Read This Before Writing Doomed Cover Letters

“I have extensive executive assistant administration experience with impeccable office skills and the ability to work under pressure…”

“Online management professional with a proven track record and the technical know-how to bridge the communication gap between …

“Effectively manage cross-functional teams in developing functionality.”

Yawn.
 

Instead, tell them what makes you you, in real-person speak, not the teacher voice from the Peanuts.

Don’t fill in the blanks with a Stepford-wife response. You may as well say you “think outside the box.” AGHHH! Instead, write like a real human being; not a Mad-Libs applicant.

You want the job? Tell in no uncertain terms why you’re perfect for it. In language they understand and relate to; using their own terminology in your pitch. This is a sales job: what you’re selling is you.

Do something memorable to stand out from the crowd and you just might make the second cut.

Next time, I’ll share my unsolicited, unprofessional, and ridiculously unqualified advice about what works for me. Does not nail me a job every time, but I often, quite often in fact, get a response of some sort. And in this market, that’s pretty damn close to awesome.