Cover Letters: How to Stand Out From The Crowd

Last Updated on August 27, 2024

Imagine: you’ve made it all the way through the application, and now they are asking for a cover letter. Your mind…blanks. Suddenly, you barely remember your own name, let alone any of your achievements. This happens all the time—many people struggle to talk about themselves.

When so many people around us and on the internet are living so boldly, it can be hard to know what’s worth mentioning in our own stories. 

This doesn’t mean that you have nothing to share, though. In the guide below, I will first go over  3 things that you should not do followed by the 3 things that you definitely should do when crafting a cover letter that you want to stand out. Let’s write!

Don’t

Here is a list of things you definitely should not do when you’re writing your cover letter.

1. A List of Everything You’ve Ever Done

Something I see often that is an immediate red flag (at least for me) is a long, written out list of job titles and roles. I know this is the easiest way to create a cover letter. However, no one actually wants to read out the play by play of your résumé.

Here is a quick example of what I’m referring to: 

Dear [x],

I am so excited to have the opportunity to apply for this position. I have a background in [x]. For 15 years, I also worked for [y]. I think that I could be a real asset to your team because of my experience and demonstrated expertise. Working with you all would be a dream come true of mine because…

Do you see what I mean?

Not only is this cover letter extremely boring, but it also is lacking in soul. It’s going to be very hard for the person reading this to remember your letter compared to all the others. This format is the quickest way to make them forget you.

2. An Autobiography

On a similar note to the last point, you also don’t want a cover letter that is too long. Going through the highs and lows of your career, and how you got to this point is not the topic to be discussed in a cover letter. Save that for your actual professional bio (and make sure to edit most of that out for that, as well). 

My general rule of thumb is that a cover letter should be no longer than two pages. If you can shorten it to one page, you’re golden. Remember, you are also sending your resume along with the this, so don’t worry too much about fitting any and every thing in there. 

3. Not Sending One At All

As silly as it is, employers still want receive cover letters from applicants. Not sending one at all can set you apart from your competition in a bad way. 

Of course this depends on the role that you were applying for. A job application as the book teller at Barnes & Noble does not require a cover letter (even though I sent one anyway).

Nevertheless, it is a nice and classic tradition that your employer will appreciate. Most corporate offices have a wide range of generational diversity. So, there is a very large chance that your application will be judged by someone who came from a time where cover letters were non-optional.

Do yourself a favor and just write the thing. 

Do

Now that you have a long list of things you should not be doing in your cover letter, here is a list of things you should do in order to stand out from the crowd.

1. Why You Love This Work

Have you ever heard you colleague describe a person as a good or bad “culture fit”? This step plays into that. When an employer screens you for the job, they should take into account whether or not you would mesh well with the company’s existing team, mission, or core values. 

For example, Apple’s mission statement is: “to bring the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software and services.” One simple way to have you cover letter stand out is to explain why you love the [insert mission statement] (not literally, people). 

Of course, this isn’t a new idea, plenty of people do this. However, if you’ve thoroughly read the ‘Don’ts’ list above and edited your cover letter accordingly, you should be ahead of some of your competition already! 

Still not sure what to say? Here are some a few questions that you can answer to get the creative juices flowing:

• What about this work excites you? 
• How would this role build in your previous experience? Why does it feel like a good fit for you now?
• What is the biggest opportunity for someone in this role? 

2. How You Can Add Value

Similar to being screened for a good culture fit, employers also want to make sure that you can add value to the company in some way.

This is very important: if they can’t understand why they should hire you, then they won’t. 

By describing how your skills have helped previous employers see success, you can marketing yourself in a way that is based in fact and not just make empty promises. This will make you sound more credible. And why shouldn’t it? You are! 

Again, here are a few questions that you can ask yourself if you aren’t sure what to say: 

• What does success look like to you? How have you achieved it in the past? 
• What is your ultimate goal? 
• How have your previous roles gotten you closer to accomplishing this ultimate goal?
• Do you mesh well with the company’s long-term goals? 

3. BONUS: Your History With the Company

If you have a positive history with the company, it may be worth mentioning. Were you an intern back in the day? Did you volunteer for the nonprofit that you’re applying to? Did you have a big success or milestone that you reached while associated with this organization? 

This tip won’t apply to everyone, of course. However, if you can add some personalized tidbits in there, it will help your cover letter shine!

In Conclusion