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How do I create a Cover Letter?

How can I write a computer program that creates employment cover letters algorithmically?

  • I have novice understanding of programming.  I have found that the process of creating a cover letter is discouraging.  As a result, I would like to use a file containing job descriptions, and a file containing search terms to select text to use in my cover letters.  The algorithm will hopefully create a unique letter for each job and not require me to achieve the following goals:  A) test which formula achieves the greatest response rates and greatest effectiveness B) gain knowledge of the process of creating and managing a program like this.  C)  to enable myself to not link my personal satisfaction to the success of each cover letter. All resources are welcome

  • Answer:

    I understand that writing lots of cover letters can seem tedious and boring.  In our experience the most rapid way of improving a cover letter comes from actively incorporating feedback.  Send it to friends, and professional contacts to get some savvy advice. The reason I recommend this versus building a program is because the primary goal of a cover letter is to give you a voice that resonates with the employer and helps them determine that you'd be a good fit for the office.  Most employers (with the exception of non-profits) read resumes first, and then look at cover letters to see if you will mesh with the team.  Because of this, major improvements in cover letters come form understanding how to connect with a particular employer and make them feel excited about you, rather than tweaking skills, or other more general changes. One strategy worth considering is making the first paragraph customized and the rest highlighting your top skills that are relevant to any employer.  In this customized first paragraph you can do things like compliment the company on their mission, congratulate them on recent press (everyone likes to be flattered), or share a story as to why you are the perfect fit. We have an example here in our cover letter guide: http://www.internmatch.com/articles/intern/internship-students/cover-letter-examples/ If you do end up building this program -- be sure to put it up on http://Github.com!  Technical employers love hiring students with real project experience, in fact, if you make this and change your cover letter to telling the story of building this program and linking to it, I bet you will find your next internship and fast.

Nathan Parcells at Quora Visit the source

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A contrarian opinion: (applicable primarily if you're applying for entry/low level positions in a technology field) Techie employers often appreciate creative applications of technology. If you write a program which generates logically and grammatically sound cover letters based off of free-text job descriptions, employers might make note of your creativity and self-startitude-ness (making up words is another way to show it, albeit less suggested). I would make sure to add a separate, personally written paragraph indicating that you'll be letting your personally-written-cover-letter-algorithm do the talking. Place your custom paragraph as an intro before your algo's to tend towards the cautious or afterwards as a clever punch line. Your call.

Philip Kennard

Sounds like you've pretty much got it.  Build a database of job titles and related buzz words, write a form letter, and fill in the blanks from that form.  You could do it all with Microsoft Word & Access, but I doubt you'd get a great response. The best cover letters are written by the people that want to actively do the work described.  Unless you can program the computer to sound passionate about a topic, I think most recruiters will read your letters as a desperate attempt to find work rather than an A+ candidate.

Nicholas Wautier

There really is no point because recruiters can tell even when the candidate is using a personal template for the cover letter. Sure an algorithm can capture key buzz words that the job posting is looking for but it fails in the most important aspect of the cover letter which is to convey personality and desire. I know I am not answering your question directly but it would be my advice to save your time and avoid creating an algorithm for cover letters.

Kevin Lee

At first, sounds like a great idea.  It would get you through the electronic barriers found on most job applications.  But the cost-benefit ratio is low.

Jake Lockhart

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