This is a guest blog post written by Marlena Holden, a wonderful human being and working professional with 18+ years of experience. Marlena and I held a live Zoom webinar on cover letters and resumes. I have embedded the Zoom replay at the end of this blog post. Be sure to read this blog and watch the video to get the most out of her valuable advice, and also check out the second blog post which is on resumes.
I graduated from with an undergraduate degree in English and Women’s Studies and subsequently went on for a master’s degree in feminist film theory. I knew that options in the marketplace were slim. Luckily, a dear friend from college, and someone who helped me find a coveted student employment position, helped me learn of a part-time job and made a connection for me.
When she helped me land this job, two things were cemented for me:
- Finding work relies on your network
- And from my father: if you can write a business letter, you will most likely end up being okay.
During my final semester of graduate school, I went to see a campus career coach and she handed me the formula for cover letters and resumes that I still currently use, have passed along to friends and family, and am now passing to you.
First Paragraph
Here’s a sample introductory sentence:
“It is with great enthusiasm that I am applying for the Marketing Specialist position at ABC Global.”
If you know someone within the company who can vouch for you, add their name in the next sentence. You do not have to know the person well, they can be an acquaintance, as long as you have established a relationship. If you have a name to use, your next sentence should be:
“Global Director of Marketing Sam Smith told me about this opportunity and encouraged me to apply.”
In some private sectors, having a connection can lead to your application being fast-tracked, and may lead to a referral bonus for your connection if you are hired.
The third sentence could be:
“I believe the depth and breadth of my marketing experience, along with my acute understanding of global key process indicators (KPIs) within Fortune 500 companies makes me an ideal candidate for this position.”
Second and Third Paragraphs
These paragraphs detail how your experience will benefit the company. Some samples to consider:
“At Standard Marketing I was able to increase brand awareness 12% in our top three target markets, an asset that would benefit ABC global.”
This is the space where you can bring forth your previous experience while speaking to the job requirements.
Closing Paragraph
In your final sentences, don’t forget to ask for the job! You would be surprised at how many cover letters lack enthusiasm in their materials. Consider:
“I look forward to hearing from you and sharing more about my excitement to work at ABC Global. Please contact me at … at your earliest convenience.”
If you are newer in your career, consider one to two paragraphs as your middle section, and two to three of you have more experience.
Want to see what this looks like in action? Here is a cover letter for a leadership position I was a finalist for. At this point I had 15 years of experience and the job required seven to 10 years of experience:
Dear (I used the hiring manager’s name),
It is with great enthusiasm that I am applying for the JOB at COMPANY. I believe that the depth and breadth of my marketing and communications experience, combined with an acute understanding of brand management, business, project management, and strategic planning, make me an ideal candidate for this position.
For more than X years I have worked with non‐profits, higher education, and SPECIFIC COMPANIES to establish strong relationships with the LOCATION/DETAILS and deliver on those organization’s brand promises. My efforts have resulted in DETAIL and media coverage locally and nationally, INCLUDING SPECIFICS/#’s. I have successfully used my skills in crisis management, media and spokesperson training, and INDUSTRY SPECIFIC DETAIL. I believe that my skills will advance the mission and goals of COMPANY, and I look forward to telling its story through innovative and thoughtful channels.
As a manager for more than # years, I am comfortable developing and leading diverse teams to meet organizational goals. I understand the rhythm of team dynamics and how to best equip team members to provide their best work. My experience at COMPANY positions me to understand how to navigate the intricacies of working in various systems and environments.
In my current role, I nimbly manage the rapidly changing needs and communications for AUDIENCE. With thousands of SPECIFIC CUSTOMERS, I work to educate, inform, and share the award-winning work of COMPANY. In three years, I have managed the DETAIL of TWO BIG INITIATIVES, two website transitions, introduced SPECIFIC INNOVATION to better serve our work, all while supervising a staff amidst departmental and organizational change.
My experience has given me an opportunity to work with numerous boards of directors and visitors, including high‐level CEOs of LOCATION’s leading businesses and industries. I enjoy acting as a liaison and helping to effect change at scale. Given the rigorous demands I often face, I feel comfortable producing on-message, branded and effective content while managing a complex flow of data.
I enjoy working with a diverse group of people and facilitating cooperation, an asset that would benefit the large network of COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR. My outgoing and enthusiastic personality, combined with extensive teaching and training skills, will also benefit COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR. Above all, I am passionate about SPECIFIC and DETAIL, and am confident that I can provide the leadership required for this position.
Sincerely,
You have the formula. Let’s see where you go from here!
