11 Things You Should Assess in Every Cover Letter You Read

11 Things You Should Assess in Every Cover Letter You Read 11 Things You Should Assess in Every Cover Letter You Read Welcome to Recruiter QA, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers Have a question youd like to ask? Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in the next installment of Recruiter QATodays Question Weve written before about what employees should include in their titelseite letters, but today, we want to approach it from a new angle How should hiring managers assess cover letters? What signs should they look for that a candidate is worth an einstellungsgesprch?1. Make Sure Its Not Too DenseMy No. 1 pet peeve on cover letters is vertically dense pages with information dating back to the candidates first award in elementary school. It takes 40 minutes to read through. I dont really have that much time to read through this, and I dont really want to. - Pierre Tremblay, Dupray2. Look for Personality, Promise, and ProofLo ok for personality, promise, and proof. Any candidate that can break free of the I am writing to apply for mold, clearly articulate how theyd solve your problem, and provide evidence from their past that proves their abilities is well worth your time. Why? Because the message reflects genuine interest. This candidate is leid just shooting from the hip. Theyre invested in the opportunity theyve done their research. Most importantly, theyve already visualized how they can create success for your team. - Erica Breuer, Cake Resumes 3. Is It Addressed to a Specific Person?One of the biggest signs a candidate is worth interviewing is if they addressed their cover letter. This should be addressed to a specific contact name.- Dana Case, MyCorporation.com 4. How Proactive Is the Candidate?Most applicants simply summarize their resumes in their cover letters. However, proactive individuals look for opportunities to provide value to a business before they have even been offered a job. One si gn a candidate is worth interviewing is if they offer specific advice in their cover letter for how the business could improve and ways they could help. This not only shows they have researched the company, but also demonstrates their ability to take initiative and generate new ideas.- Bill Battey, Mindyra 5. Check for Core ValuesI recommend hiring managers look for signs of a potential employees core values when assessing a cover letter. Employees can acquire new skills, grow in knowledge, and experience shifts in life circumstances, but core values never change which is why the fruchtwein toxic and irreconcilable form of misalignment between a company and an employee occurs when the values of the organization and the individual are opposed. - Chanel Dokun, LifePlan NYC 6. Do They Have Communication Skills?A cover letter establishes an applicants most fundamental formal writing skills. Writing a basic, single-page letter shouldnt be that difficult, and if an employee has a hard t ime communicating here, theyll certainly have trouble communicating in high pressure conditions, regardless of the position. - Adam Hatch, ResumeGenius.com 7. Does the Candidate Have a Track Record of Achievements?Great achievements dont necessarily need to be work-related to indicate success. Case in point Athletic achievements show the candidate is competitive and can work on a team leadership achievements show an ability to support and motivate others being part of a college Greek organization or social club demonstrates interpersonal skills volunteering shows the candidate can work with others toward common goals. A consistent track record of achievements is one of the best indicators of success in a new job. - Jordan Wan, CloserIQ 8. Customization Is KeyIs the letter generic (sent to all potential employers) with no specifics about the job, company, or how the candidate would be an asset? If it appears to be generic, the candidate has questionable investment in your company. They are just looking to get a job and sending out mass applications. - Laura MacLeod, From the Inside Out Project (Photo credit Joe Henson)9. Does the Candidate Get Your Culture?Before you assess your applicants cover letter, think about your company culture. Is it happy and light-hearted? Formal and businesslike? Identify the voice of your company, and then read the cover letter with that in mind. Ideally, it should read like it was written by someone who gets the company culture, because that means either the writer is a natural fit for the position, or they did their homework by assessing your companys website and other brand touchstones and then bothered to fit the letter not just to the position, but to your brand as well. - Rebecca West, Rebecca West Interiors 10. Grammar Indicates AttentivenessHiring managers should look closely for any grammatical errors because they speak volumes about a candidates attention to detail. I once received a cover letter from an applicant wh o claimed to have gone to a prestigious collage. I was not impressed - Timothy Wiedman, Retired Associate Professor of Management and Human Resources9. Does the Candidate Show Passion? The most important sign to look for in a cover letter is passion for the industry and for the role. Passion is the No. 1 indicator of strong work ethic and career longevity. Passion can be identified in two ways. First, look for signs of conscious, smart choices in the applicants career story. Second, look for signs of community involvement that tie to the candidates career. - Kelvin Jiang, Buyside Focus