Avoid These "Big Bad" Words In Your Cover Letter

Avoid These "Big Bad" Words In Your Cover Letter

 

Be aware! The Big Bad Word virus can attack your cover letters when you least expect it, knocking out your message and destroying every sentence. And worst of all, if your letter reaches a hiring manager before you've caught the culprit, you could lose your opportunity for a job interview. So the best thing to do is be on guard ahead of time so this nasty virus never touches any of your cover letters. 

What are the Signs? 

As you write your cover letters, such words as pursuant, heretofore, credence, and others like them will suddenly pop onto the page. That will be your first clue. Delete them without hesitation and vow never again to give them access to your writing. 

Keep in mind that hiring managers are regular people–just like you and me. Most don't have a big fat dictionary at their fingertips in order to wade through what should be a clear and concisely worded job search cover letter. They want to pick up one to two pages that communicate a simple message about why you are interested in the job they want to fill and why you are qualified to do so.  

Everyday conversational language with a light touch and some specific details about what you can do for the company and why you're the one for the job will make the difference between being noticed and being overlooked. Remember your letter is a handshake, a how do you do, a greeting that introduces yourself and your skills and experience for the hiring manager to consider and act upon. 

Try this: 

I was very pleased to see your job post for a position as assistant sales

manager at ABC Publishing Company. I've been in the publishing

industry for seven years and wouldn't trade it for any other. I especially

like presenting products to bookstore buyers, letting them know about

the great books that will enhance the lives of their customers. 

I'd welcome meeting you in person to share a list of ideas that I'd like to

put in place so we can build up the sales force and exceed quarterly goals.

I look forward to hearing from you, and setting a date for an interview. 

Toss this: 

Pursuant to said resume attached, I have compiled a list of my personal and professional characteristics, and carefully analyzed those necessary to extrapolate my purpose and penchant for the kind of work you articulated in your description of the job opening you are hoping to fill with a person of high quality, extreme integrity and willingness to meet expectations. That said, I ask your kind permission to schedule a private meeting with you so I might further explore . . .  

At this point, if the employer even reads that far, he or she will likely shred the letter as well as any thought of calling you for an interview. 

Before printing your letter read it out loud—to another person, if possible. The moment you or your friend or colleague hear a word or phrase that twists your tongue and turns your mind to mush, take it out. Rewrite until the words and sentences flow. If you feel yourself smile, you'll know you are conversing like a real human being. Mention your passion for the job and then ask for an interview.  

Clear concise language is so rare in the business world today, that those who can master it will land the interview of their dreams–and the job that's behind it!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"

Less is More Cover Letter

Hot Cover Letter Tip: "Less is MORE!" 

You've probably heard the catchy phrase, "less is more." Less meat, more heart health. Less stress, more peace of mind. Less work, more play. 

But you may not have heard that less is more in a job search cover letter. In fact, just the opposite might make sense. Wouldn't the job hunter want to tell the hiring manager as much as possible so there won't be any room for doubt that he or she is the right person for the job? It would seem that the more information the employer has the easier it would be to determine the best man or woman for the job. 

Avoid Overkill! 

At first glance that might seem like the way to go—but actually there is real wisdom in delivering the wheat and leaving out the chaff. In other words, why clutter a cover letter with information the employer does not need or want? 

Generally there is an avalanche of mail on a hiring manager's desk each morning. Imagine how daunting it is to go through all the cover letters the first time and then perhaps a second or even third round in order to choose the most promising candidates for the jobs that need filling. 

Some job hunters make the mistake of writing three- and four-page letters and also include family photos. Grandma or Aunt Martha might enjoy such hearty content but the busy hiring manager does not. 

Rather, give just the right amount of detail in order to motivate him or her to invite you in for an interview where you can talk in person. At that point the employer might actually want to hear about your family and your pastimes. But you're not there yet. 

Here are the items to include in your initial cover letter: 

1.     Your name and contact information.

   Provide your contact phone or email.

2.     Your interest in the job you're competing for.

Show your passion for the work, your excitement about sales or management or whatever. 

3.     Your qualifications and experience.

Mention your talents and skills and provide an example of a way you resolved a conflict or averted a disaster or increased the bottom line. 

4.     Your knowledge of the company.

Mention the company mission and your desire to help carry it out. 

5.     Your availability for starting the job.

Can you begin immediately or within a certain number of weeks? 

6.     Your request for an in-person interview.

Be sure to ask to meet with the hiring manager so you can speak in more detail about his or her expectations and your willingness to match them. 

Here are the items to leave out of your cover letter: 

1.     Your hobbies.

2.     Your family details.

3.     Your history.

4.     Your vacation plans.

5.     . . . and any other personal information that does not apply to the job. 

If you land an interview you may then have an opportunity to talk informally so you and the employer can get to know one another, but keep in mind that it's not appropriate at the cover letter stage of the relationship.  

At this first stage––less is more! You can count on that. 

 

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."  

Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"