The 'Pain Letter': An Alternative to the Traditional Cover Letter

A pain letter is a cover letter that flips the script. Instead of talking about yourself and what you want, you focus on the company and its problems (or "pains").

Start by researching the company. What challenges are they facing? What are their goals? You can find this information in their annual reports, news articles, and even the job description itself.

Then, write a letter that shows you understand their pains and explains how your skills and experience can help solve them. This approach is much more compelling than a traditional cover letter because it's focused on their needs, not yours. It shows that you've done your homework and are a proactive problem-solver.