What are your experiences with cover letters in the private sector?

Elizabeth Malkin — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 10:43:31 -0400

Most job applications in the private sector happen online. Many online applications allow you to choose whether you want to include a cover letter along with your resumé. If you are given such an option, you should always attach your cover letter. You are, in essence, communicating to the hiring manager that you are taking the application process seriously and you wish that he/she take you seriously as well.

What are your experiences with cover letters in the private sector? Do you use them? Have they worked? Do you have tips for other RP members?

The RP Civilian Careers Team has put together a step-by-step guide to cover letters for you, it's a wealth of knowledge, check it out:

http://blog.rallypoint.com/2015/07/tips-on-writing-cover-letters-for.html

RallyPoint.com: Tips on Writing Cover Letters for Veterans

Why would they pair a well-written resume with a resume cover letter template which does nothing to compliment their job skills? I don't know either. resume editing service

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 6 at 2015 10:48 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 10:48:42 -0400

Cover letters are often over looked yet are critical in applying for a position. More often than not, people simply submit their resume thinking that is all they need to do and wonder why there is no call back. Yet, when you submit a well thought out and well written cover letter, the employer is given the chance to learn more about you, the way you think, and the way you present yourself which can all lead to that call back.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jul 6 at 2015 10:48 AM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 10:48:54 -0400

Since most jobs are advertised via internet/Linkedin the cover letter is not always requested. I'm not sure the companies really look at them as much as the info in the resume/profile.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 6 at 2015 11:33 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:33:33 -0400

Every job opportunity I have applied to has expected a cover letter along with a resume.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 6 at 2015 11:51 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:51:09 -0400

IF the posting asks for one, include one.

Working from the other end, I have never once read a cover letter BUT I have included one in almost every job I have applied for? Waste of time and energy? Maybe, but I always would rather be safe than sorry.

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 6 at 2015 11:55 AM

SSG Izzy Abbass — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:55:37 -0400

From my experience, most companies want a cover letter though it is seldom read unless they are really serious about you. Key thing is that it needs to be grammatically correct and should not fill the entire page. Hate to say it but lots of white space on them is a good thing.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 6 at 2015 12:08 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:08:43 -0400

Nothing seems to work so what does it matter.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 6 at 2015 12:43 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:43:55 -0400

Elizabeth Malkin I voted always, if and when there is an option provided to send them by some employers and job boards. I think it is important to communicate your employment objective and point out at least one key aspect of your experience that falls in line with the specific job requirement. It provides a potential employer with a glimpse of your professionalism and you have the ability to create and future written communications. With that said make sure its the very best cover letter, spelled checked and applies business acumen correctly. As a former executive that hired a number of key personnel over the years a cover letter tells me a lot about a potential applicant. I can't tell you how many cover letters I come across that have mistakes, grammatical errors and misspelling. Yes, it is very important from my prospective.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 12:45 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:45:48 -0400

Funny I was thinking about mentioning this on your other post.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 6 at 2015 1:19 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:19:05 -0400

My experience has been the best cover letters are those that clearly link your experience/expertise to the specific needs of the organization. Those cover letters are always more useful than ones that are generic (may indicate laziness and/or carpet-bombing the job market), simply highlight what's already contained in the resume (redundant), and/or only articulate your interest (implied, since you've applied). Show that you've researched the organization, are familiar with the challenge they're facing, and that you are uniquely positioned to be successful in helping them meet that challenge.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 6 at 2015 4:04 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:04:11 -0400

Elizabeth Malkin, I was always under the impression that a cover letter was a brief overview of one's self and their resume. With that in mind when I have applied for jobs online that give the option of including one I try to submit mine. I would say that my experience in hearing back when I include a cover letter is 50/50.

Response by SSG Eric Trace made Jul 6 at 2015 4:21 PM

SSG Eric Trace — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:21:32 -0400

Use them every time, HR managers read the ones with cover letters first, cover letter let's them know about you briefly and how your skills and experience may benefit them. As a portfolio manager for AGMG, when I was hiring no cover letter, circular file!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 7 at 2015 10:23 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 10:23:28 -0400

I was a manager in the Computer Science / Engineering business for years. I have hired several people during that time and interviewed near a hundred and seen probably a thousand resumes. I nearly never saw a cover letter - they were stripped off by HR.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 7 at 2015 2:04 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:04:54 -0400

I have always included a cover letter, even if not specifically asked for it. I learned the hard way that it needs to be tailored to the employer just enough to get their attention but not so much as to be tossed as sucking up. I do think a properly written cover letter can help though.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 7 at 2015 6:31 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 18:31:02 -0400

I always include cover letter with my resume.... regardless if it is an uploaded resume or the "computer generated one" that they have available. If I can not attach a cover letter, I try to copy and paste one into a narrative box or copy it into an email.

Response by SSG Paul Forel made Dec 13 at 2015 2:47 AM

SSG Paul Forel — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 02:47:52 -0500

The Cover Letter advice, above, is actually pretty well written. There are two points I need to mention, though:

1. Use Google and/or LinkedIn to determine who the Hiring Authority is for an advertised position. I would suggest you confirm this by calling and asking that person's admin/executive assistant for confirmation. (She will hasten to tell you that you need to apply to HR and you can either say, 'fine, I'll do just that' or you can take this a step further and ask if she would also take a copy of your resume and print it out and put it on that person's desk.) Sometimes they will agree to do this. This is ten times better than having a company ATS send your application/resume/cover letter into the Twilight Zone or depending on someone who is junior in HR doing the screening**/not qualified de-selecting you and filing your application package. [** Happens all the time]

2. The CL advice refers to metrics- "...improved the ______system by 10%". But the example failed to include a dollar amount to which that percent of change equaled. In other words, drop the other shoe by saying that you improved a process by X%, saving $225,000 [annually]. And if you don't know the dollar amount or percent of change, call your former manager and ask that person for an estimation. Usually, in that scenario, your former manager will pick a percent/dollar amount and you now have both the answers and someone who will back you up when an employer calls for a reference. And, yes, saying ".....approximately $225,000..." is acceptable as long as you don't keep using 'approximately' over and over again in your resume/cover letter.

3. A couple of the example Cover Letters were too long. Remember that the Resume Reader will be reading at MACH 1 and has no time for an in-depth read. Keep your paragraph bullets short and easy to read.