Writing a Cover Letter Is Like Planning for Marriage and a CV Like Owning a Business

Here Are the Assumptions I Make That Always Work for Me

Let me tell you something that has worked for me (and my mentees) repeatedly when it comes to writing job applications: a cover letter is like marriage, and a CV is like owning a business.

Strange comparison? Maybe. But hear me out.

If you start to see your job applications from this lens, you’ll write with more intention, more strategy, and most importantly, you’ll stand out.

Let me break down the key assumptions I make when I sit down to write a CV or a cover letter. These are not textbook rules. These are philosophies I’ve built over time that help me and the people I coach get interviews consistently.

💍 Cover Letter Assumption 1: You’re Proposing Marriage, Not Just Showing Off

Let’s get real. Writing a cover letter is like proposing marriage.

You're not just standing there listing all your achievements like, "I’ve got this degree, that certification, this experience." That is like a suitor walking in and saying, "I own five cars, I’ve travelled the world, and I wear designer suits." Cool story, but it means nothing if you have not shown you understand the person you're trying to marry.

Now imagine someone else comes in and says, "I know your favourite colour, your best food, the things that make you smile. I’ve studied you, and if you say yes to me, I’ll love you, support you, and be there for you."

Tell me, who’s getting the ring?

Same thing with a cover letter. It is not about flexing. It is about connecting. Employers want to know that you understand them, that you’ve done your research, and that you have something specific to offer them. Not just what you’ve done in the past but what you plan to do for them if they bring you on board.

So when you write, think: “How can I show them I get them and I’m ready to add value?” That’s how you go from being just another application to someone they actually want to meet.

💃🏾 Cover Letter Assumption 2: You’re Trying to Be a Great Match

Still sticking with the marriage angle, think about compatibility.

Would you marry someone you have nothing in common with? Of course not.

So why should an employer hire someone who seems like a total stranger to their team culture?

This is where your cover letter needs to show that you "get them." Show them that you’re a team player. That you can blend into their team dynamic. That you understand the vibe, the values, and the way they work, and that you’ll fit in.

Use your cover letter to show that you’re not just a good candidate on paper, but someone who belongs with them. Someone who gets the inside jokes, who understands the mission, and who’s ready to be part of the family.

🧠 CV Assumption: You’re the Business Owner

Now let’s talk CVs.

When I write a CV, I always imagine that I’m the business owner. Let’s say I run a physiotherapy clinic, or a factory, or a hospital. I’ve got 100 CVs in front of me.

Then I pick up mine.

Would I hire myself?

If you look at your CV and can’t honestly say, “Yes, I’d hire this person,” then there’s work to do.

This mindset helps remove your personal bias. It forces you to be brutally honest. You stop justifying that the CV is good enough, and you start asking, “Does this show I can make the business better?”

Because if it doesn’t, why should anyone pick you?

✍🏽 Bonus Tip: CV vs Cover Letter – Know the Role Each One Plays

Let me summarise it like this:

• Your CV is where you talk about your past. What you’ve done. What you’ve achieved. Your experience.

• Your cover letter is about the future. What you plan to do for them. How you’ll help them grow. How you’ll solve their problems.

Simple, but powerful. Understand this and you’re halfway there.

✅ Ready to Get It Right?

If you're reading this and you're tired of getting rejected, or worse, hearing nothing back at all, then maybe it's time to do things differently.

I offer one-on-one coaching to help people write cover letters and CVs that get interviews. I’ve helped many people go from zero responses to multiple job offers.

If you’re interested, drop me a message or send an email and let’s work together to bring your dream job within reach.

You bring the passion. I’ll help you bring the words.