Ah, the age-old cover letter dilemma. When it comes time to write an introductory cover letter, job seekers, both employed and unemployed, often find themselves staring woefully at a blank computer screen and wondering how to boil down their career experience into a few meaningful sentences. Countless books and articles have been written on writing effective cover letters, but one way I have found to take the sting out of this important part of the job search process is to wean yourself of the temptation to use self-aggrandizing “I” statements.
For more than a decade, I’ve re-written cover letters for clients in job searches for many different professions. Once I re-write a letter, it invariably produces a different result — more calls for job interviews.

My secret is simple, and it’s the obvious that candidates too often forget. Always consider the reader first. Consider that the reader is a real human being with real time constraints and distractions competing for his or her time and resources. The reader could be someone in HR, a recruiter, a clerk or, if you are very fortunate, a hiring manager. Having a hiring manager read your resume is rare, but it could happen. Do you really want that person to read a document that is only about you? Certainly not. You are selling yourself, sure, but you must first consider that employer’s specific needs and how you can help in a consultative format, rather than just producing a cheap sales document that only seeks to ‘prove’ why you are the right candidate.

Imagine that you are a hiring manager tasked with filling several vacant positions within your company, on top of your normal day-to-day responsibilities. You have 60 unread emails in your inbox, your boss is on the phone, your direct report is hovering in your office doorway and then a job seeker’s cover letter pops up on your computer screen. If the cover letter is a mere litany of accomplishments and doesn’t address potential contributions to the prospective employer’s mission, how do you think it will be received?

It pays to be sensitive to your audience and what he or she might be going through at the time that your letter is received. From the perspective of the person receiving your cover letter, the bottom line is that using the word “I” too many times in your cover letter doesn’t leave room for me — the reader. If you count the word “I” more than five times in your letter, you have missed the target.

Here is an example of a simple cover letter that will yield positive response:

Dear ____________,

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my information. It occurred to me that during this challenging job market, you probably get a lot of cover letters crossing your desk. I’d like mine to be specific to your ad so as not to waste your time.

I am applying for the (enter title) position that I found posted on XYZ. My direct relevant experience to your ad can be found under XYZ job in my resume.

My core skill set contains (enter skills that are tangible, not subjective qualities such as leadership, problem solving or strategic ability. Those are not skills, and frankly that is your opinion, not the reader’s)

I am sincerely interested in your open position and am certain that you will get a lot of responses to your ad.

When the time is right for you, please give me a call.

Best Regards,
Your Signature

Why does this format work ? Simplicity is golden. And it addresses the reader’s business — and emotional — needs. The reader is looking for the right person and doesn’t have a lot of time to fill the slot. By acknowledging this limitation, you have effectively saved him or her time by briefly communicating what you do and how it relates to the vacant position. You have also been sensitive to what is going on at that moment in the reader’s day, which shouldn’t be underestimated.

Cover letters don’t need to be tricky, nor resume writing. As long as you keep the tone about being of service, you’ll get the reader’s attention.
Remember: Too much I doesn’t leave room for me (the reader)