How to Tailor Your Cover Letter for Each Job Application
Many job seekers make this cardinal mistake of having a single cover letter and just changing the title of the job in the cover letter when they apply to different jobs. One of the most significant things that has changed in the way how companies shortlist candidates these days is that companies have deployed intelligent automation systems to weed out candidates that do not fit the entry criteria to the jobs.
Since these automated systems have no real idea of the applicants, other than inferring from their cover letters and the accompanying resumes, it is important to tailor the cover letters so these automation systems can better understand who you are and that you are a candidate that should not be stopped in the weeding out process.
Very broadly speaking, it is perfectly okay to have the core of your cover letter the same in most situations, but the cover letter as a whole should come together and tell the story of why you are a good fit to the job so you get invited to the interview.
Crafting a cover letter that is tailored to the specific job you're applying for can significantly increase your chances of standing out to potential employers.
If you are busy and don't have the time to read the full article, just read this - Start with a captivating introduction that emphasizes the importance of a tailored cover letter. Explain how it can significantly impact a job application and increase the chances of landing an interview. That's it.
We would like to break down how you can tailor your cover letter to each job into a few simple steps.
Understand the job requirements well
If you are applying for roles that are similar to your current role, then you would not have to spend too much time understanding the job requirements; however, if you are applying to a job that is tangential to your current role or something you don't have a first-hand experience on, it is best to break the job requirements into its component parts.
Explain the importance of analyzing the job description thoroughly. Highlight that tailoring the cover letter to the specific requirements demonstrates to employers that the applicant is genuinely interested in the position.
This step can be relatively easy - highlight on the screen or on the print out of the job description, the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. This understanding will serve as the foundation for customizing your cover letter.
Example: If you are applying to a Product Manager Technical job, skills such as product roadmap development, implementing Agile methodology, product research, prototyping, A/B testing, and Data analysis and extracting insights can be categorized as primary skills. Qualifications, however the job description is written, are easy to notice.
2. Research the company
Delve into the company's culture, values, and mission. Incorporate this knowledge into your cover letter to demonstrate not only your suitability for the role but also your genuine interest in becoming part of the company's journey.
The company's home page is usually a good place to understand what the company cares about the most, and usually these are reflected in the job description. Once you identify the 2 or 3 keywords as to what the company cares about the most, it is easy to see how they match your personal and professional values and include them in the cover letter.
3. Address the cover letter to the hiring manager
This one is relatively straight forward since the job descriptions usually have the hiring contact's name included. Whenever possible, address your cover letter to the hiring manager by name. We say whenever possible, since there may be cases a person's name may be replaced by a team's name on the job description as the hiring contact. This personal touch shows that you've taken the time to read the job description well and adds a level of professionalism to your application.
4. Customize the content
This steps follows steps 1 and 2 very closely. Once you identified the primary skills and what the company cares about the most, align your skills, experiences, and achievements with the specific requirements outlined in the job description. Provide concrete examples of how your past experiences make you an ideal candidate for the position. Importantly, reorder the skills as they appear on your cover letter. Aim to match the order of the primary skills on the job description.
Example: Imagine you have three professional achievements from your most recent employment, one each on three primary skills such as data analysis, market research and stakeholder management; but, you do see agile discipline mentioned several times in the job description in addition to data analysis and market research, you might want to include an achievement related to agile methodologies instead of stakeholder management.
5. Showcase achievements
Rather than merely listing job duties, emphasize your accomplishments. Use metrics and specific examples to illustrate the impact you've had in previous roles. This not only provides evidence of your abilities but also sets you apart from other applicants. Quantify in whatever terms possible. If you think including $ values could be sensitive, quantify achievements in terms of ratios instead.
6. Focus on including keywords
Referring to the point we made earlier about intelligent automations in place, it is important to incorporate relevant keywords from the job description. Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) AKA intelligent automations, and including these keywords increases the likelihood that your cover letter will pass through these systems.
Example: Use the same keywords as the job description. Although the ATS systems have gotten more adept at finding synonyms and extract similar meanings, you are better off including the same words as in the job description. If the job description has "throughput time", change your "lead time" to "throughput time".
7. Make the opening and closing memorable
Begin your cover letter with a captivating opening that immediately grabs the reader's attention. End on a strong note by expressing enthusiasm for the position and a genuine desire to contribute to the company's success. The word captivating is subjective definitely, but do your best to show you care about getting this job.
Example: A good opening and closing could look like below
Opening
Dear John Doe,
As an innovative marketing professional with a track record of driving brand visibility and engagement, I was thrilled to discover the Technical Product Manager position at Tech Product Solutions, Inc. Your commitment to offering start ups innovative new product launch solutions resonates deeply with my passion to help companies launch products better and faster, and I am eager to bring my unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking to your dynamic team.
From spearheading successful social media campaigns to leveraging data analytics for targeted audience outreach, my experience aligns seamlessly with the challenges and opportunities outlined in your job description. As someone passionate about leveraging AI and ML in product development, I am excited about the prospect of contributing to Tech Product Solutions, Inc.'s continued success in the ever-evolving product development arena.
Closing
I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to discuss in more detail how my skills and experiences align with the needs of Tech Product Solutions. I am confident that my contributions will not only meet but exceed your expectations for the Technical Product Manager role.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to Tech Product Solutions' growth and success. Please find my resume attached for your reference, and I welcome the chance to discuss how I can bring value to your team in a personal interview.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
8. Don't miss proofreading
Before submitting your cover letter, carefully proofread it to catch any errors. Usually the misspelt words that go missing are the ones that end up accidentally being another word. So read it a couple of times until you can't find any. If you found an error even on the third time reading, you can be sure there is probably a few more. Reading it aloud usually helps catch.
Good luck!