Resume Cover Page Targeting

Cover Letter Targeting Is a Key Strategy

An effective resume cover page is targeted. Customizing your resume is not enough. You also need to customize the cover letter you send with it. This is called cover letter targeting.

The best resume cover letters are customized to show the recruiter/employer how you are THE perfect match for the job. Sending a generic cover letter is not going to cut it. The targeted resume cover page takes the advertised job requirements and matches your skills to those requirements. This way, the recruiter can see your relevant qualifications at a glance. And believe me... when you make things easy for a recruiter, they love you... because they have hundreds of job applications to review every day.

Tips for Cover Letter Targeting

First, customize the person you're sending your resume cover page to. Show that you care enough about getting the job to find out who'll be reviewing your packet. Don't use a generic greeting like, "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Recruiter" unless you have to. And please... NEVER use "To Whom It May Concern." When I'd see those letters come across my desk, I'd think, "It doesn't concern me..." and pitch 'em!

Next, open the letter by stating what position you are applying for and where you heard about it. Then say something about how you are an excellent candidate for the position and show why by listing the advertised requirements and comparing them, point by point, to your skills and past achievements. Using bulleted lists is quite effective and makes it easy for the reviewer to hone in quickly on that portion of the resume cover page.

Please be sure you don't waste time applying for jobs for which you are clearly not qualified. I can tell you as a former recruiter that employers frequently ask for the ultimate in credentials, while often being willing to accept something less. But that doesn't mean you can apply for jobs where you possess NONE of the requirements. So, before you start targeting the writing of your resume cover page, make sure you're actually qualified!