Continuing our series on a survey on cover letters conducted by Robin Ryan, author of Winning Cover Letters. Ryan notes that her survey results suggest that formulaic cover letters are doomed.
“Imagine yourself with 300 resumes to sort through,” Ryan writes, “and 295 start their cover letter this way: ‘I’m applying for the job I saw on your website.’ According to her survey results, a cover letter and resume only get a 15 second glance, so your first line either grabs the reader’s attention or loses it. Hiring managers prefer you use a powerful first sentence that summarizes the top skills and experience you can bring to the job. For example, Five years experience as a high tech project with a proven track record of being on time and within budget is the background I’d bring to your position.”
