We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback about our recent 5 Resume Killers that Will Squander Your Career Opportunities post. For some job candidates, the advice we provided resulted in a higher resume response rate and more interviews. This post may be more important, given that a higher percentage of job candidates commit these mistakes. If you wonder why you’re not getting as many interviews as your resume warrants, these cover letter killers could be your culprits:

1. Using an Obvious Template

It’s tempting to make a Mad Libs exercise out of writing cover letters, simply filling in the blanks of a template to keep the process running smoothly. But remember, the people reading these cover letters read a lot of cover letters. If you’re using a template you found online, they’ve read it before, or something like it. HR managers have generic cover letter radar, so use a template as a basis if you must, but customize it to each position.

2. Using an Odd Format

Use the standard format for writing a cover letter. It should include a subject line, salutation, body copy, closing (Sincerely or Regards), blank lines between paragraphs, and your contact information. The latter should include everything you would find on your business card. Don’t use odd formatting with indentations or bullets.

3. “To Whom It May Concern”

These are the first and last words read in many a cover letter. Generic salutations, this one in particular, provide the impression of a sender who is behind the times. Instead of this, use the receiver’s name or “Dear Hiring Manager,” or skip the salutation altogether. Also, use an email subject line that can draw the reader into your cover letter, like “Experienced RN seeks RN trainer position.”

4. Too Much Content

A cover letter isn’t a resume, nor is it a biography. It’s a simple elevator pitch in writing, meant to target a position and captivate the HR or hiring manager just enough to get a call for an interview. Keep your letter to no more than three short paragraphs and 150 words. Capture who you are and what makes you the ideal candidate. Be specific, yet brief.

5. Type O’s and Speling Miss Takes

Your email’s spell-checker won’t catch grammar mistakes, so be ultra-careful to avoid any mistakes. Consider cutting and pasting to Microsoft Word to do your spelling and grammar check, and then sending yourself the email to re-read it. HR and hiring managers are known to throw out applications that aren’t carefully proofread. Mistakes are interpreted as signs that the applicant will also be careless in their work.

6. Not Having Relevant Keywords

Having relevant keywords for an advertised position was always a sign of a serious application. But keywords are more important now than ever, because many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen job candidates. These systems ensure that irrelevant applications never hit the desk of the HR or hiring manager. To find the right keywords, look no further than the job description skills and qualifications.

7. Over-Compensating for a Lack of Training, Skills, or Experience

So you’re a career changer without 100 percent of the required skills. Or you don’t have certain experiences the hiring manager would prefer. Yes, you want your cover letter to overcome objections, but you can’t do that by overexposing your weaknesses. If you have to explain anything in order to get a call, do it in one or two sentences.

These are just a few of the many tips we can offer you as an Imprimis client. If you’d like to learn more about open positions and have your cover letters and resume critiqued, contact our recruiters today.