Writing cover letters that get right swipes
Number two in my series on writing cover letters that reflect your personality AND stand out above the rest. Remember, read the job description for clues to help guide you.
Here's a cover letter that got me an interview for a very competitive position...
Hello,
Let’s start by making this awkward. I think I have a crush on XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Seriously. You had me at DXXXXXXXX DXXXXXXXX. I think of myself as more of a Charmingly Cheeky and Artfully Audacious kinda girl, but potato potahto, right? Point is, I swiped right.
And based on your job post, I’ve got what you’re looking for in a senior copywriter.
- Agency experience: 10+ years
- Voices: think RAM to Humana, Fifth Third to Kentucky State Fair and Alcoa Building Products to Sinclair Community College
- Lack of ego: I sold mine years ago to help pay off student loans
- Collaboration, work hard/play hard and positive attitude: see quotes on resume and recommendations at www.linkedin.com/in/jennwagley for objective third-party opinions
- Understanding “the value in taking risks”: exhibit A, this cover letter
As for my work, you can check out my portfolio at www.jwagley.com.
Now regarding the “my favorite line of copy” question, do you mean copy I’ve written? Read? Are you speaking strictly of stand-alone copy? Because some of the best lines of copy rely on their juxtaposition to a specific image.
Did I mention I’ve been accused of overanalyzing things my entire life? It’s what makes me a great copywriter. But it also means you’ll rarely get an answer before you get a lot of questions. That said, I’m currently rather fond of my own tagline, “Jenn Wagley: Putting words into other people’s mouths for over 20 years.”
Hoping for a right swipe…
Jenn Wagley
PS: I once passed a restaurant billboard that read, “Shirt and tie? We barely require pants.” I’ve never forgotten it.
Originally published on LinkedIn, March 31, 2018.