Top Tips On Writing A Covering Letter
A
cover letter usually becomes your ticket to a job interview if you
prepare it the right way. It works as a summary of sorts that hiring
managers look into first before delving into your job resume. The cover
letter can help create the type of impression that you wish to convey to
hiring managers about yourself. Here are some of the more important
tips that you should know about when writing a cover letter.
Do not misspell the company name or contact name.
One common mistake that people make when writing a cover letter is
proofreading it properly. Although at rare times, certain grammatical
errors may be forgiven, misspelling the company name on your cover
letter may be the biggest spelling error you can ever make on your cover
letter. The same goes when you do not spell the name of the person or
hiring manager it is addressed to. People reviewing your cover letter
may easily see this. It can be an injustice to your future employer by
spelling their company name wrong on your cover letter. Try to proofread
what you have written several times to avoid this simple but costly
mistake.
Avoid exaggerated or unfounded compliments.
While you might think that it will help you heaping praises on a
future employer on your cover letter, think again. Certain praises that
are exaggerated and do not really paint a real picture of the company
you are applying for can work against you. Heaping compliments that are
not really true will sometimes tell the hiring manager that you do not
know what you are talking about. It is like telling your date that she
has beautiful blond hair when in fact she has black hair. The next time
you try to insert praises or compliments on your cover letter, make sure
that it is true and factual.
Use simple words to describe your qualifications.
Some applicants tend to impress employers by using complicated words
on their cover letter especially when it comes to describing their
qualifications. But sometimes, using impressive sounding words can
sometimes cause more confusion than clarity. Try to be more exact and
simple when you are trying to describe your qualifications on your cover
letter. Try to avoid using bigger words when you can say the same thing
with a simpler one.
Do not highlight skills unrelated to the job.
Another mistake that many job seekers make when preparing a cover
letter is by listing all their skills and qualifications on it, even
those that do not really relate to the job they are applying for. The
reason why employers read the cover letter is to determine if you are
the right person with the right qualifications for the job. Adding in
qualifications totally useless in a job being applied for will only
cause confusion in the minds of the hiring manager as to who or what you
really are. So remember this tip- if a skill or qualification is not
what the job looks for, try not to include it on your cover letter.
Proofread your cover letter very carefully.
This is perhaps the most overlooked tip when it comes to preparing a
cover letter. Some people are just that confident with their writing
skills that they pass up on reviewing what they wrote. Many things can
go wrong in a cover letter that you never proofread. Aside from spelling
and grammar mistakes, people can overlook updating contact information
such as a phone number, address or other necessary personal information.
Proofreading is not meant to be a burden. It is meant to help you come
up with the best cover letter you can make. So try not to avoid doing it
several times just because you find it a bit of a chore.
