| When opening your envelope, email, or fax, the | | | | short and sweet. It appreciates the reader's time, |
| first thing (hopefully) the employer sees is your | | | | while being short and snappy, yet convincing. |
| cover letter. By avoiding these 8 common | | | | #5 Restate Your Resume |
| mistakes, your first impression will be positive! In | | | | Resume cover letters should not reiterate |
| these times of economic difficulty, with | | | | word-for-word, what your resume says. You |
| sometimes hundreds of applicants for a given job, | | | | don't want to reduce your résumé's effect. |
| you need every edge and advantage you can | | | | You want them to read your resume and |
| muster. | | | | discover even more wonderful things about you! |
| #1. Overuse of the "I" Word | | | | #6 Coming Across Unclear |
| The spotlight of your resume cover letters should | | | | When responding to an ad, make sure to specify |
| be directed towards how you can meet the | | | | the job title you are applying for. Make sure your |
| needs of the potential employer. Avoid giving the | | | | letter details all the ways you will meet the needs |
| perception of being self-centered by minimizing | | | | of that position. |
| the use of "I," particularly when starting | | | | #7 Don't Make This Common Boo-Boo |
| sentences. | | | | Most people have a basic resume cover letter |
| #2 A Pathetic Opening | | | | they use for applying to different positions, and |
| "How to begin" is sometimes the hardest part of | | | | revise it for each application they send in. Just |
| your cover letter. Oftentimes, this results in a | | | | don't forget to modify the name, address, |
| weak introduction, lacking any kind of 'Wow | | | | company, and etc. each time, too. In all likelihood, |
| Factor' and is unsuccessful in grabbing the | | | | Mr. Andrews at XYZ Corporation will not be |
| employer's interest. Example: | | | | amused, when he is greeted as Ms. Johnson at |
| Pathetic: Please consider me for the Medical Office | | | | the Acme Company. |
| Manager position. | | | | #8 Not Being Proactive in Your Closing |
| Wow: Your requirement for an experienced | | | | Rather than ending your resume cover letter with |
| Medical Office Manager is an ideal match up with | | | | a generic, "Hope to hear from you soon," or |
| my background, with nearly 12 years experience | | | | "please contact me at your earliest convenience," |
| as a Medical Office Manager, working for a private | | | | try something like, "I will follow up with you on |
| practice physician, and a busy, four-doctor clinic, | | | | Friday, February 26. (A date about one week |
| over that period of time. | | | | from the time you send it is about right) In the |
| #3 Skipping over Your Best Selling Attributes | | | | meantime, if you have further questions, you |
| Resume cover letters are your sales letter. You | | | | may call me at (333) 555-0000." Right now, grab |
| are the 'product' it is selling. Like your resume, it | | | | a sheet of paper and start your log: Date you |
| should be persuasive and provide the primary | | | | promised to follow-up; company contact info, etc. |
| reasons you should be called for the interview. | | | | Log every resume you send, and make sure you |
| You should stress your top accomplishments. | | | | follow-up when you said you would! This will prove |
| #4 Dragging It Out | | | | to your prospective employer that you are truly |
| Your cover letter should never be more than one | | | | interested in their position, and not just sending |
| page. Not Ever! A great resume coverletter is | | | | resumes out shotgun style. |