The lead (and how to nail it)

– A while back I worked with a woman who was applying to be a special events manager at a large zoo. A zoo she’d loved going to since she was a little girl. It was also a zoo she’d grown up right next door to. We wanted the hiring manager to know right away that she was applying for this job not only because she had the skills but because she couldn’t imagine a better place to work. Our lead went something like this, growing up with the Cincinnati Zoo literally in my backyard, I spent countless hours watching out my front window waiting for a peacock to fly over the zoo fence and land on my dad’s car. He was absolutely not a fan, but I was just mesmerized by these beautiful creatures in my own yard. It was similar to the joy I felt when my family attended a big exhibit opening or a special event at the zoo. I’m Mary Smith, an experienced event planner with a lifelong love of the Cincinnati Zoo. I’d be proud to serve as your next special events coordinator, and help create wonderful memories for the next generation of zoo lovers. Did you see what I did there? Strong lead. It provides a clear and engaging explanation about why Mary’s so passionate about the zoo who is applying for a director of development role at a charity specializing in fire prevention. I have a personal interest in fire prevention that dates back many years. The son of a nurse who worked in a hospital burns unit, I heard heartbreaking stories of people impacted by fire. And I’d spend hours thinking about my dad’s patients, wishing these people had been better protected. As a nonprofit leader, I’ve helped many worthy charities generate hundreds of thousands of dollars and engage passionate supporters. I would be honored to blend my genuine passion for your cause with my professional experience that demonstrates why he’s so interested in their cause and then he presents himself as a clear and obvious match for that role. Now, you may not always have a peacock over the fence story to set you apart, but you will likely have a personal and specific reason why you want to work for that organization. Tell them that. Just be sure and keep things on point. You need to transition from story into the I’m what you’re looking for messaging quickly I’m what you’re looking for messaging quickly or else it will look like you’re off or else it will look like you’re off on some random tangent. on some random tangent. If you need more examples, If you need more examples, check out the sample in the exercise files. check out the sample in the exercise files. Again, this is the lead, Again, this is the lead, it’s the heart of your cover letter it’s the heart of your cover letter and the critical step in drawing your reader in. and the critical step in drawing your reader in.