The ten-sentence cover letter

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a listing for a part-time job that struck my fancy: A podcast production network was looking for a researcher for a forthcoming show. It’s rare for me to apply for freelance jobs as I get enough from my current clients and referrals now, but I am always looking: I prefer to be opportunistic when putting my name out there, rather than to do it out of necessity.

A few days after I submitted my cover letter (the email) and resume, the hiring manager asked if we could speak on the phone. One of the first things he remarked was that he was impressed by how much I conveyed in as few words as possible. After the call, I went back to peep at my email — and he was right!

Here is a copy of that email I sent:

And for reference, here is a copy of what the role entailed:

I’m going to walk you through how I used the job description to structure my cover letter. I hope this exercise is useful to many in the future.

1. Summarize, in my own words, what the hiring team desired from this position.

They wanted someone with narrative journalism experience, preferably in audio (first line under ‘qualifications’), and someone who could not only research the heck out of anything, but keep things super organized and understandable for the rest of the team.

2. Without the guidance of my resume, think about my top three experiences that can show the hiring manager that I’m capable of doing what they want. 

For me, the things that came top of mind were:

- I’ve had to pitch a wide range of features on challenging-to-report topics

- I’ve had to stay really organized to explain changes I was proposing to podcast teams I worked with as a fact-checker

- I have audio experience as a producer and fact-checker on narrative shows 

The key here is to do this brief exercise blind. Don’t reference your resume. You’ll likely see pretty quickly what stands out to you. This exercise also allows you to focus on what’s important! Identify the job’s needs and fit yourself into that position. Everything else is extra.

Coincidentally, my cover letter was also 10 sentences long. I didn’t intend for it to be that way, but here’s a good summary of how I structured it. (Salutations and closings do not count, imo.)

Sentence 1: A nicety. (Being brief and polite are not at odds! Be human!)

Sentence 2: Explain briefly how you came across the job opportunity. (Was it a referral? A job board, etc.?) 

Sentence 3: Ideally, this is the start of the new paragraph, so this sentence should be a topic sentence (Gosh, remember those?) Topic sentences matter! They focus people on what you’re about to share in the following paragraph. This sentence should strongly summarize why you’re the right candidate for this position.

Sentences 4+5: These two sentences should back up your topic sentence. Give examples as to why you’d be the perfect candidate. 

Sentence 6: Next topic sentence! Go back to that exercise we did, pick a salient skill that’s desired in the job applicant and focus this graf on that. 

Sentences 7, 8, 9: Okay, you now get three luxurious sentences to explain your experience for skill number two. Your resume is your encyclopedia, but your cover letter is your highlight reel. Name-drop where appropriate. (Yes, you still should impress!) And list specific skills that you developed from your previous work.

Sentence 10: Close by saying that you’ve attached their desired hiring materials and that you’d be happy to help answer more questions either by phone or email.

To folks doing the hiring, brevity matters. (I’ve been on both ends of the hiring equation, and I’m married to someone who reviews job applicants almost daily.) We’re inundated with emails and applications, and the more we’re asked to read, the more  likely we’re to gloss over parts or all of it. 

Brevity conveys confidence. It also indicates focus.  

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Try it yourself, Mad Libs style!

Hi ________ (Make sure you spell their name accurately!) I hope you were able to enjoy your weekend. (or other nicety here) ______ (who) posted on a _____ (what) group that you were looking for a ______ (role), and I wanted to reach out.

As a ___________ (succinct description of your professional career), I've developed a wide range of skills that would make me the ideal candidate for this position. I've __________________, _________________ and ______________. (Summarize as quickly as you can the top three things you’re most proud of that relate to the responsibilities of the position advertised.) More recently, (Here you talk about recent career developments — pick two! — that relate to how you can best serve in the role that is being advertised.) I've _________________ and _____________________.

My ________________ skills (whatever skills are desired from the job posting) are well-honed through __________ (a summary of your experience). [Next three sentences – sentences 7-9 listed above -- here should be a highlight reel of specific experiences and skills that pertain to what’s desired from the applicant.]

A copy of my ________ (requested hiring materials) _______ (is/are) attached, and I'd be happy to help answer any questions you have, either by email or a phone call.

I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,

________ (your name)

I developed this resource for free as I know it can benefit so many people. If you found it useful, I’d appreciate if you bought me a coffee. If there are other freelance career tips you’d like to see me offer, feel free to email me.

Until next time,

Wudan

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Upcoming appearances, events, etc.

• November 16, 2022, 12pm-1pm PST. The Writers’ Co-op (my podcast about the business of freelancing) is leading an hour-long discussion about how to buoy your freelance business during economic downturns. We’ll be joined by veteran freelancer writers Lee van der Voo and Jennifer Goforth Gregory, who both were freelancing during the 2008 recession to talk about tactics to beef up your outreach, mindset, and more. Event details and registration here. 

• December 2, 2022, 9a-5pm EST. The Knight Science Journalism @ MIT Fact-checking program is hosting the advanced fact-checking workshop. Here, I’ll be giving an hour-long talk about fact-checking investigative, narrative podcasts. There’s a brief application. More details on that here. 

• December 7, 2022, 12pm-1:15pm PST. The Writers’ Co-op is hosting the year-end business audit. Join me and my co-host, Jenni Gritters, on assessing your business this year, and figuring out where you want to take it the following year. Attendees get a copy of our business audit and business planning course (valued at over $70). This is one of our most popular events. With limited tickets, this sells out fast. Nab yours here

Ongoing: I have availability for new coaching clients beginning in the new year. If you’re interested in joining the waitlist, send me a note!