A cover letter is designed to inform and interest an employer to read on to your résumé.
But all too often, the cover letter bores, offends or sometimes amuses — but not in a good way — the people who read them. Successfully achieving the former is the first step to gaining an interview with the company, but commit the latter and your job materials will be sent to a hiring manager’s “no” pile quicker than you could write “References Available Upon Request.”
What are some of the gravest sins you could make when composing a cover letter? Read on.
If you’re starting with ‘To Whom it May Concern,’ you’re not as concerned as you should be.
Using this default greeting, particularly when the name of the appropriate addressee is in the job description, is one of the worst missteps. If the job post doesn’t specify whom to address, don’t guess, or else you run the risk of choosing the wrong person. “My recommendation is not to use a salutation at all but to use a subject line,” says Louise Kursmark, author of “15-Minute Cover Letter” and several other books on résumés and job searching. “Salutations are workarounds that don’t work very well.”
When in doubt
If your cover letter feels naked sans salutation, Kursmark suggests addressing a greeting to “Dear Hiring Professional.” You can also call the company directly to ask to whom you should address your letter.
If you’re including typos and misspelled words, ‘your’ going to miss a good opportunity.
Usually, it’s not obvious spelling errors that snag job seekers, but the slip-ups that spell check might not catch. Quadruple-check all “their” vs. “there” wording, and watch out for “its” vs. “it’s” mentions. Be diligent to avoid common grammar mistakes, and know when to use “that” vs. “which” or “its” instead of “their.” “Your letter is an indication of your communication skills,” Kursmark says. “If you can’t write a letter for a job, what are you going to do when you’re writing emails or speaking to people on the telephone?”
When in doubt
It’s always harder to spot your own mistakes. Ask an impartial friend or a mentor if he or she would be willing to proofread your job materials.
If you’re using a form letter, it will come across as [insert an adjective for ‘impersonal’].
It’s smart to have a boilerplate for most cover letters, but be sure to customize it for each new position. “You don’t want to give the impression to the people reading it that you’re applying for any job,” Kursmark says. Before finalizing your letter, touch on how you will help the company achieve its mission. Refer to the job description to explain what qualifications you have. Also follow the directions specified in the posting. Don’t send a Microsoft Word copy if you were asked to send a PDF attachment.
When in doubt
This is a cover letter, not a Mad Libs puzzle. Read two of your letters back to back to compare your writing style. If you’ve just cut and pasted in various action words, you’re not doing enough.
If you’re bringing up something new and different from your résumé, you’ll appear forgetful and … something or other.
Don’t use your cover letter as an explanation of issues you didn’t address on your résumé, such as not having a college degree or your two-year employment gap. “I think you have to respect the short attention spans and busy lives of people,” Kursmark says. “First of all, a lot of people aren’t going to read a cover letter. You have a challenge if it’s something important [that you need to explain], but I wouldn’t put it in the cover letter.”
When in doubt
You’ll need to play offense in your activities and when writing your résumé, not defense when sending your cover letter. For example, fill an employment gap with career-related volunteer work that you can add to your résumé.
If you’re too wordy, you’re probably going to bore the reader, leading him to put your letter in the trash and then …
You get the point. Keep it short and simple. A two-page résumé is acceptable based on qualifications and level of experience. But the two-page cover letter? Verboten. In fact, you’re entering the danger zone if your letter reaches a full page. “Now everything is sent by email, and employers are looking at cover letters on their smartphones and tablets,” Kursmark says. “You don’t want to give them too much information too early in the process.”
When in doubt
Kursmark suggests sticking to a couple paragraphs, and maybe including a few eye-friendly bullet points, but that’s it.
If you’re using big, outdated SAT words, you’ll appear supercilious.
Do you actually know anyone who uses the words “bathetic,” “perspicacious” or “supernumerary?” Neither does your hiring manager. Save those antics for Scrabble — your manner of speech will convey your intelligence more than the number of syllables per word. “Be crisp and clear, and use short words and sentences,” Kursmark says. “You don’t actually impress people by using $5 words. Especially if you misuse them.”
When in doubt
If you’re using Microsoft Word to compose cover letters, you can adjust your spell-check preferences to also “Show readability statistics.” This tool will estimate the grade level of the writing in your document. Kursmark recommends sticking to a sixth- or seventh-grade writing level.
If you’re too folksy, then no one will take you seriously, dude.
Don’t overcompensate on the aforementioned tip by using too much colloquial speech. The purpose of your cover letter is to help you land a job, not arrange weekend plans with your peeps. “At any stage when applying for a job, whether it’s in writing your résumé and cover letter, or determining your personal appearance for an interview, you need to be on your absolute best professional behavior,” Kursmark says. “You have to show that you’re making an effort. The same thing goes for your correspondence.”
When in doubt
If you wouldn’t use certain phrases of speech or words with your parents or clergy, they’re probably not appropriate for an employer.
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How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You an Interview
7 Common — and Costly — Cover Letter Mistakes originally appeared on usnews.com
