If you think the cover letter is outdated and overrated, I'll try to break this to you softly: It's not. In fact, some people think it may be just as important, if not more important, than your resume.
Now, whether most managers agree with this or not, an amazing cover letter will never hurt your chances of landing a job. Because if done correctly, your cover letter fills in game-changing details your resume leaves out. It lets you tell a story that could take you from a so-so job candidate to one your future employer wants to have on her team.
Basically, if you want to make yourself stand out from the crowd, an attention-grabbing cover letter is where to start. Which leads us here: how to write a cover letter that will get you noticed.
1. Say what your resume doesn't.
The point of your cover letter should be to explain your resume, not to reword it.
For example, if you have "Central Perk barista" on your resume, writing "I worked at Central Perk for four years" in your cover letter is not only boring, but redundant and unhelpful. Instead, use your cover letter to explain why your gig as a barista makes you an excellent candidate for, say, a position as a Bloomingdale's Personal Shopper.
For example, you might say, "My four years in customer service has taught me the value of communication with customers, particularly the importance of active listening in order to truly understand their needs." Now, instead of just telling your reader what she already knows from your resume, you're using a seemingly unrelated job to your advantage by turning it into a reason why you're such a desirable candidate.
2. Give concrete examples.
Like you may have heard from your tenth grade English teacher, it's always better to show your readers than it is to tell them.
For example, you know that working in a law firm can be stressful, so when applying for a paralegal position, you might think that saying something like, "I work well under pressure" is cover letter gold.
But the truth is, while it's okay, you can do better.
But the truth is, while it's okay, you can do better.
Instead of telling your reader you are great under pressure, show your reader how good you are by using a specific and concrete example. You might say, "Last summer, when my clown company was faced with a surprise two-day deadline to deliver 564 balloon dogs to the county fair, I was able to organize and implement a 32 clown assembly line to get the job done." Not only is this story incredibly more interesting, it's also much more effective than simply saying you know how to handle high-stress situations.
3. Use the job listing.
Chances are, the position you're applying for has a job listing including job responsibilities and candidate qualifications. If so, now is not the time to skim; now is the time to read, digest, and repeat.
For example, if the job listing notes that the company is seeking someone who is "highly organized and hands-on," consider showing (not telling, see point 2) your reader how organized you are.
Of course, unless you're applying to work as a serial plagiarist, don't just copy and paste lines directly from the post. However, working two or three keywords from the job listing into your cover letter not only shows that you read your potential employer's post, but also that you are eerily qualified for that specific position.
4. Show that you understand the position.
Building off of the previous point, showing that you took the time to read the job listing and understand the position will only work to your benefit. A good way to do this is to add two or three sentences to your letter explaining why you are interested in this specific position for this particular company, and that you understand what this job requires.
For example, say you're applying for a position as a sock tester at Silly Socks, Inc. Your cover letter is a great place to explain that you have a lifelong passion for footwear and very discerning feet, and that Silly Socks' company mission aligns perfectly with your own.
Of course, you don't want to come across as cheesy or disingenuous, so don't say things you don't really mean. The goal is to make sure your cover letter does not read like a generic form letter, but instead shows you are a thoughtful, thorough candidate, and preferably one who was born to test Silly Socks.
