Ten things not to do in your cover letter

Your cover letter is the first thing an employer sees when they receive your job application. Follow these ten tips and make a great first impression.

1. Don't overuse "I"
A cover letter is not meant to be autobiographical. You need to highlight what your employer needs, not tell your life story. Avoid projecting a self-centered image by using the personal pronoun "I" as little as possible, especially at the beginning of sentences.

2. Make sure your opening paragraph is engaging
Job seekers often struggle with how to start a cover letter. The result is often a weak introduction that fails to capture the reader's attention and interest. Consider these examples: Weak: Please consider me for the sales representative position. Better: Your need for an excellent sales representative perfectly matches my three years of experience as a top performer in my industry, generating millions in sales for my employer.

3. Don't forget your best assets!
A cover letter is a sales letter that sells you as a candidate. Like your resume, this letter should be attractive and highlight the main reasons why you should be selected for an interview. Winning strategies for a cover letter are to emphasize your best accomplishments or to create subcategories from the advertised position. For example:

Your ad specifies...

And I offer...

Communication skills 5 years of experience in public speaking and intensive training in superior report production.
Strong computer skills Strong skills in MS Office software and expertise in website creation.
Not too long, not too short

If your cover letter contains only one or two paragraphs, it probably doesn't contain enough key information to sell you effectively. If it exceeds one page, your readers may fall asleep. Be concise and engaging, but respect the time your reader takes to read your letter.

4. Don't repeat your resume word for word
Your cover letter should not regurgitate your resume. Rephrase your points to avoid making your resume content boring. You could use this letter to tell a story, for example, "My most difficult sale" or "My biggest technical challenge."

5. Don't be vague
If you are responding to an ad, mention the exact job title in your letter. The person reading your letter will probably be reading hundreds of others for a dozen different positions. Make sure all the content of your letter reflects what you intend to do to meet the employer's needs.

6. Don't forget to personalize
If you are applying for a position in different companies, you will probably slightly modify a letter and use it for several job applications. This is fine, as long as you personalize each one. Remember to update the company name, job title, and contact information; Mr. Smith will not be impressed if you call him Ms. Jones.

7. Don't end on a passive note
Take control of your future by promising to follow up. Instead of asking the reader to call you back, try this method: I will contact you within a few days to answer any preliminary questions you may have. In the meantime, you can reach me at 555 555-5555.

8. Don't be impolite
Your cover letter should thank the reader for their time.

9. Don't forget to sign your letter
It's a professional ethics rule (and a way to show you pay attention to detail) to sign your letters. However, if you are sending your cover letter and resume via email or the web, it is not necessary to add your signature.

Kim Isaacs.

Monster.ca

Posted on June 3, 2014.