Letter Writing Tips

Don't Message a Recruiter Like This 🚫 "Hi, I hope you’re doing well! I’m interested in the role you posted: Software Engineer. Based on my experience as Software Engineer, I believe I could be a good fit. Are you open to a quick chat to discuss the position? I’d love to learn more about it. I look forward to hearing from you." 👇 Do This Instead ✅ " Hi [Name], I hope you're doing well. I recently came across the [Job Title] opening at [Company Name] and was impressed by [specific aspect of the company or role]. With [X years of experience] in [Your Field], passion for [relevant industry or skill] and [your skills that matches job requirements], I believe I could contribute to [specific team or project]. I would love to connect and discuss how my background aligns with the needs of the team. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the possibility of working together!" 🔑 Why The Second Approach Works: ✅ Personalization: Addressing the recruiter by name and mentioning something specific about the company shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested. ✅ Value Proposition: Highlighting your experience and how it aligns with the role demonstrates your suitability and adds value to your pitch. ✅ Professional Courtesy: Acknowledging their time and expressing eagerness to connect makes your message respectful and engaging. Your approach to recruiters can make a lasting first impression—make it count! 💼 #JobSearch #CareerTips #LinkedIn #JobSeekingTips #FirstImpression #BeProfessional #YourNextRole #GetHired #GetInterviews

Don't Wait for Job Postings—Take the Initiative! Want to work for your dream company but don't see any openings? Try sending a letter of interest! Instead of submitting your resume into the void of an applicant tracking system, a well-crafted letter of interest can put you directly on a hiring manager's radar. Here's why this approach works: ✅ Good managers are ALWAYS looking for their next great hire  ✅ You'll stand out from the crowd who only apply to posted positions  ✅ It demonstrates initiative and genuine interest in the company Quick tips for writing an effective letter of interest: 1. Research thoroughly—understand the company's challenges, culture, and recent news 2. Address your letter directly to the decision-maker (not HR unless that's your target department) 3. Craft an attention-grabbing subject line 4. Keep it concise with short paragraphs or bullet points 5. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile instead of attaching a resume 6. Ask for a conversation (not an interview) to learn more about their needs 7. Always follow up This approach might feel bold or outside your comfort zone—that's exactly why it works! While others wait for job postings, you could be having meaningful conversations with decision-makers. Details and examples of letters of interest are linked in the first comment below ⬇

Cover letters are NOT dead. But 99% of them are terrible. That's why everyone thinks they don't work. Here's the truth: Most cover letters get ignored because they're boring, generic, and repeat what's already on your resume. But the right cover letter? It gets you noticed. It gets you interviews. It gets you remembered. Here's the formula: Hook → Achievement → Why This Company → CTA Let me break it down: Step 1: Start with a hook. Skip "I am writing to apply..." Lead with something that grabs attention: → A specific achievement → Why you're excited about this company → A problem you can solve Example: "I've spent the last 5 years scaling operations teams at high-growth startups and I'm excited about the opportunity to do the same at [Company]." Step 2: Share one relevant achievement. Pick your strongest win that matches what they need. Example: "At [Company], I led a team that reduced delivery time by 30% and saved $400K annually." Step 3: Show why THIS company. Don't be generic. Be specific: "I saw you recently launched X, and here's how my experience with Y positions me to contribute immediately." Step 4: End with a clear CTA. Don't just say "I look forward to hearing from you." Say: "I'd love to discuss how my experience can support [Company's] growth. I'm available this week." Keep it under 250 words. If it's longer than one page, it's too long. Make every sentence count. When to send one: Not every application needs a cover letter. Send one when: → The company specifically asks for one → The role is highly competitive → You're pivoting industries → You have a referral Cover letters aren't dead. Bad cover letters are. Save this post so you know how to write one that actually gets read.

