Pop quiz: Which is more important, your resumé or your cover letter?

Time’s up! The answer? To build an application that truly reflects your strengths as a candidate, you need both a strong resumé and a strong cover letter. Employers spend very little time reviewing resumés; a well-written, thoughtful cover letter can grab a manager’s attention and get you noticed for all the right reasons.

Here’s how to create that killer cover letter:

1. Know the goals of a good cover letter. A cover letter is, at heart, a sales letter. Your goal: Get the hiring manager to pick up the phone and contact you for an interview. Use your cover letter to talk about why you want to work for this employer, name specific ways you can benefit the organization, and paint a clear picture of your strengths in the hiring manager’s mind.
2. Write to each hiring manager individually. A form cover letter is even easier to spot than a form resumé – and it will send your application to the circular file even faster. If you haven’t put in the effort to connect to the hiring manager, why should they take the effort to connect with you? Instead, do your research and write a cover letter tailored to this employer’s goals, this position and the ways you can add value to this
3. Be confident, but not arrogant – or “cute.” Start your cover letter by describing how you heard about the job and why you’re a good fit for the company. In the paragraphs that follow, aim for a tone that is confident without sounding arrogant. Avoid cute gimmicks – instead, use the space to be enthusiastic, friendly, and professional.
4. Name a specific, relevant accomplishment. Is the employer looking for sales staff who take monthly minimums as a personal challenge – and regularly exceed them? Tell the story of your past year, in which you’ve never sold less than 10 percent over your monthly goal. The more concrete and quantifiable your example, the stronger it is.

At SMR Group Ltd, our recruiters specialize in connecting job applicants to the best sales and marketing positions in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries nationwide. Contact our office today to learn more.