Writing a disruptive cover letter

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5 Parts Of A Cover Letter (AKA How To Write A Good One!)

Every resume should be accompanied by the five parts of a cover letter. In this article, I am going to demonstrate the mechanics of a well written cover letter. I hope this provides some knowledge about the parts of a cover letter, and enables you to generate interest from a hiring manager.

How do you structure a cover letter?

A great cover letter has five parts: the salutation, the opening, the hook, the paragraph of knowledge, and the close.

1. The Salutation (The Hello)

Before writing your cover letter, you should research the company you're applying to. This includes finding the name of the hiring manager who will be reading your resume and cover letter. Get a name, any name. By hook or by crook try to get a name. Sometimes you can'tâthen try Dear hiring manager.

2. The Opening (The Grab)

The opening paragraph of your cover letter is your introduction and presents the reader with some immediate and focused information about your connection to the company. Don't just reiterate what you say in your resume. Explain what you admire about the company you're applying to. Essentially, you need to tell a story about why you want to work for them. It should "grab" the hiring manager and disrupt them in some way (hence a disruptive cover letter).

3. The Second Paragraph (The Hook)

Woman reads her cover letter on her laptop

This paragraph should define some examples of the work performed and the results achieved. It should be connected to your resume. This does not mean you should copy verbatim what is in the resume. Rather, cover some key competencies that you feel define your success. Provide the hiring manager with some added context about your unique background, blending those facts with language from the job description. Set the stage for how you are qualified for the role you are applying to. But, don't overdo it.

In the event you are highlighting some information not contained in the resume (if you are switching careers, or have a unique value proposition), this is the perfect place to cover that information.

4. The Third Paragraph (Paragraph Of Knowledge)

Job seeker writes his cover letter on his laptop

Next, demonstrate something you know about the company (its goals, recent achievements, etc.) that prompted you to write. Then, select a couple of examples from your resume that you believe will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Reword these achievements and frame them in a way that shows the employers what you can do for them. This shows the reader that you did some preliminary homework and understand the company's drivers and goals.

Try to include quantifiable examples wherever possible since numbers usually resonate more than words.

5. The Fourth Paragraph (The Close)

Woman on laptop writing her cover letter for a job posting

In the closing paragraph, quickly summarize what you offer, ask for the interview, and close by thanking the hiring manager for taking the time to read your cover letter.

It's important to help the reader connect the dots to show them why you are a great job candidate, a business-of-one who can provide a service they need with a personal connection to the company that is invaluable.

That's it!

What should not be included in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should not include:

A boring opening line
Long paragraphs
A recap of your resume
Irrelevant information
A boring closing statement

The above template provides what I believe to be the most important parts of any cover letter.â I hope these tips help you feel confident when writing your next cover letter!

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5 Parts Of A Cover Letter (AKA …

How To Write A Cover Letter Recruiters Will LOVE

True or false? Recruiters don't read cover letters.

Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They're wrong!

Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.

So, what does that tell us? If most people don't hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren't written well and, therefore, don't stand out to them.

That may be hard to hear, but it's the truth.

CRITICAL Cover Letter Mistakes

Often, there's WAY too much "blah, blah, blah" and "brag, brag, brag" going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.

Why? Because it's exactly like all the other cover letters they've read.

Think about it. Why should they think you're incredible when they've read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?

If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn't be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume. That's huge, right?

Getting Personal On Your Cover Letter

Job candidate on laptop writing a cover letter

Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.

So, how exactly do you do that?

You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.

Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.

Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.

The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at "hello," you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.

Creating That Crucial Connection

Recruiter reads a cover letter from a job candidate

The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter. Once you establish that connection, you're not just a piece of paper anymore.

This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter. Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.

The First Step When Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter

Woman on laptop takes an online cover letter writing course from Work It Daily

The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You're going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.

Step 2: Fill Out A Simple Template

You'll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.

Step 3: Submit That Cover Letter For Review

Man getting his cover letter reviewed by a friend

Once you're done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.

It's always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar, spelling, etc.

So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you've built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You'll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you're applying to.

Does The Disruptive Cover Letter REALLY Work?

Woman shakes hands with the hiring manager before a job interview

Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We've seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!

So, wouldn't learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?

All of us at Work It Daily personally believe that it's priceless.

Owning your career change or job search process is a powerful thing, and we believe you can take control of that process and do incredible things.

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How To Write A Cover Letter Recruiters …

4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter

In my experience as an executive resume writer, cover letters only get read about a third of the time they are sent. That being said, when one is required, or you are hoping for that added edge to get a hiring manager's attention, there is no doubt a great cover letter can make all the difference.

To accomplish this, your cover letter must be disruptive and draw them in.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you're writing a disruptive cover letter.

Paragraph 1: Tell A Story

Woman writes a disruptive cover letter for a job opening

In the first paragraph of your disruptive cover letter, you need to establish a connection between you and the employer. How do you do that? Well, you need to tell a story.

The surest way to stand out to employers is to tell a story about why you feel connected to their company.

Don't just reiterate what you say in your resume in the very first paragraph of your cover letter. Explain what you admire about the company you're applying to. Do they sell a product or provide a service that's had a big impact on your life? Do they support causes you are passionate about? Why do you feel connected to their mission?

Ultimately, you want to tell a story about what drew you to the company, and the important role it has played in your life.

Paragraph 2: Dig Deeper And Get Them Excited About What Comes Next

Man writes a disruptive cover letter to impress hiring managers

The second paragraph must provide the hiring manager with some added context about your unique background, and set the stage for some career highlights that, to quote an old saying, "puts your money where your mouth is."

Blend language from the job description together with nuggets of information that are unique to you. Set the stage for how you are qualified for the role you are applying to. But, don't overdo it.

Continue your story and relate it to the position, all while emphasizing that connection.

Paragraph 3: Hard Hitting Highlights

Job seeker writes a disruptive cover letter

Select a couple of examples from your resume that you believe will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Rather than a complete cut and paste, reword these achievements and frame them in a way that shows the employers what you can do for them.

In many cases, numbers resonate more than words, so be sure to include quantifiable examples wherever possible.

Paragraph 4: Say Goodbye While Refreshing Their Memory

In this fourth and last paragraph, be sure to thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read your disruptive cover letter (remember that not all managers do!).

Next, use this last bit of space to help the reader connect the dots to show them why you are a great job candidate, a business-of-one who can provide a service they need with a personal connection to the company that is invaluable.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make yours count with an impactful and disruptive cover letter that separates you from the competition!

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4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover …

7 Cover Letter Mistakes You Make When Applying Via Email

How many times have you applied to a job via email by shooting the employer a copy of your resume and cover letter? I'm going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you've been searching for any significant length of time.

Here are some of the most notorious cover letter mistakes we've seen when job seekers apply via email and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed (Make sure you remember these as you write your disruptive cover letter!):

1. Attaching The Cover Letter To The Email

What's wrong with that, you ask? Most hiring managers aren't going to open the cover letter and read it. They'll go straight to the resume instead. Want to ensure your cover letter gets read? Copy and paste it into the body of the email. Whoever received the email will be much more likely to read it if it's already right there in front of their face.

2. Writing Your Whole Life Story In The Body Of The Email

Man emails his cover letter to an employer

Don't go overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won't be willing to invest a lot of time reading your email. Keep it short and to the point.

3. Providing Information Not Relevant To The Position

Here is a great example:

When I want to bring an additional resume/cover letter writer on staff, I'm not looking for someone with technical writing expertise, article writing skills, or journalism savvy. Those forms of writing aren't relevant to what we do here. I want a writer who has extensive expertise and certification in resume writing. If someone goes on and on in their cover letter (or in the body of the email) about all their other writing experience, they will lose my interest. Instead, I want them to tell me about their most relevant experience as it relates to my needs. I want them to tell me about any resume writing experience they have.

Give the hiring manager a brief overview of the most relevant experience you have, appropriate to the position they are trying to fill. This will pique their interest—rather than lose it.

4. Excluding Information They've Specifically Asked You To Include

Depending on the position, the employer may ask you to submit a sample of your work, portfolio, hours of availability, or even salary requirements. Whatever it is they've asked you to include, make sure you include it in your cover letter. If not, you will most certainly be removed from consideration for failing to follow instructions.

Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job posting not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from experience because 9 out of 10 applicants will fail to address every stipulation the employer has listed. It happens to us all the time.

5. Not Using A Cover Letter At All

We've received emails from applicants, and the body of the email provides either little or no information whatsoever. Some simply state, “Here is my resume for your review." You are selling yourself short by not including at least a brief introduction, especially if the employer outlines specific requirements.

Take the time to write, “I see you need someone with availability to work nights and weekends; I would enjoy working these hours and am available to do so." Or, “I have included a sample of my work for your consideration along with my resume. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me."

6. Forgetting To Tell Them Why You're The Best Fit

Let me tell you about one of THE BEST cover letters I've ever seen: I could tell this person put effort into it—and she took the time to specifically and meticulously review our job requirements. She scrutinized our requirements and detailed in her cover letter how she had experience meeting those needs. It was applicable, relevant, and attention-getting. It was probably one of the only cover letters that actually made us want to read the corresponding resume.

7. Using A Boring Closing Statement

Woman sends her cover letter to an employer

Instead of using the same old boring line, spice it up a bit. One of the more daring cover letter closings I have read closed with, “Call today, don't delay." I applauded her boldness and had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs.

What I am trying to get you to see is boring the hiring manager with details not relevant to the job opening—or not making the most of the space and time you're getting—is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes to tweak your cover letter, but in the end, if you get the interview, won't it be worth it?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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