By Tabitha Makumi,
What does an effective cover letter do for you? Allow me to answer that for you… If it’s effective enough, it will explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the employer’s self-interest).
But even with that knowledge available in numerous written articles how many people follow that exceptional rule? A lot of people mess up and even though they are the most qualified candidates for a particular job, they do not end up getting that job simply because the cover letter does not bring out who they really are and what they can do.
Let’s take a look at some of the stupid mistakes which portray you as a job seeker in a bad light.
1.Saying “I” or “me” a thousand times.
I am an ambitious undergraduate at….
I have always felt that my time should be spent wisely, so I continuously challenge myself….
I want to demonstrate that I am a hard worker…..
I am proficient in several programming languages, and I can pick up a new one very quickly….
Do you do this? It’s about time you stopped it. Make the cover letter
about the employer, not about you. Discuss how you can meet company
needs and help solve its problems.
2. Discussing far too many past failures from your last job
You don’t have to highlight or emphasize imperfections and disappointments with your past employers, coworkers, or economic conditions.
Discussing what you have learned from positive and not-so-positive experiences in an interview can be meaningful to a hiring manager, but delete mention of failures from the cover letter.
Talk about experience and successes relevant to the qualifications and accountabilities of desired positions.
3. Using ‘I am a hard worker/ ambitious’ kind of sentences
Admit it, you do this all the time. Instead of writing how hardworking you really are, demonstrate how desirable traits manifested themselves in the workplace.
For example, state that you headed a team that routinely met tight deadlines for product launches; collaborated with contractors and vendors in remote locations worldwide, overcoming cultural and language barriers; or implemented new methods of delivering customer service at costs well below industry standards.
Now that demonstrates how hardworking you really are.
4. Not knowing who you are addressing
Addressing your cover letter “To Whom It May Concern” is an example of what not to do.
Get the name of the hiring manager or recruiter to personalize each letter. Likewise, use the company’s name and identifying details (location, industry, etc.) rather than referencing “the company”
If you are so interested in the job, you would know the details.
5. Wasting space on irrelevant experience.
Remember that a cover letter should be short but if you chose to mention a collection of odd skills or jobs that do not tie in with the job you are applying for, it is going to be quite lengthy.
You’ll just come across as uninformed about the reality of the job you’re applying for, and reaching for material to fill space with. After all, if you had the applicable experience, you wouldn’t need to waste time talking about your juggling talents, would you?
Sometimes, it’s the little things that can cost a job seeker an interview. A typo or a grammatical error in a letter, a resume or in a job application can be enough to knock you out of contention for a job.
If you know what to watch for, it’s easy to avoid some of the mistakes that are made most frequently by candidates for employment.
What does an effective cover letter do for you? Allow me to answer that for you… If it’s effective enough, it will explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the employer’s self-interest).
But even with that knowledge available in numerous written articles how many people follow that exceptional rule? A lot of people mess up and even though they are the most qualified candidates for a particular job, they do not end up getting that job simply because the cover letter does not bring out who they really are and what they can do.
Let’s take a look at some of the stupid mistakes which portray you as a job seeker in a bad light.
1.Saying “I” or “me” a thousand times.
I am an ambitious undergraduate at….
I have always felt that my time should be spent wisely, so I continuously challenge myself….
I want to demonstrate that I am a hard worker…..
I am proficient in several programming languages, and I can pick up a new one very quickly….
Writing an effective cover letter
2. Discussing far too many past failures from your last job
You don’t have to highlight or emphasize imperfections and disappointments with your past employers, coworkers, or economic conditions.
Discussing what you have learned from positive and not-so-positive experiences in an interview can be meaningful to a hiring manager, but delete mention of failures from the cover letter.
Talk about experience and successes relevant to the qualifications and accountabilities of desired positions.
3. Using ‘I am a hard worker/ ambitious’ kind of sentences
Admit it, you do this all the time. Instead of writing how hardworking you really are, demonstrate how desirable traits manifested themselves in the workplace.
For example, state that you headed a team that routinely met tight deadlines for product launches; collaborated with contractors and vendors in remote locations worldwide, overcoming cultural and language barriers; or implemented new methods of delivering customer service at costs well below industry standards.
Now that demonstrates how hardworking you really are.
4. Not knowing who you are addressing
Addressing your cover letter “To Whom It May Concern” is an example of what not to do.
Get the name of the hiring manager or recruiter to personalize each letter. Likewise, use the company’s name and identifying details (location, industry, etc.) rather than referencing “the company”
If you are so interested in the job, you would know the details.
5. Wasting space on irrelevant experience.
Remember that a cover letter should be short but if you chose to mention a collection of odd skills or jobs that do not tie in with the job you are applying for, it is going to be quite lengthy.
You’ll just come across as uninformed about the reality of the job you’re applying for, and reaching for material to fill space with. After all, if you had the applicable experience, you wouldn’t need to waste time talking about your juggling talents, would you?
Sometimes, it’s the little things that can cost a job seeker an interview. A typo or a grammatical error in a letter, a resume or in a job application can be enough to knock you out of contention for a job.
If you know what to watch for, it’s easy to avoid some of the mistakes that are made most frequently by candidates for employment.
Most people in their CVs do not highlight their good qualities. The best help they can get are from a professional CV writing services company. CV Writing Service UK
ReplyDelete