Is There Value In Using A Cover Letter

Is There Value In Using A Cover LetterEver wonder if theres really any point in using a titel letter? Job seekers ask me often if there is any value in using a cover letter, and I answer them with an emphatic YESIF youre using a personable cover letter that youve customized for the employer. If youre just sending out some generic letter that you send to every job openingthen no, it probably wont amount to a hill of beans.The value in a cover letter is found in its ability to make a connection with someoneto communicate information that person wants to hearand to share your story. Here are some examples of the value of a cover letterYou Can Make an IntroductionThis is your opportunity to introduce yourself, indicate the position youre pursuing, and make an immediate connection between your experience and the position sought.You Can Make a Personal ConnectionThe best cover letters Ive read are the ones that make a personal connection between your career experience, talent, and passion and how those fit the opening the employer has available. What connection do you have with the opening? Connect the dots for the employer between you and the opening and you will establish a direct and immediate relationship.You Show Fit and ValueYour cover letter is the place to show why youre the best fit for the position and state how you can bring value to the employer. The best part about a cover letter is you can communicate your fit and the substance you offer in a personal way. You can use I statements and share experiences and passion about a project in a way that your resume does not.You Can Explain Complex SituationsDealing with a challenge in your job search? Examples would be gaps in employment, multiple layoffs, relocations, career changes, apparentor ostensiblejob hopping, and more. If you have what may be considered a challenge or obstacle in your job search, a cover letter is a great place to be direct and address it. You cant do that on a resume, but using a senten ce or two to explain, for example, that your spouse is in the military and relocates every 2-3 years, can provide an employer with some perspective as to why youve moved around so much.The significance of using a cover letter cannot be overstated. It affords job seekers the opportunity to communicate valuable facts and important details to the employerdetails that arent best expressed within your resume.