20 COVER LETTER BLUNDERS TO AVOID
There are certain errors that promise to diminish your hard work of writing a cover letter. From typographical mishaps to erroneous employer information, all mistakes have a negative impact on the application process. Serious errors will land your application in the wastebasket. Be forewarned: Carefully read your cover letter at least twice.
The following list outlines some of the most common cover letter mistakes and, more importantly, suggests ways to correct them. These examples have been adapted from real-life cover letters gathered during the course of our research. Although some of these blunders may seem obvious, they occur far more often than you might think. Needless to say, none of the inquiries that included these mistakes met with positive results.
1. Unrelated career goals: Tailor your cover letter to the specific position applied for. A hiring manager is only interested in what you can do for the company, not what you hope to accomplish for yourself. Your letter should convey a genuine interest in the position and a long-term pledge to fulfilling its duties. Consider the difference between these two real-life examples:
Example A (wrong way): "While my true goal is to become a Professional Dancer, I am exploring the option of taking on proofreading work while continuing to train for the Boston Ballet's next audition."
Example B (right way): "I am very interested in this proofreading position, and I am confident of my ability to make a long-term contribution to your capable staff."
2. Comparisons and cliches: Avoid obvious comparisons and overused cliches; such expressions distract from your letter's purpose: to highlight your most impressive skills and accomplishments.
Here are a few real-life blunders we encountered: "My word processor runs like the wind," "I am a people person," "Teamwork is my middle name," "Your company is known as the creme de la creme of accounting firms," "I am as smart as a whip," "Among the responses you receive for this position, I hope my qualifications make me leader of the pack." So, remember to adopt a formal, professional writing style.
3. Wasted space: Since cover letters are generally four paragraphs long, every word of every sentence should be directly related to your purpose for writing. In other words, if you are applying for a position as a chemist, include only those skills and experience most applicable to that field. Any other information weakens your application. Some real-life blunders we've seen include:
Example: "As my enclosed resume reveals, I possess the technical experience and educational background to succeed as your newest Civil Engineer. In addition, I am a certified Gymnastics Instructor who has won several local competitions."
Example: "I am writing in response to your advertisement for an Accounting Clerk. Currently, I am finishing an associate degree at Fisher Junior College. My courses have included Medieval Architecture, Film Theory, American History before 1900, and nutrition."
4. Form letters: Mass mailing, in which you send a general form letter to a large number of employers, are not recommended. This approach does not allow you to personalize each application. Every cover letter that you write should be tailored to the position you are seeking and demonstrate both your commitment to a specific industry and familiarity with each particular employer. Mass mailings may indicate to a hiring manager that you are not truly interested in joining his or her organization.
There are certain formats and phrases that signal to an employer that you are using a form letter. In one real-life mass mailing mishap, the candidate created a form letter with blank spaces where he penned in the employer's name and position applied for. Another applicant who was indecisive about her field of interest created a list of possible positions in her letter. She then circled the most appropriate job description depending on the targeted company.
5. Inappropriate stationery: White and ivory are the only acceptable paper colors for a cover letter. We've seen letters in every shade from hot pink to electric blue and, to be honest, the color was the only thing we noticed. Also, we recommend standard office stationery; steer clear of transparent typing paper or personal stationery.
In any case, the stationery you choose should not distract from the contents of your cover letter. A cat enthusiast who applied to our company "enhanced" her letter with several images of her favorite felines. A musician applying for an office position sent a letter decorated with a border of musical notes and instruments. Remember, don't rely on graphics to "improve" your cover letter, let your qualifications speak for themselves.