Many of my clients have found success using their 1:1 meetings with me to develop the stories of their career so they have options to place in their cover letters. Those stories then also become the leads for their interview prep. We have to be on our own team and know our own message, it’s part of your strategy.

To help you craft your own story, I’ve created a list of cover letter tips gleaned from my years in recruiting top talent around the world. 

MY TOP COVER LETTER WRITING TIPS:

1. If there is more than one “and” in the sentence, find a way to get rid of one or make two sentences. 

2. Make more statements and less explanations. 

3. Keep your eyes open to spot: too many adjectives syndrome

4. Be careful to not write too much about yourself when you should target writing why you fit the role or align with the company values or mission instead.  The Goal is to connect yourself to the role not describe your background and experience only

5.  When you edit your cover letter, delete phrases like: ‘I think’, ‘just’, ‘really’, or ‘very’ . Use direct language and take these unnecessary adjectives out

6. Once you have crafted an updated and solid cover letter about your experience, you can re-use the bulk of the cover letter and will only need write 1-3 new sentences to tailor it to a new opportunity.

Remember:  

1. There is no guarantee anyone will read the whole cover letter (if they read it at all) so be sure to start with a clear 1-2 sentences of why you are a match or fit for the role and how you align with their mission or how their values resonate. Be direct, make your candidacy obvious to move forward.

2. Consider the entire composition of your cover letter and the order of your content. Remember many people are distracted, multi-tasking and it’s likely that the first person to see your cover letter will give it a quick skim. Your cover letter should not lead with your current experience then connect it to the company at the last paragraph. You cannot expect that everyone will get to your conclusion.

3. A cover letter needs to connect you to the role or company clearly and concisely so the reader can easily understand 

My Insider Veteran Recruiter’s Perspective: 

Here are three things you can convey in a cover letter that would make me move someone to the next step in the interview process

1.  Your cover letter makes me want to learn more about you
   
2.  The highlights in your cover letter make me want to read your resume (or view portfolio) to learn more
   
3. I can imagine repeating the highlights you describe to my hiring team to either pitch your candidacy or to prep them to meet you

Throughout my career as a recruiter and career coach, I’ve seen many cover letters that need more of a leadership tone and professional description. Getting help with these points is necessary for many of us, nobody teaches us these lessons in school or our jobs. 

If you’re looking for more personalized expertise and help as you navigate a job search, consider grabbing a session with us. The Allora team will work with you to refresh your resume, create an eye-catching cover letter, and more!