Cover Letter Mistakes 5 Words and Phrases to Delete from Your Cover Letter

Cover Letter Mistakes 5 Words and Phrases to Delete from Your Cover Letter Cover letters are not dead, and cover letter mistakes can still cost you a job to someone who does a better job in their letter. One easy way to write a strong cover letter is simply to avoid certain overused and ineffective words. Heres why you dont want to use 5 of these too-common words and phrases, and what some alternatives might be. Read till the end. I saved the best for last. 5 Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid 1)   Using the word “hope.” Examples I hope to hear from you soon. OR I hope to be able to contribute my skills to ABC company. Why You Should Avoid this Cover Letter Mistake Hope springs eternal.  The company doesn’t care about your hopes and dreams.  They care about what you can do for them. Alternatives to Hope I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications. OR My ability to take clear, decisive action will allow me to make an impact at ABC company from day one. OK, now we’re talking! 2)   Saying you want to improve or hone your skills. Example I am excited to hone my programming skills at ABC company. Why You Should Avoid It Companies do not hire you in order to train you. They want someone who will make a contribution. Just like “Objective” statements stating what you want are no longer desirable on resumes, don’t tell a company in a cover letter what you want to get from them. Alternative to Avoid this Cover Letter Mistake I look forward to contributing my programming skills to the efforts of ABC company to make the web accessible to everyone. (No neediness here. So much better.) 3)   Saying you are “drawn” to a company. Example I am drawn to ABC company because of its outstanding reputation and high-quality service. Why You Should Avoid It You get drawn to a person across a crowded room.  Companies don’t care to hear that you are drawn to them.  And a bonus tip:  companies with outstanding reputations don’t need to be told that you want to work there because of their outstanding reputations. Who wouldn’t be drawn to those companies? Alternative for Drawn The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer service. (That’s so much better, isn’t it?) 4)   Talking about how you “feel.” Example I feel the relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer service. Why You Should Avoid It Can you see how adding “I feel” at the beginning of this sentence killed it completely?  Tell a psychologist how you feel.  Tell a company what you can do for them.  If you must, use the word “believe” instead of “feel.”  But see if you can avoid this type of language altogether. Alternative for Feel The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer service. 5)   Referring to “Your company.” The worst possible cover letter mistake is to write a generic cover letter. Never, ever, write a cover letter where you only refer to the name of the company when you say “I’m applying for a the position of X at ABC Company.” Use the name of the company multiple times throughout the letter. Don’t just use the name of the company. Tell them why you want to work specifically for them. Speak to their mission and values. Do you know someone who worked there? Have you used their products for 20 years? Don’t be afraid to get personal. That human touch could be the thing that gets you the job. Examples My father and greatest insurance mentor, J.B. Krankshaw, who was mentored by ABC Insurance founder L.B.J, had a phenomenal 40+-year record as an ABC Insurance agent. In my mind, Jimmy’s has differentiated itself, prompting me to become a full-fledged, app-carrying brand fan. I was one of their first consumers when they first opened in my town, and last year, I enthusiastically helped the XYZ Digital Marketing team win the Jimmy’s competition. Take these five tips to heart when you’re writing your next cover letter and you’ll avoid some common cover letter mistakes. Not only that, but I promise you that more creative and powerful language will show up, making your cover letter more effective than you ever thought it could be. Did you try it?   Share examples in the comments please! Are you struggling to craft a creatively worded cover letter that gets attention? Wed love to help! The Essay Expert offers entry-level, mid-level, and executive-level cover letter writing services.