7 Things Your Cover Letter Should NEVER Include

Publié le 21 February 2024 Par Jobillico

Stand out to employers for the right reasons by knowing 7 things your cover letter should NEVER include.

Many employers require job applicants to submit cover letters. About 53% prefer candidates to send cover letters along with their resumes as part of their job application.

But to begin, how do you write a cover letter?

A cover letter expresses your interest in a job and highlights your key attributes and promotes your career goals. It asks the human resource (HR) to consider you for the available position, and includes examples from your work history that make you the right person for the job. However, this letter has the potential to make or break your application at the onset.

Many job seekers know what details to provide in a cover letter. However, there are 7 things your cover letter should NEVER include.

What Not To Include in Your Cover Letter

A cover letter is as equally important as the resume itself. Unfortunately, 45% of job applicants do not include them as part of their job application.

So, how do you begin crafting an impressive cover letter? Take a look at the image below:

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As you can see, this one-page document communicates the intent to apply for a particular job or available position.

With this, you briefly highlight your relevant employment experiences, educational background, as well as specific knowledge and skills. AND you usually end it with a call to action (CTA), hoping HR will contact you for the next application round.

According to a recent GetCoverLetter survey, more than three-fourths (78%) of recruiters choose job applicants with cover letters because:

They reveal the candidates’ motivation. (47%)

They provide additional information. (30%)

They bring out the personality. (23%)

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Further, GetCoverLetter analyzed 300,000 cover letters and identified some of the most common mistakes:

Grammar and syntax errors (67%)

Not customized for the positions (45%)

Not showing the candidates’ skills (44%)

Cover letters copying resumes (41%)

Very long cover letters (30%)

Bad formatting (26%)

You should make every effort to write a cover letter that is clear and insightful, and avoids the elements that HR managers do not want to see. Here are 7 things your cover letter should NEVER include.

1. Incorrect information

Providing wrong information in your cover letter is a big no-no. HR personnel might cross their brows when they see an incorrect company name or contact person on your cover letter. Hiring managers might question you if you have outdated work experiences on your letter that don’t match your resume. Even if you make an innocent mistake, it can still cast you in a negative light in the eyes of a hiring manager.

Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer at Checkr, highlights the importance of background checking.

Shaffer explains, “There is no room for outright lies or exaggerations in any job application. Sure, you might have passed the application process. by doing so. However, your employer will later find out what you’ve lied about, which will cost you your employment.”

Note: Double-check everything you put into writing. Ensure your cover letter has accurate, complete, and up-to-date details.

2. Irrelevant details

An effective cover letter is brief and concise, focusing on what you can offer the employer. Any irrelevant information might mislead the HR personnel in your job application. One, it distracts them from your actual qualifications. Likewise, it might give a wrong impression about your candidacy.

Jim Pendergast, Senior Vice President at altLINE Sobanco, recommends highlighting only vital professional information relevant to the job.

Pendergast suggests asking, “What are they looking for, and what can you offer? In other words, you express your interest in the position and demonstrate your skills and qualities best suited for the job. Discard anything outside these key questions, including the fluff.”

Note: Revolve your discussion around what the company needs and the job requires. Highlight how you can meet these business needs and requirements.

3. Salary expectations

Putting your salary expectation in your cover letter is not a common practice. It gives the employer an impression that you’re only after the money. It sends a message that you’re not 100% interested in the job and passionate about what you do. You can save discussions of your salary expectations for further into the hiring process, including during the job interview.

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Stephen R. Hasner, Managing Partner of Hasner Law PC, suggests focusing on your value as an employee.

Hasner argues, “We tend to apply for jobs to earn a consistent salary and take advantage of the benefits. However, we’ll build our careers and succeed more professionally if we focus on what value we can bring to the table. And this begins as early as during the application process.”

Note: Show your interest in the company and job itself—not the monetary compensation and benefits you can get.

4. Negative remarks

You might have a bad experience with your previous employer. Applying for a new job is a great way to turn over a new leaf. You can start all over again with a clean slate! However, you might be tempted to include negative comments about your previous employer in your cover letter. Don’t! You cover letter should never include disparaging remarks about your previous employers.

Not only is it irrelevant to them, but these remarks might sound too negative for them and affect their perception of you as an employee. The last thing employers want is to hire someone who will bring a negative attitude into the workplace.

Note: Keep your cover letter as positive as possible. Applaud the company’s vision and mission and highlight why you’re the right person for the job.

5. Generic statements

It’s easy to copy-paste content from the internet. If you do, however, your cover letter will likely consist of generic statements filled with buzzwords, cliches, and overused phrases. The HR or employer would be able to recognize this and consider it a mark against you as a prospective employee.

Gerald Lombardo, Head of Growth at Popl, recommends crafting your own cover letter. “Highlight your qualities, demonstrate your expertise, and inject your personality.”

Lombardo suggests writing a cover letter that promotes your academic success, showcases your employment experiences, as well as highlights your knowledge, skills, and attributes.

Note: Write an original cover letter. Focus on what you can offer the company and how you can perform the job well.

6. Spelling or grammar errors

As cited, typographical or grammatical errors are typical cover letter and resume mistakes. However, they are an instant deal breaker for over 75% of hiring managers. With various errors in your letter, you’ll lose your chance of going to the next round of the application process.

That said, strictly adhere to the writing conventions, such as:

Grammar: Follow the basic grammar rules. Subject-verb disagreements can be such an eyesore for employers!

Spelling: Spell each word correctly. Misspelled words will leave HR laughing off and stop your application.

Punctuation: Use proper punctuation for clarity. How will your HR understand your cover letter with run-on sentences?

Syntax: Structure your words for proper context. Doing so shows professionalism and gives the impression you’re serious about your application. Make sure that your cover letter is easy to read and flows smoothly.

Note: Edit and proofread the content of your cover letter. Make it clear, concise, and professional. Use Grammarly below:

7. Too much personal data

Crafting a compelling cover letter is equally important to creating a winning resume. However, you don’t want to reveal too much personal information in your cover letter. Instead, focus on professional details relevant to the role or position. Remember, you are applying for a job as a professional, not telling your entire life story.

Note: Provide professional information relevant to the job—not too many personal details.

Final Words

A cover letter remains a crucial part of any job application. However, optimize its content to increase your chance of getting hired and employed. More importantly, avoid committing common mistakes, such as those mentioned above.

To wrap up, here’s 7 things your cover letter should NEVER include: