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Cover Letters: The Good, the Boring, and the Bright Green
First things first:
yes, even in this day and age, you still have to write a cover letter. We knowmany employers who are swayed by great cover letters. Plus, if you're career transitioning, itgives you a forum for explaining exactly why you want to switch from selling paper clips toselling solar panels, and how you're qualified to do so.
Okay, with that issue dispatched, let's move on to the nitty-gritty.
Who am I writing to?
•
DO:
Try to track down the name of the hiring manager, using LinkedIn or the companywebsite or Lead411. If you can't find it, you can name the team you're applying to (suchas "The LEED Projects Team," "The Marketing Department"). And if you manage to findtheir name, spell it correctly!
•
DON'T:
Address it to "Dear Sirs" or anything that's gender specific, unless you know who'sgoing to be reading the cover letter (in which case, you should be using their name).
What am I writing?
•
DON'T:
Send a generic cover letter. There's nothing worse than reading a cover letter that the applicant has obviously put no thought into at all (or has leftover remnants of itsprevious incarnation for a totally different and unrelated position). If you're not going tobother making it at least tangentially relevant to the position you're applying for, you'dbe better off leaving it out entirely.
•
DO:
FollowJames Dilworth's advicefor how to craft a cover letter. Someone in our community sent us this link to his Craigslist "Best of" post on how to apply to a job, and wegenerally couldn't agree more with his thoughts. Basically,
DO NOT
write a cover letter that sounds like every other person's cover letter. Use bullets where appropriate to pullout the most important ideas; use precise language and specific examples instead ofgeneric language; do not exceed a page (aim for about half a page). See our samplecover letters below.
•
DON'T:
Include random keywords at the bottom of your resume and/or cover letter.We've seen people do this -- including companies they haven't worked for, productsthey haven't sold, universities they haven't attended. Yes, some applicant trackingsystems will generate an "automated" match based on word matching, but regardless ofwhether you make that first cut, your dishonesty/trickery in that first round will not gounnoticed, and you will probably just annoy the hiring manager that has to read your cover letter that's irrelevant to their position.
How should I send it?
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DO:
Follow all instructions. Send your resume to the right place, with the right subjectheader if the company specifies it, and with all the required questions answered. That'snot to say you can't embellish here and there, but you need to make sure your resumemakes it to the right place. Many companies use automated forwarding systemsdepending on the title, or can only receive applications through their website.
•
DO:
Copy the text of your cover letter in to the body of an email, if that's how you're
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applying. It increases the chances of your note being read, or something in the cover letter sparking interest in the hiring manager at first glance. Otherwise, we'll likely gostraight for your resume, and if we have no context for why you're interested, we might just move right on to the next candidate.
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DON'T:
Upload or submit a cover letter with the document title resembling anything like"Generic Cover Letter" (this only applies if you're uploading it on a site; otherwise itshouldn't have a title, per advice on copying & pasting above).
A couple other thoughts:
•
DON'T:
Forget to spell check. There's no excuse for grammar or spelling errors in the ageof automated spell check.
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DO:
Get the name of the company (including spelling) right. You have no idea howmany times I've read cover letters saying how enthusiastic people are about working at"Big Green Talent." Double check you're getting the position title and company right.
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DON'T:
Say anything snarky about the company in your cover letter. For example, I sawthis one come through recently: "I'm glad I came across Bright Green Talent as I was jobseeking, as I honestly can't say I'd heard of your company before, which is especiallystrange considering I was working previously for one of the most innovative, eco-friendlycompanies in the area." Okay, maybe we're being sensitive, and they did specify theywere glad to find us, but if it doesn't help, don't bother.
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Sample Cover Letters
The Boring:
Dear Sir/Madame,I am writing to apply for the position of Recruiting Consultant with Bright Green Talent, a positionI found listed on GreenBiz. I believe that my exceptional communication skills and passion for green business would allow me to excel in the role.After extensive research, I am convinced that my unique background and work history makeme the best candidate for this position and the growth of your team. I recently received aMaster's in Environmental Studies from XXXXX University, where I gained invaluablecommunication abilities and a deep understanding of the environmental challenges facingours and future generations. Before receiving my Master's, I worked as a consultant at XXXXCompany, where I developed my analytical skills and the ability to finish projects on timewithout significant oversight or guidance.Personally, I am an entrepreneurial and reliable person and work well with a team or independently. I am passionate about environmental issues and would love to join your team inworking towards a brighter future.To conclude, I believe that my personal, professional and educational background prepare meto be a key player in growing out your company. I look forward to discussing employmentopportunities with you in the near future. I am available for an interview at your earliestconvenience.Thank you in advance for your consideration.Sincerely,Carolyn Mansfield
What's wrong with this picture?
•
Take a step back
-- you could substitute almost any other company name in the green sector for Bright Green Talent. This person claims to have done "extensive research," but doesn'tdemonstrate that at all. What particular initiatives at the company are interesting to you? What'sthe biggest news at the company recently? Showing you've done your homework and thoughtabout the fit will help convince the employer you're serious about pursuing the role.
•
There isn't a single concrete example
in here of how the applicant has experience doing thetypes of tasks they'd be required to do in the new role. Be as specific as possible.
•
Like you learned in 5th grade English class:
show, don't tell
. Actions and achievements spea
k louder than fluffy language (what does "exceptional communication skills" even mean?).
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We don't see any of the person's
motivations
. Why did they go back to get a Master's? Whatareas of study were particularly interesting? What types of projects most inspired them and makethem want to work with Bright Green Talent?
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Use the job description
and go through point by point - what are the qualities they most need?How does your own experience map to those needs? The more concrete you can get, the better off you'll be.
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