Intro to Cover Letters
Have you ever looked for a job and wondered, “How the heck am I going to introduce myself to a prospective employer I’ve never met in person?” You’re not alone.
Q: What are cover letters and how can they help us effectively transition an introduction into an interview?
Most job applications in the architecture profession (and most professions for that matter) will require two applicant-provided supporting documents.
The first is your resume which acts as a summary of your relevant experience.
The second is your cover letter which acts as your intent to obtain the job you’ve applied for.
While both your resume and cover letter might seem equally weighted, your cover letter is often the more important of the two for one simple reason - it’s your first introduction to a prospective employer.
Let’s unpack what to expect with your next cover letter and how to maximize its effectiveness in your job search.
The Purpose of a Cover Letter
A cover letter establishes your intent, tone, and values as a professional.
Think of the cover letter as the way in which you say, Hello. It’s how you convey what you’re about and what motivates you as a person.
Consider how first impressions impact your chances at a positive relationship with the person you’re being introduced to.
If your cover letter is unsuccessful at motivating someone to learn more, there’s a good chance that they may not even bother with your resume or sample work at all.
The Format of a Cover Letter
A traditional cover letter can be formatted into three paragraphs. Each paragraph serves a specific purpose of its own. Write each paragraph so that it may stand on its own and build upon the last.
While your final letter may end up being four (or even five) paragraphs in length, you must try and keep the tone of your letter to these three components - introduction, body, conclusion.
The Introduction
The first paragraph of your cover letter should be used to introduce yourself, explain your intent, and identify where you heard about the job posting in the first place.
A good introduction will quickly identify why you’re interested in the job you’re applying to and why the person readying the letter should also be interested in you for that job.
The Body
The second paragraph of your cover letter should describe your experience, how that experience relates to the job you’re applying for, and how you will be best fit for the job and for the firm.
The body is where you can describe a specific experience or two that clearly speak to the value you can add to the firm.
The way you describe your experience is just as important as the experience itself. Tell your story and how the experiences you’ve garnered can benefit your employer. A well-written description will entice someone to look closer at your resume that follows.
The Conclusion
The third and final paragraph of your cover letter should reiterate your interest in the position again and note that your resume is attached for review. Be sure to encourage the reader to respond to your application and to establish the best way to contact you.
The conclusion is meant to summarize your value proposition for the firm and to open the door for further discussion. It will be effective to keep the conclusion of your cover letter brief and to the point.
The Basic Guidelines of a Cover Letter
Personalize the Letter
This may seem like a bit of a no-brainer, but you should tailor the cover letter you’re writing as close to the position and firm you’re interested in as possible.
One tried and true way to do this is to research the firm before you start writing. Look at their website. Watch video lectures they've given. Read articles they’ve written and articles others have written about them.
Take the language in the job description you’re applying to and reverse engineer it for your cover letter. Take the buzzwords that are most important to the job and make sure you touch on them in the letter itself and in your own resume (if they apply).
Address the Letter to a Human (If Possible)
With many applications today being made online, it could prove difficult to determine who you’re actually addressing the cover letter to. When possible though, it’s in your best interest to address the letter to a specific person.
“Dear Hiring Manager” and “To Whom It May Concern” are a bit cold, but the former is better if you really don’t know who to address the letter to. However, DO NOT leave out who you’re addressing the letter to altogether. That essentially makes you seem indecisive and unable to write a formal letter in the first place.
A generic entity is still a potential person on the other end.
Remember that the cover letter is how you say Hello. You don’t typically say hello to a business, do you? No. People greet people.
Focus on the Firm
You may think that the cover letter is all about you. While the letter is clearly an introduction for someone to who you are, you want to make sure that the letter ultimately focuses on the firm and how you will provide value to them.
Why are you applying to the job? What can you offer the firm? Why do you want to apply to that firm specifically?
Keep the use of “I” to a minimum. Otherwise, it may make your cover letter come off a bit egotistical.
Avoid Repetition
Think of your application submission as a comprehensive package. If most of your experience is spelled out in your resume (where it should be), then don’t rehash it in your cover letter. Convince someone to move to your resume, but let your resume do what it does best.
Each document in your submission must speak for itself. Each has its own reason to exist. You can describe an experience that led you to apply to the new job, but it should contain detail above and beyond what you would find in your resume alone.
Keep it Brief
A cover letter is NOT an epic poem. It should not be more than a page in total length with a target of three paragraphs (possibly four or five depending on how you break up your body paragraph).
You don’t know how many cover letters the reader ultimately has to look at. Be conscientious and make sure that you’ve edited down the cover letter to the essential points. Every word, phrase, and sentence should be vetted before you submit it for review.
Proofread
Don’t let your introduction to someone you’re trying to impress fall flat because you didn’t use spellcheck or review the way your ideas come across.
We all make mistakes, but one of the metrics an employer is looking for in your submission is your attention to detail. If there are mistakes in your work before you even begin (the time when you’re trying to impress them the most), why would they think those mistakes wouldn’t continue?
Read. Edit. Re-read.
Pass along your cover letter to another friend, partner, or family member who can look at it from another point of view. Don’t miss out on a career path that could change your life because you didn’t realize you used “too” when you should have used “two.”
Please, please, please don’t misspell someone’s name, position, or the firm itself. Or it’s straight to the trash can.
Final Thoughts
Your cover letter is the first document you’ll use to convince a hiring manager, partner, or associate to bring you in for an interview.
Consider the following:
A cover letter can be a powerful first impression.
A cover letter can quickly inspire a person on the other end to either invite you to the next round of the process or to send your application careening to the nearest trash bin.
A cover letter can be the difference between working at a dream job or not. Use a cover letter to inspire someone to give you a chance.
Spellcheck. Spellcheck. Spellcheck.
Take care to plan out your cover letter. Write it succinctly and with conviction. Edit it to ensure your message is clear.
Send your cover letter knowing that you did everything you could to provide the value your prospective employer is looking for.
Additional Resources
(Article) 5 Opening Lines That Will Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out // Mogul Millennial
(Video) Write an Amazing Cover Letter: 3 Golden Rules // Jeff Su
(Video) How to Write a Cover Letter with No Experience // Career Contessa
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