A cover letter is a formal letter that is used to introduce yourself to a potential employer. It is typically used along with a resume in order to establish your qualifications for a certain job. Since the cover letter is a crucial part of your application package, you want to make sure that you write a good one. However, many job seekers make the mistake of trying to force their personality onto the letter instead of using it as a tool to highlight their qualifications.
Based on my experience as a job seeker and a professional writer, here are the top 5 mistakes that you should avoid making when writing your cover letter:
1. Putting Too Much Emotional Content.
It is natural for you to feel happy, sad, or angry when you receive an unexpected rejection letter or hear that you have not been selected for the position. However, it is not the right time to showcase your emotions in a cover letter. You want to write the letter in a manner that is formal yet polite. Hence, you should avoid using phrases such as:
- I’m devastated
- What a bummer
- I’m so over this losing streak
- I’m crushed
- This is heart-breaking
- Fired up!
Even if you do not mean to be offensive, the above phrases will likely come off that way. To write a good letter, take out all the unnecessary emotional content. Instead, highlight the positive aspects of the situation.
An example of a professional-sounding cover letter that does not contain any references to emotional content would be:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enclosed please find my resume, which I’m sure you will find of interest. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss further, and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
J. Smith
2. Underestimating The Importance Of Clarity.
As a potential employer, I want to quickly assess your qualifications; I do not want to have to work my way through a lot of jargon or details that are unclear. When you are writing your cover letter, you must take into consideration that I, as a reader, do not have the same level of knowledge that you do. This is why you should avoid using complicated or technical terms in your letter. The clearer you are, the easier it will be for me to understand what you are trying to say. There are also times when you should avoid using slang or colloquialisms, as they could potentially turn me off rather than enticing me to pursue your candidacy.
In the same way that you would avoid using unfamiliar medical terms or legal jargon, you should also avoid using words and phrases that are not widely known.
For example, when describing your educational background, you should use terms such as: bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate. Instead of using words such as “artificial intelligence” or “big data”, try using more generic terms such as “data analysis” or “machine learning”.
If you do not have a background in law, it is likely that I do not have the same level of trust in your abilities as a lawyer as I would if you did. In order to write a good letter, you need to make sure that I understand what you are trying to say without having to spend a long time thinking about it. In the same way that a doctor needs to have a clear idea of what is the underlying cause of a patient’s illness before prescribing him or her a course of treatment, you as a writer need to understand the ‘jurisprudence’ behind the role you are applying for before you begin writing your cover letter.
3. Poor Grammar And Spelling.
In your haste to write a good letter, you may not have had the time to proofread it. Once you submit it, you will have to wait weeks, if not months, for a response. To ensure that your letter is as good as it can be, you should proofread it at least three times before submitting it. Moreover, you should know how to spell the words that you use. Even if you do not have a formal education in English, there should still be someone available to help you learn the basic rules of spelling and grammar. If you are unable to take the time to learn these skills, then it may be a good idea to consider another career option.
4. Not Tailoring The Letter To The Position.
When you are writing your cover letter, you must take into consideration what type of role you are applying for. Just because your resume is impressive does not mean that I will automatically assume that you are the right fit for a marketing position. For instance, if you are applying for a legal role, you should avoid using language that is commonly associated with marketing.
If this is a job that you have not applied for before, then you should research the company that you are applying to and see what their vision and mission are. Moreover, you should tailor your cover letter to match the role you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a sales position, you should state how you would sell the product/service.
In some cases, you may not have the chance to tailor your cover letter to match the position that you are applying for. In these situations, it is advisable to write a generic cover letter and then add more details in subsequent communications. For instance, if you did not have the opportunity to specify what type of role you were applying for in your cover letter, and you are subsequently asked to elaborate, you can say:
“I was not sure of the exact role that I was applying for but would love to discuss it further. I have recently become aware of your company’s exciting new products and would love to be considered for a job in that area.”
An additional advantage of writing a generic letter is that it makes it easier for you to update your cover letter should the position that you are applying for change. For instance, if you are applying for a different role than the one that you were initially offered, you can simply change the letter accordingly.
5. Not Following Up After The Interview.
Once you have submitted your cover letter and resume, it is a good idea to follow up with an email. However, you should not send an email until at least a week after you have submitted your letter. If you send the email earlier than this, you may come off as too eager. Moreover, you should write short and sweet emails; do not send lengthy emails every day. If you do not hear back from the employer within a few days of sending the email, then it may be a good idea to follow up with a phone call.
In closing, writing a good cover letter can be challenging. Moreover, there are various pitfalls and mistakes that you can make. If you want to write a letter that is professional yet engaging, then take your time and effort to ensure that you do it right.