We sat down with resume and cover letter expert Chris Fore on USA Football's Coach and Coordinator Podcast to better understand the keys to successfully land a head coaching job. Fore covered many topics on the podcast and went into the specifics of how to create an effective cover letter that helps increase your chance of receiving an interview. 

Fore pointed out that before sitting down to type the cover letter, it’s best for the prospective candidate to learn about the open job and understand the situation. Knowing the football program’s biggest needs can help articulate the cover letter’s main idea and be impactful to the administrator sorting through a stack of applications.

Fore presents his keys to an effective cover letter as the five “B’s.” 

1.  Be original – Break away from standard formats. If there’s a unique way to grab the hiring managers’ attention, do it. Think of a hook that grabs the reader’s attention.  Maybe it’s starting off with a question.
2.  Be unique – You are the only person who has had your experience. Avoid clichés like, “I am passionate” or “I am hardworking.” Instead, tell a story that shows how you are passionate or hard working citing specific examples.
3. Be specific – Use a certain statistic that you are proud of about how you turned around a unit or program to show your ability.  For example, maybe you increased the productivity of your receivers’ unit by 100 yards per game over the previous season.  Share that and briefly explain how you accomplished that.
4. Be quick – Use concise and clear language. Avoid rambling on by remembering our society consumes content in small, bite-size pieces. Utilize that strategy when writing your cover letter.
5. Be personable – Cover letters can be dry at times, so as stated above, always look for opportunities to share a personal story that an administrator can relate to. Show the impact you have made in your current job or previous jobs, especially as it relates to the job you’re interviewing for.

Fore shares stories and examples on this and other topics in the podcast. Be sure to tune in if you are in the hunt for a head coaching job. The market is competitive and Fore provides tips and tools to set you apart and help you win the job.