Like it or not, your cover letter is the first document that creates an impression about you (good or bad). Because first impressions really count, you need to take a careful approach to writing cover letters in order to avoid rejection. Here are the 10 major don’ts you need to avoid:
1. Don’t use cover letter templates, however good they may be. There are three things you must know that go against these templates: 1) they are stale & boring 2) most templates are likely to have been downloaded from internet 3) therefore, yours will be exposed as being identical to many. Use samples to get ideas on how to write your own unique letter.
2. Don’t write a lengthy first paragraph that will only bore the reader. A lengthy first paragraph also dilutes your impressive qualities and eventually weakens the entire letter – this is the last thing you want to happen.
3. Don’t exclude your Unique Selling Proposition, or USP. Remember that the cover letter is your sales letter; you should highlight your main strengths and prepare the reader psychologically to want to read further.
4. Don’t write a vague letter without mentioning specifics, such as the job title and job code/number if you are responding to an advertisement.
5. Don’t address your cover letter â??To Whom It May Concern’. It shows that you don’t care enough to do your research to find out who is receiving the resume packages.
6. Don’t use fanciful fonts. Don’t unnecessarily use capitalized or bolded words, or grandiose phrases. Don’t send the letter without nixing silly spelling or grammatical mistakes.
7. Don’t use cliché language such as “As afore mentioned, I am enclosing…” This will only irritate the recruiter. Instead use simple phrases such as, “enclosed please find my resume.”
8. Don’t include personal information like your race, sex or marital status in the cover letter. These things are against the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and as such will not impact the decision whether or not you are called for the interview.
9. Don’t use copies of the same cover letters with just the address and date lines changed to send for similar jobs. If you don’t customize the entire body, the letter may either be irrelevant or a mistake may silently make it into the final draft.
10. Don’t brag or make statements that can’t be quantified. You should be humble, yet accurate - employers these days often verify your statements for accuracy (and uncover exaggerations).
The trick with the cover letter is to capture the reader’s imagination as soon as they begin reading. This entails keeping your cover letter neat and tidy with a simple format, and avoiding common errors, such as the 10 listed above.
Does it look bad to have how much money you want to make in your resume cover letter?
Some job offers request that you provide a salary history.. what exactly do you say in that situation or how to format? Also, so many jobs that are posted now days do not put anything at all down about how much the pay range is. I have heard that you should not talk money before or during the first interview but in taking advice I went on an interview the other day that I thought would a good paying position and turned out is is $10 an hour!!! I was so bummed…. wasn't even worth my gas money!
Any advice about how to avoid things like this in the future?
Thanks
Its sometimes posted on the job listing, but if you dont know I'd call the person in HR, or whomever the contact on the listing and simply ask in advance. No harm
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You can state your salary expectations if you wish, but expect to get fewer interviews. It is in good taste to do so only when invited. Dont worry about the salary unless you are selected for the position, then state your bottom line. If they don't like it they can look for another candidate. PS. don't price yourself out of the market. Then you make zero.
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Salary should be negotiated during the interview. I agree with you that employers would save time by including a salary range when posting a position. You can provide a separate sheet of paper giving an outline of your salary/ies or you can type it in underneath the job title in your resume. I personally have never done this nor has it ever been asked of me. Salary history is usually covered in the job application itself. Your resume should be one page, one sided and your cover letter the same.
Hope this helps out!
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You should not state how much you want to make on your coverletter, or how much you made at previous jobs on your resume, unless this is requested. You should not bring up money on the first interview. I have noticed that they will tell you a bit about benefits and salary at the end of the interview. Ask them when they are planning to make a decision. That way they will tell you when they want to finish interviewing and hire, or if they are planning second interviews with top candidates. It may seem like a "waste of gas", but at least your getting interviews. I know some people looking for jobs that haven't even got many of them.
References :
http://www.quintcareers.com/interviewing-dos-donts.html
It is in poor taste to put you salary requirement in your cover letter. Your resume will more than likely end up in the trash can. If the salary is spelled out in the offer then there's no more need to belabour it. If it is not, you can find out the prevailing wages for the position your region and in that way you have an idea what the salary is. You can then decide whether or not to even ask for an interview
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