They may feel old-fashioned , but a well-crafted cover letter could mean the difference between being employed and unemployed .

MAKE IT UNIQUE

It ’ s tempting to craft one catch-all letter , proof read it , then simply copy and paste the same content over and over to multiple possible employers . You may also find yourself applying for more than one job at a time , and standardizing the letter can seem like a great stream-lining idea . But you won ’ t be differentiating yourself or highlighting the parts of your background that might improve your candidacy .

Hiring managers can get the nuts and bolts of your career path from the resume itself . Your letter should put all of that in perspective as it relates to this particular position , while showcasing you as a person — rather than just another applicant .

LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT

Always use conversational , first-person language in a cover letter . Mention how you were alerted to their vacancy ,

and why the position is attractive to you . At the same time , focus on using words

like “ we ” and “ us .” It may sound counterintuitive , but cover letters can ’ t be all about

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the candidate . You ’ ll never be able to completely avoid using the word “ I ” — and you

shouldn ’ t . But cover letters tend to be better received if you make them more about how you ’ ll integrate with the company .

Do a bit of research into their values , projects and mission statement , then focus on how you ’ d like to further those goals . Including your thoughts on these initiatives shows a dedication to becoming a committed , engaged employee . Remember to customize every letter by integrating as many of their job-announcement keywords as possible .

DISPLAY ORIGINALITY

Let ’ s face it , there aren ’ t many ways to bring a spark to the average resume . The document is really only there to share employment details , not to show off your personality . That ’ s where a cover letter can set your application apart .

Take a more anecdotedriven approach . Offer insights into your own motivations , what inspired you and how that fed into your desire to become a leader , collaborator and mentor at their company .

The goal is to tell your story in a brief but engaging way . Hiring managers are likely shifting through many cover letters , and being yourself is one way to stand out .