Blog Post: Quirky Cover Letters

Cover Letters Turn Quirky For Tech

*Originally posted on Resume Toronto’s blog (now defunct)

We had a client last week who, in her words, needed an “epic cover letter!” Something outside-the-box, smart and savvy for technology companies. Given my experience as a resume writer, who happens to have worked at El Google, I said hell yeah.

Speaking from gut instinct and experience alone—and being nerdy and like-minded like my engineer buddies and recruiters—here are my tips on how to target cover letters to a tech company:

1. It’s as much about credentials as it is about culture.

Sure, they want to know you increased annual revenues by 42% or that you secured one of ‘em Employee of the Month awards and it’s pasted to your fridge. But they’ll see those achievements on your resume. What they want to know is how you fit into their workplace. Because, if they’re taking any cue from Google (and yes, they are), they want someone who is going to participate in a pillow fort challenge or a Star Wars cosplay event, or at least someone who won’t smirk while they’re watching on the sidelines. It’s team-player energy they’re looking for.

2. Blend the traditional with the quirky.

Break the cover letter mould, but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. At the end of the day, you’re still a professional. You want to scrap the ho-hum “Please find enclosed my CV in the application” or the “I think you will find I am an exceptional candidate for this position”, but you need something catchy to take its place. I applied to an innovative toy company startup once, for a job position called Happy Doer of All Things, and started my cover letter with “For one thing, my mom says I was a happy baby so the odds are already in my favour.” I didn’t get the job, but the cover letter is what got me the call in the first place and a figurative pat on the back from the recruiter.

3. Don’t just focus on the perks.

I don’t know if this is letting the cat out of the bag, but the NYC Google office has a man inside an ice cream truck, inside the cafeteria, and he will make you cookies. And ice cream. And he’s even wearing a hat. (In my mind, he does a jig and his name is Timothy). While these tech companies woo you with big red slides and unlimited snacks (the Google 15 is more than a myth and I have the stretch marks to prove it), they don’t want gold diggers in their midst. They want to know you genuinely want to work there, even if they cut your caloric intake in half and took away your prized Settlers of Catan playtime. Remember: what can you do for them too? You can make some lighthearted mention of how you’d love to chat over a game at the company’s rooftop mini putt course, or how you perfected the head-first maneuver at your elementary school’s slide, but don’t make it the focus. Make it fun and in addition to your skills.