Don’t Make These Cover Letter Mistakes

A job application often says to include a cover letter, which is the first thing a possible employer sees, so avoiding mistakes is important. Here is a list of the most common mistakes made when writing a cover letter.

Didn’t include a cover letter.

If an application asks for a cover letter, you want to show you can follow directions. By not including a cover letter the employer could think that you can’t follow instructions. Also, by not including a cover letter, you waste a chance to share valuable examples of your skills that relate to the position.

Didn’t check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

You want to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes at all costs. Having a different person proof read your cover letter is always a great idea. You could also send a practice cover letter to a mentor to get their opinion before you use it. If you don't have a proof reader, read the letter aloud like you were reading it to an audience. Often times this helps you catch wording that may be awkward or mistakes you may have missed.

Didn’t customize the letter.

When writing your cover letter you want to catch the reader’s attention. You want to make your letter stand out and market your skills and expertise. If a cover letter sounds basic and doesn’t mention specific things from the job posting, the reader may think you don’t care. Having specific skills and keywords listed in your letter can also help you to be selected if the company is using a computer program to review applications. Stick to a one page cover letter.  Cover the high points and close the letter and let the reader know you look forward to sharing more with them soon.

Didn’t focus on yourself.

Let the company know you can solve problems and benefit them by being a part of their team. Remember to point out the job requirements that you are good at, not the things that you cannot do. Always write with a positive attitude. Avoid negative words all together. People that review cover letters and resumes want to see a can-do attitude instead of what you didn’t like or can’t do. 

Resources to use to get started.

Do you need help writing the perfect cover letter? Illinois workNet has some resources for you! 

• Read the article “How to Write a Cover Letter.”
  
• Use the Illinois workNet Resume Builder Tool to Write Your Cover Letter and Prepare Your Resume.
  
• Need to find in-person help near you? Use the Illinois workNet Service Finder here.

Don’t Make These Cover Letter Mistakes by Illinois workNet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.