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Tips
7 Cover Letter
Blunders
www.investopedia.com
A perfect resume is often ruined by a poorly planned cover letter.
Whether you are adding your cover letter to your application to meet
submission guidelines or you simply want to show that you are
committed to getting the job, make sure that you avoid making these
seven cover letter blunders
Incorrect Company Name
Although you are probably applying to a number of different jobs in
your search, you don't have to share this information with
recruiters. The most common way that job seekers divulge this
information accidentally is by putting the wrong company name or
position on their cover letters, or forgetting to change it when
they use the cover letter for the next application
Unreasonable Length
The absolute maximum length for a cover letter, including the
headings should be a page. Typically, it should be shorter
Redundancy
The purpose of the cover letter is to identify your skills and
explain how your previous work experience is applicable to the
desired position. Simply restating all of the facts on your resume,
without going into an explanation of why your skills and experiences
are important, defeats the purpose of having a cover letter at all.
Identifying Weaknesses
Another primary goal of your cover letter should be to identify the
strengths that make you the best candidate for the position. Talking
about your weaknesses is not only a complete waste of space, but
also counterproductive to the goal of getting the interview. While
"what are your greatest weaknesses?" is a common interview question,
don't provide this information without being asked!
Sounding Arrogant
Excessive overuse of the words "I", "me" or "my" can make you sound
conceited - or suggest that you're the victim of a limited
vocabulary. Furthermore, repeating any word too often reflects poor
writing abilities. Yes, the cover letter is ultimately about you and
your accomplishments, but you have to find a way of saying "I'm the
best" without actually saying it.
Adding Unnecessary Information
Focus on how your qualifications are relevant to the role you are
applying for. If you are applying for an accounting position, the
fact that you have run a marathon should not be a prime focal point,
although such a personal accomplishment may be worth mentioning.
Spelling And Grammar Mistakes
The obvious criteria that apply to professional emails, school exams
and resumes are all important when constructing the cover letter.
Spelling and grammar problems are a key issue that can make it look
like you did not put in the required time to check over your
application.
The Bottom Line
Do not assume that an impressive cover letter can serve as a
substitute for a poorly written resume. Both resume and cover letter
blunders must be avoided in order to proceed to the interview stage
of the hiring process.
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