How to get your cover letter to the decision makers

– Your cover letter will be the most impactful if you can get it right into the hands of a decision-maker. Humans have emotions. They appreciate a good story, genuinity, Of course many companies require that you submit your application through their online portal. It’s the way that they track and manage candidates. I get that. But there’s nothing that says that you can’t also figure out who’s running the show over there and approach directly. And psst, here’s a hint. LinkedIn is the perfect resource to help you do this. Once you find that contact, you now have an actual person to address this thing to, which is so much better than the ole To Whom It May Concern. Don’t go there. Instead do whatever you can and see if you can find a direct email address. How do you do this? First, look at the job description. Often it will tell you the title of the person to whom this role reports. Take this information and head to the company website or LinkedIn and you can probably figure out a decision-maker’s email address immediately, try Googling their name plus the company name plus the word contact or email. Or try this simple tactic. Call the front office and ask the receptionist if he or she can verify the email address. Now it’s time to craft a dazzling subject line. Most people decide which emails they’re going to open based on who they’re from and how the subject line reads. Now obviously this person isn’t going to recognize your name, so the subject line needs to clinch it for you. Here’s what I recommend. If you don’t have any internal connections try something like Event Manager with a Lifelong Love of the Cincinnati Zoo, Interested. Or if you happen to have an in with someone at that organization and permission to name-drop, go with something like Referred by Katie Hill: Engineering Director Role. This way the recipient sees right away that you’ve got ties to that company. Once you’ve squared away the subject line, you’ll need to decide on if you’re going to send the cover letter as an attachment or make it the body of your email. I typically go with the latter because it gives you more opportunity to have them at hello. However, there’s no hard-and-fast rule here. Go with your gut and pull out the stops to get your cover letter directly to someone involved in the interview process. And no matter what, remember this. And no matter what, remember this. Done well, your cover letter can make a real difference Done well, your cover letter can make a real difference in taking you from the “Eh, maybe” in taking you from the “Eh, maybe” straight to the “Oh, heck yes” stack of candidates. straight to the “Oh, heck yes” stack of candidates. And that’s our entire mission here. And that’s our entire mission here. You’re an “Oh, heck yes” professional. You’re an “Oh, heck yes” professional. Let’s make sure that’s abundantly clear to people Let’s make sure that’s abundantly clear to people the minute your paperwork arrives on their desk. the minute your paperwork arrives on their desk.