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We have all probably written a cover letter or fifty in our lifetime, and it has become part and parcel of our job application process. However, just because it is an important part of job applications, it doesn’t mean it’s everyone’s favourite thing to work on. There is something about sitting down to write a cover letter for your ideal job that can fill you with anxiety or even fear. Maybe it is because this letter could be the thing that lands you your dream job and changes your life. You basically have to find the right words to sell yourself while finding a way to stand out from the crowd, which can be intimidating. Some of you may be thinking, “How can I be afraid of writing a few lines on a page? That doesn’t sound like something I have experienced.” But, just hear me out for a second:
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Have you ever put off or procrastinated writing a cover letter?
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Do you avoid or fear researching cover letter writing?
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Do you have a negative attitude about writing cover letters? (i.e. “I probably won’t even get hired, so what’s the use?)
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Do you experience writer’s block when sitting down to write your cover letter?
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Do you lack confidence in your writing?
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Do you fear negative outcomes from the process, such as rejection?
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Have you ever rushed through writing your cover letter to get rid of the anxiety?
If you answered, “Yes” to any of these questions, then this article might help you understand your dislike for cover letters.
So why do we dread writing cover letters so much?
It can feel boring
Cover letters can feel boring most times, considering you are practically saying the same thing repeatedly to different recruiters. Things can become tedious and dull fast, especially if you are applying to multiple jobs a day or using a template. You also don’t want to sound robotic as you try to elevate your application from the rest of the crowd of applicants.
To keep things interesting and beat the boring streak, you will need to get creative with your cover letter. Look at it as a challenge and sprinkle some of your personality into it. If you are bored writing your cover letter, it is going to reflect in the language and the tone. And guess what? The recruiter is going to become bored too. Make it conversational and let the best parts of your identity shine through while making sure it is still professional and well-written.
You get nervous every time you want to start
For some people, nerves can get the best of them when writing cover letters, and with good reason. When you think that the smallest grammatical error or saying the wrong thing could hurt your chances, this can send you into panic mode. Writing cover letters can be stressful; which is why most people hate doing it.
The key to beating the nerves is not to put so much pressure on the process by thinking your entire life depends on this letter. So imagine you are writing an email to someone to put yourself at ease. Write a draft of it and work on it in stages while customizing and reviewing it to your liking until you have clarity. Once you are happy with what you have, you can transfer it to a Word document and send it out. You can also take the pressure off by breaking down your cover letter into an outline before writing it. Note down the main points you want to emphasize and organize your thoughts to make things much easier.
It weirdly feels like begging or bragging
When writing a cover letter, you have to somewhat brag about your skills and sell yourself throughout. This can be weird for some people, and they might think, “Why do I have to tell the recruiter about my skills and qualifications? Can’t they just go through my CV and take my word for it?” I recently saw a tweet where someone said they find cover letters embarrassing because you are practically begging for a job and the employer still might not pick you. Talking about all your endeavors in an official letter can understandably feel awkward and unusual.
The best way to go about this is to be your own ghostwriter by imagining you are writing about yourself through another person’s eyes. It could be from the perspective of a former boss, a mentor, or a friend; basically, someone who will sing your praises to the next person. You can even draft the letter in third person (i.e. “Mary would be a good fit because…”), just make sure to change it back to first person in the final edit before sending it. It also helps to have an outline of your skills and examples of your work experience that are relevant to the job you are applying to. Focus on planning what you will say in the letter before writing.
You don’t think you have the 'write' skills for it
Some people also fear writing cover letters because they think they need to be good writers to produce a great cover letter, which is hardly the case. Such an attitude can set you up for failure because if you feel you do not have the talent for something, you will not have a good attitude about the task at hand.
You don’t need to be a gifted writer to write a good cover letter; it all comes down to practice and research. The more you read and flex that muscle, the better you become. Take advantage of each chance you get to express yourself in writing, be it through emails, research proposals, or resumes. Find out how you can write better and this will help you be more confident in your writing.
You’re burnt out
You have been job searching for some time now, and this is probably your 432nd cover letter. As you type the words, “Dear Hiring Manager,” onto a blank page one more time, you fight the urge to smash your computer onto the desk. You resist because where would you get the money to buy a new one without a job, so you keep going. Looking for a job takes a lot out of you, and the process is challenging. After all, you are trying to make people want to hire you and believe in your potential without meeting them. That takes a lot of energy.
So pace yourself. Instead of committing yourself to 5 cover letters in one morning, write them one at a time while doing other things in between for a mental break. A fun take on this would be to give yourself a special treat every time you send a cover letter. This way, when you get back to your next letter, you’ll be a bit more rejuvenated and ready to take on the challenge.
As much as we dread cover letters, they are here to stay. So taking the time to understand why you are procrastinating with your cover letters might help you understand how to overcome that anxiety. After all, they say the best way to get over something is to go through it, and I think that definitely applies here.