Comman Cover Letter Mistakes!!

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Your cover letter shows employers how well you express yourself. Here are some mistakes that contribute to bad cover letters. To ensure that your cover letter is effective, avoid these mistakes:

1. There are some employers that don't read cover letters or place much importance on them. But since you don't know whether the employer you're writing to reads and values cover letters or not, you must include a letter.



2. The student's cover letter looked more like a cut-and-paste email than a business letter. Be sure your cover letter uses a standard business letter format. It should include the date, the recipient's mailing address and your address.



3. Not only is personal information inappropriate on the résumé, it should also be taken out of your cover letter. Do not include data such as your age, marital status, race, religion, or any other personal information unless you feel it directly pertains to the position you are seeking.



4. It may seem counterintuitive, but your cover letter, like your resume, should be about the employer as much as it's about you. Yes, you need to tell the employer about yourself, but do so in the context of the employer's needs and the specified job requirements.



5. Employers tend to view typos and grammatical errors as evidence of your carelessness and inability to write. Proofread every letter you send. Have a friend who knows good writing double-check it for you.


6. Too many cover letters say the applicant has "strong written and verbal communication skills." Without evidence, it's an empty boast. Give some examples for each claim you make.



7. Employers see so many cover letters that it's easy for them to tell when you're using a one-size-fits-all approach. Every cover letter that you send should be tailored to the position you seek and should demonstrate both your interest in a specific industry and familiarity with the employer.



8. It's not always easy to find the name of the specific hiring manager, but try to do so if at all possible. Usually, you can just call the company and ask who the hiring manager is for a given position. Tap into your personal network to learn the names of hiring managers.



9. Do not call attention to your weaknesses or lack of experience in your cover letter. This only emphasizes your shortcomings instead of your strengths. Center on your skills, organizational and industry knowledge.



10. Use the first paragraph to grab the employer's attention. Tell the employer why you are writing and summarize the reasons you are qualified for the position, expanding on your qualifications in later paragraphs. Write a letter that will make the employer want to get to know you better.



11. Your letter reflects your ability to write and communicate. Be sure your document is letter-perfect before sending it out. Proofread your letter. Put it down and proof it again a few hours later with a fresh eye. Then enlist a friend to review it for errors.



12. The two-column format is extremely effective when you possess all the qualifications for a job. The format so clearly demonstrates that you are qualified in so many areas that the employer may overlook the areas in which you lack the exact qualifications.



13. In your cover letter, you must present your experiences and qualifications in an interesting manner.



14. Keep you letter as brief as possible. Never, never more than one page. Keeping to four or five paragraphs of no more than three sentences each is a good guideline. Using bullet points in the letter is a good way to break up blocks of text and interest the reader. Use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words.



15. Avoid such phrases as "I feel" and "I believe." Your statements will be much stronger without them. It's best to either leave off the qualifier or use a stronger qualifier, such as "I am confident," I am convinced," or "I am positive."



16. Your cover letter should contain all pertinent information. If you forget to mention something in your letter, retype the letter. Including a supplementary note, either typed or handwritten, is unprofessional and appears lazy.



17. Don't forget to sign your name at the close of your cover letter. An employer might interpret a typed name with no signature as an oversight or carelessness. Also, your signature personalizes your letter. Don't use a script font or a draw program on your computer. Always sign your name neatly in blue or black ink.

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