By Summer Paulus
If youâre dreaming of remote work, skipping traffic, spending more time with family or, perhaps, even traveling the world while working from your laptop – you are in the right place.
And while a remote job market is very competitive (letâs be honest, who wouldnât want a bit more freedom in their life!), with the right resume and a cover letter, a dose of determination and persistence, the flexibility of remote work is well within your reach.
Many Pangians are already rocking awesome remote jobs. Like Jasmine, who had been biking around the country and now is working remotely as a Customer Service Representative for Olo.Â
Or Jossie, a new mom and a world traveler now working remotely as an Integrated Marketing Manager for Grok Nation created by the amazing Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory.
Or Gina Amato, who was frustrated after applying for remote jobs, but never gave up and ended up having this âeurekaâ moment while asking for help with remote work interview questions on Pangian Chat. Guess what? Gina is now working remotely as a Junior Graphic Designer for Bitfinex!
So, whether youâre wondering how to land your dream remote job, how to write your resume, or need 1-1 help with your resume or cover letter, weâre here to help!
So without further ado, here are 5 tips on changes you need to make to your cover letter in order to land that remote job in no time!
First, the cover letter comes off as a little intimidating. Most people might want to avoid writing a cover letter whenever possible as it does require an additional time commitment.
However, remote work is a competitive market, as you will be competing with hundreds of applicants from the entire country or even the world for the same remote job opening.
Thus, a well written cover letter could be your key differentiation in a process. As a matter of fact, a lot of remote companies, like Doist or Invision, consider not including a cover letter a deal breaker!
Remember, the employer is checking to see if you can follow the âdirectionsâ stated in the job listing and if you are truly interested in the job. In fact, the cover letter could be the one element that could help you land that remote, dream job!
So, how do you know when to include a cover letter or exclude it?
Include a cover letter if:
Exclude a cover letter if:
Okay, why is it so important that I write a cover letter?
First, it shows initiative. Youâre showcasing that youâre more than willing to do more than many of the other applications. In other words: Standing out from the herd.
â…The cover letter is absolutely important. It’s your differentiation. It could be the difference between getting an interview and not getting one.” – Mag Boron, CEO of Pangian.
So, grab that cover letter, dust if off as here are 4 more changes to make in order to land that dream remote job in no time!
Why an English Major?
You might be a freelancing engineer or programmer, but English Majors are geared on conducting research and supporting their thesis.
So, head on over to that job site, begin browsing their content and delve deep into the âinner-workingsâ of the company’s culture.
Ask yourself the following and take notes:
For example:
Youâre an introverted writer, but youâre applying to a remote company that specializes in showcasing clientâs travels while working remotely. You will be interviewing those clients, so this job might not be the best fit for you.
Therefore, it is critical that you do sufficient research and come to really understand how the company functions on all levels. If you do think youâre a good candidate for that remote job, try adjusting the overall tone of your writing.
Alrighty, youâre really pumped now! Your keyboard is set and you begin by typing out an âopening statement.â
You begin with:
âTo Whom it May Concern,â
Ouch! Did you hear that blaring horn? Itâs basically stating you have instantly signaled the âdeath knell,â of your remote job prospects with that employer.
Why? Because youâre telling the reviewer: âI donât care enough about this remote job to even check who is the hiring manager.â
Remember, a cover letter is meant to be a personal message to the company and to the hiring manager. Thus, whenever possible, try to personalize it and address it directly to the hiring manager to develop an instant human connection and build trust with your potential employer.
Donât know the hiring managerâs name? The great thing about the internet is that you have an amazing resource of information to pull from!
Go on a site like LinkedIn, to the companies page and try to determine who will be reviewing your cover letter.
If worst comes to worst and you absolutely cannot locate a specific name? Start the cover letter with:
â[Company Name] team.â
At the very least, you are showcasing your commitment to the company and its team and getting the hiring managerâs attention.
