7 Cover Letter Mistakes You Make When Applying Via E-mail

Posted by in Career Advice


How many times have you replied to a job ad via e-mail by shooting them a copy of your resume and cover letter? I’m going to venture a guess and say at least 20 (but more likely hundreds of times) if you’ve been searching for any significant length of time. Here are some of the most notorious mistakes we’ve seen—and what you can do to greatly improve your chances of being noticed. Attaching the cover letter to the e-mail. What’s wrong with that, you ask? Most hiring managers aren’t going to open the cover letter and read it. They’ll go straight to the resume instead. Want to ensure your cover letter gets read? Copy and paste it into the body of the e-mail. Whoever received the e-mail will be much more likely to read it if it’s already right there in front of their face. Writing your whole life story in the body of the e-mail. Don’t go overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won’t be willing to invest a lot of time reading your e-mail. Keep it short and to the point. Providing information that is not relevant to the position. Here is a great example. When I want to bring an additional resume/cover letter writer on staff, I’m not looking for someone with technical writing expertise, article writing skills, or journalism savvy. Those forms of writing aren’t relevant to what we do here. I want a writer who has extensive expertise and certification in resume writing. If someone goes on and on in their cover letter (or in the body of the e-mail) about all their other writing experience, they will lose my interest. Instead, I want them to tell me about their most relevant experience as it relates to my needs. I want them to tell me about any resume writing experience they have. Give the hiring manager a brief overview of the most relevant experience you have, appropriate to the position they are trying to fill. This will pique their interest—rather than lose it. Excluding information they’ve specifically asked you to include. Depending on the position, the employer may ask you to submit a sample of your work, portfolio, hours of availability, or even salary requirements. Whatever it is they’ve asked you to include, make sure you include it in your cover letter. If not, you will most certainly be removed from consideration for failing to follow instructions. Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job ad not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from experience because 9 out of 10 applicants will fail to address every stipulation the employer has listed. It happens to us all the time. Not using a cover letter at all. We’ve received e-mails from applicants, and the body of the e-mail provides either little or no information whatsoever. Some simply state, “Here is my resume for your review.” You are selling yourself short by not including at least a brief introduction. Especially if the employer outlines specific requirements. Take the time to write, “I see you need someone with availability to work nights and weekends; I would enjoy working these hours and am available to do so.” Or, “I have included a sample of my work for your consideration along with my resume. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.” Forgetting to tell them why you’re the best fit. Let me tell you about one of THE BEST cover letters I’ve ever seen: I could tell this person put effort into it—and she took the time to specifically and meticulously review our job requirements. She scrutinized our requirements and detailed in her cover letter how she had experience meeting those needs. It was applicable, relevant, and attention getting. It was probably one of the only cover letters that actually made us want to read the corresponding resume. Using a boring closing statement. Instead of using the same old boring line, spice it up a bit. One of the more daring cover letter closings I have read closed with, “Call today, don’t delay.” I applauded her boldness and had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs. What I am trying to get you to see is that boring the hiring manager with details not relevant to the opening—or not making the most of the space and time you’re getting is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes—but in the end, if you get the interview, won’t it be worth it?
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  • Cash
    Cash
    Great thinking!
  • Coralyn
    Coralyn
    Great post!
  • Derex
    Derex
    Good to see a talent at work.
  • Giggles
    Giggles
    Thanks for sharing.
  • Honney
    Honney
    Great common sense here. Wish I’d thought of that.
  • Myra Sieben
    Myra Sieben
    Closing paragraphs, like introductory ones can be very boring and predictable.  Not that I've ever used this line or ever will, I have been TEMPTED to end with a massaged line from The LION KING, "Hire me and you'll never go hungry again!"
  • Adilia David
    Adilia David
    Especially in these times we need as much input on how to relate to a employer via the web. I see the same people and the same job positions for months and I always wonder if this web hiring, sending resumes and asking for job through the internet is even working at all!!
  • Afolabi Adewonuola Ade
    Afolabi Adewonuola Ade
    I must comment on your effort in taking out of your limited time to produce this note for us,I really appreciate u for the good job well done.

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