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 Cover Letters

by Eric Celidonio,  with citations from The Perfect Cover Letter, 2nd Edition by Richard Beatty

A Cover Letter, accompanying your resume, can be a critical tool to the overall effectiveness of your job search. If carefully thought out and well designed, it can be analogous to the well designed cover of a good book—attracting attention, raising curiosity, and begging the reader to read on. It can often be as effective as a resume in highlighting important details and it does it in a way that a resume cannot.

Contrasting this, a poorly written cover letter can be detrimental to an otherwise successful job-hunting campaign.  The way this letter is organized, “what” it says, “how” it is stated, what is included and excluded or emphasized are all-critical to its effectiveness. Even an excellent resume can’t be saved when attached to a poorly written cover letter. This is also the forum to discuss gaps in employment or a change in career. Do this with an unapologetic tone, citing the driving factors (being laid off, children, receiving a degree).  Put a positive spin on this this/ these event(s), and emphasize the positive effects that they have had on you.

For science professionals, cover letters are essential. This is primarily because the many complicated systems that an average scientist works with often can’t be elaborated on to a great extent by a resume alone. This doesn’t mean that it should be a rambling description of what’s on your resume—not by a long shot. It does need to highlight the most pertinent parts of one’s resume with respect to the position that he or she is candidacy for.  It should offer some elaboration on the technology or expertise utilized by the individual using enough detail to convey basic understanding. Keep out the heavy jargon and make it readable to a “high schooler” but yet have enough meat for a senior scientist (remember HR, secretaries, hiring managers and administration may all peruse this letter).

PhD’s especially should use the cover letter as a means to promote important publications, abstracts or presentations that are directly related to the position at hand. This letter is also valuable as a name dropping-tool. Citing your work with prominent people or using the name of a mutual friend or warm contact is probably the single best way to draw attention to yourself as a candidate.

There are a number of things that are inferred while reading a cover letter. A clear, efficiently worded cover letter demonstrates a consciences, proficient person while a sloppy poorly written cover letter can suggest a disregard for quality of work (or worse). Remember that this is a first impression and it will have a great deal of impact on how the reader perceives you from the start.

Dos and Don’ts 

1)    Avoid sending your letter to Personnel or Human Resources. To say these departments are inundated with paperwork is an understatement.  Target functional managers instead.

2)     Always use a name. Sending a letter to a “Sir” or a “Madam” most people don't read junk mail and if you haven't taken the time to address your target, your letter could be headed for the trash barrel . If you don’t know who is hiring for a given position, find out.

3)    Customize the letter to each individual opportunity. It is Ok to use a template but make sure to add some personalization to differentiate it from spam and junk mail.

4)    Keep it to 3-5 paragraphs and on one page.

5)    If you are responding to an advertised position, mention where you saw it.

6)    Avoid salary issues if at all possible. If it is required that you disclose salary information, be vague and indicate your low-end.

7)    Avoid:                                         

·        Cliché’s and Unrelated Career Goals

·        Wasted Space

·        Inappropriate Stationery (think businesses)

·        Jokes and stories

·        Personal Info, Photos and extraneous information

·        Negative information-this is really a sales/marketing letter!

8)    Type the letter and sign your name Use traditional print-friendly fonts only. Handwritten letters are excellent for “thank you’s” but not so great for cover letters. 

Taking a little extra time in crafting a strong cover letter might just mean the difference between an interview and a "no thank you."

Contact Eric Celidonio

Megalodon: Hunting the Hunter