Why We HATE Writing Cover Letters

If there is one thing that’s annoying about job search, it’s probably writing the perfect cover letter for your resume. It’s meant to be short and crisp, and must entail all the right elements necessary for you to land that dream job! It isn’t very easy to write a flawless cover letter with passion, but it must be done. Why would you want to let such a small letter affect what may be the chance of your lifetime? Come to think of it, it’s not a very taxing task, but we tend to stretch the whole process and get irked when it stands between our CV and the recruiter.

Related: The Importance Of ‘Mirroring’ In Your Cover Letter

Here are a few reasons why we HATE writing cover letters. And, more importantly, four new ways to make the procedure a tad less painful.

You Like To Believe It’s Boring

The worst part about creating cover letters is that they can feel formulaic. One tends to get bored of writing the same old things over and over again. You hate to sound like a robot, and if you are working off that template, things will get dull pretty fast.

Solution: The key is to get more creative. Remember, this is your one chance to stand out from the rest of the crowd and take your candidature forward. So, take it up as a challenge, put in some extra energy, and lend more personality to the letter. Don’t forget, if you feel bored while writing it, it will show in the tone and language, and the recruiter will also become uninterested. Always keep it conversational and start by mentioning how much you love the company or how came in contact with it for the first time.

Nervousness Takes Over

Do nerves get the best of you when you decide to sit down and create a cover letter? It is possible that you suddenly freeze up from the pressure as you realize that a few lines can make or break your chances of landing a good job. What if you end up writing something wrong, make a grammatical mistake, or go overboard and seem desperate? With so much stress inside your little head, things are bound to become unexciting. No wonder why you hate writing cover letters!

Solution: Do not take it up as an exercise on which your life depends. Think of it as writing an e-mail. You will be more calm and relaxed, and will understand that there is no rocket science behind writing a cover letter. So, get over with those jitters by treating your cover letter as just another e-mail you are sending off. You can draft it now, then review and customize it later. Working in phases will bring more clarity.

Writing About Yourself Is A Pain

The worst part about creating a cover letter is that you need to brag about yourself the entire time. You may not be someone who blows his or her own trumpet, but when writing a cover letter, you must uninhibitedly declare all your accomplishments and skills.

Solution: It is understandable that talking about your undertakings in an official letter feels uncomfortable and unnatural. You can start by taking a separate sheet and listing out what you have achieved, and what skills have helped you with those achievements. Then, imagine that you are someone else drafting the letter. Being a ghost writer is an easy way to get a fresh perspective. Think of yourself as the writer who is the mentor, friend, or past employer of the applicant, then see how easy it becomes to sing praises.

You may be scared to pull yourself together after a string of non-productive job searches. You may even be tired of repeatedly writing resumes and cover letters. No matter what your reason is, pace yourself and begin writing with a fresh mind. The cover letter will hopefully help you land that job interview.

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