Cover Letter Etiquette

Do recruiters read cover letters?  What do they look for?

Answer

I never really did, and I’ve been in this business almost 25 years. But because some recruiters value the letter as an essential, you should probably include one—one that's short and to the point, of course. Make a strong case for why they should consider you.  Impress them with your written communication and it just might help push you ahead of the competition.

Some recruiters rely on cover letters as a writing sample or personality indicator.  Some recruiters don’t read them.  Because you won’t know who gets yours, when in doubt, send a cover letter.

The most important thing for career changers is to build valuable relationships with the company representatives that come on campus. 

Second to that, evaluate the skills you’ll need to be successful in your new field, and word your resume accordingly.  If quantitative skills are what you will need, ensure that you have included quantitative bullets on your resume.  Quantify everything possible: Your fundraiser raised 50-percent than the previous year, you cut defects by 75 percent using a new process, etc. And don’t worry that your examples aren’t in the field that interests you now.  All MBA recruiters know that most MBAs are career changers, so there are no surprises here. 

Make sure your cover letter and networking pitches define specifically how your previous skills and experience translate to your target field.  Don’t assume that recruiters will make the case for you.

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