Actually, you have a great resume. The problem is that even great resumes suck. It’s a challenge to get an employer to read it without spacing out - or even read it at all.

It’s not because she isn’t desperately trying to find a good applicant (she is). It’s not because you haven’t perfected your resume (you have, haven’t you?).

It’s because she doesn’t care about your problem, she cares about her own problem. She has a position open that needs to be filled. Her problem is not that you need a job.

A resume is a list of your skills and experiences. Its a great tool to answer a question about what job would be good for you, but it provides no answer to the question that will be going through her head.

How does this help me?

You have to answer that question by translating your resume so she doesn’t have to. Calling the translation a cover letter seems inappropriate because it’s probably an email. Don’t attach a cover letter to an email; she won’t bother to open it.

Your email should tell her exactly how you can solve her problem. That requires more legwork than spamming the same email to a hundred employers at a time. Your spam might get through to her 1 in 100 times, but then would you really want her to hire you? Apply better to fewer positions.

And your letter should show your personality. Be authentic. She will find it surprising and refreshing.

Never forget that you are screening her as much as she is screening you. You want to tease out the personality of the company. There is no better way than dangling yourself out there and seeing if she bites.

After all, you’re a real catch.

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