What not to put in a cover letter

(MoneyWatch) Cover letters don't get much love. After pouring their heart and soul into fine-tuning a resume, many job-seekers send it off with a fast-and-dirty letter, sometimes as an afterthought while trying to upload to a job site. That makes a poor impression.

I've already told you why a cover letter is important. Recently, personal finance site Wisebread listed a handful of what you might call worst practices -- things not to put in a cover letter. Here are the highlights:

Don't claim to be the ideal candidate. Most of the recommendations in Wisebread can probably be summarized by saying, "Don't write like a high-schooler," and this one is no exception. Yes, I've seen plenty of cover letters that contend the candidate is the best possible person for the job. That's just dumb. Unless you know all the candidates for the position, not to mention in-depth knowledge of the details of the role, focus on your actual skills and experience.

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Don't say you're a hard worker. This one might be excusable if you're new to the job market, but if you've been around a while and you're trying to advance your career by emphasizing how hard you work rather than how effectively or efficiently you work, or -- most important -- what you actually accomplish, no competent hiring manager will give you a second thought.

Don't be impersonal. Never, ever write, "To whom it may concern." Address the cover letter to a specific person -- either the hiring manager or the HR representative. You can do a little detective work on the company's Website or on LinkedIn to find the right name, or just call the company's HR office and ask; often, they'll just tell you. If you aren't sure, though, my recommendation is to not address it to anyone at all. I'd rather get a cover letter that omits the greeting entirely than be confronted by "dear hiring manager."

Don't say when you'll follow up. For some reason, some people were taught that they should write in a cover letter that they'll follow up, often at a specific date and time. That's insane! Forget that might you be unable to call the HR rep at the time you specified -- the bigger issue is that you absolutely should never do this. Don't attempt to take control of the hiring process by proactively contacting the company. Nothing good will ever come of it.

Do you agree with these cover letter no-nos? What has worked -- or failed -- for you? Sound off in the comments.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Brian Hawkins

[mjvwsr]

probably not a good time to tell them about your nose ring or that new hot tramp stamp either

[2004redsox100]

I don't think you can take a one size fits all approach. Your approach may take into consideration the type of industry, size of company, culture, etc. The advice of never contacting the company directly, again depends on the circumstances. For example, if you're talking about a sales opening, there are sales managers that appreciate applicants who are aggresive at following up; especially when done in an intellegent manner. Aftr all, that is what an effective salesperson does.

[kinimoor100]

Aloha!
Do not get me wrong, and I have nothing against Cover Letters. When asked for, I send, and tell my client's to send them when instructed. Honestly, where have you been since the New Year of 2011? Have not you heard - over 90% of the Cover Letters are not even read? That is the word I got from several Executive Recruiters and very senior HR people. With more and more companies using data bases and applicant tracking systems, they do not bother to read them or even pass them on to the hiring manager. Having my job search client's incorporate some of their Cover Letter information into their resumes, so it does get read.
Just my two coconuts worth.
Mahalo, Bro Kini

[Viejita100]

I hope your clients are more skillful with an apostrophe than you were in this quick comment:-)

[mzumtaylor]

It's funny that you wrote about this today, as I just had to write a cover letter for a job that I'm applying to (in a different department in the same company) and I did many of the things you say not to do. Whoops. I did have the benefit of knowing the HR manager, so I could address the cover letter directly to her.

I wasn't able to find any (maybe I looked in the wrong places), but there should be resources on how to apply for a job within your company but in a different department. Are the rules the same or different if you know everyone by first name (I work for a small 20 person company) and see them in the break room every day? I have no idea.

[jsargent100]

If you are applying to another department in the same company pick up the phone and ask for advice.

[ycdbsoya]

I take polite exception to:
"Don't attempt to take control of the hiring process by proactively contacting the company. Nothing good will ever come of it."

As a company owner, do I want someone who will wait around like a lump of coal, or someone who will reach out and try to make things happen?

Even in accounting or technology, where personalities may be more subdued--*IF* the field had no clear standouts, and if the more energetic candidate were among the top several--I'd be glad to see evidence of polite chutzpah, some "fire in the belly," some willingness to cause something!

And if it were a sales position of any strata--again, depending on the field--there'd be no question that the more communicative and "politely present" candidates would get favorable attention.

[computerflyer]

Then for some roles there is the hell recruiting process. It is set up to see how aggressive you are and how little crap you will take from others.

[Troubadour of Talent]

As a seasoned HR professional, I agree with the points in this article. Back in the day, folks were taught that following up with an organization after applying showed drive and initiative. However, in today's world of work, with streamlined and more sophisticated recruitment processes, employers are more quickly reviewing and assessing potential talent, and moving on with select, qualified candidates more quickly. Applicants who routinely call "to check and see that you received my application" or "to check on the status of my resume" may think that they are being proactive, but in fact, for lots of recruiters, this is unwelcome and unproductive volume. I don't mean to imply that HR folks/recruiters don't care; in fact, they do. They often simply don't have the resources to respond to a daily volume of "status check" calls. However, good recruiters jump on the best talent quickly. That's their job and they take it seriously. They're looking for the best possible matches and responding to those folks with intention and purpose.

[jsargent100]

It's funny that when I successfully applied for 5 of the last jobs I had over the last 25 years that 4 of them were successful because I visited in person to ask for information. Only 2 of the companies actually had advertised the position. Only the last one an I working as a Software engineer and all the previous ones were as an Electronic Engineer. None of the companies were blue-chips but current company went PLC a few months before I joined. I have always avoided calling back because it shows desparation on the applicant's side. In-fact a number of companies that I turned down called me back to ask how my job search was going.

[wgibsoniii]

Suggested edit:
Forget that you might be unable to call the HR rep at the time you specified
NOT
Forget that might you be unable to call the HR rep at the time you specified

[saucymugwump]

Dave Johnson wrote: "Address the cover letter to a specific person -- either the hiring manager or the HR representative"

In an ideal world this would be the best course of action. But in the real world, it is not always possible to positively identify a hiring manager or HR manager. In a large corporation, there are usually a few managers who might be the one you are seeking, but I have yet to see a job ad which names a specific department. Are you suggesting it is worth the risk of including a wrong name on the cover letter?

[davejohnso]

Dave Johnson also wrote in the very same paragraph:

If you aren't sure, though, my recommendation is to not address it to anyone at all. I'd rather get a cover letter that omits the greeting entirely than be confronted by "dear hiring manager."

[wordhelper]

If you have not been given the name of someone to whom your cover letter should be directed, can do some detective work to find that person's name. In fact, do so, will show the potential employer that you take initiative. Here are the steps in your detective work:

1. If your resume is going to the human resources or personnel department, sometimes you can find the name of the human resources director or a more relevant staff member on the company's website.

2. Typing the company name into the People search box on LinkedIn might also be productive.

3. You can also try calling the company's headquarters and asking for the name of the Human Resources Director.

4. If you know someone who works at the company, use that person to get the name and title of your contact.

5. Sometimes your resume and cover letter should go to the head of the department in which the open position is located. You can use the same investigative techniques--company's website, LinkedIn, a phone call to the company, anyone you might know who is already employed with the company--to get the name and title of the person to whom your cover letter and resume should be sent.