I hate cover letters

[shadeofgreen]

I really hate writing cover letters. All the books and websites on the topic emphasize how important they are, how it's your chance to sell yourself, how it needs to be more than your resume put into connected prose, etc. But I have the worst time writing them without feeling like I'm being too generic and boring. But if I try to "make an impression" I feel like I'm being phony.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any general advice for cover letters (especially those of you who work in HR). The biggest trouble I have seems to be the opening sentence where that line between boring and phony seems to be the finest.

The worst part is that I'm applying for journalism jobs. I'm supposed to prove to these people that I can write, y'know?

[MsRiss7383]

I've worked in HR for over 3 years and I've never even read a cover letter. Plus, when I send resumes to hiring managers, I don't even include the cover letter. It's stupid because it's something that could count against you if it's missing, but nobody cares that's it there or what it says. Maybe other people have different experiences, but I agree that they are a stupid waste of time.

[MsRiss7383]

Maybe people in journalism read them though. I've only been in HR for the financial and healthcare industries and writing doesn't matter so much there.

[wordsmith]

I was a newspaper editor for six years, and you definitely want to showcase your writing ability in a cover letter for a writing gig. I most assuredly read them, and I would most assuredly give preference to somebody where the cover letter was well-written.

[paiger81]

I'm in marketing/pr and if your cover letter doesn't catch my attention, I'm not as enthused about reading your resume.

[Skyblade]

I also work in marketing and its very important. I actually like writing cover letters, I've gotten compliments on mine in several job interviews.

[shadeofgreen]

I'm definitely not questioning their importance. I know they're important, and that's why I'm asking for tips on how to write them.

What makes a cover letter eye-catching? What makes it an immediate turn off, besides the obvious spelling and grammar issues? Is there a point where applicants sell themselves too much?

[asm198]

I have never understood how to write a good cover letter. I had some friends help write some of mine, but I have no idea if they are any good and I don't know how to make them stand out more.

I interview very well, but I can't seem to translate that onto paper.

[LowCarbLife]

I wrote my first cover letter for my current job. I wouldn't say it was the 'bomb' but it was good. I was in the 'job searching' mode so I tried so many differnt tactics just for the heck of it. I was so stressed about making my resume and coverletter to the 't' that I couldn't even begin. I decided to relax and just be myself (but professional of course). Just start writing. See what you can come up with. What makes you special and different. What skills do you have that would benefit the company. Then, when you get your brainstorming done, you can clean up the edges and make a masterpiece!

Also, what helped me relax and really shine is thinking....I'm interviewing the company. THEY should impress ME too! Then, it all falls into place :)

Now, this works for me...it may not work for someone else...but it is definatly a start.

[ugarachel82]

I also work in marketing and its very important. I actually like writing cover letters, I've gotten compliments on mine in several job interviews.

I've actually gotten a compliment like this when I was at an interview for my museum internship. No one else actually comments. When I write them though, I try to be genuine...though whatever I say it sounds like I'm being really fake. Is there a way to avoid this?

[wordsmith]

I'm definitely not questioning their importance. I know they're important, and that's why I'm asking for tips on how to write them.

What makes a cover letter eye-catching? What makes it an immediate turn off, besides the obvious spelling and grammar issues? Is there a point where applicants sell themselves too much?

For writing gigs, it helps if it doesn't read like every other cover letter. Formula writing is boring in newsprint, so if your letter comes off as generic, that's not a good thing. Just like in writing a good article, you need an eye-catching hook in your cover letter.

And I don't think you can sell yourself too much, unless you are lying to sell yourself.

[Dreamchasa]

This is definitely seems to be a industry thing b/c I don't think in finance anyone has ever read a cover letter. At my last job I didn't even turn in a cover letter.

Maybe because its number oriented business though if you're in sales you might need to sale yourself that's for sure. Who knows.

Cover letters definitely confuse me.

[caostotale]

Cover letters suck balls because they are almost always completely unnatural. I hate nothing more than having to kiss my own ass in writing. I can't stand people who are so high on themselves that it comes natural to toot their own horns about what is essentially an average-to-mediocre lifespan with a pedestrian list of accomplishments. It doesn't exhibit a god-damned thing about your ability as a worker and it's really just another part of the mirror-maze bullshit system of communication that people use to sell things (in this case, themselves). Cover letters remind me forcibly of the way sandwiches look in the pictures on a fast-food menu versus the way they look when you unwrap them.

