Mind Tricks (Not the Jedi Kind)

I've been torn about writing a short series of blog posts about applying for jobs. I don't want to inadvertently give one gal applying for a job at Squarespace a leg up on another, but I always want to improve the quality of the candidate funnel.

This morning I decided to post one tip a week and then – as so often happens – I stumbled on an article about cover letters that does a great job of articulating what I am actually looking for in a cover letter.  I sure don't require them because I want extra reading material.

Money quote:

Pretend that the person you’re writing to already loves and respects you. Pretend that the person you’re writing to already believes that you’re worthy and valuable. Pretend that the person you’re writing to doesn’t need a big sales pitch. This person already gets what makes you great. In fact, you’re basically already hired! The hiring manager is just curious to learn a teensy bit more about you.

Your job isn't to tell me everything about you. Your job is to tell me enough about you that you qualify yourself and make me really want to learn more.