The Cover Letter
Many people underestimate the potential value of the cover letter. Certainly, some employers do not focus on cover letters at all (which is why the rule of thumb for a job seeker is “do no harm” in your cover letter). In other cases, however, a good cover letter can motivate the employer to give your resume a more careful look where you might otherwise have been “screened out” based on an initial review of your resume alone.
Your cover letter should convey your personal narrative and incorporate your professional brand. The goal is to make yourself sound so interesting and valuable that the reader will want to meet you in person. Your cover letter is your chance to “connect the dots” and to spell out for the employer why you are a good fit for a job with this organization. This is especially true if it is not 100% obvious from your resume why you are a fit (e.g., you are making a career change, certain items or gaps on your resume may raise questions, you live in another city). Each cover letter must be carefully tailored to the needs of each specific employer; a mass mailing is not an effective strategy for a job search.
If you have a gap in employment and cannot list your most recent law firm as a current employer, you should discuss with your counselor whether the cover letter is an appropriate place for you to say matter-of-factly that you are in transition. If it is favorable to you, you may want to explain the circumstances (e.g., “I am looking to move to a new law firm because my most recent employer, ABC Firm, recently laid off half of the associates in the real estate group, myself included.”). On the other hand, if you were the only one laid off, and you want to avoid the perception that it was merit-driven, you may choose to omit it.
It is fine to email your cover letter, attaching a pdf of your resume. If you choose to send your cover letter as a hard copy instead of an email, include a hard copy of your resume and addenda. If you email your cover letter to a contact in the organization other than the hiring manager for your target position, make sure that you write an appropriate cover letter that may be forwarded exactly as-is to the hiring manager (e.g., If your contact is a friend of yours, make sure not to include any inappropriate comments or inside jokes).
1. LAYOUT
Your cover letter should be brief (usually, less than one page) and easy to read. Limit it to three or four paragraphs. Like your resume, your cover letter should be in professional, 10-12 point font and should include enough “white space” that the reader is not visually turned off by dense narrative. The cover letter should be addressed to a specific individual. If you cannot find the name of a specific person, use “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
2. STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
Use the following structure when drafting a cover letter.
Introduction/Opener
Open by telling the reader who you are and why you are writing. If you were referred by a particular contact, use the individual’s name in the first line of the first paragraph. If the position would require you to relocate, mention your reasons for wanting to relocate and/or your connection to the targeted location.
The Body
This paragraph (or two, if necessary) should explain why you are a good fit for the position/organization by addressing the skills, experience and qualities sought by the employer. Don’t just repeat information contained in your resume. Use the facts in your resume to craft an argument as to why you are a good candidate. Start with a thesis statement, and then provide specific examples (from both your work and other experience) that illustrate your relevant skill set, knowledge and interest in the organization.
If you are seeking a practice or career shift, you must prove that you have the readily-transferable skills and aptitude to succeed. Especially if your experience is not directly on-point, your cover letter must make a compelling argument for this “stretch.” Similarly, if there are any items on your resume that you think would make an employer question your candidacy, offer a brief but compelling explanation in your cover letter. Make sure to fully address both your qualifications for the position and your reasons for your interest in the organization.
If you are applying for a specifically posted position: One great approach is to include two columns of bullets. The first column lists the skills and qualifications required in the job description, and the second column of bullets lists your skills and experience matching each of those requirements. This layout makes it easy for the employer to see why you are a fit.
If you are applying generally (i.e., not for a specific position): When targeting a prospective employer without a specific job posting, try to find contacts at the organizations through your networking system (see the Networking page of this site). If you can’t find a contact, send your cover letter and resume to the attorney in charge of the department, group, practice or office in which you have an interest. Before preparing your cover letter, research the department, group, practice or office so that you can tailor your letter as much as possible.
In Closing...
Summarize your qualifications and interest in the position, and explain what action you will be taking or would like the employer to take. If you are applying for an out-of-town position and will be in the area, give your travel dates. Alternatively, you can state your willingness to make the trip to interview at a mutually convenient time.