Cover letters are one of, if not the, most important tool in your job hunt. First impressions last a lifetime, so they say, and when communicating with a potential employer, your cover letter is pretty much it. (Of course, if your email address is sluttybunny37@hotmail.com, THAT would be your first and last impression, but let`s assume we’ve already had that discussion.)

Cover letters have to strike a very delicate balance.  You need to be able to promote yourself accurately without sounding to egotistical or boastful.  You need to let some personality seep through, so that you don`t sound like an automaton, but not so much as to seem irritating or unprofessional.  You need to try your hardest, but seem like you aren’t trying at all.

The biggest problem that I see in most cover letters is waffling.  Stuff like: If given the chance, I know that I can make a positive impact to your organization, of course while still accepting the valuable guidance of your excellent supervisory staff, but only if that`s the attitude you are looking for, because I can be both an excellent leader as well as a team player.

Obviously, I jest.  A little.

In a cover letter, every paragraph, sentence and word counts.  Everything must be organized in a logical fashion to present the information you most want seen first.  And every iota of the letter MUST convey powerful, relevant information.  And be definitive.  Be proud of what you`ve done and what you can offer.

Basically – if you can’t mentally add `bitch`after each and every sentence of your cover letter, you are wasting opportunities.  I don’t know if this makes as much sense with out the proper inflection here.  I`m not talking about that you-stole-my-boyfriend kind of bitch, I’m talking about the yeah-you’d-better-believe kind of bitch.  Kind of hard to explain without the inflection, but I think you know what I mean.  If not, feel free to call and I can recite what I mean over the phone.

There should be no I believe I could, I would like tos or Given the opportunities…there should be I wills, My goals are, and You’d damn well better believe’s.

For example:

With my many years of experience in the field, I feel that I can both bring some experiences from past experiences and also have the opportunity to learn many new things…umm…bitch?

No.

How about:

I have over 7 years of relevant experience and have proven time and time again that I can meet continuously increasing quota levels.  I am a proven leader who has managed successful teams of up to 10 subordinates and have lead them to unprecedented success, such as achieving XYZ Corp`s highest ever Eastern Region quarter sales number.  Bitch!

See…It’s when that exclamation mark doesn’t look out of place that you are likely on the right track.

It is also important when writing a cover letter to reiterate the most important facts from your resume, but not to dwell on them.  Remember, your cover letter is just an appetizer, don’t spoil the meal for later.  I like a rhythm that incorporates very broad strokes from the resume but then expands on that information with concrete examples that are not included in the resume.

And remember…The bitch part only happens in your head, don’t actually type that

Now, looking back…I am thinking about how much research I did about entering the workforce…and it wasn‘t much.  And yes, of course, that isn‘t so vital, because hey, you’re only going to be working for what, the next 40 years ?!?!

No, wait…that math seems a little wonky to me…We should be spending a lot more time researching our chosen career paths before blindly leaping into the great unknown depths of the working world.  Yet many people don’t.  Why is that?  Maybe because we feel that coming out of post-secondary education that we already know things that we really don’t.  Maybe because we’re burnt out and frazzled when we graduate, and are compelled to blindly rush into whatever the first career opportunity to cross our path is.  Or maybe it’s just that people were never told that this is a very, very important step in your career development.

I was counseling a client the other day who had a good idea of the type of job he was looking for, but didn’t know what the industry term for it was.  In fact, he had been passing over job postings with that title for years.  Simple things like the vocabulary related to different types of positions in different industries can throw an invisible barrier in your career path.

There are also numerous side benefits to doing your homework thoroughly before jumping into the job search.

This does not only apply to rookie job hunters – experienced career changers can fall into the trap of becoming overly confident.  If you’re undertaking a major career change, it may be even more important for you to do a little digging before you commit to the leap.

So, how does one do their pre-job search research?  Well…

The interwebs

There is a wealth of information available online.  Start with some of those boring government job profile type things, but don’t dwell on them.  Many are too genaric, too detail rich (they may list every possible responsibility under the sun and not actually tell you what you will be spending your day doing), or out of dat.There are other, much richer information sources out there.

Read the personal blog of someone in the industry or position that you are interested in.  Follow their Twitter.  And don’t rely on just one source, try to look at a cross section.  Look for the mention of daily tasks, and think about if that is something that you would be happy doing every day.  Look for common complaints, and take that into account too.

Look for industry specific publications or general news articles that are relevant.  This will give you an insight into an industry of profession, and also make you sound more generally well informed about the current state of affairs.

Ask

Yes, I know it seems obvious, yet this is one thing that very few people properly leverage in their job hunt efforts.  It can be nerve wracking to approach a stranger and ask them to tell you about their jobs.  But let me tell you a secret – most people would be flattered.  Identify someone who could be a resource, and just ask.  Offer to take them out for a coffee.  Have a chat – get the low down, straight from the source.  If you don’t feel up to cold calling (although it is a valuable tool that you should GET comfortable with if you aren’t), see if there is someone in your network who can set up an introduction.

Books

I have personally found that biographies are an excellent tool for getting some perspective on a potential industry.  They are also often a chance to learn from the best and the brightest.  For example, if you are interested in getting into professional wrestling, then you should read A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex.  I am actually dead serious about that.  Biographies can often give you a view into the true pros and cons of a given path before you embark upon it.  Again, they also give you more conversation fodder, which makes you sound more current, which gives you a better chance of actually landing your dream job when you do get it.

Whore yourself out

Yes, I know, working for free sucks.  But, is it better to do a few days of volunteering, a month or 2 of interning, or a few weeks worth of related volunteer work and then jump right into your chosen career, or is it better to keep working the counter at the Kwikee Mart for an extra 3 years because you weren’t willing to go the extra mile.  No matter who you ask or what you read, there is no form of research more valid that actually doing it.  Again – taking this route will also give you valuable contacts, and often unpaid work turns into full time paid employment very quickly.

Most importantly – before you go out and start sinking the majority of your personal energy into working at a specific job or in a certain industry, take the time to truly ensure that it is really the right thing for you.  This is your future – your happiness, your financial wellbeing and your mental stability that we’re talking about here.  Isn’t it worth just a little upfront work?