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Chapter 2
The Top Ten Rules for

Writing Killer Cover Letters

In the good old days, finding a job generally meant switching jobs. You sent out
your resume, went for an interview, and got the job. Why doesn’t this work any-
more? It’s because these days, a resume isn’t enough.
In today’s job market, a resume doubles as a stop sign that signifies, “I need
a job...like so many others...thousands of others.” In this environment, your re-
sume alone cannot possibly accomplish as much as you need to accomplish. Al-
though your resume reveals vital statistics, it supplies only 20% of the information
on which most hiring decisions are based. Your resume reveals whether you meet
the minimum requirements for the current opening (appropriate education, com-
puter skills, or relevant experience, for example). Your resume also suggests to
your prospective boss the level of loyalty and continuity that can be expected of
you as demonstrated by the length of time you’ve held previous positions. Final-
ly, your prospective employer may attempt to reduce the list of candidates to a
manageable level. In this case, your resume may actually work against you by pro-
viding a single fact or date that serves to eliminate you as a potential employee.
Furthermore, regardless of how exceptional your resume may be, it general-
ly reveals none of the remaining 80% of information upon which the hiring deci-
sion is based. It says nothing of your personality, creativity, or work style. It rarely
describes any unusual traits you possess that might make you a sterling candidate
or interesting interview material. A letter, on the other hand, can reveal all of
this—and more.
For all of these reasons, the letters you send as part of your job search may be
some of the most important letters you’ll ever write. To help you create a winning
letter, let’s begin with the basics. Take a look at a typical employment advertise-
ment and the typical response it generates.

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