Writing a Resume Cover Letter - 10 Things to Avoid

One of the uses of a cover letter is to capture the imagination of a reader once they set their eyes on it. It creates an impression of you and is therefore important to choose a careful approach on its writing and design. The trick is having a neat and tidy format free from common errors discussed below.
1.    Cover letter templates shouldn’t be used; they are usual and overused and therefore may never create an impact compared to others. Since most of them are downloaded, there is no guarantee of uniqueness. A simple idea to modify an existing design will be more captivating than the “normal”
2.    After careful selection of design, its time to write the content, again here don’t bore the reader with long tales on your first paragraph. It should be an introduction and as brief as possible. It shows some professionalism and gives a good impression of you the writer.
3.    A cover letter being a selling tool, its advisable to highlight your strengths and prepare the readers for more as they go further down the document. This is where you have to put your efforts since loosing the readers credibility here may mean you are doomed not to win their interest in you.
4.    Being specific is important on the cover letter, mentioning past experiences, projects done, job titles held if it’s an application for job will give you a mileage. Show how you are to be an asset to the.
5.    Address you document to a specific person. Writing “to whom it may concern” may reveal your incompetence in finding the right person to engage. This may backfire especially if you want to create the personal touch with the reader. Always care enough to aim the right recipient.
6.     Use normal fonts and sizes. Don’t overdo the artwork as the document should portray seriousness to the reader unless you are working on a highly creative project. Also check spelling and grammatical errors before finalizing.
7.    Use simple language so as not to irritate the reader.
8.    Not including your personal details unlike required is a cleverer idea so as not to determine decision. Saying your race, sex, and marital status may sometimes alter the possibility of you being chosen for an interview though not always a factor in many scenarios.
9.     Always customize your cover letter for each job application, this will help you align it with the expectations and requirements of the readers as advertised. Failure to do this means your document may be wholly or partially irrelevant and therefore not impressive enough.
10.    Be realistic and don’t exaggerate any of your statements, with employers nowadays verifying every detail, you may find it difficult proving yourself through. Be humble and accurate at all times.