Cover letters . . . where do I begin?! I have a love-hate relationship with these.
I saw a quick video on Business Insider that quoted a statistic that about 50% of employers actually read the cover letter. But, because you don’t know what half of those employers you are applying with, it is better to be safe then sorry. So, basically, always provide a cover letter with your resume and application unless it is specifically stated NOT to provide one.
Being on a hiring panel, I read a large amount of cover letters. The problem is I read a large amount in quick succession. So, when one “stands out” to me it is only because it stands apart from the other 19 I am reading within that same 2 to 3 hour period. And I guess that is the point, right? To stand apart from the rest?
But here is my predicament: I am applying for a job that doesn’t actually exist yet, that isn’t being advertised, and that I was asked to apply for by a partner of the firm. I was explicitly asked to provide a cover letter to supplement the resume they had previously requested. So . . . how do I make myself stand out against the competition when there is no competition?
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like this is a HUGE test and I am just not sure how to complete it.
mom's law blog 