➡️ 🎓 Cover letters in the academic job market: I have recently hired three new academic staff members – two post-docs and a PhD student. I look forward to the privilege of working together with them in the coming months. There were hundreds of wonderful, smart, creative and energetic people who were interested in applying; in the end, we received 300 applications. Reading through so many applications, let me share some of my top tips on what makes a good motivation letter: 1.  Keep your motivation letter to max. 2 pages, preferably 1.5. You should be able to convey your core profile and interests in a short space, especially when recruiters are reading hundreds of letters. Short, concise and clear messages are the ticket. 2. Do not use overly flowery, jargon-y language with little meaning – if I need to read your sentence 2-3 x to understand it then I can’t get to know you and your profile properly. It also sounds like it has been AI-generated. 3. It is wonderful if you share the interests of the research project /field that the job ad is looking for, but please show the reader how exactly your work corresponds to this claimed interests. Too often, claims in the cover letter did not correspond with the CV or publication list. 4. If you are applying for a postdoc, don’t forget to include a couple of sentences on what your PhD was about (even if a few years back). This is a major milestone in the life of an academic, I want to hear what you worked on and why it was an exciting topic. 5. Personalise your letters a little – I know the job market is dire, and you may be applying for lots of jobs, but – and especially if you are genuinely interested in the job – do your homework and find out a little bit about the host institution and the person(s) you will be working with. Maybe they ran an event you thought was interesting, someone wrote a paper you liked, or you once got a book out of their library and were inspired by the interior design. Don’t just copy the basic information that’s provided on the job ad. I want to know why you want to work with us. Academic job markets can be so brutal and equally the work we can end up doing can be so fulfilling, so to all of you currently writing applications, I hope some of this advice may help you to fine-tune your cover-letters to let you shine. ✨

Your résumé may get a quick scan—your cover letter is what makes the hiring manager lean in. Here are 10 pro tips to turn that half-page note into a door-opening pitch: 1️⃣ Lead with a business problem (not your bio). Open by naming a challenge the company cares about—then hint at how you’ll solve it. 2️⃣ Mirror the job description’s language. Echo a few keywords verbatim so recruiters see instant alignment (and so ATS filters don’t miss you). 3️⃣ Show, don’t list. Replace generic claims (“excellent communicator”) with one punchy metric-backed win (“cut client onboarding time 35% in Q2”). 4️⃣ Prove you’ve done the homework. Reference a recent product launch, earnings call, or post from the hiring manager to signal genuine interest. 5️⃣ Tell one memorable story. A concise, STAR-style anecdote (Situation, Task, Action, Result) sticks far longer than a paragraph of buzzwords. 6️⃣ Quantify cultural fit. Briefly connect your values to theirs—e.g., how you thrive in cross-functional, remote-first teams if that’s their norm. 7️⃣ Write for skimming. Keep paragraphs ≤ 3 lines, use white space, and favor plain language over formal jargon. 8️⃣ Prioritize relevance over chronology. Spotlight the two or three achievements that map directly to the role; link out or attach a portfolio for depth. 9️⃣ End with a forward-looking CTA. Instead of “thank you for your time,” try “I’d love to brainstorm ways to reduce churn before Q4—when can we talk?” 🔟 Proofread like a publisher. Read aloud, run a grammar check, and ask a friend to spot tone or typo issues before you hit “Send.” Follow these and your cover letter won’t just accompany your résumé—it will amplify it. Good luck out there, and feel free to share your own hard-won tips below! #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #CoverLetter

