What to Include in a Modern Cover Letter

I realize I am dating myself by saying I remember the days of getting paper resumes and cover letters through snail mail; the stacks of which would pile up so quickly on my desk. And so, now in this digital age of electronic resume collection, I do sometimes reflect on the days when you would receive a well-written cover letter, loaded with teasers to create excitement about reviewing the accompanying resume and credentials.

It seems that the necessity of a cover letter has waned, understandably. Yet, when I receive a resume without even a bio or introduction, it gives me pause. Working in an IT and Creative staffing agency, I believe the modern cover letter has morphed into a one or two-sentence statement that functions more as an introduction than that of presentation of value positioning.

Instead of a traditionally lengthy cover letter, please consider a few tips that will help elevate your presentation, whether it’s to a Human Resource Manager or Hiring Manager.

Formatting

Whether your cover letter comes in the form of a Word document, or if it is in the body of an email, it should include:

• A formal greeting
• An introduction
• A marketing statement of 5-6 sentences to clearly demonstrate your value
• A closing

Content

An important step in our interview process at Profiles is formulating a strong marketing statement for our talent. This should include engaging highlights of your career work experience, projects or results that are a stand out amongst your peers. This is time to confidently present what it is that you bring to table by way of skills, experience, knowledge and methodology that make the reader want to read on.

Exclude the Following

• “To Whom it May Concern” – Find out the name of the hiring manager through LinkedIn or another resource, and personalize the heading.

• Salary Expectations – A Recruiter will ask you your salary expectations in one of the early interviews. Don’t expect a premature negotiation without meeting anyone or understanding the nature of the job and company.

• Objective Statement- This is outdated and unnecessary, whether on your resume or cover letter. These tend to be generic, and make you appear out of date.

• “References Available Upon Request”- Again, this is an unnecessary statement. Any recruiter or Hiring Manager will assume that you have credible, positive references.

• Long-Winded Stories- Anyone reviewing your job application is pressed for time. Instead of writing a novella, keep your successes concise. Emphasize how you will solve a Client’s problems, not how you ended up in NYC after college.

By following these suggestions, you can positively differentiate yourself from the crowd of job seekers, articulate your professional successes, and increase your job opportunities.

About Profiles

Profiles is a unique staffing firm specializing in Marketing employment, Creative, and Web & IT jobs. Since 1998, we have served the needs of our Clients and Talent by matching the best candidates with the best companies in the Mid-Atlantic region: Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA and Richmond, VA.

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Author Name – Laurie Allen
Title – Branch Manager
Location – Philadelphia, PA
Twitter – @lwallen
Byline – Laurie has over 15 years of staffing experience and has worn many hats including that of an in-house and agency recruiter, account director and direct hire regional manager. In her current role of Branch Manager for Profiles, she has the pleasure of aligning the industries best marketing, creative and interactive talent to the regions premier companies.