Very few people in this world actually enjoy writing cover letters and if you fall into that group, then you probably tend to rely on clichés to build up a standard and boring cover letter.
Unfortunately, having the same old cover letter as everyone else attached to your application can do more harm than good. Cover letters are a key way of showing whether you’re a good fit for the company culture and a great way to expand on your skills in your resume.
While it’s up to you to find a creative way of presenting your qualifications, here are a few phrases you should definitely avoid in your next cover letter to make sure you stand out for the right reasons.
“I’m writing to apply for position X”
Don’t get too worried about this line; there is absolutely nothing wrong with specifying the position you’re applying for—as long as you don’t copy and paste the letter from your last job application without updating the job title!
Make sure that every single customization in your cover letter, from the company name to the position you’re applying for, is fully updated before you hit send.
This opening liner isn’t the most thrilling or interesting way to detail the position you’re applying for either. Consider reinvigorating the language a little bit to help you stand out against the competition.
“I’m a proactive, self-starter with great attention to detail and stellar communication skills”
Blah, blah, blah. You might as well write every single buzzword all recruiters and employers hate to read in a resume and stuff them into your cover letter. Not only are all the adjectives littered in this phrase clichés, they also don’t actually say anything about your skills.
Your cover letter is a place to really convince the hiring manager of your expertise and speak specifically about your accomplishments. So, instead of trying to highlight your abilities through a trail of buzzwords, make your achievements interesting and credible by backing them up with stats.
For example, saying you have continuously exceeded your annual sales targets by 10% not only shows you’re an achiever, it shows you’re proactive and ambitious, too—and you didn’t have to use a single buzzword.
“My salary requirements are…”
Disclosing your salary requirements is a big no-no. Unless you’ve been specifically asked to state your salary expectations, your cover letter is simply not the place to do so.
You could end up stating a number that is considerably less than what the employer planned to offer—there’s no reason to undervalue yourself when no one has even asked you to offer your requirements.
Similarly, you could throw a number in there which is way too high and your application could be put to the end of the pile because your expectations don’t align with company budget or the role.
“I’ll be in touch to arrange my interview”
Why not just walk in the door, sit down at a desk, and ask for your first project while you’re at it?
Being overly aggressive in your cover letter could deter a prospective employer. It’s now up to the recruiter or hiring manager to decide if they’d like to meet you in person and it’s certainly not your place to push it on them.
Instead, you could end your cover letter by stating you look forward to hearing from them and providing the best time and method to contact you. That way you’ve covered all bases and you’ve been polite about it.
Final thoughts
To create a winning cover letter, remember to focus on your accomplishments, use descriptive language, and don’t fall into the trap of using meaningless buzzwords. Many hiring managers still use cover letters along with resumes to determine a candidate’s suitability for an interview, so simply copying and pasting from your boring old template won’t do the trick!
Need to write a cover letter? Check out our range of guides here.
