Do you start every cover letter with ‘to whom it may concern’?
If so, quit it.
This is one of the phrases that you should ditch from all job applications, says Mark Smith, managing director of recruitment agency people2people.
It turns out that your cover letter really is quite important.
It’s an introduction to a potential employer, a way to make a great first impression and make your CV stand out.
So you definitely shouldn’t skip a cover letter entirely – or do a half-hearted version filled with fluff.
The key, says Mark, is to check your language sets you apart from your competition, by steering clear of the buzzwords and phrases that hiring managers see all the time.
With that in mind, he told job-search company SEEK the eight words and phrases you should absolutely avoid. Perhaps have your cover letter up in a separate window and be ready to click the ‘delete’ key.
‘To whom it may concern’
We know, we know: this is how your teachers told you to start formal letters. Chuck out that advice.
Using this introduction just shows you haven’t done any research. Ideally, you’d have the name of your potential boss, but if not, Mark recommends using a job title, such as ‘Dear hiring manager’ or ‘Dear recruitment manager’.
‘In the context of a cover letter, “Dear” sounds more professional than “Hi”,’ adds Mark, ‘but avoid “Dear Sir or Madam” – it’s a really outdated greeting.’
‘I believe’
Don’t say ‘I believe I am a hard-worker’ – use stronger, active language and give evidence to back up your assertions.
‘Phrases like “I believe I’m a strong communicator” can give the impression that you are the only one who thinks this,’ says Emma Harvey, Manager at recruitment agency Robert Walters in Melbourne.
She recommends concrete examples rather than these wishy-washy statement. Go for something like: ‘I exceeded targets by X%’, ‘I managed a team of six, or ‘I created a new revenue stream that resulted in a £X profit increase’.
‘Self-starter’
‘It’s a cliché and recruiters are tired of reading it,’ says Mark. ‘Clichés provide very little value, so be specific about your qualities and achievements.’
‘Dynamic’
What does dynamic actually mean? It’s an overused filler word. Skip it.
‘Dependable’
Being reliable is the bare minimum of a dream employee, let’s be real.
Swap out this basic term for something more relevant to the job you’re applying for, and, again, give solid examples to back up what you’re saying.
‘Salary’
Emma says that salary discussions should be saved for the job interview – and mentioning it in your cover letter might limit your chance at negotiating.
‘Incredible’
As well as sounding a bit big-headed, describing yourself as ‘incredible’ isn’t particularly convincing.
Mark says: ‘Let the results speak for themselves. Talk about the fact that you generated half a million dollars in sales or a there was a 30% increase while you were sales manager. This allows a recruiter to quantify your skills. It’s hard to quantify a word like “incredible” or “fabulous”.’
‘People person’
You guessed it – don’t use this cliche; instead state how you have worked with others to deliver something brilliant.
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