In addition to resumes, cover letters are of great significance. As a packaging for the CV, great cover letter helps tempt people to read your whole application and make the first positive and lasting impression on your future employers when they open your materials.
There are many things one should do to better personalize their CV, such as matching the font style and size of the resumes and cover letter. And also, there are some common mistakes that one should try their best to avoid.
1. Don’t Be Self-centered and Overuse the Word ‘I’
Remember that your cover letter is not your autobiography. You should focus on stating how you will be able to meet an employer’s needs, rather than telling your life story. Try to minimize your use of the word “I,” especially at the beginning of the sentences.
2. Don’t Use a Weak Opening
Many job seekers usually struggle with where to start when writing a cover letter. A weak opening such as saying ‘Please consider me for the position’, is usually lack of punch and will fail to grab the reader’s interest. A better alternative will be like ‘Your need for a top-performing sales/assistant/manager is an excellent match to my previous working experience’.
3. Don’t Omit Your Top Selling Points
A cover letter should be a sales letter that sells you as a candidate. It should be persuasive and list out the main reasons you should be considered for the position. To make your cover letter compelling, you should emphasize your top accomplishments or creating subheadings culled from the position advertised.
4. Don’t Make It Too Long
It’s important to respect the reader’s time. Long cover letters may put the readers to sleep. So, try your best to keep your cover letter short and not to exceed one page if possible.
5. Don’t Repeat Your Resume Word for Word
The content on your cover letter shouldn’t be copied and pasted from your resume. Instead of listing out your education background and working experience, a good cover letter should show your knowledage of the business, your passion for the job, and much more to impress your readers.
6. Don’t Be Vague
When replying to an advertised opening, quote the reference, job title and even comany name in your cover letter, as the people who are reviewing your profile could be reading hundreds of application for various positions on a daily base.
7. Don’t Forget to Customize
It is fine to use one letter for multiple openings if you are applying for similar positions. However, do remember to update the company’s name, the job title and addressing every time.
8. Don’t End with a Passive Note
Instead of asking the readers to call you in case of problem, try making a promise that you will will follow up with in a few days to answer any preliminary questions the readers may have.
9. Don’t Be Rude
Always remember to thank the readers for their time and consideration at the end of your cover letter. Being polite is always beneficial.
10. Don’t Forget to Sign the Letter
If you are sending your cover letter and resume via email or submitting them online, a signature isn’t necessary. However, if you are sending it in paper via post, it is proper business etiquette to sign the letter with hand-writing signature.