Using Cover Letters to Build
Relationships
by Debbie Today a client
asked me to explain the differences between a resume and a
cover letter.
Many people assume that the cover letter is just a formality
and simply something hiring managers and recruiters have
come to expect. But the cover letter serves a much higher
purpose.
Job search is about building relationships and proving to a
prospective employer that you are a good fit for the
organization and someone who will forge a positive
relationship with the firm.
Your cover letter is your first opportunity to establish
rapport with an employer with a style that's less
"formulaic" than the resume, the cover letter allows you to
interject more about your personal brand and competencies
and identify your reasons for career progressions, shifts,
and detours.
In a sense, the cover letter humanises the process of search
and lessens the tedium managers face when combing through a
mountain of resumes.
In addition, a good cover letter addresses the employer's
needs and showcases the candidate's ability to figure out
employers' problems and proactive solutions.
So next time you draft a cover letter, think of it as a key
"touchpoint" with a hiring manager, rather than a required
form letter.
|