There’s definitely an art to writing the perfect cover letter, and it’s one that many job seekers don’t take the time to learn. While it does require some effort to get right, once you learn how to write an effective cover letter, it gets easier and easier each time you do it. Here are the 6 biggest cover letter mistakes career coaches and job search pros see, and what they tell their clients to do instead to seal the deal.
1. Not Easing Fears About Relocation
If you’re applying for a job somewhere far from your current city, be sure to use the cover letter as an opportunity to quash and concerns they might have. “Find a way to connect yourself to the area. “Out-of-town applicants are typically at the bottom of the list of candidates since the odds of this candidate coming to work for them is less than slim and expensive,” notes Russell Cranford, the owner of Resume Pundits.
Examples could be: You are originally from the area, you have family in the area or your partner/spouse accepted a position in the area,” he says.
2. Including Non-Essential Information
The manager stated that he had initially thought that the candidate was a close match for the position based on his resume. However, the cover letter had changed his mind because of the way it rambled and included so much unnecessary and irrelevant information.”
“The manager doesn't need to read about extracurricular activities that are not work-related or about every book you've ever read,” Spivey says. “In fact, an applicant that I know had a hiring manager respond to his cover letter once to give him some advice. The main thing you want to get across in your cover letter is why you’re the right fit for the job. That means everything you include should be specific to the company and the position you’re applying for.
3. Writing Too Much
Additionally, many employers and recruiters are reading on their mobile devices, so keeping your cover letter brief will ensure it is easier to read... which increases the chances that it actually will be read.
"An overly wordy cover letter is a waste of time and a big mistake," states Jessica Hernandez, an executive resume writer and president and CEO of Great Resumes Fast.
Keep the body of your cover letter to 150 words or less, she suggests. “Employers are pressed for time and simply do not see the value in investing their time reading a lengthy cover letter,” Hernandez says.
4. Only Talking Up Your Soft Skills
Those characteristics are bare minimums that a hiring manager expects from any applicant.” Instead, do your best to set yourself apart by explaining how your hard skills and experience could add value to their organization. “Tell them about your accomplishments with those skills as it relates to the job,” Spivey says.
Many fill the cover letter with content about how they are reliable, motivated and dependable. Well, let's hope that you're reliable, motivated and dependable. “The worst mistake I see in cover letters is candidates adding too many soft skills rather than focusing on job-related skills,” says Nancy Spivey, a career coach.
5. Using a Generic Template Letter
Basically, you don’t want to use the same cover letter for every job with just the contact name, company name and position title swapped out. Even when the hiring manager and company name are correct, you can tell that it's a generic template letter.
“I often see cover letters that were obviously copied-and-pasted,” says Christopher K. Lee, founder and career consultant at Purpose Redeemed.
Better yet, open your cover letter with a story that provides proof of your skills the employer cares about most. “Instead, take time to review the job listing again and identify the top three things the hiring manager appears to be seeking in an ideal candidate,” Augustine suggests. “Use this information to customize your message.
6. Regurgitating Your Resume
In other words, tell the reader a story about not just your past jobs, but how you got where you are today and why you think this position you’re applying for is the right next step. It’s also okay to make things a little personal, as opposed to your resume tips, which should be totally professional.
Focus on making your career narrative and relevant qualifications crystal clear. Your cover letter should not only whet the reader’s appetite, but also add value to your entire job application.
But this isn’t a great tactic. “Remember, the employer already has your resume, so there’s no need to repeat your entire work history,” points out Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume. When candidates don’t know what to write in their cover letter, they often resort to restating their job history.
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