“Don’t let your emotions overpower your intelligence” is the quote that popped up on my telephone this morning.  

It describes much of what I see when meeting with young people who are working on their applications for work.  I see the self doubts, the comparison, the ‘I am not enough’ scenarios and the often debilitating internal chatter.  

I have had a week of reviewing various cover letters and often witness the anguish surrounding them.   The internal chatter, whatever it is about, creates feelings and emotions that so often are just not correct, not accurate and simply not true.  The picture that I am painting is attributed to when young people are needing to talk about their particular skills, their meaningful contributions and their abilities.  And the covering letters want to you to talk openly about these things.  This letter introduces you and highlights the aspects about you that matter to the firm.  This is the letter that connects you to the position on offer and tells the reader that you would be an excellent choice.

WHAT IS THIS COVER LETTER REALLY ABOUT:

In essence, this cover letter is a letter of motivation, setting out as to why you are the right candidate for the position that is on offer.  You are linking yourself to the post on offer and to the organisation.  You are telling them that you are solving their problem – they have a position to fill and you are the right person for them!

This covering letter will also demonstrate that you have researched the company well and you understand what the position on offer is all about.  This letter demonstrates your writing skills and ability to communicate.  It demonstrated your attention to detail and will show the reader as to whether you have really thought about the position and what it entails. It will demonstrate too that you know enough about yourself to have applied.

SO, START THE WRITING:

What is the company looking for?  What characteristics have they said that they need? What experience have you had thus far that tell them that you have what they are looking for?

Start the first draught of your letter … just go for it.  Re read the letter, re word, re work.  Is it saying what it needs to say?  Is it pertinent to the position being applied for?  Does it highlight your experiences that they are interested in?  Does it show that you know enough about their industry / company to know that your application is genuine?

A FEW TIPS:

• Smile as your write (it creates a feeling of positivity).  Be energised and excited as you put pen to paper.

• Start the first draught of your letter, knowing that it does not need to be perfect.  Just write.   Re read your letter, re word and re work it.  

• Is it saying what it needs to say?  

• Is it pertinent to the position being applied for?  

• Does it highlight your experiences that they are interested in?  

• Does it show that you know enough about their industry / company to know that your application is genuine?

• Have you acknowledge your transferrable skills?

• Is it specific?  Have you given a couple of examples that highlight how you would fit the role?

• And have you used meaningful adjectives?

• Once written, after time away from your desk, review what you have written.  Read your letter word for word:  is it concise; well written; informative as to what you are about; does it link you in with the firm – values).  And read the letter from the perspective of the company – from the perspective of the decision maker. 

THE REALLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT NEEDING TO WRITE THIS LETTER:

You are required  to really match yourself to the the company and position on offer.    This means that every letter is different and it means that you will have had to take time to do some good research and good thinking. 

You potentially open up unexpected doors for yourself that you might not have considered (your letter could land up on the table of other decision makers within the organisation);

Because of the research that you have done, this will stand you in good stead for the interview stage.

It takes time to write that motivational letter, but other skills will are learnt along the way.  Perseverance as you keep refining that letter; writing a letter that reads well with good grammar; and , you are being stretched as you keep reaching forward on your path of learning and work.   This process has the potential to be satisfying.  Also you will learn more about the industry. 

You create MOMENTUM.  Once you have done one letter, you are in a better position when needing to write another.  And another.  Like with interviews, it is all about practice. 

In essence,  I would love for you to enjoy this letter writing process and to see the value it it.