I know it’s an unbelievably challenging time for impending and recent grads, and those early in their careers to find a good job anywhere, never mind a high-demand category like athletic footwear and apparel. It can be hard to find someone who wants to hear your story. I doubt there’s any one right way to go about it — but here’s what gets my attention in outreach from young talent (and what tends not to work): - Reach out before there’s a job opening. That’s hard advice to hear from someone who has a job — especially if you don’t — but it’s easier (and more appealing) for me to get to know you and help you along if things don’t feel transactional. Start planting seeds 12-18 months before you think you’ll be looking. That’s not always practical, but it helps. - Tell me your story: not where you grew up or went to college — that’s metadata — but what you’ve learned about yourself that makes this category a place you’re destined to be. Tell me something I’ve never heard before: an adventure you took, a perspective you’ve adopted. Remember: I’m probably not hiring you directly. Instead, I’m going to be someone who helps move you through a network to a recruiter or another hiring manager. Ask yourself: ‘what is the quick story he’s going to tell someone else when he refers me to them?’ That’s the ball game. - Tell me why you’re writing me, in particular. To quote Ken Haemer of AT&T Research, “writing without an audience in mind is like addressing a love letter ‘to whom it may concern’.” - Don’t feel the need to flatter. I don’t especially care that you’re a big fan of New Balance (yet), and there’s not a lot of value in praising or referencing recent work or a recent post. Do your homework, sure — but there's no need to show it to me. - A frequent misstep: attaching a link to an open role and ask, ‘do you think I’d be a good fit for this?’ In general, the people you’re writing won’t know the details of that role, the hiring manager, or where the hiring process for the role stands. Let us get to know you first. - I don’t need to see spec work. You should be properly briefed and then properly paid for any work you do. Sending me something unsolicited signals to me that you’ve been taught to prioritize execution independent of strategy. That’s a red flag. - Let the email or DM breathe for a bit before following up. Some leaders will review these sorts of inbound notes daily or weekly. For others, it’s more ad hoc. I tend to carve out time once a month on Fridays to review inbound email or LinkedIn notes from prospective talent. I’d guess that’s common. - No grammar or spelling edits, please. How you do one thing is how you do everything. Finally, remember that we’re all in this business because we love the way that sports connects with and shapes culture. Share a perspective on what that means to you. Give me something real that convinces me you’ll be a cultural fit, regardless of what roles open up. Network, what am I missing here?

Please stop writing this as the first sentence of your cover letter: "My name is Mark, and I'm excited to apply for the VP of Talent Acquisition role with Revolut!" Things the reader already knows: ✅ Your name ✅ The position you're applying for ✅ The name of their own company I'm not saying you shouldn't include those elements – you can incorporate them naturally in the first paragraph or two; they just don't need to be the first thing someone sees when they glance at your cover letter. It's unlikely anyone will read every word of your cover letter, but well-crafted content might set you above other candidates. Here are some pointers for a more effective cover letter: 1️⃣ Avoid a "me" focused cover letter. It might be about you, but it's not for you. Focus on how you are the right cultural fit and how your expertise and passions align with the organization's goals and needs. 2️⃣ Go back to the elementary school principle of a "hook" at the beginning of your cover letter. The first sentence should draw the reader in and make them want to read down the page. Be unique and creative – this is your opportunity to show off your personality a little bit (while keeping it professional, of course). 3️⃣ Write short paragraphs. Anything longer than 3-4 lines on the page is too much. People don't like reading paragraphs when they're trying to skim a document quickly. The longer the paragraph, the less likely the content is to be noticed. 4️⃣ Consider adding design elements to break up the content visually. I incorporate section headers (that mirror the section headers on the résumé) that say things like "Who I Am" and "How I'll Contribute" to make it easier for the reader to process through the information. 5️⃣ Consider throwing some bullet points on your cover letter – it's a little counterintuitive because this is specifically NOT your résumé, but it's an effective way to pull focus to what really matters on your cover letter. You could outline the top 3-5 things that differentiate you or a few outcomes from your previous experiences (as long as you translate them to explain how those experiences will make you successful in the new role). There are a million ways to write a cover letter! What have you found to be the most effective?

