As managers begin the hiring process in 2019, what kinds of cover letters will catch their attention? What language and formatting decisions will help job-seeking candidates send the right message?
While none of us have access to a crystal ball, we have curated tips on how to write a cover letter that will make your job search successful in 2019. As you prepare for your upcoming job search, keep these trends in mind.
Short Is Still Smart
Busy managers always appreciate clarity and brevity in cover letters, so without cutting your message so short that it conveys no useful information, keep the length to a minimum. This will mean using the fewest possible words to convey and imply volumes of data that hiring managers can use to make a staffing decision. Choose your words sparingly and only include the most relevant information. A recruiter is more likely to read through a concise cover letter than a long missive.
If you really know how to write a cover letter, you'll let each area shine and highlight the ones that matter most to your target employers. Being a flexible, multitalented worker with a variety of transferable skills won't hold you back—it will show that you're self-driven, innovative, experienced, and unafraid of new challenges.
Flexibility Is in High Demand
Jay Murray owns Catapult Sound, a fast-growing recording studio in Philadelphia, and he gave us a critical tip for jobseekers in sound engineering, music, and the arts.
"Rigidity isn't appealing to managers in this business," he told us. "So don't state demands or expectations in your letter and don't be shocked if the parameters of the position—including the start date—change."
Decisions about which candidates to interview take time, so avoid sentences like, "I will contact you next week to schedule an interview," which can sound pushy. Instead, write something that expresses your enthusiasm and demonstrates your desire to interview, such as, "I'm interested in learning more about the role. If you believe my credentials meet your needs, I'd love to discuss the opportunity face-to-face."
Digital Messages Travel Better
While printed letters are by no means a deal breaker, they can be seen as stodgy and out of date. Contrary to some advice, a PDF document is not the best format for sending resumes electronically since they can confuse some applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Instead, use a simply and elegantly formatted Word file or a plain text file divided into clear sections. Incorporate keywords from the job post to optimize your chances of getting past an ATS.
Customize Each Cover Letter
A little personalization goes a long way when it comes to cover letters, so study the job ad to highlight the most relevant parts of your resume. While the bones of your cover letters might all be similar, each should be customized slightly to the opportunity at hand.
"Candidates use templates for their cover letters, and we understand that," said Murray. "But if you say something personal about our specific studio or the specific job you're looking for and why it's a great fit for you, you'll instantly stand out. We get lots of letters that are obviously just mass mailings, and it shows. It's not a crime, but if we have to choose between a mass mailing and a real person who has a real passion for this work, we'll choose the second one every time. That's the person who will get an interview invitation from us."
Study New Best Practices in Cover Letter Writing
Candidates wondering how to write a cover letter for 2019 are on the right track. If you assume you know exactly how to do this because you wrote a cover letter to land your last job—in 2005—think twice. The job market and the job search landscape change quicker than you might think, and it's a good idea to approach the process with a beginner's mind. In other words, in 2019, learn how to write a cover letter as if you'd never done so before.
Employees in 2018 held each position of their career for an average of about two years, and this timeline is getting shorter and shorter. Job hopping, once frowned upon, is no longer uncommon, and many workers search for a new position every few years.
It's easy to assume that you're an expert after a few rounds, but don't get ahead of yourself. Your next job search won't look quite like your last one, so keep your skills fresh. Learn how to write a cover letter for 2019, not for five years ago.
"Rigidity isn't appealing to managers in this business," he told us. "So don't state demands or expectations in your letter and don't be shocked if the parameters of the position—including the start date—change."
Don't Be Shy About Variety in Your Career
Employers recognize that candidate backgrounds don't look the same as they did in previous generations. Back in the day, many workers held a single job for a decade or more, and a single career for a lifetime.
That's not as common in 2019, when jobseekers might change jobs 10-15 times over the course of a career. If you have multiple areas of expertise, have held a variety of jobs, or even had several different careers, don't hide this fact.
If you really know how to write a cover letter, you'll let each area shine and highlight the ones that matter most to your target employers. Being a flexible, multitalented worker with a variety of transferable skills won't hold you back—it will show that you're self-driven, innovative, experienced, and unafraid of new challenges.
Need to write a cover letter but not sure how to get started? Check out our cover letter examples. LiveCareer has a vast collection that can provide guidance and inspiration for hundreds of different job titles.
You can also try out our Cover Letter Builder, a step-by-step tool that will help you create a professional, beautifully formatted letter in a matter of minutes.
