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5 Cliché Cover Letter Lines to Avoid at All Costs
Sara McCord
6-7 minutes
6/7/2015
Three years ago, job search expert Jenny Foss wrote one of my favorite articles on cover letters. It was called, “Bad Pick-Up Lines: They Don’t Work in Bars, They Don’t Won’t in Cover Letters.” (Yes, I remember it even three years later.)
Even
after reading that article, it took me some time—longer than I’d like
to admit—to step outside of the “I am writing to apply for [position]”
lead-in, because it’s what I was comfortable with. But it’s 2015, and
people are still writing form letters, which leads to the spread of terrible advice like, “No one reads cover letters anyway.”
It’s
not that no one reads them. The hard truth is that if your letter looks
like everyone else’s, the hiring manager will read it—and promptly
forget it.
So, read on for the five of the most cliché lines to
strike from your cover letter immediately. (Bonus points if you have
yours open in a separate screen, highlight any offending lines, and
promise to change them before you submit your next application.)
1. “I Am Applying for the Role of [Title] at [Company]”
Years
ago, when applications were sent through the mail and secretaries
sorted through letter after letter, it was probably really important to
dedicate your opening line to the job you were applying for. But
nowadays, I’d guess you’re applying via some system that makes it clear
what position you’re interested in—such as an online portal where you
can check that box or in an email with the subject line: Application: [Name of Role]. In other words, the person reading your cover letter knows why you’re there.
Of course, I’m not suggesting you never mention the position. The very opposite is true: You should absolutely
mention the position, the company, and why you’re a fit for both. What
I’m saying is that if you open your cover letter with the line above,
you’ll have the same opener as several other candidates. Translation:
You’ll have wasted your first impression as well as valuable space.
So, start your letter by grabbing the hiring manager’s attention (more on that here), and then leading into why you’re a fit for the particular role and organization.
2. “I’m a Fast Learner”
Confession: Every time I’ve written this in a cover letter, it’s because I didn’t have the preferred number of years of experience. And, I’m pretty sure the person reading my application translated this line accordingly.
Saying
that you learn quickly isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off. So,
what should you write instead? Include a stat or story that shows what a
fast learner you are. If you have a photographic memory or taught
yourself to code, mention it. If your boss asked you to learn every
major client’s name in one morning and you did it, share that anecdote.
It will be much more memorable than “I’m a fast learner.”
3. “I Think Outside the Box”
Let’s
start with the irony of using a cliché to describe how creative you
are. Seriously, though, if you are someone who thinks outside the box,
why not do just that with your cover letter?
Your best bet here is to show—rather than write a sentence about—your inventiveness. Maybe you apply for your job in a creative way
or provide an example of time when your ingenuity saved the day. Or,
just prove it right off the bat by opening up your cover letter with a
witty line that grabs people's attention.
4. “I’m the Best Person for the Job”
First
things first, do you know every other applicant? Take it from someone
who’s lost out to a person with a decade more experience in a given
sector (twice): You can’t make this assertion.
Not only could
there be someone who is in fact more qualified than you, but your
prospective boss may also have additional considerations that you’re
unaware of. Maybe you’re the person with a decade more experience, but
the company is looking for someone greener because of budget
constraints. Or perhaps you check all the right boxes—but the best
person is actually in-house.
“Best”
is a subjective term, so stick to statements you know to be true. This
would include all of the lines about how well-matched your experience is
and why you’re personally drawn to the organization. By the time
someone finishes reading your cover letter, he or she should know that you’re the best person.
5. “This Is Exactly the Kind of Role I’m Looking For”
OK,
this statement means well. You’re trying to show that you’re here for
the right reasons, that you’re passionate about the company, that you’re
invested in the role, and so forth.
But it doesn’t have the
impact you’re going for. First, it can come off a little self-indulgent
(i.e., that you’re more focused on what the company can do for you than
on what you can do for the company). Second, it’s redundant. If you’re
applying for a job, let’s hope it’s what you’re looking for!
Instead, shift your focus to discussing why you’re the candidate the company is looking for. (More on that here).
Your cover letter is a chance to show why you’re uniquely qualified for
an open position. So, don’t bury your potential in cliché cover
lines—use the tips above to stand out from the pack.
Photo of cliche cover letter writer courtesy of Shutterstock.
Sara
McCord is a freelance writer and editor, who most frequently covers the
career beat. For nearly three years, she was an editor at The Muse, and
she's regularly contributed career advice to Mashable. Her advice has
been published across the web (Forbes, Newsweek, Fast CompanyTIME, Inc., Business Insider,
CNBC and more). Sara has experience managing programs; recruiting,
interviewing, and referring job applicants; building strategic
partnerships; advising executive directors; and supporting a national
network of volunteers. Learn more and send her a note through her website, or follow her on Twitter @sarajmccord.
- Author:Jason Siu
- URL:https://jason-siu.com/article/a252a886-6abc-4876-8fa4-3c967bfc192a
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