On a similar note, make sure your cover letter is genuine and authentic. Remember itâs your personal letter to the company sharing your interest in joining their team. Thus, avoid at all cost using any online cover letter templates, as after a while they all look the same and the hiring manager will see that right away…and that will quickly send you to the rejected pile.
So, each time you go to apply for a remote job you need to create a new cover letter. If you try to go the âquickâ route, the employerâs going to see it. In return, they will be questioning your work ethic. âWill they slack off on the job as well?â
Therefore, be proactive by submitting a customized cover letter for each position. That way, youâre increasing your chances of getting a phone call for an interview.
Lastly, review your document for typos and grammar errors. While it is difficult to spot all the errors upon the initial reviewing due to being âblindâ to your own writing mistakes, I suggest, as a writer myself, doing the following tips:
Okay, I understand if all these critical pointers can be a bit intimidating.
But, if you donât spend the time and effort to make your cover letter shine, how will you impress that hiring manager?
âWhatâs the saying? You attract more bees with honey than with vinegar?” Or something like thatâŚ? Meaning if you put in poorly directed effort, you get dismal results.
Again, have faith that Pangian has your back! We wouldnât be telling you all this if it wasnât going to benefit you in the long run.
So, read on toTip #3.
For, it’s really going to help you stand out, introducing an overall premise that will give you the right mindset to create an amazing cover letter!
Quick question: Whatâre hiring managers really looking for in your cover letter?
Answer: What you didnât put in your resume.
Basically, youâre expanding on yourself in a more personable way. Again, a resume is focused on your work history, skills and experiences, right?
Thus, a cover letter is an illustration of your personality and culture. Itâs describing to the employer:
Need more clarification? How about this:
View your resume and cover letter as a âpackage dealâ or, like an âiceberg.â
Simply, there are two parts to the iceberg. The section that is above the surface, and the section that is beneath the water.
The top of it is small, it only reveals a small percentage of whatâs hidden underneath. Thatâs your resume.
The half that lies hidden under the water is your cover letter, revealing more of what you had hinted at in the resume.
Therefore, those experiences and skills you had listed on your resume? Expand on those in your cover letter!
By keeping this idea of the cover letter being a âfull picture,â you’re bound to create a cover letter thatâs going to win that hiring manager over.
A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
The hiring manager wants to be âwooedâ into hiring you for their company.
Theyâre hoping that they can catch the âreal youâ within your cover letter.
Hold on, wasnât this just covered?
A moment! Let me explain:
I did just discuss the method of viewing your resume and cover letter like an iceberg, that your cover letter is revealing more of yourself to the employer.
The manager is looking for what you didnât include in your resume. But, I didnât quite touch on how to really win them over!
So, how do you truly impress them?
By showcasing your passion, the âsynergyâ with the company culture and the value you can bring to the company.
You can begin with a powerful opener, sharing who you are, why you love what you do, and how that brought you to where you are today.
For example, if you were applying for a graphic designer or illustrator position, you may start with:
âIllustrating has been my passion since I was in grade school, where I had drawn elaborate scenes for my best friendâs story. I loved drawing pictures for her story so much that I am now freelancing for x company, and I want to bring that same passion to (your company) company.â
By âshowingâ why you love illustrating so much, youâre showing the company that, if they choose to hire you, you will truly enjoy your work and bring valuable creative ideas and results for their brand.
Alright, so we covered 5 tips for a great cover letter that can win over that hiring manager and land a remote job.
Here is a quick recap:
Imagine, by overcoming that initial anxiety and following the cover letter tips, you could land that dream, remote job.
So, whether you prefer picturesque forests with snow-capped mountains or crystal, clear waves overlooked by breeze-kissed palm trees, you can achieve that dream of working from anywhere in the world.
You can write the winning cover letter that could eclipse your resume!
With new skills and confidence you will be booking that flight to your dream destination in no time!
We at Pangian are certain that you absolutely got this!
Passionate writer. English Major at the University of Central Florida. Contributing writer at Fantasy-faction.com. Loves living on the space coast.
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