How to Avoid the Four Most Common Cover Letter Blunders

by Lillie Ammann
Freelance writer who has helped countless job-seekers craft a winning cover letter

You've worked on your resume for hours. You've followed a sample and filled in all your education and experience. You've got a good work history, and you're a great employee.

Then why aren't you getting called for interviews? Are prospective employers even reading what you've written? What are you doing wrong?

Chances are it's your cover letter...

The truth is, no matter how great your resume is, if you don't have an equally great cover letter, your resume won't get read.

Think of it as a sales letter for your resume. You have to grab the employer's attention - and grab it in the first sentence - or your resume could end up in the dead file.

Avoid these four most common mistakes that send resumes to the dead file:

Blunder #1: Not sending the cover letter to the right person

How to avoid: Address the letter to a specific person. If you're responding to an ad that doesn't include a name, call the company and ask who is responsible for hiring for the position.

Only in the case of a true blind ad, where there is no identifying information at all - not even a company name - should you send a cover letter to "Dear Sir or Madam."

Blunder #2: Applying to a company that you obviously know nothing about

How to avoid: In the opening paragraph, show some knowledge of the company and why you're the best person to work for it.

If you aren't already familiar with the business, do some research. If you don't care enough about the company to find out what they do and how your experience fits, you aren't likely to make a good impression.

Example: "I have read several articles in the industry trade journals about XYZ Company's outstanding quality control program. My six years' experience in quality assurance and my commitment to excellence make me a good fit for the position of quality control technician."

Blunder #3: Sending a one-size-fits-all cover letter

How to avoid: In the middle paragraph(s), give a few highlights of any experience you have that relates directly to the specific job. Each cover letter you send should be customized to emphasize your best qualifications for the particular opening. Describe how you can help the employer accomplish the goals he wants to accomplish through the position he is filling.

Example: "My experience includes four years as the administrative assistant to the CEO of an insurance agency and two years as the administrative assistant to the VP Marketing of a large corporation. In both of those positions, I made travel arrangements, set up meetings,coordinated schedules with other staff members, and kept the offices running smoothly. My bosses depended on me to handle all the details of their daily activities so they could focus on their management responsibilities, just as DEF Corporation requires in the job being advertised."

Blunder 4: Ending the letter weakly

How to avoid: In the closing paragraph, thank the employer for his consideration and ask for further contact or an interview (if appropriate depending on the location of the job). Be specific about how and when he can contact you.

Example: "Thank you for your consideration. I would like to visit with you to see how my experience can help XYZ Company meet its goals. You can contact me by telephone at 123-4567 or e-mail me at yourname@isp.com to schedule an appointment. I am available to start immediately."

The bottom line is that the cover letter is not just an afterthought to go along with your resume. It's the sales letter that may well determine whether your resume gets read and whether you get hired.

Avoid these four common mistakes, and you'll be on your way to cover letter success!