FAQ of the Month
How can I increase the chances that potential employers will actually PAY ATTENTION to my cover letter?
Yes, we hear the frustration in that question, and believe me, we understand! You spend all this time writing a letter, but there's no way of knowing if anyone will read it. Grumble. That being said, we always encourage applicants to write strong, tailored letters. After all, you never know when that stellar doc will be the reason you land an interview! Here are two ways to strengthen your letters right now:
Be careful with intensifiers. Intensifiers do what the name implies: they enhance the meaning of a word and the corresponding phrase. However, it's important to check your letters for commonly overused intensifiers like very, a lot and really. Too many of these makes your writing sound informal.
Don't apologize. This is supposed to be a self-marketing document, but you wouldn't believe how many letters say things like, "Even though I don't have XYZ ..." and "I realize I'm lacking in ABC qualification, but ..." Eeek! We get it; you're trying to be humble, but this is your chance to highlight the qualities and experiences you DO have, not the ones you're missing or haven't developed yet.
