Often your cover letter is the only chance you get to convince an employer to review the rest of your application, and place you in the “yes” pile for an interview. But writing an effective cover letter isn’t easy, and many otherwise qualified candidates fall short. So you don't become that candidate, I encourage you to avoid making the following common mistakes.
Saying nothing about yourself.
Many job applicants don’t take full advantage of their cover letter to showcase who they are. Too many cover letters don’t actually say anything about the writer, and are instead full of generalities and platitudes that don’t leave the reader wanting to find out more. Don’t write your cover letter in a vague manner, that doesn’t reflect what you have to offer. You need to know enough about yourself, and why you’re applying, to be able to remove meaningless language, platitudes, and expressions that take up space, but don’t actually say anything of substance.
Focusing only on why you'd love to work there.
You want to make it clear why you’re interested in working for a particular employer. However, don’t spend too much time explaining what you hope to get out of the opportunity, or how working for the employer will improve your own career. The employer isn’t hiring because they want to help you. Instead, they’re hiring because they need help. The focus of your cover letter should be to demonstrate what you have to offer them.
Not writing for your audience.
A cover letter is an opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills. Good communicators know their audience, and write for that audience. When writing your cover letter, write in a way that communicates that you understand the reader, the employer, and the position you’re applying for. Consider who will be reviewing your application, and how you can make reading your cover letter easier for them. Don’t try to cram too much into your cover letter. Use normal sized font, and leave white space. Understand what they’re looking for. Communicate those things about yourself that make you the right candidate for the position.
Regurgitating what's already in your resume.
If you simply repeat what you already wrote in your resume, you’ve lost an opportunity to illustrate how you stand out from other applicants. You will undoubtedly mention some of the experience you outline in your resume, but your cover letter is more than a repetition of your resume. By its very nature, your resume is more general in nature. Your cover letter allows you to focus on the employer you’re applying to, and the job you’re applying for.
Assuming they'll read your full application package.
If there is something you’d like to highlight or explain, don’t assume that the reader will continue to read past your cover letter, and find it. If you haven’t hooked them in your cover letter, they probably won’t spend time to dig further. If there’s something that makes you stand out from other applicants that you’re hoping they'll discover in your resume or other application materials, make sure you highlight it up front.
A good cover letter takes time and effort. It requires an understanding of the position, what the employer is looking for, what you have to offer, and how to effectively communicate all of these elements. Getting it right is time well spent. In the job application process, it really is true: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.