6 Common Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The above picture is a collection of words that are common for people applying for jobs.
Are you on the hunt for a new job?
Whether this is going to be your first job or your last, it's crucial to have a high-quality cover letter. While not all jobs will require a cover letter, 53 percent of employers prefer candidates with cover letters in addition to their resume.
This letter is going to communicate with your potential employer who you are and why you're the best fit for the job. If you're looking to craft the best cover letter possible, you're going to want to read this.
To help, we're sharing today's most common cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them. After reading this, you're all the more likely to craft an expert cover letter and succeed in your job search.
Let's get started!
1. Typos and Grammar Mistakes
In today's day and age, there's simply no room for error with typos and grammar mistakes.
When you're facing competition in the job world, a cover letter that contains typos won't stand a chance against those that don't. When it comes to your spelling and grammar, perfection is always the expectation.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you personally must be responsible for this perfection. After all, even the works of coveted writers will suffer from typos and grammatical errors. Instead, it simply shines a light on why having an editor for your cover letter is so important.
This second set of eyes will be sure to catch all sorts of mistakes that you were unable to notice. After drafting so many cover letters, this editor will play a very necessary role in your success.
2. Too Much Information
We all know the old saying "biggest isn't always better".
When it comes to drafting your cover letter, it's crucial to remember this age-old advice. While it's important to ensure that you're not leaving anything out, you also want to avoid telling the reader too much about yourself and your working experience.
Remember, you don't want to overwhelm the reader with a mass of unnecessary information. Instead, your goal is to present crucial information in a matter that is clear and concise. With this, they'll have a general idea as to your experience and can inquire further when necessary.
If your letter contains too much writing, the reader is all the more likely your letter and miss out on crucial information. Focus on what matters and aim to keep it simple.
3. Addressing Your Letter to the Wrong Employer
At the top of each cover letter, your letter should be addressed to a specific employer.
Without doing so, your cover letter will present as too general. Instead, you want to make it clear that this letter has been issued for a specific employer. This is going to show the employer that you're serious about your inquiry and that you respect their interest in you.
This is why updating each employment letter is so crucial. While it may be a time-consuming task, your persistence is all the more likely to pay off in the end. Take the time necessary to understand who you're addressing your letter to and what their position is.
4. A Lack of Personalization
Are you opting for a generalized, one-fits-all cover letter?
An over-generalized cover letter is one of the most common mistakes in the job hunting process today. This is because taking the time to personalize each cover letter i is often a lengthy process. As a result, many job-hunters will opt to skip this process in order to have their letter submitted.
Remember, a cover letter is simply not a one-size-fits-all deal. Instead, each letter must be personal to that employer and to that job title.
If you're drafting the same cover letter to each employer, it's safe to say that this will not go unnoticed. Remember, a cover letter for a bakery is going to be very different than a cover letter for a bowling alley. Each job will require it's very own cover letter to address the concerns of that specific job.
5. Too Humble
Let's face it, highlighting why we're great isn't always easy.
While we may have a multitude of worthy achievements, documenting these achievements on paper can be downright uncomfortable.
When it comes to crafting a letter, showcasing your series of strengths and experiences is crucial. Remember, your competition will be doing their best to highlight their own achievements. If you're looking to compete, you're going to have to become comfortable in expressing your own wins.
Outline your achievements with confidence. With this, it's always best to stick to the facts. This is going to help ensure that your achievements are informative rather than boastful.
6. Little White Lies
Of course, stretching the truth on a cover letter is always tempting. In fact, it's been reported that 85 percent of candidates will lie in the job application process.
At the end of the day, there's always a better job title or crowning achievement that you may want to mention. In these moments, it's important to remind yourself that even a little white lie could ruin everything.
With this, crafting a little white lie to your employer simply isn't worth the trouble. If you don't have any relevant experience, be upfront about this fact. With this, you can express how your lack of direct experience can and will be overcome.
Avoiding Today's Most Common Cover Letter Mistakes
If you're having difficulty finding a job, you may want to start with your cover letter.
Let's face it, crafting the perfect cover letter isn't always an easy task. This is especially true if you're applying to a variety of different positions. While this process can be daunting, it's an essential and important aspect of the job-hunting process.
To help, be sure to review these cover letter mistakes. In becoming aware of these mistakes in advance, you'll be all the more likely to avoid them in the future.
Do you need help learning how to build a resume? If so, be sure to visit our website today for help!