Help me figure out what to say on my cover letter!
November 18, 2014 5:19 PM Subscribe
I'm currently applying for a non-local position, but I'm struggling with what to say on my cover letter to address that.
I currently live in a large city in my Province and the position is in a much smaller town (rural) in the opposite end of the province. I've never applied to a non-local position before, but this opportunity sounds excellent. I think I have most of the cover letter down (skills, experience, etc.), but I'm not exactly sure how to address relocating or if I even should (is it obvious?) in the cover letter.
My gut is telling me to say something like "As a recent [field] grad, I believe that [organization] [town] would be a great (?) place to develop and share my skills in [field]" But that doesn't seem right, I feel like there is a better way to say that and it's not coming to me.
Should I be mentioning relocation expenses, interviewing logistics somewhere in there as well?
I currently live in a large city in my Province and the position is in a much smaller town (rural) in the opposite end of the province. I've never applied to a non-local position before, but this opportunity sounds excellent. I think I have most of the cover letter down (skills, experience, etc.), but I'm not exactly sure how to address relocating or if I even should (is it obvious?) in the cover letter.
My gut is telling me to say something like "As a recent [field] grad, I believe that [organization] [town] would be a great (?) place to develop and share my skills in [field]" But that doesn't seem right, I feel like there is a better way to say that and it's not coming to me.
Should I be mentioning relocation expenses, interviewing logistics somewhere in there as well?
When I've applied to a position that's relatively distant from where I live for a specific reason, I mention that in the cover letter, i.e. "As my husband has recently taken a job in the [town] area, I am looking for a job I can start after our planned move to your location."
If I didn't have a specific reason for moving to that town/area, I'd probably just not address it at all, and let the employer assume that I wouldn't apply for the job unless I were potentially willing to move to that location for the job.
And no, as J Wilson says, mentioning things like salary/benefits/expenses/logistics is generally not done and not considered appropriate in cover letters. If they offer you an interview, you talk interview logistics, if they offer you a job, you talk relocation expenses.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 5:57 PM on November 18, 2014
If I didn't have a specific reason for moving to that town/area, I'd probably just not address it at all, and let the employer assume that I wouldn't apply for the job unless I were potentially willing to move to that location for the job.
And no, as J Wilson says, mentioning things like salary/benefits/expenses/logistics is generally not done and not considered appropriate in cover letters. If they offer you an interview, you talk interview logistics, if they offer you a job, you talk relocation expenses.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 5:57 PM on November 18, 2014
Agree with others that you shouldn't bring up relation expenses, etc.
Your gut is right that you should say something about why you want to go to the far-away place, and I think I would mention something about being willing to move. e.g., "The opportunity to work with your company is an exciting proposition, and I would eagerly move to distant province."
The other thing that employers often like is showing a compelling reason why you might want to move to smaller (?less desirable?) town from your big city, e.g., as treehorn+bunny says, "to be with my husband," or "to be closer to family," etc.
Good luck!
posted by stillmoving at 6:43 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
Your gut is right that you should say something about why you want to go to the far-away place, and I think I would mention something about being willing to move. e.g., "The opportunity to work with your company is an exciting proposition, and I would eagerly move to distant province."
The other thing that employers often like is showing a compelling reason why you might want to move to smaller (?less desirable?) town from your big city, e.g., as treehorn+bunny says, "to be with my husband," or "to be closer to family," etc.
Good luck!
posted by stillmoving at 6:43 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]
Definitely take the opportunity to say you are open to relocation for the job. (I get a lot of applications from people who think they can do the roles I have posted by telecommute, and it's a waste of everyone's time.)
And your gut is right to tell you to rephrase the sentence you quoted above. The company doesn't care what you can gain from their role; they care about what you can bring. Better something like this: "I'm applying to your X role as it sounds like an opportunity to apply the Y skills I developed in (my senior year; my internship; whatever) as well as my enthusiasm and my consistent work ethic. I've been researching [your province] and am excited about the prospect of relocating there. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing how I can contribute to [your org.]
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:11 PM on November 18, 2014
And your gut is right to tell you to rephrase the sentence you quoted above. The company doesn't care what you can gain from their role; they care about what you can bring. Better something like this: "I'm applying to your X role as it sounds like an opportunity to apply the Y skills I developed in (my senior year; my internship; whatever) as well as my enthusiasm and my consistent work ethic. I've been researching [your province] and am excited about the prospect of relocating there. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing how I can contribute to [your org.]
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:11 PM on November 18, 2014
If you can say you have friends or family in the area and/or have specifically been looking to move there, that might be helpful. They may ask a followup question during the interview though. I think it's a good idea to mention relocating though and the fact that you really want to settle down there. if you've been there (or I guess want to claim you have been), definitely say that you're familiar with the area from visiting many times and you're excited about the prospect of living there full-time. I wouldn't spend a ton of time on it -- just mention it. And I wouldn't mention anything about logistics of interviewing or relocation expenses either way.
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:15 PM on November 18, 2014
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:15 PM on November 18, 2014
I agree. As an employer, when I get an application from a distant location, my first thought is "Are they serious, or are they just applying to everything on the Internet?". A reference to WHY it makes sense for them to move to my area -- doesn't have to be elaborate, just has to show they thought about it -- goes a long way to settle those fears.
posted by Mogur at 4:29 AM on November 19, 2014
posted by Mogur at 4:29 AM on November 19, 2014
How would they know you weren't local? Don't put your address on your resume. Just your Name, email and phone number.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:48 AM on November 19, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:48 AM on November 19, 2014
Yes, mention the location. You don't have to say very much, or get elaborate about how much you very much want to live in their region, or how much you've always dreamed of a more rural like than your current city; in fact, laying it on too thick could almost imply that you're only applying to their crappy company because you want to live in their amazing town. One sentence or half a sentence should do it. It is, however, important, to say something, just to point out that you are aware that you'd me changing location; no mention at all could definitely make the reader wonder if you even realize you can't take the subway from your current apartment to get there.
As a current resident of (city), I've had occasional opportunities to visit (your half of the province) and was pleased to see this job opportunity in (small town).
My background in (home region, uni region, etc) and years with (employer) in (current metropolis) have taught me that I could definitely be happy in a setting like (small town).
Although I have enjoyed my years in (metropolis) I am currently looking for jobs in towns like (small town).
(and no, definitely don't mention that you'd expect them to pay for your move; they very well might, but that's a discussion for another time)
posted by aimedwander at 9:34 AM on November 19, 2014
As a current resident of (city), I've had occasional opportunities to visit (your half of the province) and was pleased to see this job opportunity in (small town).
My background in (home region, uni region, etc) and years with (employer) in (current metropolis) have taught me that I could definitely be happy in a setting like (small town).
Although I have enjoyed my years in (metropolis) I am currently looking for jobs in towns like (small town).
(and no, definitely don't mention that you'd expect them to pay for your move; they very well might, but that's a discussion for another time)
posted by aimedwander at 9:34 AM on November 19, 2014
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posted by J. Wilson at 5:27 PM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]