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It's The Cover Letter, Okay?
Jun 5 2009
"A great resume will get you not-rejected, a great cover letter will get you hired."
At least that's what David Heinemeier of the company 37Signals thinks. After reviewing scads of candidates, he's come to the conclusion that the resume, if reasonably presentable, is reduced to a check list of skills and experience. But it's the cover letter that will set you apart. He writes:
When I'm saddled with 70 applications for a job, I have to make some rough cuts very quickly. I literally have to decimate the pool. With the resume only doing 20% of the job, the key is left with the cover letter.
This means that 'If you like my resume, give me a call' doesn't make the cut for a cover letter. I need more romance and originality than that to pick up the phone.
So there you go, folks. Real world insight from a real hiring manager faced with culling through candidates. The take away: All that advice about tailoring your cover letter to the company and job? Turns out it's really true. Heinemeier goes on to explain:
t also means that you really have to tailor your tone to the company. Pulling out your Business Serious voice and addressing 'Dear Hiring Manager' instantly kicks you down a few levels....
The gut reaction builds immediately. If the first paragraph is a strike, the second has to work that much harder. If there's no hook in the first three, it's highly unlikely that anything is going to come of it.
So what does a cover letter good enough to get past Heinemeier look like? It's Web designer Jason Zimdars' Web introduction. In it, it's clear he's done his research. As a result, it hits the right tone and covers all bases. What Zimdars has done might not work for everyone in finance, his clean professional approach to his online persona is something to think about. And, we should note, Heinemeier's attitude toward suits certainly isn't in the mainstream of finance, but it does point toward the importance of understanding a firm's culture before you go off to the interview.
This guy may be right...but there is simpler way. READ THE REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. Understand the tone and granularity of the job requirement. 90% Chances are hiring manager has created the job requirements which will give you his perspective of an ideal candidate. Regardless of your qualifications, they have just one concern, WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE TABLE? Update your cover letter with respect to what requirement or project specifies. Most of us are rushed to the interviews and thats when we come to know what the project is all about. So please DONT FORGET THANK YOU letters. This is where you can add icing of your experience according to what you have gathered from your interview. Hope this helps who are looking for the job.
chaitanya 10 Jun 2009
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