It’s really hard to write a cover letter without repeating your résumé.
I think you’ll agree with me when I say:
It’s really hard to write a cover letter without repeating your résumé.
But here’s the deal:
Repeating the same information is a waste of space (and time). You have one page to explain why you’re the most qualified candidate for the position. Use the opportunity to share additional information about who you are.
Think about it this way:
Let’s say you want to buy a shirt online. You want to understand exactly what the shirt looks like, so you search for pictures and find two photos. Unfortunately, both pictures show the front of the shirt. Which means you don’t know what the shirt looks like from the side or back. What a waste, right? Why wouldn’t the company take two different pictures?
The same concept applies when writing a cover letter and a résumé.
It doesn’t make sense to submit the same exact information on both documents. While your résumé and cover letter need to complement each other (like the front and back of a shirt), they shouldn’t be identical. Which means each document should show a slightly different angle of who you are as a professional.
Your cover letter provides an opportunity to share your personality and tell a story. Let’s look at an example. Say your résumé includes the following entry:
Counsellor, Summer Camp: Plan and lead educational programs for 250+ elementary school children during 8-week summer camp.
While that’s a solid résumé bullet point, it doesn’t tell the story of your experience as a counsellor. Here’s a good example of what you could write in your cover letter instead:
As a summer camp counsellor, I discovered my passion for facilitating programs for elementary-aged children. I would be thrilled to student teach at Rodgersville Elementary School. Rather than regurgitating the résumé bullet point, this excerpt expands on the example.
One of the easiest ways to ensure you don’t duplicate your résumé is to limit the number of skills you highlight in your cover letter. Instead of including a list of everything you’ve done (and boring the recruiter), review the job description and choose the three most relevant accomplishments.
While you’re limited to one page when you write a cover letter, it’s still important to include valuable details. For instance, let’s say you conducted marketing research. Don’t write, “I conducted in-depth marketing research.” Instead, tell the hiring manager that you “used SPSS to analyse customer survey responses.”
Filling your cover letter with generic claims and keywords does not help an employer understand who you are. Be specific.
Repeating the content of your résumé on your cover letter is a poor use of space. Infuse your personality, highlight the most relevant skills, and share valuable details.
A cover letter provides an opportunity to tell your story and infuse your personality. Don’t waste it!
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