Writing Great Cover Letters
Writing great cover letters is some art, some science, and some common sense. While more and more job seekers are realizing that cover letters are essential, far too many are simply slapping something together and sending it off to an employer. As a result, these letters are full of mistakes that eliminate you from consideration as a candidate. Learn from the errors of others and avoid some of the most common mistakes.
Spelling and grammar errors lead the list of common mistakes. It seems that no matter how many times these items are emphasized, job seekers still aren’t getting the message. With spell checking software everywhere in the marketplace, there is no excuse. The same applies to misuses of the English language, especially there vs. their and your vs. you’re.
In addition to watching out for spelling and grammar, you also need to be mindful of the format. Addressing the letter to a non-person (Sir or Madam) will get your application tossed. Three pages of dense text will also get you tossed. Focus on short, easily read paragraphs addressed to a specific individual.
Finally, you will want to be sure that your cover letters show what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you. Employers have their own needs on their minds at all times. Candidates who fail to address those needs won’t make it to the interview room.
By remembering these common mistakes, you can avoid making them when writing great cover letters. Budget a little extra time in your job hunting process to make time for proofreading, identifying the proper recipient, and targeting your application to the job. It will make the difference between getting hired and being ignored.
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