Cover letters: The Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Cover Letter for Your Job Application

So you’ve completed your resume and now it’s time to write the cover letter for your job application. Maybe you think that writing a cover letter can be skipped and that it won’t really make much of a difference in the hiring process, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Writing an engaging and thoughtful cover letter can make all the difference in getting your application noticed, so don’t skip out on this step! Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of writing a cover letter for your job application.

Do analyze the job posting carefully
Know what you're applying for. Read job postings carefully to learn about your prospective employer before you craft your cover letter, because if you don't make it obvious that you understand their business, hiring managers may assume that you lack an understanding of basic fundamentals. Applicants who pay attention to detail will always be preferred over those who do not. To prevent being cut from consideration due to a general lack of knowledge or awareness, learn as much as possible about a company before crafting your cover letter by doing some research on its website and studying its mission statement. This information will serve as valuable ammunition in demonstrating your ability to effectively communicate with employers.

Do follow instructions to submit your resume
Some jobs are open-ended, allowing you to submit whatever you want. Other positions state they want to see only specific attachments in order to be considered; ignoring instructions could get your resume thrown out without consideration. If you fail to follow instructions, chances are that someone won’t take a look at your resume. In fact, some employers discard resumes immediately if they don’t have certain information or are missing specific documents. For example, missing your work history may cause an employer to pass on your application altogether because it makes you appear unqualified or unreliable.

Don’t make it too long
It’s fine to include everything you want in your cover letter, but try not to let it get longer than one page. For most hiring managers, reading anything more than one page is simply too much work. A page-long cover letter is also likely to contain too much information about you (and potential red flags) for them to make a quick decision on whether or not they should contact you for an interview. A good rule of thumb is that if you think your cover letter can stand on its own as an essay, then it’s too long. If you have any doubts at all, then make it shorter rather than risk turning away a hiring manager before you even get in front of them.

Don’t forget to mention why you are an ideal candidate
This is what’s called emphasizing your fit with the company. There’s no one-size-fits-all reason to work at any given company, but there are most certainly many commonalities among companies. In addition to specifying which skills you have that are most relevant to their needs, make sure you talk about how your personality traits match up with what they value in their organization (e.g., In my five years at Acme Inc., I've seen that everyone here values initiative and hard work). When in doubt, play it safe by highlighting qualities that are universally desirable in an employee (or applicant): attitude, commitment to excellence, problem solving ability, professionalism.

Don’t write Dear Sir/Madam – use To whom it may concern
Using formal language is one of those details that can easily be overlooked but it’s an important detail. Using Dear Sir/Madam to address your cover letter is considered extremely unprofessional, especially if you are applying online. While many people still do use Dear Sir/Madam, it is recommended that you replace it with To whom it may concern. This allows you to show off your communication skills while also giving you more opportunities in terms of how you format your cover letter.

Never request an interview in your cover letter. That is what your resume is for.
This can be tricky to remember, but it is important. It’s easy to think that including an explicit request in your cover letter will get you an interview — but it won’t. Recruiters and hiring managers will discard cover letters with such requests immediately because they are looking to quickly determine whether or not a candidate meets their qualifications, so if you start rambling about how much you want to work there, you may come across as desperate. Save your information on their company and position until your resume comes up next in their review.

Leave out negative comments about past employers.
While your prospective employer may want to know that you have legitimate reasons for leaving your past jobs, they don’t necessarily need to hear about how awful those employers were. Use neutral language, like I am seeking a career change after 12 years at my current company. That way, you avoid coming across as disgruntled while also showing that you can be an asset to their company. It never hurts to leave in positive comments, either! It shows that you’re capable of seeing both sides of an issue and can take constructive criticism with grace. This kind of approach may help make up for some potential red flags on your resume.

Leave out qualifications that do not match the listed requirements.
Although you can include almost any relevant experience on your cover letter, you should leave out qualifications that do not match up with what they're looking for. This ensures that your cover letter will be tailored to specifically match up with what they're asking for in their job ad, increasing your chances of getting an interview. Plus, if you have too many unrelated skills or experience listed on your cover letter, it'll make you look like someone who isn't good at focusing in on one thing and doing it well. For example, if there is no section on their listing looking for writing samples from applicants, don't go into detail about how great your writing samples are; it'll just make them wonder why those samples aren't attached to your application instead.

End on a positive note.
Most cover letters conclude with some version of Thank you for your consideration. However, most hiring managers will tell you that statements like these are cliché. Instead, end on a positive note by thanking an individual person who helped you get to where you are today—even if it’s someone from your current company. If possible, mention specific accomplishments or things they’ve taught you during your time working together. This type of detail makes all the difference in showing that you’re genuinely grateful to them as well as interested in their success.

Have someone read over your work before sending it out.
It’s easy to let a cover letter go unread, especially if you’re sending it off in an email. To make sure your application is smooth sailing, have someone else proofread your cover letter before you send it out to potential employers. It may be helpful to read over your work with someone who’s been through at least one professional job search. Or ask a friend to check over your work by pretending that he or she is reading it for someone else (for example, an employer or recruiter). You may catch mistakes or typos that you would have otherwise missed when only reading over your own words.