Cover letter writing isn't exactly what most people would consider fun. On a sunny afternoon, most job seekers would prefer to be at the park, or relaxing at the beach, or bicycling along a country lane, or…just about anything. But they spend their afternoon toiling away nevertheless, because duty calls and this is a necessary task that unfortunately has to be crossed off the list so that life can go on.
Or is it? A funny thing happens to people who find a way to enjoy the daily tasks that most of us resent or view as drudgery. New doors start opening up to them, and new possibilities appear on the horizon that somehow weren't there before. In this particular case, the reasons for this phenomenon are clear: employers—like all of us—are naturally drawn to happy and well-adjusted people who live in the present and love what they do. If you become one of these people, even for a moment, your transformation will show in everything you do…including the tone and impact of your cover letter. Here are a few tips that can help you make this process a little more fun and rewarding.
1. Envision being liked
Picture your reviewers reading through your letter and feeling a stronger connection with you as they move from each sentence to the next. Picture them lighting up and tuning in. Picture them smiling as they read and maybe thinking (or even saying aloud), "I like this applicant. She seems great! She reminds me of a younger version of myself!" or "I could see grabbing a drink after work with this guy. We could talk shop for hours!"
2. Envision being happy in this workplace
Close your eyes and picture yourself in this workplace. You're sitting at a boardroom table making an excellent point! You're making a presentation…and crushing it. You're rushing to catch your flight to Hong Kong to meet with the shareholders. Whatever you're doing, you're brilliant, you're happy, you're thriving, and you look good doing it.
3. Dial up a little humor and flexibility
Let go of formality and convention a little bit. Speak from the heart. If you're having a good time with the writing process and you're completing the steps listed above, you'll relax a little and you'll find it easier to say what you really mean instead of forcing your message to sound like what you think your readers want to hear.
4. Have confidence in your own abilities
These employers might like you. Or they might hate you. It doesn't matter though, because you know that you're great at what you do, and if they don't want you, someone else will. You have a right to apply for this position, you have a right to be sitting here writing this letter, you have nothing to apologize for, and you're exactly where you need to be right now.
Keep Your Cool & Reap the Rewards
Keep the stakes in perspective. No matter how badly you want this job, there are others that are just as potentially rewarding and fulfilling…maybe even more so. If this one isn't right for you, the next one will be. Take a breath, maintain your stride, and move forward. Use LiveCareer for inspiration, templates, guidelines and tips.
