5 Ways Your Cover Letter Is Not Getting you Jobs

Source: Monster

A Cover Letter may just be the scariest thing to write, if it’s not the CV, and it is equally important in securing a job with top companies. This is because the employer will be more impressed by someone who makes a good case of why they want to work with the company.

So, Cover Letter mistakes are failing you in the job application?

Here are five mistakes you may want to avoid going on forward to have a better chance of landing the interview.

1. Not sending a Cover letter at all

The CV is data, but the cover letter is you. It’s your voice, and it highlights aspects of your career that might otherwise get lost in the CV.

A good cover letter allows you to show very quickly why you’re the right person for the job, explain special circumstances like gaps in employment, and mention any personal references you might have.

The only time you shouldn’t send one is if a company asks you not to. If you do, they’ll think you don’t know how to follow instructions.

Most HR experts suggest including the cover letter in the body of an email as well as an attachment to ensure that it will be read.

2. Addressing your letter to no one

Job postings may not always include the names of hiring managers, but you should always go the extra mile and try to find them.

Not using a real name may imply that you’re not very resourceful. All it takes is a few minutes of online snooping or a few calls to the company’s HR department to find a name and be more direct in your salutation.

Be very careful when you’re doing this so you do not get the name wrong, but if all fails, the Dear Sir/Madam won’t be the deal breaker.

3. Doing an obvious copy and paste

Sure, it’s exhausting to personalize each and every cover letter. But that’s what you have to do if you want to get hired.Generic cover letters send a message that you’re not that interested in the position.

If you’re having a hard time, list the job description on one side of a page and mark where your qualifications match the job. That’s a great place to start for a short and simple cover letter.

4. Putting your reader to sleep

Without writing a novel, try to say something personal to make your letter stand out. If you’re applying to work at a company that makes running shoes, and your first pair of special shoes came from them, mention it.

When in doubt, think of your cover letter as your selling document. It’s your one chance to “hook” the reader before they move on to a vast pile of applicants after you. The cover letter creates the first impression of you.

So worry less about sounding like everyone else, and take the opportunity to show who you are and why you’re the right person for the job.

5. Forgetting to proofread

You’d be surprised how many of the cover letters that get to the HR department or recruitment firms are filled with simple typos and spelling or grammatical errors.

Experts say this is the kind of thing that can get a perfectly decent candidate thrown into the “reject” pile, since it shows the person doesn’t exhibit a high standard for his or her own work.

Always proofread your CV and cover letter multiple times and have your friends or family members have a read through before clicking on the “send” or “apply” button.

These few tips might keep you in the game and get you one step closer to landing your next great job.