On writing an engaging cover letter that lands you an academic job Cover letters matter—but they’re not always read start to finish. Why? Because search committees review dozens, if not hundreds, of applications. When a committee is screening applicants, they typically check the CV and then skim the letter. If something stands out, they read more closely. How do I know? I've read hundreds of letters over the past 20 years as a faculty member. Every search, a few people have stood out - bc of their letter, not their record, and secure a screening interview. Why? Because they make it easy to see how they fit into my team. So how to make that connection in a cover letter? Catch a search committee member’s attention quickly by showing how you align with the department’s priorities. If you do that, they’ll understand why you might fit into their place. So how do you do it? (1) Start strong with clarity & intent. Open with a brief introduction of who you are and the role you’re applying for. Example: “I am a doctoral candidate in Information Systems at [University], applying for the Assistant Professor position in [Department] at [Institution].” (2) Highlight 1–2 points of alignment. Don’t rehash your CV. Instead, connect your work to the department’s strengths, needs, or initiatives. Example: “My research on platform governance aligns with your department’s focus on digital innovation & complements the work of Professors X & Y.” (3) You must mention teaching. The dirty secret of academic hiring is that, for most jobs, the first screen is a teaching need. If you can’t teach what is needed, you are often out of the game. So. You must mention your teaching strengths. You must be accurate in how you describe those strengths. You must plan to be asked about those strengths if you land an interview. (4) Don’t oversell. Avoid lines like “I am the perfect candidate.” It backfires. Use the letter to make your work simple to the uninitiated, credible to the initiated, & relevant to the Dean’s office. (5) Include authentic personal motivation. If you have family in the area or another genuine reason you want to be there, include it in the final sentences. This can tip the balance in your favor for a screening interview. People want to be around those who genuinely want to be at their school. (6) Close with warmth & professionalism. Thank them for reviewing your application, say you are available to answer questions, and mention which conference you will attend—in case they want to meet you in person. (7) Include personal contact information. Include your contact info, including cell phone & WhatsApp, even if it’s on your CV. Final tip: If your letter could go to any school without edits, it’s too generic. Make it specific—even lightly. If you can weave these elements into your cover letter, you have a shot at securing a screening interview. Best of luck. #academicjobs

Here are practical, proven tips jobseekers can use to make their cover letter actually work — and improve their chances of landing an interview: 1. Make it about them, not you Hiring managers care about how you’ll solve their problems. Open with why you’re excited about this role and how your experience aligns with their needs — not a generic introduction. 2. Customize the first paragraph every time One tailored paragraph can make the difference. Reference the role, company, location, or even a recent initiative to show this isn’t a copy-and-paste letter. 3. Connect your experience directly to the job description Don’t repeat your résumé. Highlight 1–2 key accomplishments and clearly connect them to what the company is looking for. Show relevance, not repetition. 4. Quantify when possible Numbers build credibility. Whether it’s revenue growth, efficiency gains, customer satisfaction, or team size — measurable impact stands out. 5. Keep it short and skimmable Aim for 3–4 short paragraphs. Long blocks of text get skipped. White space helps your message land. 6. Show personality — professionally A cover letter is your chance to sound human. Let your voice come through while staying polished and confident. 7. End with a clear, confident close Reaffirm your interest and invite next steps. Confidence (without desperation) leaves a strong final impression. A strong cover letter doesn’t beg for a job — it makes a compelling business case for why you’re worth a conversation.

"I am writing to express my strong interest in your Cardiology fellowship program." The opening line on a fellowship cover letter I reviewed last week — from a physician with three years of residency, two publications, and a cath-lab elective most applicants would trade a year for. None of that appeared until paragraph three. Here's the gap: residency selection asks "can this person be trained?" Fellowship selection asks a different question — "what does this nearly-finished physician already DO, and does it fit our program's actual work?" "Expressing interest" answers neither. The PD knows you're interested. You applied. Three opening rewrites, ranked: 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁: "As a PGY-3 with a sustained focus on interventional cardiology — including a dedicated cath-lab elective and two first-author publications — I am applying to your program." Credentials moved to sentence one. Functional, forgettable. 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: "In my cath-lab elective I scrubbed into 40+ caths and left with one conviction: the next decade of cardiology happens at the wire tip. Your program's structural-heart volume is why I'm applying — specifically." A number, a formed point of view, and a reason THIS program. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁: "The first time I watched a TAVR replace what used to be an open sternotomy, I understood my own career in one sentence: I want to spend it making the largest procedures smaller. Three years, 40+ caths, and two papers later, that sentence now points directly at your structural-heart program." A scene, a thesis, the credentials folded inside — and an arrow that lands on their program, not "a program." Three rules: 1. 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. "Interest" is posture. A formed view of the field is position. 2. 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠. One sentence that could not be pasted into any other program's letter. If it could — rewrite it. 3. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. Numbers and papers belong inside the sentence doing the arguing, not in a list at the end. Want the full Fellowship Cover Letter teardown — opening, body, and closing rewrites for IM, peds, and surgical subspecialties? Comment or DM me "FELLOW" and I'll send it over. #Fellowship #IMG #Cardiology #MedicalEducation #FellowshipMatch