The Luke Skywalker Cover Letter Post

I would be lying if I didn’t say I’m a bit shaken up by this cover letter assignment. From our show of hands today, it’s something that most of us haven’t done. And I haven’t even held a job before. I blame the pandemic for that. But the point is, I don’t really know what the career force is looking for. That’s why I’m grasping every example and tip given to us. 

The websites we went over and the top ten lists we made helped tremendously, but more examples never hurt. It especially helps when this example regurgitates information we went over in a fun way. I feel that the more interesting you find something, the better it sticks with you. I hope this example I’m about to share fits that niche for you.

Here it is!

Let me demonstrate how this example rhymes with what we’ve already covered. Tumblr user siderealsandman separates this “cover letter” into 6 parts, each of which we spoke of in class today. The letter starts with its polite greeting of “Greetings, Exalted one,” which doubles as “Dear [name]” in other letters. Greetings like these might only be 2–4 words, but they accomplish a lot. Remember how we talked about the importance of using correct titles? Right away, using the correct title, such as “Exalted one” shows respect. Also, using the hiring manager’s name in your greeting demonstrates that you’ve done research. While Luke Skywalker did not begin his letter with a name, he directly refers to the recipient later on, illustrating his knowledge of what he’s applying for.

The second part is self-introduction, something we did not emphasize in class. In fact, we spoke in favor of keeping self-introduction to the minimum by finishing the letter with a sign-off and the best way to reach you. Writing too much about who you are, like your gender, race, and location, can lead to bias in the hiring process. You can see in the Luke Skywalker example, he wisely limits his self-introduction to only his name. Although, for us, it’d be wiser to leave our names at the end.

The next four parts are all important and don’t have to show up in the order listed. Let’s dive into each individual before taking these quarters and turning them into a whole. 

Establishing credentials shows that you’re not just some random guy who stumbled upon a job opening and decided to apply with regard to what the job was. Skywalker’s experience as a Jedi knight proves him as more than a random guy. But remember, don’t be redundant and repeat all the credentials that would end up on your resume either way. 

You should briefly explain how you learned of the opportunity you’re applying for. It gives you some kind of mental anchor for the author to connect you to. You’re not just some guy floating in the void, you’re a guy who sought out job positions on LinkedIn or a friend of someone—Han Solo—who knows of the position.

Establishing purpose is the why. Why are you sending this letter? Well, because you saw x-position and would like to apply for it. If you don’t mention that, then what’s the whole point? This letter is supposed to get you an interview or in this case, an audience with Jabba the Hutt. You have to be explicit about that. After you explain that you’re writing for the job, then you have to explain why you want this job. Now, you illustrate why getting this job is in your best interest. In some cases, it’s because you’re genuinely passionate about the job. In Skywalker’s case, it’s because you want to bargain for Han Solo’s life.

Finally, show off your strengths, your accomplishments, what you can bring to the table. What you bring to the table isn’t going to be tangible, like money or two droids. They can be experiences that show off your skills. They can be compliments you received from peers and high ups. They can be statistics, numbers that add up to your proficiency. Whatever it is, make sure it applies to what the job description wants from you.

Establishing credentials, how you learned of an opportunity, establishing purpose, and showing what you can bring to the table doesn’t have to be four separate parts. They’re fluid ideas that easily overlap and mix. Establishing how you’re qualified for a job also implies the skills you’ll bring to the table. How you learned about an opportunity can serve as a segway into your purpose and passion. And so on, and so forth.

So, maybe Skywalker’s cover letter isn’t the perfect cover letter, but it presents a humorous and iconic take on the format that’s easy to mentally break down. After a walk through this breakdown, it might give you the confidence that this cover letter project won’t terrorize us after all. Hopefully.