There’s a right way and a wrong way to put together your pain letters. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons.
Pro: Pain Letters Focus Your Ability
There’s a major problem tied to cold-contacting any company that’s hiring: None of them know you, and none of them care. You don’t stand out from the crowd of applicants. Actually displaying your skill will show that you have the specific abilities needed in the position you want.
Pro: Online Applications Are Terrible
Maybe the process uses an applicant tracking systems (ATS) that requires certain keywords in order to screen your resume. Maybe the company is listing an opening for a position that they’ve already filled. Maybe the hundreds of other applicants just drowned you out. Whatever the case, most online application processes are broken. Pain letters get around that deep seated problem.
Con: You Might Look Like an Arrogant Moron
If a pain letter works, you look wise. If it doesn’t, then you just marched into a company you know nothing about and bragged about your failed, wrong idea about how to fix a problem that might not even exist. Alison Green, of Ask a Manager, has this to say: Instead, she says that job applications should go back to the basics: So writing a direct, targeted letter is a good idea. But emphasize your humility rather than the company’s problems, and you’ll likely go a lot farther.
