A Few Cover Letter Mistakes That Are Common

Thousands of resumes pass through the inboxes of recruiters throughout their career, and as you would imagine, they have seen so many that it's a rare occasion when one of them catches their eye.

Then how is it possible for the average Joes looking for work to have their applications stand out? Describe yourself o the employer with a well written cover letter.

Resumes are merely a list of your past workplaces, experiences and achievements, but they will not be able to reflect your personality. However, a cover letter allows you to express yourself in full sentences, conveying more detailed things about yourself, such as the ways in which the company will benefit from hiring you.

Often times people will take their time working on their resume, only to later add a messy cover letter they put together in a few minutes, drastically lowering their chances at obtaining the desired job.

The most common mistake people make is letting typos ruin their letter. To avoid such situations, use a spell checker to correct any obvious mistakes. You can usually find them in word processing applications and some internet browsers or email services. Afterwards, read the document again, as there may be errors the spell checkers missed. Also make sure the phrases are coherent, and you may as well get a second opinion from a friend or family.

Here are a few other things you should look out for:

Clearly stating the job.

Be specific about which job you are applying for, including the exact name. State the source of the ad, and include any additional information, such as job id number, if any.

The reason behind this is that recruiters often go through a good number of applications each day for several different jobs. Ambiguity in your letter will only get the recruiters worked up, possibly even discarding the application. Specifically mentioning which job you're gunning for will maximize the chances of your resume ending up in the hands of the right person.

Form cover letters.

Using a form cover letter where you only modify the employer's name is a big mistake. The aim of a good cover letter is to connect with the reader, while using a standardized form defeats the whole purpose of it. You would be missing out on the chance to show that you are genuinely interested in working there, that you have done research about them, or explaining how you would suit their specific needs.

Repeating yourself

A frequently encountered mistake in the case of cover letters is repeating everything from your resume. Again, the cover letter is an opportunity to add depth and detail that can not be included in the resume. Talk about how your past experience and expertise, which has already been listed in your resume, can help with their specific needs.

This being said, remember, the cover letter has to elaborate on the points in your resume, not repeat them.

What you can do for me.

Avoid discussing why you need the job. The companies do not hire you to pay your bills or to make your life better. They need a job done and a qualified person to do it. Focus on what you can do for the company, and not the other way around.

When writing your cover letter take the job requirements into consideration and explain how you can satisfy their demands. The job ad will tell you what you need to highlight from your repertoire of skills.

As a final note, avoid any exaggerations or arrogance. Confidence should be coupled with a humble attitude, while keeping your enthusiasm.