hatched.co : The Truth About Cover Letters : Your Guide to Life ...

The other day, an interesting conversation was started on Linked:HR, the top human resources group on LinkedIn. The topic? Whether cover letters are still relevant, or if they?ve found their place next to the Polaroid in the Land of Things Now Obsolete.

The point of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to your potential new employer, explain details the reader may not be able to glean from your r?sum?, and explain why you?re better suited for a particular position than anyone else in the entire planet with the exception, maybe, of Chuck Norris. Maybe.

But contrary to its name, many human resources professionals say they read cover letters last, if they even bother reading them at all.

What HR Pros Say About Cover Letters

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  • I receive electronic correspondences with emoticons and text message lingo in them.?This says to me that the candidate may not be mature enough to handle a professional position.

    ?Many times I read a cover letter after I?ve read a r?sum? because my interest is piqued and I want to see what else the candidate has to say.?I look for a cover letter to explain to me things that may not be apparent on a r?sum?.

    For example, if a candidate is applying for a position that?s not in their hometown, or within?reasonable commuting distance, I want to know why they want to relocate. They can also address in the letter any large gaps between positions.

    Today?s cover letters should be short and?concise. Two or three paragraphs, no more than five sentences each. Unfortunately, with volume of applicants for each position, recruiters and HR professionals don?t have the time to read?lengthy cover letters.

    In addition, I?m looking for grammar, punctuation and professionalism. Too often, I receive electronic correspondences with emoticons and shorthand text message lingo in them.?This says to me that the candidate may not be mature enough to handle a professional position.?

  • ? Mallory Doherty is a corporate recruiter at Rapid Response Monitoring Inc.
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  • ?Cover letters are useful if they?re well-crafted, individualized, and state information that?s not apparent from a review of the r?sum?.?If you?ve done research on the position applied for, and can demonstrate by cover letter why you?re a good fit, then by all means go for it.

    When I review a candidate submission, I follow this usual pattern: brief scan of r?sum? to determine if the candidate meets the minimum?qualifications for the position. If not, end of hunt. If so, I review the last five years experience years in detail. If we still have a fit,?then I go to the cover letter, if any, and review it in detail along with the r?sum?.

    Cover letters for qualified candidates are very useful to?determine business writing skills, the ability to analyze and merge facts, and level of professionalism.?

  • ? Paul Amante Jr., J.D., SPHR is a senior manager, HR strategic business at Canon U.S.A., Inc.

So Make No Mistake: You Still Need to Write a Cover Letter

Even if your cover letter isn?t read during the initial screening, it can still help you land a job later on in the hiring process, because human resources and recruiters are often just the first step.

?Hiring managers probably read cover letters more than recruiters, but that?s only if the candidate makes it past a recruiter to begin with,? says Fife.

And as Doherty pointed out, shoddy cover letters can lead to ruined chances?even if your r?sum? makes you seem like a good fit?if they?re not well written and are peppered with spelling and grammatical errors. So make sure you take your time to craft a flawless cover letter for each job you apply to.

Have a question about something?anything?that you're dying to know the answer to? Ask Hatched! Between our members and our panel of experts, you're sure to get answers you can actually use.

Source: http://www.hatched.co/topics/careers/the-truth-about-cover-letters

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