[Rage]

I enjoy writing letters and think I'm not bad either, but I am not convinced people actually read them at the HR screening level. Maybe once you get through that, but it's sort of counter-intuative at the same time since a cover letter is supposed to help you do that. Come to think of it, I've never seen a cover letter to accompany a resume passed to me by HR.

[AsianGeek]

I've never written a coverletter for any of my employers. Most of them don't even ask for one in my industry. I definitely think it's industry related.

[caostotale]

I enjoy writing letters and think I'm not bad either, but I am not convinced people actually read them at the HR screening level. Maybe once you get through that, but it's sort of counter-intuative at the same time since a cover letter is supposed to help you do that. Come to think of it, I've never seen a cover letter to accompany a resume passed to me by HR.

Writing letters is a great activity, if you're writing them to a pen pal, or a distant relative, or a friend who's out of country, maybe sending some pictures along in the envelope. In the realm of job-seeking, I just feel like it's another way to hijack your own chances of achieving a fair level of scrutiny for a position. The resume has obvious purpose. It outlines your experience, certifications, abilities, and goals. That should be enough to arouse one's curiosity.

[wordsmith]

The resume has obvious purpose. It outlines your experience, certifications, abilities, and goals. That should be enough to arouse one's curiosity.

Except when they don't stand out in any real way against anybody else's. Which is what a lot of people, esp. recent grads, run into. You can't sell yourself with a generic resume when you don't have much experience of value. You can sell yourself with a cover letter, though, becaused it gives you the opportunity to do more than write a nondescript laundry list that looks pretty much like everybody else's. You can talk there about the qualifications you may have that don't fit on a resume. A resume's just a list, and rarely one of any real interest, especially for people with little work experience yet. A cover letter is at least a chance to tell a prospective employer something about you that may actually give you an edge, versus..."Yeah, I went to school. Like 99.9 of your other applicants."

[caostotale]

You can sell yourself with a cover letter, though, becaused it gives you the opportunity to do more than write a nondescript laundry list that looks pretty much like everybody else's. You can talk there about the qualifications you may have that don't fit on a resume. A resume's just a list, and rarely one of any real interest, especially for people with little work experience yet. A cover letter is at least a chance to tell a prospective employer something about you that may actually give you an edge, versus..."Yeah, I went to school. Like 99.9 of your other applicants."

So, essentially, a cover letter is just more bullshiting territory that gives one the opportunity to gloss up their sub-par background. I thought that was what the interview was for. Apparantly so much can be gained from believing a complete stranger's gloating. If the cover letters that gain people work had a shred of truth and honesty to them, I suppose there would be no disorganized people anywhere, no one who lacks the ability to multi-task effortlessly, and no one who's ever fallen short of perfection in everything they've done. Give me a break.

[wordsmith]

A cover letter, like an interview, like essentially everything about convincing somebody why they should hire you rather than the other applicants they get, is a chance to set yourself apart. If there IS anything that sets you apart, anyway. If there's not, that's kind of your problem to deal with.

I'm wondering if you realize how bitter and negative you come off, and how you seem to always pin it on how the world's screwing you, and how it's never an issue of your own poor attitude...or is it just habit/a way to rationalize things not going your way?

[caostotale]

I'm wondering if you realize how bitter and negative you come off, and how you seem to always pin it on how the world's screwing you, and how it's never an issue of your own poor attitude...or is it just habit/a way to rationalize things not going your way?

Where does anything I've said say that the world is screwing me? Furthermore, where does anything I say suggest that my attitude is not a problem. Nobody in my life has caused me to fuck things up as much as I have fucked them up on my own watch.

This site is ludicrous sometimes. It's okay for people to come on here sobbing and bawling like 2-year-olds about relationships, interviews, weight problems, and issues with coworkers/bosses, but if someone lashes out a little and criticizes the system of things than it's all bitterness and poor form. Some of you really need to realize that not everybody agrees with the status-quo and the countless posts that sound like excerpts from career-coaching brochures. When I tried to follow all of that advice to the tee, it led me nowhere, so it's obviously not for everybody.

[AsianGeek]

That's not exactly fair, they were all just pitching in their own opinions. And what they say is true for employers who want to see a cover letter. When you apply for a job you need to set yourself apart from the others somehow. Whether it's the coverletter or your previous internships or your co-op.

