In most situations, long before
an employer sees your résumé or meets you in person, they begin forming an
impression about you from your cover letter.
A Good Cover letter starts to set the tone for
a good next step. Not many employers will give you a second chance if you leave them with a bad first impression.
Following are the mistakes to avoid in a "Cover
Letter " :
| Don't Address the letter
and resume to the wrong Department. Get the proper address to send the
resume.
Don't forget to say which position you
are applying for. Many companies advertise more than one position at a time.
Don't address the letter "Dear Sirs".
The person reading your letter may be a woman who won't be impressed with
this salutation. Instead, find out the name of the person who will be
reviewing your résumé by contacting the company's human resources
department, or address your letter "Attention: Human Resources Department"
if they won't give you a name.
|
|
Don't send a
cover letter that has not been thoroughly proofread.
Typographical and grammatical errors create a poor impression.
Don't be vague in what you
claim. The employer may see that as an effort to hide or over exaggerate
facts. Be precise.
|
Don't start with what you want. Focus instead on what value you can
bring to the employer, such as increasing revenues or cutting costs.
Don't appear desperate. Avoid comments
such as "I've already sent out a bunch of résumés without much luck."
Employers may wonder if there's a good reason why no one else has hired you.
Don't challenge them to hire you. Employers will be turned off if you
say something like "It's your loss if you don't hire me." Instead, show
them, with examples of your accomplishments, why you would be an asset to
their company. |
|
Remember, to leave a good impression, treat your cover letter as if it were
the first meeting with your potential employer. So, make your
cover letter
count, even if you have some leftover lunch stuck between your teeth while
you are writing it. |
