Cover letters are daunting. You have to strike the perfect balance of proving your skills without being arrogant or losing interest of your reader.
What elements of a cover letter set you apart from all the rest?
1. Anecdotes
Choose between two and three short stories that expand on experiences articulated in your résumé to showcase the skills needed to excel at the position for which you are applying.
2. Results Through Stories
It's not enough to share what you did. Tell me what results blossomed from your efforts. You plowed and gardened for 120 hours for two months, which yielded more than 200 vegetables serving 45 underprivileged families. Tell me what impact that had on the community, for the business, and for you personally.
3. Make the Connection
Tie everything back into what you are going to do for the company. Draw a clear connection at the end of each story on how the skills you possess or lessons you learned will be valuable for your aspired company.
Cover letters do not have to be strictly formal all the time. Let your personality shine through and write colloquially so people can get a sense of who you are. Don't afraid to have fun with it, but make sure it's professional.
Sarah Sax is the Founder of Write For The Job.