Also when looking for a job you should realize that you're probably going to have to send out hundreds of resumes before you get your first interview. And then dozens of interviews before your first job. We've all had to do it at one point in our lives. I agree it's the most frustrating catch 22 in our lives but everybody goes through it. Except for a select few. But in any case you should sign up for a site called linkedin.com. It's like a facebook for professionals who wants to establish a professional network to get jobs. You might find something there, you might not. If you're starting out fresh, I recommend staffing agencies.

[wordsmith]

Hah, I'm about the least "career brochure" person there is.

[Rage]

You might find something there, you might not.

Most would agree that a job search should involve multiple avenues of approach, linkedin being one of many. The more ways the better, and it's better to try for the exact reason you state. You just never know how your next job will come along.

[Rage]

Where does anything I've said say that the world is screwing me? Furthermore, where does anything I say suggest that my attitude is not a problem. Nobody in my life has caused me to fuck things up as much as I have fucked them up on my own watch.

This site is ludicrous sometimes. It's okay for people to come on here sobbing and bawling like 2-year-olds about relationships, interviews, weight problems, and issues with coworkers/bosses, but if someone lashes out a little and criticizes the system of things than it's all bitterness and poor form. Some of you really need to realize that not everybody agrees with the status-quo and the countless posts that sound like excerpts from career-coaching brochures. When I tried to follow all of that advice to the tee, it led me nowhere, so it's obviously not for everybody.

I'm of the opinion that advice is given generally to help me. I can take it or leave it, but always with gratitude because the intention is for my betterment, and I can't fault someone for that. As for career brochures, the advice in those exists for a reason. Not everything has worked for me either, but I continue to exercise those approaches because as I point out above, you just never know when you might find that previously closed door cracked slightly open. In any case, succeeding through troubling times is about perservering in the face of adversity. I spend a good amount of time in doubt, but try not to wallow in my own self-viewed disgrace knowing that it will not get me anywhere I want to go. When I come to this site, I recognize that I, like others here, are struggling with something and I definitely don't claim to know it all. I try to empathize, knowing that I might have something that you may be able to use as a tool in your quest. You may think I'm an idiot with advice out of a career brochure, but then maybe my words inspire someone else to turn over a stone they previously didn't. Sometimes people just want to bitch and they don't want any help. I can respect that too because maybe they don't have any other outlet beyond this site keeping them sane. I try not to pass judgement because noone is perfect. I am sure others here realize this.

[wordsmith]

Sure, but there are definitely posters who do nothing but bitch and vent, and never feel the need to contribute anything of any type of positive value,or help anybody out themselves, or try to add anything to the community...and then are defensive or offended when they're not well-received because of that. There will ALWAYS be people who come here because they just want to bitch, and don't want any support. But that's not really what the boards were designed for, and it's no surprise that those posters are either ignored or garner negative response.

[Rage]

Fair enough. I guess in a forum like this, your right to ignore is as strong as his right to complain, yes?

[wordsmith]

Nah, as a moderator, I have different obligations. You can feel free to ignore whatever you like, though.

[Rage]

Makes sense- didn't realize your role.

[wordsmith]

Eh, it doesn't come up that often.

But it should explain why I along with the other two mods have a vested interest in making sure people don't behave in a troll-like, fashion or abuse the community.

[caostotale]

You may think I'm an idiot with advice out of a career brochure, but then maybe my words inspire someone else to turn over a stone they previously didn't. Sometimes people just want to bitch and they don't want any help. I can respect that too because maybe they don't have any other outlet beyond this site keeping them sane. I try not to pass judgement because noone is perfect. I am sure others here realize this.

Though I may come across as bitter and negative to the soft-pedallers who run this forum, I've never told anyone "F U, your advice is s**t." My the same token, I've never really ASKED for anyone's advice here and, to be honest, most of the big advice-givers here (who border on being insufferable windbags sometimes) are way too addicted to the idea that they're incredibly helpful, etc...

To Rage, I don't think you're an idiot at all. I do think that your approach is far more moderator-like than those of the moderators, who seem to think anyone who doesn't espouse passive and overly humble attitudes about pretty much anything is a scrappy and dangerous troll.

[wordsmith]

Since you admittedly don't come here for advice, but mainly to rail and namecall, I figure you'll be okay finding somewhere else to go do that for a while.