Customizing Cover Letters Made Easy
Every job seeker understands the dangers of using a stock cover letter. To shrewd employers who can easily spot a generic letter, it means an applicant doesn’t care enough about landing the job.
However, no one is busier than a sincere job hunter. And now that most applications are accepted through corporate Web sites, the process requires applicants to move faster than ever while still drawing attention to their qualifications. Where is the time to write a specific cover letter for every possible job opening?
The trick lies in developing a solid template that can be easily customized for a specific employer. The template must be designed so that when executed, it could be used only for one position. In an article from Careerbuilder.com, Pennell Locey, a senior consultant for a career management firm in Boston says, “As a rule of thumb: If your cover letter could be true for any job/company you apply for, then it isn't targeted enough.”
Once past the date, address and salutation, which of course must be customized, a good place to start is at the beginning. According to the New York Department of Labor Web site, the first 20 words of a cover letter are the most crucial. It stands to reason that this first sentence may be a primary location to customize the letter to the targeted employer.
For those applying within a chosen field, its likely that the skills and values the applicant notes in the letter will be similar from application to application. Job seekers can keep those areas standard, and add in references to the company name, its function and goals. For example “I’m interested in using my ability to (specific skill) in order to help XYZ Company achieve (business goal).” Those answering ads or postings will want to add in an area to reference the ad and the need it expresses as well. Another idea is to add a line that can be customized regarding recent news about the employer.
To use the template method most effectively, candidates should develop a letter that might be used to apply for a job. Job hunters can imagine an employer, or refer to one they’ve applied with. In areas where company names and information are referenced, replace the words with a bracket that notes what should be filled in, for instance {COMPANY NAME}, {RECENT NEWS}. To assure that none of these customization markers are missed when filling in the template, job hunters should consider highlighting these areas as well.
The template should be saved to a safe place, as should each version used in an application. Over time, job seekers can evaluate the completed documents to improve and further customize the letter
