10 Tips for a Better Cover Letter (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

10 Tips for a Better Cover Letter

[mrthejazz]

Originally Posted by Savage

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

10 Tips for a Better Cover Letter

Oh boy. Um Steve, a section under your tip number 1 has a typo in it. I tried to let it go, honestly I did. But there's a part hiding in the back of my mind going, "just tell him."

So yeah.

Also, if one of the letters you get looks like it was opened and then taped closed again, that was mine. I had forgotten to put the letter into the envelope after I had already sealed it, and I had to mail it out that day, so I taped back together.

It probably killed my chances, but I figure I'd take a risk anyway and see if I could be like Charlie with the golden ticket.

[Dimitri]

I think the reason most people would hesitate to include a personal picture of them is because some employers automatically reject these letters, not based on discrimination, but lest someone think that they're favoring potential employees who look attractive. They're not allowed to judge the book by its cover, so they're forced to throw them in the trash.

[Burris5000]

I heard on the John Tesh show not to include a picture of yourself because it is a waste of space on an application.

[alexb5784]

My favorite part of the article was here:

I received several letters from people who:

• complained about their previous employers
• complained about their history, upbringing, current life situation, etc.
• shared what types of work they’re sick and tired of doing
• explained how under-appreciated and misunderstood they felt
• told me how fed up they are with their unfulfilling lives

A couple of years ago, I made the above mistakes. I was working in tech marketing, getting totally fed up with my company, and wrote letters to companies in NYC. I complained about how lousy my company was and how they were going bankrupt, lol. Only one out of the ten companies I wrote to got back to me. And this company turned out to be a cubicle farm that laid off a lot people at the start of the recession in late 08'.

It wasn't funny then, but I sure do laugh about it now!

Plus, one summer I had to hire interns for the salesman, software engineers, and one for myself. I got some crazy cover letters. I had people with PhDs applying for marketing internship positions, sales people afraid to cold call applying for outbound telephone sales, and other foolishness

Ooo, this article is hilarious, lol.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Burris5000

I heard on the John Tesh show not to include a picture of yourself because it is a waste of space on an application.

Right... because space comes at such a premium these days.

A photo = your profile pic. A 2"x2" pic is plenty.

John Tesh might be a waste of space.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Originally Posted by Savage

Right... because space comes at such a premium these days.

A photo = your profile pic. A 2"x2" pic is plenty.

John Tesh might be a waste of space.

I haven't listened to the radio in a long time, but I remember that guy John Tesh and although he is not a complete waste of space, he is too generic to make a lasting impact on anyone or anything. He is your typical radio personality, with nothing strikingly unique or special about him.

It is obvious that applying for a position with Steve Pavlina is anything but ordinary and although the usual professionalism applies, he's not going to want to see a bland cover letter with a bland explanation of what you could do for him. He's going to want something that stands out, like many other employers, but on the creative side, due to the nature of his work.

Whoever gets a position with Steve is going to have to be a top-notch person with experience in something he is looking for. It has to be something that is in demand at his company, so if you don't have any marketable skills, you're wasting your time.

[gloci]

Originally Posted by savage

right... Because space comes at such a premium these days.

A photo = your profile pic. A 2"x2" pic is plenty.

John tesh might be a waste of space.

boom! Headshot!

[ssandra]

It is funny how pictures with applications is very cultural. In the Netherlands it is absolutely NOT DONE, here in Mexico it is obligatory.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by ssandra

It is funny how pictures with applications is very cultural. In the Netherlands it is absolutely NOT DONE, here in Mexico it is obligatory.

People are accustomed to seeing pictures on Twitter and Facebook, so I think this will shift towards more photo-friendliness in the years ahead.

My business is a very social one, so I think it's good for people to feel comfortable being seen. There are no cubicles to hide in.

[Mounds]

As you said in the article, a lot of it is common sense for a business person. What I really enjoyed is the tone. There's a bit more humour in there than usual. Fun read!

[stanigator]

Is it safe to summarize the key to job searching being a sales pitch for your services such that it minimizes the employer's risk of hiring you and maximize their profit potential?

[Savage]

Originally Posted by stanigator

Is it safe to summarize the key to job searching being a sales pitch for your services such that it minimizes the employer's risk of hiring you and maximize their profit potential?

No, that wouldn't be a safe assumption. The person who screens the applicants may not care much about maximizing profit, and even if they do care, it may not be their top priority. It's not my top priority, but it is an important consideration that people can contribute to the financial sustainability of the business.

