Cover Letter Help: Insulting the Reader
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Today we are reviewing Jeremy’s cover letter. He’s a great candidate. Unfortunately his cover letter is such a turn-off that a hiring company may not take the time to get to know him. He fails in (at least) three ways.
Awkward Writing & Bad Grammar
Because cover letters are often customized for each position, there is an increased risk for errors and typos. Take the time to triple-check your letter so it is completely error-free. Also, keep honing that letter until it sings. Jeremy’s language does not flow well and contains errors.
Insulting the Reader
Starting the letter with why you are interested in a particular position, department, or area of the company is smart. A wise tactic is to point out something attractive about the company. Jeremy does the exact opposite. He points out his ability to help companies failing audits and with fraud issues. What? That’s like asking a girl on a date telling her you have a knack for over-looking unattractive features in women and have no trouble tolerating excessive talkers.
Not Articulating His Real Value
Jeremy does not captivate the reader with actual accomplishments. He is rather vague on his skills. In fact, he could add an entire middle paragraph. Typically, the middle (second) paragraph of a cover letter is where the candidate highlights accomplishments to demonstrate the value offered to the prospective employer. The paragraph explains why the candidate is a fit. He is missing this paragraph.
All is not lost for Jeremy. He is a strong candidate. With a new letter, he will begin to make some headway in his job search. If you have the cover letter blues, call me. I would love to help you shake the blues and start to increase the green via a new job!
If you could like more cover letter help, check out these resources:
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