What not to do when writing a cover letter

Do you really need to write a cover letter when you apply for a new job? The answer is, Yes. Although writing a new resume and cover letter for each and every job application you make seems a tedious task, the results will be worth the trouble. Your cover letter should not be an afterthought to your resume. You must give just as much attention to your cover letter as you give to your resume. Here are some things that you must never do when writing a cover letter:

Avoid oversharing information

The cover letter is your chance to add more details to your job application and display a bit of your personality. However, it is not the place for you to share irrelevant professional or personal information. While you showcase your personality and your passion for the job, be sure to not forget the real motive of your cover letter – to show the employer that you are the best fit for the position.

Don’t brag too much

Employers generally expect you to brag about yourself in the cover letter. The whole purpose of your cover letter is to compel the employer to give you a chance for an interview because you are the best person for the job. However, you need to be strategic about how you brag about your qualifications on the cover letter. Calling yourself the “world’s best marketing manager,” on the cover letter without giving solid proof of your marketing prowess is the wrong move. It is okay to make bold statements on your cover letter as long as you can back them up with solid results.

Avoid making demands on the cover letter

Your cover letter must be all about what you can offer the employer, not the other way around. Besides, demanding employment benefits before you land the job is quite a presumptuous act that will not gain you any points in the employer’s mind. The same goes for salary negotiations. All talks about your salary can wait until after the job interview stage. Right now, you should focus on writing a cover letter that addresses how you can make the employer’s business better.

Don’t forget to follow the employer’s directions

Take a good look at the job ad again before you submit your resume or cover letter. Employers generally list instructions for submitting documents for job applications within the job posting. If the employer has requested both your cover letter and resume to be submitted in .doc format, follow that instruction. Many candidates make the mistake of uploading PDF copies of their job applications to employers, fearing that the formatting of the document will get upset if they use a Word file. However, employers list the type of document that is accepted by their Applicant Tracking System in the instructions. If you submit your documents in a different file type, there is a chance that they will get rejected.