Should You Tailor Your Cover Letter to Each Job Application? (It’s a Waste of Time)
I've been there before, just like you. Back when I didn't know better, I spent hours tailoring each cover letter to a job post just to make sure I stood out from the pool of applicants. But what did I get in return? - Automated rejection emails.
It's frustrating, isn't it? I know you've been in this boat too.
But here's something you might not have considered: if a company doesn't explicitly require a cover letter as part of their application process, creating a unique one for each job can actually be a waste of your precious time.
You might not agree with me just yet, but let me share with you some reasons why I believe this is true.
Why You Shouldn't Tailor Your Cover Letter to Each Job Application (It's a Waste of Time)
Reason #1 - It’s Time-Consuming
Crafting a unique cover letter for every job takes a lot of time. Think about it – researching the company, understanding the job role, finding out who to address the cover letter to, and then writing a letter that ties your skills to the specific job can take hours.
That's time you could use to apply for more jobs, increasing your chances of getting hired somewhere else.
Reason #2 - Your Efforts Will Most Likely Go to Waste
Many companies use automated systems to filter applications before a human even sees them. These systems often focus on resumes, not cover letters. So, you might be putting effort into something that a recruiter won’t even see.
Reason #3 - The Entire Process Will Most Likely Lead to Stress and Burnout
Constantly tailoring cover letters can be stressful. It involves finding the perfect balance between sounding professional, enthusiastic, and a good fit for the company. This pressure can lead to burnout, especially if you’re job hunting for an extended period.
Reason #4 - You Will Most Likely Lose Focus on Other Important Tasks
The more time you spend customizing cover letters, the less time you have for other important tasks, such as networking, improving your skills, or even taking a well-deserved break. The return on investment diminishes with each hour you spend tweaking and twisting your cover letter.
Reason #5 - One-Size-Fits-Most
Most times, job roles in the same field require similar skills and experiences. Your cover letter, if written well, can already cover the basics needed for multiple jobs in your field. This means you don’t need to reinvent the wheel for every application.
How Do You Stand Out Without Tailoring Your Cover Letter?
I’m sure you might be wondering, if you’re not customizing your cover letter for each job, how do you make sure you stand out from the crowd? The key is a highly customized resume.
Imagine you're applying for three different roles: social media manager, content marketing manager, and content writer. Instead of creating three different cover letters, create three distinct resumes. Each resume should highlight your skills and experiences relevant to one of those positions. This approach allows you to showcase your suitability for the role directly in your resume.
By having a targeted resume, you do the work of the cover letter without writing it. You show the hiring manager that you have the skills and experience they need.
