The value of the cover letter has been altogether over-analyzed to the point of sheer confusion. When the cover letter is required in the application process, you may be left wondering what you should include in it to set yourself apart. If it is not required, you might question whether to include one anyway. The madness of it all!
It the employer does not explicitly say not to include a cover letter, I suggest including it. Of course, there is no guarantee they will actually read it, but it can’t hurt you either. Well, I guess it could if it is a crappy cover letter. But at least for now we’ll say you’ve read my post and applied at least one of the rules to your cover letter and it is looking pretty good.
Similar to a resume, a cover letter consists of two parts: the format and the content. Quite simply, the format should match the margins, font type, font size, and header as is presented in your resume. Developing the content, or copy isn’t so simple.
The content I commonly see in a cover letter is boilerplate language. I know we’ve all been guilty of using standard, go-to keywords and phrases but it is important to convey a sincere interest in the position you are applying for. Using canned responses in your cover letter communicates to the employer that either:
You haven’t thoughtfully read their job posting and you are throwing resumes out and hoping one will stick.
OR
You are too lazy to address the specific requirements of the position and instead are keeping it general so as to force them to search for the details within your resume.
Neither one is good for you.
It is perfectly fine to incorporate branding keywords in your cover letter as long as you are complementing them with how you meet or exceed the requirements of the position. Consider these seven scenarios where you can add meaningful and relevant content to your cover letter.
You meet all the minimum requirements
Make it crystal clear how you meet the requirements of the position. I recommend using a table to crossmatch what the employer is asking for and what you offer. See the example below.
| REQUIREMENTS | MY QUALIFICATIONS |
| Bachelor’s Degree with 10 or more years of software product experience | Bachelor of Applied Science with over 20 years of product development experience including eight years in a Project Manager role. |
| 10 or more years in a fast-paced product-centric role, working with agile teams | 11 years designing and working collaboratively with agile teams in the development of multiple products, including two SaaS products. |
| Previous experience with JIRA or another ticket/issue tracking tool | Three years of experience working with ProofHub. |
| Clear knowledge and understanding of agile development processes and Scrum methodology. | Certified Scrum Master and product owner with solid knowledge and understanding of agile development processes and Scrum methodologies. |
| Experience working with SaaS, payments, e-commerce, or other web-based products | Over five years’ experience in SaaS and w-commerce products, working with either Square or Stripe. |
You don’t meet all the minimum requirements
It is featured as “minimum” to weed out the riffraff, but you are certain that you can do the job without it, right? Well then, don’t just not mention that you don’t meet the requirements but instead state what it is that you lack, what you are doing about it, or what you offer in its place. For example, “While I don’t have JIRA experience, I am currently taking a certified online JIRA class through Atlassian University, with an estimated graduation date of February 2, 2022.”
You need to explain a potential red flag in your resume
Crossing your fingers hoping they won’t notice that discrepancy in your resume? Chances are they will see it before anything else. Explain as positively and concisely as possible the work gap, lack of experience or education, or job-hopping. For example, “Having spent the last year taking care of my family who experienced COVID-related challenges, I am now available and passionate to get back to the industry I love.
You want to add additional experience or qualifications
It may be valuable to include additional training, experience, or skills that differentiate you from the competition. For example, “In addition to working collaboratively within agile teams, I have also led, mentored, and managed over 10 software designers.”
You want to share the insight you have acquired to impress upon the employer you have done your research
Let the employer know you’ve been thinking about one of their business problems and propose a possible solution to address it.
You are requesting special accommodations
I generally recommend asking for accommodations after the job offer is made but if you feel the need to be upfront about your needs, do so in the cover letter. This would include things like wanting a hybrid work environment or needing a flexible schedule.
You need to disclose information that could cause the employer pause
This might include a potential conflict of interest or that you are not able to start until a later date.
The cover letter does not have to be viewed as an enigma but something that gives you the ability to tell your story beyond the constraints of the resume. Use it as an opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition to compel the employer to want to know more.
If you need some help with your cover letter, call on me at [email protected]