We all know that a cover letter can make or break your chances at landing a job. An employer reads cover letters in hopes of seeing what sets a certain person apart from the rest of the pack. But how can you make your cover letter special and really illustrate how you can be an asset to a company? Here is the answer to the cover letter makeover you’ve been longing for.
Change the “I” to “You”. Yes, it’s just that easy. The goal of a cover letter isn’t to ramble on about yourself for a page but to rather inform the employer what you can do for them. How can you sell yourself as an asset to the company you are applying for? Try replacing “I”, “me” and “my” with “you” and “your”. Instead of listing your qualifications say, “you will gain” and “your company will benefit”. You need to make the person reading the cover letter feel as though you really care about the company and that you can improve on what they already have.
Replacing “I” with “you” is an old advertising trick that works by making the person you are targeting feel important. Essentially your cover letter is an advertisement for yourself. You need to make yourself standout by selling yourself to the company in a way that makes them shine as well as yourself. Next time you are writing a cover letter remember that you are selling yourself but not rejoicing in all your talents. Include the company, make them feel special and change that “I” to a “you”.
