Cover Letters to Recruiters

In the world of recruiters and executive search firms, resumes rule. But this doesn’t mean you should ignore or forgo sending cover letters. So what do recruiters look for in a cover letter? It depends on which of three scenarios you fall into:

1. Ad-Response Cover Letters: If a search firm is handling a job opening, gear your cover letter to the desired qualifications the ad outlines.

   “Let’s say I’m reviewing responses to a Monster posting,” says Dan Anderson, a partner in St. Paul-based executive search and recruitment services firm C. Anderson & Associates. “If the candidate has taken the time to tailor the cover letter and bring out how their background meets the qualifications I want, my impression is going to be that they’re a sharp individual.

   “One of the best cover letters I ever saw was written by a gentleman who took each point from the ad requirements section and answered every single one with a precise summary of how he fit my client’s needs,” he adds. “When I read it, I thought, ?Finally! Somebody answered the question.'”

2. Referral Cover Letters: “I always read a cover letter if it begins with something like ?You worked with my friend so-and-so on a recent search, and he told me about your service,'” says Anderson. “If you’ve been referred to me by a source, this should be mentioned in the first line of your cover letter.”
3. Cold Cover Letters : These accompany unsolicited resumes. Recruiters receive dozens of these on any given day, so keep it brief. “Think ‘meat and potatoes’ in terms of communicating only your top qualifications, and eliminate any additional fluff,” says Diane Oates, founder and director of Corporate Diversity Search, a Webster, New York, firm that places women and minorities in Fortune 500 companies. Anderson adds, “For this kind of cover letter, it’s also a good idea to tell me your salary requirements, what position and industry you are targeting and your availability for relocation or travel.”

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