[cacheborn]

There are different opinions about whether or not to include your picture along with the resume.

One theory is, if you are applying for a job where your face is not a qualification (such as acting, modelling etc.) it's better to leave out the picture.
And especially for highly technical jobs, it may not be considered okay.

I did not find the logic very convincing so I used to include my picture in the resume.

[Savage]

When it comes to using pictures, I agree that it isn't cut and dried, but at least put yourself in the potential employer's shoes.

Most of the apps I get have no photos. Some include black and white photos as part of the resume. Some include 3x5" glossy photos on photo paper. A couple people included more than one photo.

If most people don't use photos, and you include a photo, you're going to stand out more. If you include multiple photos, you've automatically positioned yourself away from the pack. In a crowded field, that's generally a good thing.

Also, you don't have to just include a headshot. You can use photos to back up some of your claims and/or to show your personality. Including a photo of you on a stage looking confident is a lot more convincing than writing that you're comfortable in front of an audience.

All else being equal, who would you be more inclined to follow up with?

It's not just photos -- anything you do beyond the minimum is generally a good thing.

In this economy and for this type of business which is surrounded by great opportunities, it really isn't necessary to follow up with people who do only what's expected and nothing more. If I hire such people, then I'll have a staff that will only do what's expected. But if I hire the exception ones, then I can enjoy working with an exceptional team.

In my games biz, I had the opportunity to work with some truly exceptional people. I also had the opportunity to do business with some not-so-exceptional people. No question which is better.

I'd rather hire fewer people and pay them more.

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by Savage

When it comes to using pictures, I agree that it isn't cut and dried, but at least put yourself in the potential employer's shoes.

I remember reading in one of the blog posts that you can get intuitive feeling about a person when you look at his/her picture. So in this case, a picture would in fact be helpful and makes sense.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

I remember reading in one of the blog posts that you can get intuitive feeling about a person when you look at his/her picture. So in this case, a picture would in fact be helpful and makes sense.

I can gather quite a bit of information about a person from his or her appearance. If you spend enough time watching people and interacting with them, you'll get an intuitive idea for how a person's image is a reflection of their soul.

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by VinceG

I can gather quite a bit of information about a person from his or her appearance. If you spend enough time watching people and interacting with them, you'll get an intuitive idea for how a person's image is a reflection of their soul.

True. It's the way a good psychiatrist observes every movement, gesture and so on. In addition, persons trained in psychic abilities also make use of the photographs. Erin uses photograph of a client for her readings.

[ChrisG]

The idea of putting a photo of yourself on a cover letter is totally new to me . It sounds like a complete shot in the dark but I'll have to do it sometime.

This bit stood out for me:

One thing that’s actually impressive is when you share where else you’re applying to. If you send an employer a letter that you’re applying to them as well as 5 of their top competitors, they’re more likely to take notice of you. Some employers may want to hire you partly to keep you from joining their competitors, especially if you’re well qualified. This is particularly true in technical fields.

It does make you look more impressive: to say that you've been applying to those companies, especially if they're at the top end of their game, makes you look more high-calibre and more qualified. Personally, though, I would feel a bit manipulative if I did that. It would be like I was trying to psych them out, even if it were really the truth that I was applying to competitors as well. I am probably approaching it from a sucky-up "corporate cog" mindset but anyhow, that's how I feel about it. I'll grow out of it eventually .

(The areas I'm applying to after graduation are the third sector and policy/development think tanks, so not strictly speaking corporate.)

[Savage]

Originally Posted by ChrisG

The idea of putting a photo of yourself on a cover letter is totally new to me . It sounds like a complete shot in the dark but I'll have to do it sometime.

This bit stood out for me:



It does make you look more impressive: to say that you've been applying to those companies, especially if they're at the top end of their game, makes you look more high-calibre and more qualified. Personally, though, I would feel a bit manipulative if I did that. It would be like I was trying to psych them out, even if it were really the truth that I was applying to competitors as well. I am probably approaching it from a sucky-up "corporate cog" mindset but anyhow, that's how I feel about it. I'll grow out of it eventually .

(The areas I'm applying to after graduation are the third sector and policy/development think tanks, so not strictly speaking corporate.)

Incidentally, never lie about that part. Even competitors are often friends, and someone might be able to verify whether or not you did actually apply elsewhere. If you lie and get caught, you not only blow your chances forever with one company but with anyone else they care to tell.

So only include this bit if you're actually doing it.

[beast]

I read a study a few months ago that said women often suffer from putting their pictures on their resumes, while men benefit from including a photo.