover letters I tend to see include language like this: I believe my skills and qualifications are a perfect match for the available position. I have spent the last ten years gaining experience in X. At job A, I did B, where I gained experience in C. At job D, I did E, and gained experience doing F. At job G, I did H, and learned J. I therefore feel that I would be an asset to your company. I hope you agree with me that its time for a makeover! Painting Your Passion Stop blending into the background! Your cover letter is a valuable opportunity to paint yourself in bright, eye-catching descriptionsas someone who would bring personality and flair to a position, or true problem solving or negotiating skills, or, at the very least, some passion. How do you do that? Tell a story that shows them who you are. If I were writing a cover letter, for instance, I might talk about how I won the trust of a contract manager who had been ready to pull a contract from my organization. One of my clients wrote about how he successfully negotiated a conflict at work and obtained payment from a customer who was refusing to pay. Another wrote about his quest for the perfect problem to solve. These stories will catch an employers eye and paint a picture of a real person, with experience and attributes that reach beyond a list of resume bullets. Take My Advice! Id like to share with you the following letter, which I received from a student at the University of Wisconsin: I feel like a naive kid who was suddenly given a cover letter awakening. I took your advice and changed almost everything. I am ashamed to call the last documents I sent you cover letters. I wouldnt have wanted to interview me. Sad. In these new cover letters, every sentence gives information that cannot be gathered from my resume. I really tried to pour some personality and passion into these and keep the readers attention. I can actually be proud of these letters. This student says it well. Give them new information, NOT a regurgitation of your resume. Pour in some personality (purple?), passion (red?) Throw in some anecdotes (green?) And you too will be able to say you are proud of your cover letters. With this cover letter tip, youll be a lot more likely to get that interview, where you really get to show them who you are. Want help with your cover letters? Check out  The Essay Experts Resume and Cover Letter Services.