What are Targeted Cover Letters?

Posted by in Career Advice


If you are currently out of work, or are thinking about leaving your job then there’s a chance that you’ve written at least one cover letter in your lifetime. But the question is what type of cover letter did you write? Many people utilize templates or carbon copy-styled cover letters that allow you to fill in the blanks where needed, but don’t really delve into the position you’re applying for and why you personally want the job. This is where a targeted cover letter steps in. It allows the job seeker to focus very specifically on the position at hand, as well as the reasons that the seeker is interested in that position. If managed correctly, the targeted cover letter can help can help a candidate’s application easily stand out among others. Let’s look at some ways that you can manage yours … Marry Your Goals with the Employer’s One way to manage your targeted cover letter is to make sure that your goals fall right in line with the employer’s. In other words, you want to make sure that you have everything they’re looking for in an employee. How can you do this other than reading their minds, you ask? Well, there are a few simple ways to get this done. First, you can make a list of the responsibilities listed in the job posting. Usually an employer will make a rather thorough list of the roles they would like filled. From that list, you can highlight your accomplishments that link up with the employer’s preferences. Next, you can visit the company’s website to learn more about its mission. This can give you insight into the type of employee they’re looking for. And finally, you can communicate with current or former employees. If you don’t know any, you can try social networking sites like LinkedIn that allow you to search for company employees and even communicate with them (possibly for a monthly fee). The options you offer yourself in connecting your goals with those of the employer, the better chance you’ll likely have of creating a great targeted resume. Explore Your Passion Another great way to create that targeted resume is to delve into the reasons that you really want the job. So you know that you’re a good match based on your accomplishments and skills, but do you really want the job? If you do, then it’s a good idea to express this by discussing how the job aligns with your career goals, etc. Of course, you don’t want to walk across the fine line of being passionate into being narcissistic. It’s easy to focus too much on how great a candidate you are – so much so that you forget about the task at hand, which is to convince the employer that you’re a great match for the job. So do you think you can create a targeted cover letter? Of course you can. It’s just a matter of sitting down and exploring the real reasons you want the job, as well as why you’re a great match. Doing anything less is taking the easy route. So get started on your targeted cover letter to increase your chances of snagging the job you desire.
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  • Chartric
    Chartric
    That’s a great post!
  • Denisha
    Denisha
    Thank God! Someone with brains speaks!
  • coollovedudelove
    coollovedudelove
    i really like your blog--so much knowledgeable information and every article is really very nice. thanks for sharing it.
  • Keith
    Keith
    It's always good practice to include an example with stuff like this.  I want to see a sample job posting with a corresponding cover letter for it.
  • loving seem
    loving seem
    How to Target a Cover Letter to the Job. When employers post a job opening, they are flooded with responses from eager applicants and An effective cover letter must target a specific position, which should be mentioned in the first paragraph.
  • eliza
    eliza
    A resume cover letter is an integral part of the job search. A professional seeking a position within a company should never submit a resume with an appropriate resume cover letter attached, that is, if they want to land the job.

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