Cover Letters for First-Time Job Seekers

Cover Letters for First-Time Job Seekers Cover Letters for First-Time Job Seekers You know deckblatt letters are important, but as a first-time job seeker, you may be scratching your head as to what to write about. Especially given that you have less experience than many other job seekers, you may feel youre at a disadvantage.However, as a first-time job seeker you should really consider yourself lucky when it comes to writing cover letters. Youre free from the burden of wrestling with your past achievements, professional goals, and your value proposition. What you have on your side is excitement, enthusiasm, and opennessHere are a few key things to remember about cover letters and some advice on how to personalize them as a first-time job seeker1. Tell a StoryYou want to convey something personal about why you want to work at the company or enter a particular profession. Did you first fall in love with advertising when you finally understood that commercials play into our basic de sires as humans, driving you to create your own with your friends? Is there one particular commercial youll never forget? Whatever it is, you have a story to tell that is uniquely yours. Share this with the reader to grab their attention and offer something memorable.2. Play Up Your StrengthsWhile you may not have had a mglichkeit to let them shine in a professional setting, your strengths have certainly become evident in other ways. Are you a great public speaker? Do you think quickly on your feet? Maybe you learned you had these skills during the 8th grade play when the lead froze and you shocked yourself and your class by improvising to save the show. Maybe this moment was a defining one for you, one that made it clear you wanted to further develop your public speaking skills.3. Be AuthenticRecruiters are used to reading cover letters of more experienced candidates. Usually, these letters all sound relatively the same Im writing to submit my resume for your account director role. I have been a sales leader at every organization Ive worked for, and Im sure to bring the same success to your firm. Blah, blah, blah.Dont feel compelled to sound too formal. While you want to remain professional, that doesnt mean your cover letters should lack personality.4. Never Use the Same Cover Letter TwiceThere are a few exceptions, but remember The jobs may be the same, but the companies are different. Each employer hastheir own mission and culture.Think of your cover letter like a message to someoneon a dating site. Do you think youd have more success by sending the same blanket email to all your potential dates, or by personalizing each note to show youve taken the time to really understand what theyre about?Show the employer youve done your research Why do you want to work for advertising agency X as opposed to agency Y? Theyre both ad agencies, but they have different clients, put out different commercials, and have different creative styles. Being able to articulate wh y youre specifically interested in one company over others will make all the difference.A version of this article originally appeared on theAtrium Staffing blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings resident career expert.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.