In the Web3 world where the demand is really high and the industry is extremely fast paced, technical prowess alone will not get you a job.
The demand for experienced professionals is increasing and you will need to work on your resume as well as your cover letter in order to land you a great job in Web3.
Think of your cover letter as the first impression that you can give to the hiring managers or recruiters.
The recruiters get thousands of resumes a day but a relatively lower number of cover letters attached to them, hence giving you an extra chance to build rapport with them.
I’ll take you through a few Do’s & Don’ts that you can use as a guide when sending your next cover letter.
The Do’s of a Great Cover Letter
1. Research
One of the things that we miss when we “mass apply” is understanding the specific project, their product line and how they are trying to do things.
Understanding the project’s culture as well as any news in the Web3 space that might be relevant can allow you to be more current and specific in your cover letter.
2. Highlight Relevant Experience
Clearly outline how your skills and experience align with the job description.
Why should the project hire you amongst the thousands of resumes they might have gotten for that job listing?
What experiences and skills of yours align well with their project, goals and the product?
According to Harvard Business Review, sharing a success that aligns with a problem that project might be facing is a good idea to get their attention.
3. Quantify Your Achievements
Whenever possible, try to add numbers to show your achievements to provide tangible evidence of the value you can bring to the table.
Data speaks much louder than words.
For example, if you worked on influencer campaigns for a Crypto Exchange, then show how many users were you able to onboard and what kind of trading volume those users were able to generate for that exchange.
PS. take note that there might be some data you are not allowed to share without the consent of the project, please keep that in mind while drafting these. If there are limitations you can always share a percentage growth or multiples to keep the exact data safe while showing your impact.
4. Tailor for Each Application
One of the best tips I can give you is “never use the exact same cover letter for 2 different job postings”. Do NOT copy pasta the same cover letter everywhere!
Tailor each cover letter to the specific Web3 project and role you're applying for.
This way you can share exactly why you are a strong fit for that exact role you are applying to.
The Don'ts to Keep in Mind for a Great Cover Letter
1. Cover Letter Templates Alone Aren’t Enough
We all love templates, I do too. I use templates wherever I can but you’d be surprised to hear that many people do not work on the template.
They just change the name and send it over.
Cover letter templates can provide a good starting point, but that’s all they are, a good starting point.
Recruiters can easily spot generic or copied content from a mile away, they deal with thousands of such responses on a weekly basis.
Use templates as an inspiration, but make sure to modify them to your own voice & experiences.
2. Avoid Excessive Technical Jargon
Technical knowledge is crucial for Web3 roles but more often than not your cover letter might first be reviewed by a non-technical person and you’ll lose them in an instant.
Think of your cover letter as a means to share the value you bring to a Web3 project but do it in a way that you’d use to explain it to a 5 year old.
3. Don't Focus Only on Yourself
What’s important for the project?
Well, the most important thing for them is that the person who fills that role can bring value to the company. So even though your cover letter is meant to share how you are valuable, the focus point is the project and how value can be added there.
4. Avoid Negativity
Stay positive throughout your cover letter.
Nobody likes to read a negativity filled letter when reviewing applications, even if you’re sharing a negative experience, make sure to morph the tone and talk about learnings and experience.
5. Avoid Irrelevant Information
I’ve personally seen many cover letters with unnecessary information such as your hobbies etc.
The recruiters are going through thousands of these, and adding such stuff just makes it harder for them which will more often than not get your application tossed into the bin.
Wrap Up
To summarize, make sure to always include cover letters with your job applications and customize them to share the value you can bring to that role specifically!
This will maximize your chances of getting a response from the project and will help you land your next job in crypto!
