Major Cover Letter Blunders To Avoid

4. Mould letters: Some people tend to get a format printed and send the photocopy of the same to the companies, mentioning the date of advertisement and other details specific to the advertisement in handwriting. Mass mailing, in which you send a general form letter to a large number of employers, is not recommended. This approach does not allow you to personalize each application. This type of letter presents you as a person who is not focused and is not sincere in taking the pains of typing a formal letter. Such guys are not expected to work sincerely. Every cover letter that you write should be tailored to the position you are seeking. It should demonstrate both - your commitment to a specific industry and your familiarity with each particular employer. Mass mailings may indicate to a HR manager that you are not truly interested in joining his or her organization, but have decided to apply "just in case". There are certain formats and phrases that signal to an employer that you are using a form letter.
Some of the real life mishaps are: It is common that many people keep a form letter with blank spaces, where the employer's name and address are to be written, and they fill those blanks with the potential employer's name and position applied for in handwriting and send it along with a resume. This is a catastrophic blunder and should be avoided at all costs. Another example is of an applicant, who was indecisive about his field of interest, so created a list of possible positions in his basic copy, which he kept with himself. Then, he circled the most appropriate job description depending on the targeted company and sent it along with his resume to the company. Both these examples illustrate the fact that applicant is himself not sure of which company to target and what position he should apply for. So, remember - personalization is the key.

5. Inappropriate stationary: White is in. Colors are out. White and Ivory are the only acceptable paper colors for a cover letter. The companies and headhunters receive letters in every shade from hot pink to electric blue and, to be honest, the color is the only thing that is noticed in these types of cases. Also, we recommend standard office stationery. Steer clear of transparent typing paper or personal stationary. In any case, the stationary you use for the cover letter must be the same as that used for the resume.
A musician applying for an office position sent a letter decorated with a border of musical notes and instruments. Remember, companies are professional people. They don't give a damn to your using graphics to "improve" your cover letter. If you are competent enough, you don't require any "fancy" support. And if you aren't good, no amount of "fancy" support can help you. So better let your qualifications speak for themselves.

6. Amusing anecdotes: In general, if you desire serious consideration, your cover letter should adopt a serious, professional tone. You should come across as a responsible person who is qualified for the post he is seeking. One can imagine oneself in an interview setting. Since you do not know your interviewer, you would not joke with him or her until you have determined what demeanor is appropriate. Likewise, when writing to a potential employer you have not met, you should be polite, professional and specific to the point.
For example, avoid blunders like the ones this job seeker made: "I feel I am especially qualified to join your staff, as my name, Surya Kant Mishap, almost rhymes with your company's name, Surya " Such fancy answers can almost kill your chances of getting a job. So better avoid these cheeky answers.

7. Personal photos: Some people believe that sending the photos will result in a positive reply. One candidate blew up a picture of his face to cover the entire page, and then hand wrote his letter over it! It is not a modeling/film company selection. Your short listing will be on the basis on what your qualifications and your experiences are. An employer will see what you look like, should you reach the interview stage. Even if you have the appearance of a "Greek God" and there is "all style, no substance" to you, then you'll most probably get the boot. There aren't many takers for all style and no substance. It's the content that is always more important.

8. Erroneous company information: You should be clear about the company's products and the other information related to the company and especially the recent happenings. If you were the employer, would you want to hire a candidate who is confused about your company's products and services, and has no idea about the recent goings-on, especially if they're on the front pages of leading dailies? Be sure to eliminate such errors. They are grave and will surely kill your chances. To avoid such errors, be sure to verify the accuracy of any company information that you mention in your cover letter. Surf the net to visit the company's website, read the papers and magazines to get a feel of the latest news. On the other hand, if you haven't researched the company, don't bluff. Be clear to express that you don't have much information about the company, but are looking forward to work sincerely to deliver the results. Confusing statements go against you. Statements like "I know something about your company" or "I am familiar with your products," signal to an employer that you haven't done your homework. When citing information about a company, be specific. Following is an example of an effective way to use company information in your cover letter. "I had been following XYZ Corporation's growth for many months and I was excited to learn of your recent acquisition of A&B Pvt. Ltd. Congratulations on successfully entering the international market!" CoolAvenues ComBasicsTM and CorpoDomTM provide you information on the most sought after companies. CoolAvenues InsiderGuideTM prepares you for the Interview with your prospective employer, which is based on past experiences of successful candidates with any particular organization.

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