I’m shocked and confused.

Please help clarify something for me?

I have been combing LinkedIn for positions where I see my skills align and the culture is one where I might fit well. 

The skills are listed in the posting (some are quite vague), the culture I get from researching their website (check your ‘About Us’ pages), blog posts and other postings by the company inform my perspective on who they are and how they operate (UX/UI anyone?). 

I am a writer. Technical Freelance Marketing Copywriter is the title, but with a long and varied career a simple title can’t cover it all. That is what a resume is for. Most postings are similar, there are facets to this work and the names reflect it. The same is true in many fields: IT, Engineering, Industrial, Medical and so on.

There is a portfolio to show my body of past work. I have a resume which is tweaked for each position to line up with the posting. This resume's purpose is to show my accomplishments and skills within a 2-page format, to highlight where I have done work that matches the post and to get me through the ATS! 

I also have a cover letter that is written from scratch for each position. This is where the painful part comes in. 

My cover letter takes the “Who Am I?” and marries it with the research on the company and the post. I never ‘blanket post’ to multiple jobs, I pick and choose those which might fit. 

Recently I posted for a writers job. Did my research, pulled together my package and clicked ‘Apply’. After filling out the personal information it was time to post my files and links. All seemed normal. 

• Resume? Check. 
• LinkedIn profile? Check. 
• Portfolio? Check. 
• Cover Letter? ……….Wait! There is no place to attach my cover!?!? Moment of panic…then reclaiming my composure…assuming this must simply be an oversight….then, 

What can I do to get my cover to the recruiters? As a matter of habit, I reach for solutions, it saves the wasted time that a decent into anxiety would bring. 

I reached out directly to the recruiter with a simple message and asked. Heard nothing. They did check my LI profile however, I took this as a good sign. Then, still, nothing. 

I am generally personal in my cover letter, identifying where my traits and experiences coincide with the job, the company, the industry and always including my motivation for applying to this particular position. I have been told my covers are a bit ‘different’. I have gotten interviews and jobs based on nothing more than that difference. 

*Sigh* Time to move onto the next possibility. This one is gone from me. 

With resignation still fresh, I started to think and asked myself, “Why would a writer’s position not include a cover letter?” Writers write, we need to write. Then, “Why would any posting not need a cover letter?”

A cover letter is a personal missive to the reader — the recruiter and hiring manager. This epistle tells them why we want to be there. It is, in fact, a custom piece written just for them. To leave it out of a posting for any position is highly curious. Particularly true for a writer. 

Almost every posting is looking for the person who is the right fit for their company, for their team. They want problem-solvers, collaborators, strategic thinkers and creative powerhouses. 

Well, here is a problem I can help solve from a strategic perspective. 

Hiring companies, managers and recruiters on LinkedIn:

Always ask for a cover letter

…then read it!

It is one of the fastest ways to know if this person may be someone you would like to work with, if they really want this job and who they are.

Applicants:

Always write a custom cover letter…with the intention of getting the interview!

This is the most direct way to speak to your audience. Take your elevator pitch, expand it and then give your motivations on why this job is a good fit for you. Be direct and open. 

As for my confusion, can you tell me why a cover letter would NOT be expected? This is very curious and I can’t seem to think of really good reasons for it. 

By the way, message me with your posting link if you think we might be a fit. I’m currently looking for my next, best place to do excellent work. But be just a little patient…I have to do my research as well or I can’t write that interesting cover letter to you!