Cover Letter Strategy

Most people make the mistake of narrating their resume in a cover letter. Since the hiring manager has already seen your bullet points, you should avoid reading them back in a different format. Instead, your cover letter should add new information and should be a place to promote yourself and show how you can add value.

What is the goal of a Cover Letter?

The goal is to show the employer that you can fix the specific problems their department is facing and to showcase your skills beyond your resume.

What is your task?

Before you start writing, start brainstorming. Draw a line on a piece of paper. On one side, write the things the job description mentions repeatedly. If they bring up tight deadlines several times, that is a clear pain point. On the other side, write down a specific time you managed that exact situation successfully. Make sure you can quantify your successes. For example, don’t just say you grew the company's social media following—provide a number to highlight how. For example, “I tripled the company's social media following in the first quarter.” When you actually draft the letter, only talk about the items that directly solve their problems. Anything else is just noise.

How do you convey that you are the right person for the job?

Every time you state a fact about yourself, imagine the reader asking why it matters. If you say you know how to use certain software, follow it up by explaining how that skill lets you turn raw footage into polished clips in a few hours. This shows them that your presence allows the rest of the team to focus on bigger projects.

How do you conclude the cover letter?

The final step is moving from what you did to what you will do. Think of it as offering a service and fulfilling a need. Showing that you have already figured out how to help puts you ahead of most other applicants.