The Do's and Don'ts of a Covering Letter
An effective covering letter is one of the ways in which you can set yourself apart from the others. Recruiters expect to see a letter and resume that directly responds to the job requirements cited in their job posting.
Let us have a brief on a series of do's and don'ts for the perfect covering letter:
Do's
Tailor your cover letter to the company and the job in question.
Use straight sentences, keeping to the point.
Write the covering letter based on the resume.
Mention which position you are looking for and what you are good at.
Write in your own style.
Request for an interview and follow up.
Indicate how much you know about the company and why you're a good match for employment.
Proof read twice before sending.
Don'ts
Do not copy someone else's cover letter.
Avoid long, cumbersome and poetic sentences.
Do not address the letter to the company, instead address to the hiring manager.
Never fudge information that can be easily find on your resume.
Do not go beyond one page.
Do not resort to clichés, exaggerations, false flattery or unwanted humour.
Do not use a sexist salutation, such as ”˜Gentlemen' when answering a blind ad.
Writing a tailored cover letter can significantly improve the quality of your application and chances of shortlisting for an interview. A good cover letter comes handy when you applying jobs without internal referrals. Hence, do pay attention on your cover as even the slightest of things may affect the recruiter's mind. As always the key is to be short and sweet.
About the Author
ResumeLabs is a company founded with a mission to help you craft your own stories.
It is all about you, as much as it is about us. The company specializes in Individual Branding and Positioning of working professionals. We write profiles and do Online Identity Management for individuals and businesses.
Submitted on: 2016-06-24 00:02:43