Cover Letter Tips: 5 Tips to Get a Hiring Manager to Open and Read Your Cover Letter

Can you imagine how many resumes and cover letters a hiring manager and human resources get in just one week? It’s not a small pile. More like an avalanche of paper. So, how can you make sure that they will open and read yours?

Take a few tips from direct marketers, because in essence, that is exactly what you are doing. Directly marketing yourself to prospective employers. Direct marketers do all sorts of things to get the envelope noticed and opened. Some of these tactics might not work for very conservative careers, but for most others, you will get noticed and potentially make a big first impression, at least on paper.

1. Use a Colorful #10 Envelope

One way to stand out is to not use a white envelope. Try blue, yellow or bright green. Pastels can be less risky if you are nervous. And just so you know, blue is the color that is most trusted – especially with shirts or ties, but that’s another topic.

2. Send Your Resume Flat in a Big Envelope

The majority of business letters are sent in a number 10 envelope. Be different and use an 9-1/2″ x 6″ or 9″ x 12 envelope. Take it a step further and use a color rather than the standard manila or white. Don’t forget these sizes require more postage.

3. Send it Overnight or Priority Mail

Overnight packages always get opened. If you have a particularly hot prospective employer or one that you really want to work for, it’s worth the investment to guarantee having your mail opened.

4. Send a Three-Dimensional Package

Most people are very curious. When you send a box, especially wrapped, people will want to know what’s inside. That curiosity will get them to open your package and look at your cover letter, just to see what it’s all about.

5. Write a Killer Letter

If you go to all this trouble to stand out from the pile, you better write a letter that makes a splash. Read the employer’s web site to discover a good angle and explain briefly why you are a superb candidate. Get to the point, provide specific, crisp examples and say when you will call to follow up.

It may feel a bit scary to stand out to this extent. On the other hand, with so many college grads out there who have accomplishments as good yours, what’s the risk? The biggest risk from this job search coach’s perspective is getting lost in the pile or ending up in some big file never to be seen again.