By Hillary Mantis
Does anyone really like to sit down and write a cover letter? Not too many of you, I’ll bet. I don’t blame you, it can be difficult. Do employers even read cover letters? You never know. In general I think they do at least skim them. But just in case they really do focus on your cover letter, it’s good to be prepared.
Here are some pointers:
Be Concise: Don’t feel like you have to write about every job and internship you have ever held. Generally, three to four paragraphs is fine. Focus on what you have done in terms of employment, internships, or coursework that actually relates to the job you are apply for; this is a way to market yourself, not a summary of all of your experience. You just need to find a “hook” — a link between your experience, and their open position.
Just today I read a resume that was a beautiful summary of the person’s litigation experience. The only problem was that she was trying to apply for a corporate job. It turned out that she had an undergraduate degree in Finance, so we incorporated that into her cover letter so that it would make more sense and be more targeted to the employer.
Stick to the facts. I would go through your cover letter and delete all generic, nonfactual phrases such as “I am a hard worker and a team player,” or “I would be an asset to your organization.” In my opinion, in the legal field at least, they prefer to hear where you have worked and what you have accomplished.
How to avoid typos: I would not just spellcheck your cover letter. I would actually email it to yourself, or a friend, and read it line for line. If you email it to yourself, you will see how it appears, and if anything is highlighted or underlined that needs to be corrected. You are applying for a job as a lawyer, so you want to impress them with how detailed oriented and accurate you are in your cover letter.
Along those lines, make it easy to read. It should be not more than one page. Try not to start every sentence with the same verb. I just read a cover letter that had three sentences in a row that started with “I was responsible for…” I would also cut and paste the heading with your name and contact information from your resume to your cover letter, so they match. Use the same font so it looks pretty. If you make your cover letter easy to read, target a few key points for the employer, and make it look pretty, before you know it you will be done writing cover letters, and instead, going on interviews.
Hillary Mantis works individually with law students, pre-law students, and lawyers. She is the author of Alternative Careers for Lawyers. You can write to Hillary at altcareer@aol.com.
