Cover letters. You know the basics. Formal
business letter layout…
my address top right…
introductions, sign off…
their address top left…
why you, why them, blah blah blah… Guess
what? Everyone else knows this too. Sure,
there are some rules, but here are 3 ways
you can make your cover letter stand out - for
the right reasons. Tip 1: be specific, not
generic.
I’m a big fan of your shows.
Are you? Are you really? This line tells me
nothing, apart from that you think it’s
what I want to read. How about:
I’ve long been a fan of your output, including
your recent documentary series about badgers
in Worcestershire and the culls; this did
a really good job of highlighting awareness
of this issue.
Better. Now let’s try another example.
I have great attention to detail and am a
strong team player.
Isn’t everyone?
OK, OK. A recent group project at university
gave me an opportunity to share ideas with
my peers, and I was tasked with organising
the group and delegating roles.
Better again. Let’s move to point 2: apply
your skills/experiences to the role/company.
But you know what the job is.
Sure I do. But do you?
So… This experience would prove useful when
working with the pre-production team to schedule
shoots and talk to contributors?
Thank you. Now I’m starting to think this
person knows what we’re looking for.
But isn’t it lazy, using words from the
job description?
No – as long as you don’t overdo it, it’s
a smart move that shows you’ve thought about
how you could fit in.
Great! So I need to be specific about the
company, why I want to go there, and translate
my experiences into their organisation.
Exactly. All this will help to set you apart.
But there’s one more thing I want to mention.
Inject some personality!
But you never replied to the origami letter
I wrote on green paper!
No. I didn’t. It was full of generic phrases,
had three typos, smells of peppermint, and
doesn’t even mention the job. No. By injecting
personality I mean making sure the letter
sounds like you and that the reader can feel
how enthused you are by the opportunity.
I get it! Your show is like totes my fave
thing ever and to work with you would just
be, like, a dream come true?
Calm down. I mean use language effectively,
and articulate why this matters to you as
an individual.
OK… ‘I have volunteered for my local wildlife
charity for two years, and this role offers
the perfect opportunity to combine my interest
in nature with my passion for television production.’
Now you’re talking.
So it’s a balance between personality and
professionalism?
Yes it is…Ah! ‘Dear Sir or Madam…’
Are we done here?
