Hey there. Let me guess \u2013 you\u2019re staring at a blank screen right now, wondering how to make your cover letter sound like a human wrote it and not some corporate robot. Been there, done that (and spilled coffee on the keyboard while panicking about it).<\/p>\n
When I was applying for my current operations manager role at a Midwest grocery chain, I sent out 30+ generic \u201cDear Hiring Manager\u201d letters. Crickets. Then I remembered something my neighbor \u2013 a hiring director at Target \u2013 mentioned at our Fourth of July BBQ: \u201cIf your cover letter could work for ANY job, it\u2019s working against you.\u201d Ouch.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what changed everything for me:<\/strong><\/p>\n Actual snippet from the cover letter that got me hired:<\/strong> Three things that surprised me:<\/p>\n Quirky > Corporate<\/strong> Pain Points Are Golden<\/strong> It\u2019s Okay to Break Format<\/strong> What I\u2019d Do Differently Now:<\/strong><\/p>\n Need a template? Steal this framework I\u2019ve used for 4 friends now (2 got offers at Kohls and a hospital system):<\/p>\n Hey [First Name] \u2013<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been [action related to their mission] since [specific moment]. When I saw [company] was [specific project\/news], it clicked: this is where [personal value] meets [company value].<\/p>\n Example: At [Last Job], I [achievement with numbers] \u2013 but my real win was [human story]. Like the time [specific anecdote showing soft skills].<\/p>\n Your opening for [role] excites me because [tie to 1-2 resume points]. I\u2019d love to bring my experience with [their pain point] and [your unique strength] to your team.<\/p>\n Thanks for considering \u2013 I\u2019ve attached my resume, but honestly? I\u2019d rather show you how [funny quirk\/skill] could benefit [specific department]. Coffee\u2019s on me?<\/p>\n Last thing: If you\u2019re stuck, read your letter out loud at Starbucks. If the person at the next table side-eyes you, you\u2019re on the right track.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got this. Now go make some HR person\u2019s day.<\/p>\n (P.S. If you use the coffee line and it works, you owe me a venti cold brew. Fair warning.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hey there. Let me guess \u2013 you\u2019re staring at a blank screen right now, wondering how to make your cover letter sound like a human wrote it and not some corporate robot. Been there, done that (and spilled coffee on the keyboard while panicking about it). When I was applying for my current operations manager…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content"],"modified_by":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oreateai.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n\u201cYou know those customers who ask where the cumin is, then end up telling you about their grandma\u2019s chili recipe? I live for those moments. In my 3 years managing inventory at Bushel & Peck\u2019s Farmers Market, I learned that good operations aren\u2019t just about spreadsheets \u2013 they\u2019re about creating spaces where spice-aisle conversations turn into $45 impulse buys of artisanal hot sauces.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\nThe hiring team later told me they called me in because my letter mentioned their failed \u201cZombie Apocalypse Survival Kit\u201d promotion (I\u2019d spotted it in a 2018 Facebook post). Show you\u2019ve done the homework.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\nI literally wrote: \u201cI\u2019ve rebuilt a rotated shelving system at 6 AM while handling a delivery driver\u2019s existential crisis about his ex-wife \u2013 flexibility isn\u2019t just a buzzword for me.\u201d<\/em> Got asked about this in the interview.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\nMine included a PS: \u201cP.S. If hired, I promise not to judge your break room coffee situation\u2026but I make a mean cold brew if negotiations ever head that way ;)\u201d<\/em> It did NOT hurt my chances.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\n[Your Name]\n[Your Address \u2013 city\/state is fine]\n[Date]\nCheers,
\n[Your First Name]\n[Phone] \u2022 [Email]<\/h2>\n