idealpeople blog

And you thought we’d stop after the Boomerang Blog?

Shuriken: (Wikipedia): (手裏剣; lit: “hand released blade”) is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing an opponent’s arteries.

Cover Letter (Wikipedia): Employers may look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover letters to screen applicants who are not sufficiently interested in their position or who lack the required writing skills.

What’s interesting about the above definition is that it suggests the purpose is for recruiters to use a Cover Letter to screen applicants who ‘are not’, or ‘lack the required’ chutzpah for the position… yah yah… suggesting then, maybe, that you are in more danger of getting screened out* by a recruiter than screened in**. Hmmmm .

We think covering letters are like shurikens as they aren’t always used (hidden) they are traditional (early) you throw (email) them and can find your way to the artery (killer job opportunity) with them, perhaps.. .er.. spilling blood (cash/skills/growth). Shurikens are also standard sizes but often individually carved or decorated, whereas CVs tend to be more pro-forma and generic. Still with us?

We think great Jobseekers are like Ninjas becasuse they work in a considered, highly structured and quality-rich way towards an end goal.

We’re wondering lately if Covering Letters are going out of style - there are too few ninja stars flying around. Increasingly - we aren’t seeing even ‘generic’ ones in the fairy dust that is our advertising response to career opportunities we post in the web-o-sphere (the evil job boards we blog about sometimes).

Is it really because people think they will be screened out?
Is it because e-mail struck out and killed the cover letter?
Is it because we are all too qualified and the CV says everything?
Is it because we are ‘too cool’ or ‘too busy on scrabulous, twitter or linkedin (insert other cool web 2.0 app here)
Is it just because covering letters were always shaky anyway?
Are we too spoilt for choice in terms of variety and ease of access to jobs?
Is it cause we are hanging tight with our employer (even though we wake up sad every day, hating ourselves) because of the macroeconomic gloom?

Now, we’ve looked around, and their isn’t a good school of thinking on why the heck covering letters are disappearing from inboxes at Idealpeople. CVs certainly aren’t.

Is it a dying art? (Was it ever an ‘art’? We’ve seen pitiful efforts…)

Is it seen that “My CV says it all” (Ummm, it probably doesn’t…)

Anyway, to try and offer some guidance to those who are keen on the idea, here’s some help:

Cardinal Sins of Rubbish Cover Letters (Blunt Shurikens)
Don’t let your shurkiken reach the target and bounce. Here’s what not to do….

- Using small ‘i’ instead of I when referring to yourself - INSTANT DELETE
- Sending an obviously generic Covering Letter - INSTANT DELETE
- Getting my name wrong, mis-spelling it, referring to me by the opposite gender - INSTANT DELETE
- Starting “Although I lack the relevant experience you seek….” - INSTANT DELETE
- Sending a covering letter full of spelling errors - INSTANT DELETE
- Don’t be ‘flowery’ with your prose, there isn’t a Booker prize at stake - INSTANT DELETE
- The over concise and uninspiring which indicate a definite lack of effort, like “I enclose my CV” -POINTLESS INSTANT DELETE

As long as you don’t commit any of the above cardinal sins, there is a better than good chance your Covering Letter will be read. In full.

The cover letter is a chance to grab the attention of the (probably overworked) recruiter - it’s a chance to pull great highlights from your CV and push them out there to the reader.

The Ten Style Hallmarks of The Shuriken Covering Letter

So, before you embark on your journey into the covering letter - do yourself a favour. Look again at what the recruiter is asking for on the advert and qualify yourself against it in your cover note.

- Think about what experience you have that gives you a real edge over other potential applicants.
- Think about what you might like to read if you were hiring for the role.
- Set the precedent for a conversation with the hirer, and explain you will follow up. DO follow-up, ideally by phone.
- Be concise rather than ‘comprehensive’.
- Don’t jobsurf-apply just to kill some time at work if you aren’t seriously looking/interested.
- Do re-read your letter before sending, and cross-reference the advert again.
- Don’t be afraid to strive to write something original.
- Do (cringes) be careful if you are using humour but don’t always rule it out (recruiters have GSOH as well).
- Don’t ever be afraid to write enthusiastically, especially if that reflects your passion for what you do, or your excitement about the job posting.
- Do attach your CV. Don’t tease us Recruiters. Even if you are a winning candidate.

If you like our Ninja advice on a Killer Covering letter, why not read our series of Killer CV Tips here or better even than that - say “Woo” and subscribe to our chocolate-y Blog - the Avant-Garde think tank for the Recruitment Industry.