One spends hours perfecting their resume when job hunting. They ensure that all their skills are well defined, and their job duties and titles sounds more professional than they really are. However, when it comes time to really sell themselves, they fall prey to a resume cover letter template. Why would they pair a well-written resume with a resume cover letter template which does nothing to compliment their job skills? I don't know either. A resume cover letter template's intention is to ease the stress of job-seekers. Yet it only makes it worse by ensuring an applicant does not get the desired position. One who uses a resume cover letter template does nothing to assist one from standing out to the hiring manager, which is the only way to earn an interview amongst hundreds, if not thoughts, of other job hunters.

A resume cover letter template does not contain the most important elements of any cover letter. The whole point behind a resume cover letter is to get an interview. In order to do this, a resume cover letter must be convincing and demonstrate all the skills one so painstakingly perfected on their resume. After committing so much time on creating a resume that looks professional, it makes little sense to leave the job underdone by using a resume cover letter template.

What is a resume cover letter template? A resume cover letter template is a pre-generated cover letter where one only has to “fill in the blanks”. Resume cover letter templates can be found included in most word processing software (which I will never understand) or by doing a search on the internet. With resume cover letters so readily available, it goes to show that most people use this method when applying for jobs. It is also an assumption that the way to land an interview is by being one of the first applicants for the job. This is not necessarily the case. A hiring manager is looking for the best candidate for the job and is not simply going to choose the first person to come along. They want to find the best applicant. If a resume cover letter does not grab their attention, which is what a resume cover letter achieves, then they are not going to waste time reviewing the applicant further.

Using a resume cover letter template is the quickest way for one's resume to end in the trash pile. A resume cover letter template gives the impression that one is a nameless, faceless, and mindless individual who just wants to get a job, any job. This is not a promising characteristic of a potential employee. A company is looking for an individual which has passion and enthusiasm. They also want an employee who is dedicates to the company and wants to see the company excel. How is one going to convey this to a hiring manager when they are just blanks filled into a resume cover letter template?

The answer is simple. They aren't. It is important to move away from using resume cover letter templates and begin using a personalized resume cover letter that makes the hiring manager convinced that one is the right person for the position. It is definitely more work, at least a first, but the process of a personalized cover letter reaps greater benefits. The percentage of positive responses to a personalized cover letter, versus a resume cover letter template, is greater. Thus the amount of resumes a job-seeker has to send out is lessened. This makes the initial work of writing a resume cover letter even out against the traditional job-seeker which uses a resume cover letter template.

A personalized resume cover letter should, first and foremost, have a beginning sentence which makes the hiring manager interested enough to continue reading. If one can learn this value skill in writing a resume cover letter, then half the word is already done! A resume cover letter template will never be able to do this, no matter how special it or, or how much a website promises positive results. A resume cover letter template is just too general to be able to reach this accomplishment. So spend a little time learning what it is that makes a resume cover letter special, and then do it.