In a fast-paced online environment, many job seekers forget some of the basic professional rules when communicating with employers.  Unfortunately, failure to adhere to these rules could land the job candidate’s resume and cover letter in the “pass” pile. But it is in the cover letter that many job seekers make the most mistakes. Let’s take a look at a few cover letter faux pas that job seekers should avoid:

Formatting A Cover Letter Like An Email

Yes, it is true that “no one” sends letters anymore; but that doesn’t mean that you can format your cover letter like an email.  Even if you are sending a cover letter via email, be sure to format it like a business letter.

Making A Cover Letter Too Long (Or Too Short)

Your cover letter should be no more than a page long, about 500 – 600 words. Make sure to treat the cover letter like a concise sales pitch.  But don’t make it too concise; cover letters that are only a few sentences long make the job candidate look like they’re not really interested.

Making Unsubstantiated Claims

Don’t just say, “I’m great at resolving conflict,” provide an example.  Any claim you make in a cover letter should be followed by proof that the claim is in fact true.

Using Boilerplate Cover Letters

Sending the same resume for each company is worse than not sending a cover letter at all. Each cover letter should be customized to the employer and address their specific needs mentioned in their job post.