{"id":114829,"date":"2015-05-09T06:29:29","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T06:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=114829"},"modified":"2015-05-09T06:32:27","modified_gmt":"2015-05-09T06:32:27","slug":"3-secrets-that-will-enhance-your-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/05\/3-secrets-that-will-enhance-your-cover-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"3 secrets that will enhance your cover letter"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know that it\u2019s beneficial to have a second set of eyes review your application materials. Someone who can tell you that your resume looks good\u2014except for that part where you misspelled\u00a0your own name (FYI, you can check that, too!).<\/p>\n

Or that your writing sample is impressive, but that it would be even better if you used the correct version of \u201ctheir.\u201d<\/p>\n

But sometimes, no one is available. Maybe a contact said he would help but hasn\u2019t replied since, and you don\u2019t want to pester him.<\/p>\n

Or maybe you\u2019re taking a chance in your letter and you\u2019re afraid feedback from your stuck-in-the-mud roommate will make you lose your nerve and play it safe.<\/p>\n

So what should you do? Write your very best letter, and then, before you hit send, try these three tips.<\/p>\n

1. Pretend You\u2019re a Stranger<\/strong><\/p>\n

You know why you\u2019re perfect<\/em> for this job. That\u2019s great, but that context can prevent you from spotting what\u2019s missing in your cover letter. In other words, you might know that you excel at building strong bonds with difficult clients or that you\u2019re an ace public speaker, but if your cover letter uses bland language like \u201cconnect with stakeholders\u201d and \u201chas led multiple presentations,\u201d the hiring manager will have no way to know the depth of your skills.<\/p>\n

So, take the advice that you surely received from some English teacher at some point, and \u201cShow, don\u2019t tell.\u201d If you led \u201crecord growth,\u201d employ the same strategies you did on your resume to quantify your achievements. In lieu of saying I could \u201cadapt to change,\u201d I\u2019ve written this: \u201cI have routinely found myself in inaugural or transitioning roles, such as a first-time admin role that became a communications position, or taking a position once held by two people and rolling it into one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ask yourself, if a stranger handed you your cover letter, what impression would it make? Would you think this person has achieved what you have achieved or could contribute what you know you can?<\/p>\n

2. Make Yourself Take a Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably seen some advice suggesting you step outside of the standard \u201cMy name is Sara and I\u2019m applying for such-and-such position\u2026\u201d (If you haven\u2019t, look here, here, and here). But even if you spice up the intro a bit, you might hold yourself back from getting too creative, because as Muse contributor Dave Meadows writes, \u201cSpice is good, but who wants to eat a spoonful of paprika?\u201d<\/p>\n

Honestly, one of the best cover letters I ever wrote was also the riskiest. And how I got over my fear of writing something over the top is that I reminded myself that I didn\u2019t have to submit it. I didn\u2019t write it in one of those finicky, little, online application boxes. I didn\u2019t write in the same document as my pristine, go-to letter. I saved it under a different name and gave myself an hour to write down stories I thought exemplified who I was as an applicant and why I was right for the open role. Another time, I applied for a freelance writing position by submitting my cover letter in the form of an article\u2014and yes, I landed an interview.<\/div>\n

So, make yourself take a risk. Fill a document with words you\u2019d use to describe yourself or slightly wacky, attention-grabbing first lines and examples. Then compare each document, and see if pulling a line or two from your risky letter will make your go-to stronger and more memorable.<\/p>\n

3. Get Old School<\/strong><\/p>\n

Step one: Run spell check. Do not skip this step!<\/p>\n

Step two: Locate a printer. If you don\u2019t have access to a printer, it\u2019s time for a field trip. Because in order to truly edit a cover letter, you\u2019ll have to proofread it, and the most effective way to do that is to get it off of your computer screen and out in front of you\u2014on paper.<\/p>\n

So, print your cover letter and then read it out loud. Don\u2019t breeze through it. Go slow, maybe use different voices\u2014a super impressive voice, or an \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m doing this\u201d voice, or whatever works. As an editor, I can tell you that you\u2019ll be surprised how often this tactic will show you that you\u2019re actually missing a \u201cthe\u201d and that without that three-letter word, your big, powerful sentence doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n

Cover letters don\u2019t exist simply to torture you. They\u2019re there because hiring managers are hoping you can flesh out your resume and provide them with a bit more information about why you\u2019re right for the job. So, don\u2019t submit the very first thing you write just to get it over with. Take the time to check your letter over\u2014because you (yes, you!) have what it takes to write an amazing cover letter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source: Time.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You know that it\u2019s beneficial to have a second set of eyes review your application materials. Someone who can tell you that your resume looks good\u2014except for that part where you misspelled\u00a0your own name (FYI, you can check that, too!). Or that your writing sample is impressive, but that it would be even better if […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":114832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[36,38,4],"yoast_head":"\n3 secrets that will enhance your cover letter - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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