Ten Lines That Are Killing Your Cover Letter: What to Avoid and What to Include
In the competitive world of job hunting, your CV is your ticket to a potential career. However, certain lines can inadvertently weaken your chances. Let's delve deeper into ten common pitfalls and explore alternatives to ensure your CV stands out and showcases your true potential.
1. "References Available Upon Request"
This line, once standard, has become obsolete. Employers presume references will be provided when requested, so use this space to highlight your accomplishments instead.
Alternative: Save space and have a reference list ready for when it's asked for.
2. "Responsible for..."
This phrase is vague and lacks impact. Instead of stating duties, focus on quantifiable achievements and the positive changes you brought to your role.
Alternative: Utilize action verbs like "managed," "implemented," and "developed" to demonstrate your contributions.
3. "I, Me, My"
Avoid using first-person pronouns as they can make your CV sound informal. Instead, maintain a professional tone.
Alternative: Use bullet points or write in the third person to highlight your accomplishments.
4. "Unemployed"
While honesty is crucial, the term "unemployed" can carry unnecessary negative connotations. There are more positive ways to address gaps in your employment history.
Alternative: Use phrases like "actively seeking new opportunities" or "in transition" to maintain a positive outlook.
5. "References: Available upon Request"
Dedicating a section for references takes up valuable space that could be better used to showcase your skills and experiences.
Alternative: Express your availability for references in your cover letter, leaving more room to highlight your qualifications.
6. "Objective: To obtain a position..."
This standard objective statement is too generic and fails to provide specific information about what you bring to the table.
Alternative: Write a compelling summary that highlights your key skills and experiences, showcasing what sets you apart.
7. "Duties Included..."
Much like "responsible for," this phrase undersells your achievements. It's crucial to emphasize the impact you had in your roles.
Alternative: Focus on specific accomplishments and, when possible, quantify your achievements.
8. "GPA or Exam Scores"
Unless you're a recent graduate with an outstanding GPA, including this information may not be necessary and can detract from more relevant qualifications.
Alternative: Emphasize relevant experiences and skills that demonstrate your qualifications for the position.
9. "Reasons for Leaving Previous Jobs"
While transparency is important, this topic is best discussed in an interview setting. Including it on your CV can raise unnecessary questions.
Alternative: Use your CV to highlight your skills and experiences, and save explanations for interviews.
10. "Hobbies and Interests"
Unless your interests directly align with the job, they may not add significant value to your CV.
Alternative: Focus on professional achievements, certifications, and skills that directly pertain to the position.
“ I’m not an expert at XYZ? but I can do a2z ”
Trust me recruiter is not an optimist, so it firstly gives a negative impression on you as you focus on your weaknesses instead of your strengths, and secondly, the recruiter would have seen it a ton of times before. If a certain skill is a must for the job then you can’t compensate for it with your optimistic actions.
What to do?
Focus on your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses. Mention all your skills that can justify you are a good fit for the job. But don’t brag too much about your skills. Be conscious and confident about your skills. These things will help the recruiter understand you in a better way.
“ I work well under pressure ”
You have to work under pressure. No matter what job you take you have to bear your superiors’ orders (more precisely anger) and have to finish the work within deadly deadlines. So, working under pressure will be a routine once you take up the job. The recruiter won’t be impressed by these generic statements. So don’t add things that make your CV look routine.
What to do?
So, make it more specific like how you can cope up with pressure by mentioning some past incidents where you did well even in difficult circumstances in an interview and not in the CV. Describe how you can handle a critical situation more efficiently than others. But don’t make up stories. Mention it if and only if it’s worth mentioning.
“I’m good at multi-tasking”
Multi-tasking is sure a great quality a company looks for in its employees. But it does become a common line in most of the applicant’s CVs, so it doesn’t make you stand out of the crowd. Moreover, once you get a job you will have to multi-task at times to get things done on time. It just makes your CV look unreal as you haven’t given any proof to your statement.
What to do?
Try to mention how your multi-tasking ability can help the company achieve its goals, what type of tasks you can take up, and whether there are any previous instances where you have used your multi-tasking ability to achieve something exceptional. Then it gives proof to your words and a positive impact on your CV.
“ I’m a social person ”
It is an important quality especially when you are applying for marketing and management-related jobs. But what is a big deal about it, almost everyone is social. In a workplace, it’s obvious that employees should maintain coordination among themselves. It is not enough to state yourself as social you need to explain a bit more about it like how can you handle an argument or else you can prove how good is your communication skills at the time of the interview.
What to do?
Explain how you handle people, how your past relationships used to be with your clients and colleagues, and What your colleague's or client’s feedback Also mention if there is any situation where you used your social skills and solved some serious problems. But please don’t elaborate too much about it because you may end up frustrating the recruiter with unnecessary details. Keep it simple.
In conclusion, your CV is a powerful tool in your job search arsenal. By avoiding these common pitfalls and emphasizing your accomplishments, skills, and experiences, you can present yourself as the ideal candidate for any role. Remember, a well-crafted CV showcases your potential in a clear, concise, and impactful manner.