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Are You Making These 5 Cover Letter Mistakes?

In our last blog, we at YES! Your Human Resources Solution talked about five angles to get your cover letter noticed in the good way. This week, we’ll talk about the mistakes that get your cover letter noticed in the bad way.

In today’s competitive job market, you’ll want to seize every opportunity to keep your application out of the discard pile. A mistake-free first impression can help you do that. Make sure your cover letter does not have:

Too much length. Your cover letter should succinctly match your top selling points with the company’s needs. If your letter spills over one page, you’re probably rambling or repeating information in your resume. (You’re writing a clever sales pitch, not a lullaby!) Remember that recruiters are less likely to read a long cover letter, so keep it compelling and concise.
Points that parrot your resume. If your cover letter reads like your resume in paragraph form, you’re missing an opportunity to sell yourself—and you’re boring recruiters. Use this space to tell a personal story, share your knowledge of the company, and delve into your biggest achievements. Let your personality shine beyond bullet points! After all, you’re more than your job description.
Formatting issues. These days, few cover letters are submitted as hard copies, so your cover letter had better look good electronically. PDF formats are the best way to create a consistent read; DOC formats are susceptible to change across each user’s settings. For this same reason, try never to paste your cover letter into the body of an email. Also make sure your cover letter is easily read, with realistic spacing and margins, and no typos.
Irrelevant information. You may love your schnauzers or your parasailing club, but that information is best kept off your cover letter (and your resume). Recruiters have other ways of gauging your fit with company culture, such as whether your values align with the team’s. And don’t worry about losing your personality–it will show through your writing style and the professional stories you tell.
A complete lack of customization. You’re making a huge mistake if your cover letter can be photocopied and sent to 20 different companies. At the very least, you should be customizing each letter with the company’s name, contact information, and the title of the job you’re applying for. And really, you should be customizing each letter to reflect both knowledge of the company and how your skills fit with the company’s needs. It’s a lot of customization, but it shows you value quality over quantity.

Make a great first impression with a compelling cover letter! Maximize your presentation by choosing an angle that will get your cover letter noticed, and by avoiding the mistakes that turn off recruiters. Happy job hunting!

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