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By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, explains what should go into any cover letter and how to format it, not just simply the original question and then I tack on a bonus.
Returning to the United States
Hi! I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I got a question through Quora today that I think will be very helpful to a lot of you. Here’s how it goes.
I’m going to read the whole thing and then kind of break it down into a couple parts. The first part is what should be in a programmer’s cover letter. Now, here’s the key part to it.
Generally, I’ve never needed a cover letter when applying for a job. My resume, side projects and work experience get me an interview straight away. However, there’s this opportunity that requires me to write a cover letter.
I’ve written one for non-programming roles. What should go in a cover letter for a programming role? Now, this is telling me right off the bat that you’re applying for a job through a system or through some formal approach to the organization. So, if you’re going to go this route, and I want you to hear that phrase, if you’re going to go this route, make the cover letter demonstrate your fit for the role.
Now, you’ve obviously seen a job description. You know that they want a cover letter. As a result, take that job description, break out the requirements for the job, list them, whatever it is, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven on the left column.
For the right side, demonstrate how long and how recently you’ve worked with that requirement. Then go to the functionality that they’re going to ask you to perform. List the items that you’ve actually done and how long and how recently you’ve performed them.
This makes the fit obvious to the reader. And then from there, at the end, the way the cover letter would read is, I’m forwarding my resume to you because I understand you’re trying to fill a position for such and such. Then you start listing the items below.
I’ve taken the time to demonstrate how long and how recently I’ve worked with the requirements of the position and the functionality that you’ve specified. I believe you can see there’ll be a good fit for this role. Then you’d lay it out for them.
Then from there, finally, I hope to hear from you shortly or I’ll follow up with you within a few days to see if you’re interested in meeting with me. Now, what you’ve done is make the fit obvious. If they’re too dumb to see it or they’re too busy, well, dumb you can’t do anything about it.
You wouldn’t want to work there if they’re that dumb. Busy is a different matter. You’re following up in a couple of days.
So, that’s how I’d approach the cover letter. Now, let me go to a broader question is why are you going through their application process? Why don’t you use LinkedIn to find the hiring manager and then from there, try to find . . . try to connect with them saying, I understand you’re trying to hire such and such. I’m forwarding my resume to you and then, if you want, you can do that type of cover letter with he or she and forward it to them so that they receive it or if you know someone who works at the firm, have them present you to the hiring manager so you can avoid this entire HR bureaucracy part of the process.
So, I’m Jeff Altman. Hope you found this helpful. Come over to my website, TheBigGameHunter.us. There’s a lot more there that you can watch, listen to or read to help you find work more quickly.
Then, I also want to encourage you, if we’re not connected on LinkedIn, send a connection request at LinkedIn.com forward slash IN forward slash TheBigGameHunter. Last thing I just want to say is if you have questions about job hunting, you are not alone. Most people do but ask the wrong people for advice.
Instead, what I encourage you to do is reach out to me through either Presto Experts or my website where you can find me there. Schedule time with me. I’d be very happy to answer your questions.
I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. Hope you have a great day!
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS job search coaching and career advice globally because he makes job search and succeeding in your career easier.
Career Coach Office Hours: May 14 2024
You will find great info and job search coaching to help with your job search at JobSearch.Community
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
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