5 Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to your job search, the cover letter plays an important part of it. But getting it right can be a challenge, especially if you struggle with writing. The good news is that you don’t have to be the next Ernest Hemingway if you want to craft a cover letter that gets positive results. Instead, Murray Resources, one of Houston, TX’s top employment agencies, has the information you need to avoid some common cover letter mistakes:

Reusing information that’s on your resume.

Your cover letter should complement your resume. It shouldn’t be an exact replica of it. So don’t regurgitate all that’s on your resume in your cover letter. Instead, highlight new areas, talk about why a company should hire you, and discuss why you’re so interested in the position. It should be more of a story and less of an overview of your career history like your resume.

Sending in the same resume for every job.

When hiring managers receive a resume, they expect it to talk specifically about their company, their job opening and what makes you a fit for it. You can’t do that if every cover letter you submit is the same for all employers. That’s why tailoring your cover letter to each opening is so important. When you do, you can dig into the most relevant details about your background and abilities that make you an excellent match for the job.

Touching on soft skills, not technical ones.

Sure, you might be an excellent communicator or collaborator, a reliable employee and a diligent worker. But don’t just focus on your soft skills when you’re writing a cover letter. Hiring managers want to know whether you can do the job and the hard skills you have will give them an indication. Go a step further and give specific examples of how your skills have added value to or benefited past employers.

Sending in a long cover letter.

Hiring managers don’t want to read a three-page cover letter. So keep yours down to a page and edit it if you need to pare it down. Keep in mind that hiring managers are busy and only have a short amount of time to scan resumes and cover letters. You want to ensure your letter clearly and succinctly sets you apart from other candidates.

Writing about unrelated information.

Your cover letter needs to convey to the hiring manager that you have the right abilities for the job and you’d be a good fit. There’s limited space to do that in, which is why it’s so important to focus on these points and not talk about unrelated ones. So don’t ramble or include unnecessary information. Keep it tight and targeted, highlighting only those details that are your best assets and strengths.

Need more help with your cover letter, resume or job search?

Call in Murray Resources, one of Houston, TX’s top employment agencies. We can work with you to learn about your skills, accomplishments and career goals, all so we can connect with rewarding opportunities with today’s top employers. Contact us today to learn more.