Some people will tell you the cover letter you submit with your résumé doesn't really matter. Others will tell you that it definitely does. The truth is somewhere in-between: Your cover letter doesn't matter until it does.
What that means is, if your application makes it past the computer's keyword search algorithm and into the hands of a human, it ends up there with potentially dozens of other candidates. Those job seekers also are qualified enough to make it past the first round. Only a select few will be interviewed. This is where the cover letter becomes important.
This is your opportunity to make a good impression, so toss out the Microsoft Word template, add your contact information, put your hair up (where applicable) and write something that will get you the interview.
Here are a few tips to help you do it.
1. Grab Their Attention.
What is the thing that would make you different from the other applicants? Do you speak another language, something that really would help them out in their industry? Did you work for the president of the United States? Is there something about your experience or education that would "wow" someone in your industry?
That should be in your first paragraph.
2. Include Your Soft Skills.
As a veteran, you aren't applying for the job fresh from high school or college. You've been working as a team and interacting with customers for years. This has taught you skills that aren't taught in schools, such as customer service, teamwork, group leadership and management. That's not something everyone can bring, so be sure to note that you can.
One soft skill veterans easily can boast about that many other entry- or lower-level applicants probably can't is discipline. Consider talking about how military discipline has been instilled in everything you do.
3. Tell Them Why You Want the Job.
You don't want the job because you're leaving the military and need money. You don't want it as a steppingstone to another job or career. People hiring for positions are looking for candidates who will hold the job for a long time. They don't want to fill the position again after a year.
You want a chance to work and grow with a company whose mission is in line with your own. You want to work and grow in an organization that lets you use your past experience but also will challenge you with more responsibilities when the time comes. The correct answer will not be only about you; it will be about the company who might hire you.
4. Tell Them Why You're a Strong Applicant.
You fit all the requirements for education and experience. You have all the necessary skills. Maybe you even have all the desired skills. You also bring something no one who applied for the job is likely to have. Tell them this makes you a great fit for the job.
Don't tell them you're the only one or that no one else can do what you do. After all, they're holding potentially dozens of other qualified résumés. So they know better. But it doesn't hurt to let them know you have everything they're looking for.
5. Include Something They Can't Get from Your Resume.
Maybe there was something you left off your résumé, because it couldn't be explained in a bullet point, or even one line. Maybe you left off a less common program, computer language or other skill that wasn't exactly in the job description. You're a veteran, so you might have relevant military experience that might interest them.
While you want to let them know you fit the requirements, don't rehash your resume line by line. They already read your education and experience. This is a chance to display the inside knowledge of your industry by mentioning relevant experience or skills that didn't make the resume cut.
6. Edit That Letter. Twice.
There's nothing more disappointing to a human resources professional than having a perfect candidate's resume in hand and then reading a cover letter full of spelling, grammatical or usage errors. If there's one area that can get you disqualified in an instant, it's here.
While you're reviewing your cover letter for those errors, be sure to make sure your contact info is correct, that the letter is addressed properly and that you're actually sending it to the right person.
7. Cut It Down to One Page.
A multi-page cover letter is pretty much unheard-of anywhere in the working world. People who have enough relevant work experience and education to fill multiple pages don't have to apply for jobs in their industry at their level.
Even though you may have done some incredible things in the military, very little of that will be relevant to the job, so keep it short and sweet.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.
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