3 Ways Blogging Is Replacing Cover Letters

Studies show that 50%+ of recruiters and hiring managers aren't reading cover letters. Why? They're tired of reading the same stuffy, self-important, boring words from hundreds of candidates.

Cover Letters Used To Get You Noticed

The initial idea behind cover letters was simple: add a well-written note that showcases your communication skills and professionalism. However, fast-forward many years later and job seekers have gone on 'auto-pilot' with respect to cover letters. Using outdated templates and playing it safe, the result is a letter that screams one part narcissist and two parts copycat. In short, cover letters have lost their originality - the very thing that made them effective.

Blogging Is The 'New' Cover Letter...

Today, professional blogging platforms (like the one you can use on LinkedIn), make it possible for us to create an original article designed to showcase our communication skills and professionalism. You don't have to write daily, or even weekly. One or two well-written posts can be all you need to attract the attention of employers. Here are three reasons why:

1. You can back-up all those accomplishments on your resume. When you articulate the step-by-step process you've mastered to get results in your field or industry, you're able to prove the accomplishments you've got listed in your LinkedIn profile or resume are legit. Actions speak louder than words. Describing the actions you took to succeed can compel a recruiter or hiring manager to give you a call.

2. Online links to your posts are easier to open and read. When you attach a cover letter and ask a recruiter or hiring manager to open it, you immediately reduce the chances they will. But, when you link to your blog post in an email and say, "Here's the story of how I saved my employer 50K by streamlining our operations process," you are far more likely to get them to click and review it.

3. Sharing your posts on LinkedIn improves your ranking on the site. When you write on LinkedIn and then share those links with connections in your feed, you get more views and shares of the post. This is analyzed by LinkedIn's algorithm and rewarded by placing you higher up in search rankings on the platform, leading to more people seeing your profile and asking you to connect.

If you're looking for work (and frankly, every job is temporary so you should always be keeping an eye out for opportunities), then you need to consider getting a couple of blog posts pulled together and posted on your LinkedIn profile. Once you see the power of sharing your professional stories, you may want to keep building up your online brand. There's a reason the most well-known industry experts blog - it's how they got popular in the first place!

Source: inc.com