How many times have you replied to a job ad via e-mail by shooting them a copy of your resume and cover letter? I’m going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you’ve been searching for any significant length of time. Here are some of the most notorious cover letter mistakes we’ve seen—and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed.
Attaching the cover letter to the e-mail.
What’s wrong with that, you ask? Most hiring managers aren’t going to open the cover letter and read it. They’ll go straight to the resume instead. Want to ensure your cover letter gets read? Copy and paste it into the body of the e-mail. Whoever received the e-mail will be much more likely to read it if it’s already right there in front of their face.
Writing your whole life story in the body of the e-mail.
Don’t go overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won’t be willing to invest a lot of time reading your e-mail. Keep it short and to the point.
Providing information not relevant to the position.
Here is a great example. When I want to bring an additional resume/cover letter writer on staff, I’m not looking for someone with technical writing expertise, article writing skills, or journalism savvy. Those forms of writing aren’t relevant to what we do here. I want a writer who has extensive expertise and certification in resume writing. If someone goes on and on in their cover letter (or in the body of the e-mail) about all their other writing experience, they will lose my interest. Instead, I want them to tell me about their most relevant experience as it relates to my needs. I want them to tell me about any resume writing experience they have. Give the hiring manager a brief overview of the most relevant experience you have, appropriate to the position they are trying to fill. This will pique their interest—rather than lose it.
Excluding information they’ve specifically asked you to include.
Depending on the position, the employer may ask you to submit a sample of your work, portfolio, hours of availability, or even salary requirements. Whatever it is they’ve asked you to include, make sure you include it in your cover letter. If not, you will most certainly be removed from consideration for failing to follow instructions. Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job ad not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from experience because 9 out of 10 applicants will fail to address every stipulation the employer has listed. It happens to us all the time.
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Not using a cover letter at all.
We’ve received e-mails from applicants, and the body of the e-mail provides either little or no information whatsoever. Some simply state, “Here is my resume for your review.” You are selling yourself short by not including at least a brief introduction. Especially if the employer outlines specific requirements. Take the time to write, “I see you need someone with availability to work nights and weekends; I would enjoy working these hours and am available to do so.” Or, “I have included a sample of my work for your consideration along with my resume. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Forgetting to tell them why you’re the best fit.
Let me tell you about one of THE BEST cover letters I’ve ever seen: I could tell this person put effort into it—and she took the time to specifically and meticulously review our job requirements. She scrutinized our requirements and detailed in her cover letter how she had experience meeting those needs. It was applicable, relevant, and attention getting. It was probably one of the only cover letters that actually made us want to read the corresponding resume.
Using a boring closing statement.
Instead of using the same old boring line, spice it up a bit. One of the more daring cover letter closings I have read closed with, “Call today, don’t delay.” I applauded her boldness and had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs.
What I am trying to get you to see is boring the hiring manager with details not relevant to the opening—or not making the most of the space and time you’re getting is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes—but in the end, if you get the interview, won’t it be worth it?
[This article was originally posted on an earlier date]
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.
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11 Comments
Don’t forget to sign your letter not only with your name, but a link to your social media sites. Assuming you haven’t used poor judgement in what you tweeted or posted, you may make a wonderful first impression if you have properly branded yourself to be respectable (or even an expert in your field).
Many employers use social media to check you out ahead of time. Know what is out there, clean up what isn’t flattering, and then make it easy for them to check you out.
Thank you for sharing this information..
John..
There is a strong temptation in today’s highly competitive job market to go for gimmicks to make one’s resume stand out from the crowded field. The temptation is particularly strong after a number of rejections.
using cover is a must, written one better than an email however.
using cover is a must, written one better than an email however.
I think one other mistake people make when writing their cover letter is they forget that the letter is supposed to complement their resume instead of echo what is on it. I like your idea about using a clever closing line, it should be a standard in any compelling cover letter. Plus it shows a bit of your personality, as there are employers who value EQ as much as IQ.
Looking forward to your next installment. :)
Karen, The Resume Chick
Interesting and informative are the two adjitives that come to mind after reading your article. However, the actual topic was was promoting yourself using good bait to catch the attention of the hiring manager in either a cover letter or in the body of your emailed resume.
Interesting and informative are the two adjitives that come to mind after reading your article. However, the actual topic was was promoting yourself using good bait to catch the attention of the hiring manager in either a cover letter or in the body of your emailed resume.
Great article, it addressed some good points
Thanks for the really informative article! this is very important for freelancers really. I, personally, like this article very much!
There is a strong temptation in today's highly competitive job market to go for gimmicks to make one's resume stand out from the crowded field. The temptation is particularly strong after a number of rejections.
Avoid gimmickry like the plague.
There are rare occasions when a really creative tactic works, but most of them will backfire and make a resume stand out for all the wrong reasons. Still some applicants–especially entry and mid-level professionals– resort to outlandish devices.
“It's really disheartening when you send your resumes out and get nothing in return,” says Cynthia Shapiro, a career coach for those searching for jobs. “It just makes people feel like they have to do something crazy to get noticed.”
Here are some examples of the more off-the-wall gimmicks cited in a recent Wall Street Journal article.
A junior marketing professional attempted to send his resume by homing pigeon. The bird never returned.
In another instance, a resume was cut into pieces and enclosed in a Russian stacking doll.
An electronic key chain and note were attached to a resume, saying, “The only noise you'll hear out of me are the ones generated by this letter.”
A candidate thought it was a good idea to bring a Rubik Cube to an interview to demonstrate problem-solving skills.
A job hunter dressed as a gorilla, accompanied by balloons, hand delivered his resume with a song explaining his qualifications. (In fact, personal delivery of resumes is fairly common, but they usually fail because they convey a sense of desperation.)
Some resumes include jokes, nutty photographs, “cute” gifts, or free tickets to ball games.
Slang or funky language and spelling are no-nos, as are industry and professional jargon. So are shorthand symbols and decorative symbols in emails.
Dale Winston, CEO of Battalia Winston International, an executive search firm once received a resume with two Pepto-Bismol tablets enclosed along with a note that read: “I'm one candidate that won't nauseate you. However, since I don't know how the rest of your day is going, accept some relief, compliments of me.”
Job seekers sometimes will send their cover letter inside an unsealed envelope without a resume. The idea is to make it appear the resume fell out with the idea that the recruiter will reply by asking for a resume.
However, there are rare instances when creative tactics to grab attention are in order, such as advertising, public relations and marketing. But good taste as to subject matter is always required. Also, avoid costly gimmicks lest you appear to be attempting to bribe the recruiter.
It is far better, of course, to make one's cover letter and resume stand out from the crowd by simple, straightforward communications that present qualifications that “fit” the position.
Appropriate follow-ups to keep the application in the recruiter's mind are also highly desirable. The rules for cover letters and resumes also apply for notes that express appreciation for the opportunity to interview and state positive interest in the opportunity.
Where once snail mail was required, thank you notes via email are now acceptable, even preferred. Make messages concise and personalized. No “smiley faces.” Texting, Facebook and MySpace are not to be used.
After all is said and done, it's really very simple. Jobs go to candidates who do the best job in convincing the recruiter that he or she can serve the needs of the employer, not who can be cleverest with gimmickry.
I wish you career success.
Ramon Greenwood, The Career Coach, Common Sense At Work