Cover Letter Clinic
October 13, 2007 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
The topic of cover letters comes up often here. Many new writers want to know if they’re really so important, and if so, what should a good cover letter include. I’m here to tell you I believe them to be very important, even if they’re not specifically requested in the advertisement. Cover letters are a given. I’m not an expert on cover letters, but I believe between all of us we can work out the do’s and don’ts. I’d also like to offer a cover letter clinic so we can all learn how to craft a killer letter and land more gigs.
Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Make it short and sweet – A cover letter shouldn’t be longer than a page or shorter than a paragraph. Three paragraphs are ideal.
- Include your achievements and accolades – If you won awards or wrote for a major magazine, include that in the cover letter. Since many potential clients don’t look past the cover letter, you want to give them a reason to move on to the resume.
- Include a brief work history – Brief is the key word here. Don’t list all of your employers and the years you worked, that’ s what a resume is for. But do feel free to name drop.
- Include your areas of expertise – Tell the client why you’re right for the job.
Don’t
- Make it too long - Make it easy for the client, let him see all of your information “at a glance.” Remember, he may read dozens, if not hundreds, of cover letters.
- Talk about personal issues – Clients want to know you can do the job. They don’t want to know you’re a stay at home mom struggling to make ends meet or you’re a homeless musician.
- Be too familiar – Don’t try and be funny and don’t address your client by her first name unless invited to. Don’t use text messaging type abbreviations or make an attempt at being “hip.” Very few people can pull off humor in a cover letter.
Cover letter clinic
So lets have a cover letter clinic. It can be anonymous so no one gets embarrassed. Send them to me (or post) and every day I’ll post a couple and we’ll discuss why it’s great or what might need more work. Let’s figure out a great formula together.
Hi Deb,
I sent you one! Looking forward to seeing this unfold!
Nicole
I think this is a great idea! Especially for newcomers
Thanks for creating this “clinic,” I’ll probably need help with my cover letter some time in the coming months.
This is great! I know that I need help with my cover letter since cover letters are my weak point, or one of my weak points. I can do the work, consistently meet deadlines but for the life of me I can’t write a really professional cover letter.
I will wait before I send mine. I’m a little chicken. vbg.
Hi Deborah,
I love your site, and the cover letter clinic is a great idea. In fact, I came to your site today specifically looking for the answer to a cover letter question.
This may seem pretty basic, but in this day and age, when I’m sending virtually all of my job applications via email, do you think an email written as a cover letter is sufficient? Or do you think employers and editors are looking for a succinct email with a longer cover letter (and resume) attached? I’ve mostly been applying for jobs with an email written as a cover letter, and a resume and writing samples attached. I’m wondering if there is a better approach out there.
Thanks,
Kevin
I sent you one as well. I have been using my cover letter for online, and print magazines. I would love to make it more appealing to other types of jobs.
Thanks
Christine
Oh, I loved this idea when Editorial Anonymous did it, and I love it here. I’m not submitting because I tend to write a new one for each job posting I apply to using the same basic formula. However, I learned tons from reading the letters and responses sent in by others.
Thanks,
Misses E.
This is great, just great.
I just sent you one as well. I figured there are plenty of reasons to improve a cover letter, not enough motivation lately to do so. But in fact, tit is the only marketing too we have, so I’m willing to do anything, to make it be the best.
Thanks, Deb. You’re the greatest! Looking forward to reading more about this important subject.
Deb,
I just noticed the comment I left yesterday hasn’t shown up. I just wanted to let you know I linked to this post on my blog, because I get a good number of cover letter questions. I’d have left a trackback, but I’m too tech challenged to figure out how to do one of those.
I also posted about posting a link to my blog, as well, but it didn’t show up either – so, you’re not alone Amy! The Internet must’ve had the hiccups that day.
Deb, I second the post by Kevin, asking about using e-mails as cover letters. Do you set them up just as if they were a real letter, e.g., with your name, address, etc. at top center, followed by the date and their info, left justified, followed by Dear Mr.X:…?
I’ve been doing my e-mail letter, about 3 graphs long, then COPYING my resume below that, and attaching samples. That’s because I heard it was bad to attach files, so I figured, if they won’t open attachments, at least they can read my resume.
Is this OK, or what’s a better way?
Hello,
I am new to freelance writing. I have been sending queries and cover letters for about two months now and have only gotten two (local)jobs, one of which has not panned out.
I was wondering if it was my lack of experience or if my cover letter was not up to par. I am not sure if you are still doing the cover letter clinic, but if you are I would like to offer mine up for critique.
I have a thick skin, so I want completely honest criticism.
Here it is. It is mostly a form letter that I edit based upon the job.
Thank You!
Dear Sir or Madam:
My name is ___________. I am responding to your advertisement on Craigslist.org concerning your need for content writers for your website.
I have a B.S. in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech, as well as minors in English and Communications. I have been writing fiction for the last five years and have recently begun freelance writing. I currently write for ________.com as a sports writer/reporter. I can begin work immediately and bring a wide range of interests and knowledge to the table.
I would be interested in learning more about this opportunity. I have attached my resume and a writing sample. If attachments are not satisfactory, I can send the information in the form you desire.
If you need any further information from me, I can be reached by email at _______ or by phone at (***) ***-****.
Thank you for your consideration
______________________