The cover letter is a critical document that makes a good difference in the job application procedure of the applicant. It presents you in a professional manner to the employer and lets the employer know that you are the most desired candidate for the job position for which you have put in your job application. Hence, it is very essential to produce a well written cover letter that will win the attention of the recruiter and thereby, amplify your opportunities of winning the desired job interview.
The candidate must ensure that the cover letter is written in an uncomplicated language so that the reader does not have troublesome experiences while interpreting the document. The candidate should plan what points are needed to be included in the cover letter. The best way to do it is to create a basic skeleton of the cover letter. Later, the candidate can add more points and elaborate the letter. Every cover letter should have an introduction, body, and conclusion. At the end of the letter, the candidate should give his gratitude to the recruiter for having read the document.
It should be noted that the job title, name and address of the organization, and the personal details of the applicant must be mentioned in a precise and accurate way without any mistake. The candidate should avoid beating around the bush and come right to the point. This will avoid the unnecessary lengthening of the letter and even maintain the curiosity of the employer to read your document. It is beneficial to use the online proofreading tools for making sure that your letter is free from any type of typographical errors, sentence construction errors or spelling mistakes.
Most of the applicants are found performing the usual mistakes in their cover letters, especially by adding some phrases which are strictly needed to be eradicated from an ideal cover letter.
7 phrases you need to avoid in your cover letter:
- To whomsoever it may concern: This is one of the common phrases that the applicants make use of in their cover letters. It is more a generic kind of phrase which is not suitable to be included in the letter. Every letter should be addressed to a specific person. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly mention the name of the individual to whom the letter is addressed. Moreover, such kind of phrases showcase unprofessional attitude to the reader, which creates a spoiled impression on the recruiter
- Call me at… : It is a phrase which most of the candidates use in their cover letters so as to make sure that the employer gives them a call once he/she decides to select them for the job position they have applied for. However, this is not the right way to invite the interview call from the employer through your letter. The candidate should be subtle in his language and ask the employer to call him for further procedures in a more formal and humble manner. For example, ‘You can contact me as per your convenience’
- Yours lovingly: This is a commonly made mistake by the applicants in their cover letters. Such phrases are usually used as a concluding phrase in informal letters and not in formal letters like ‘the cover letter’. Since the cover letter is drafted to the recruiter with a purpose of applying for a job, it should be created in a professional way by keeping in mind the formal etiquette of letter writing. Instead of such phrases, you can use ‘yours sincerely’, ‘yours respectfully’, ‘regards’, etc., in your cover letter
- I want a positive response: This is a too direct and commanding type of phrase which the applicants should avoid using in their cover letters. On the contrary, phrases like ‘I am waiting for an affirmative reply from you’ or ‘I hope for a positive response’ can be used by the candidates in their letters. These sentences sound more formal and modest. The purpose behind including these sentences in the document is to receive a reply from the addressee for the job application sent
- Phrases with ‘I’: It is redundant to use phrases starting with the word ‘I’. This is another type of common error that most applicants use in their cover letters. Due to constant use of the word ‘I’, the reader may lose his interest in reading the letter. In this case, the candidates can try to use different words or start the sentence with any word other than ‘I’. Another way to avoid the word ‘I’ is to change the structure or formation of the sentence in such a way that it does not start with the word ‘I’
- Looking for an interesting job: This is a non specific phrase which does not really tell the employer what exactly is the applicant looking for. While drafting any type of cover letter, the candidate should be very specific and not let the reader keep guessing about it. The candidate should be very clear while mentioning the job title he is applying for; otherwise, it may create confusion in the hiring process. There is also a possibility of the recruiter evaluating the candidate for some other position which the candidate is not looking for. Hence, such phrases should be avoided in the document
- I feel that…: This phrase is considered to be vague in the corporate world. By using such phrases, you tell the reader that you are low in confidence. It shows that you are not sure about what you are talking about. It has to be either ‘I believe’ or ‘I am confident’. As a candidate, you need to be confident and maintain clarity in speech. This will help the recruiter to understand you and reflect you as a sure-footed and steady individual
Once you are aware of these 7 cover letter phrases which need to be stringently avoided, you can develop your skills for drafting an idealistic cover letter.
Related: How to Make Your Cover Letter Grab the Employer’s Attention.
Sandy Dsouza is a freelance author and blogger who is having more than 4 years of experience in the field of writing. She is always eager to share her knowledge on various topics like resume and career development. Connect with her on Twitter to know more about her and also to get new tips and updates from her own experiences. Check out more on resume and cover letter tips at bestsampleresume.com.
