What is a Job Application Letter?
A job application letter is a document you send to potential employers when you are applying for a job. Commonly known as a cover letter or motivational letter, it accompanies other documents such as a résumé or a curriculum vitae during a job search.
Why Bother Writing a Job Application Letter At All?
A job application letter helps to highlight your marketable skills and achievements, obtaining the employer’s attention easier. We understand that writing and attaching a job application letter along with your resume may require more effort and time. However, doing this will increase your chances to be selected for an interview.
If you are reading this, you are likely to have created your own job application letter. To further boost your chances of landing your dream job, we have listed 6 serious mistakes in a job application letter that you should not be making.
Serious Mistakes in a Job Application Letter
1. Typos & Grammatical Errors
Employers go through multiple application letters each day. Most of them will remove applications with a lot of errors instantly. Why would they take your application seriously? Would you want to leave negative impressions of not being serious and meticulous?
Proofreading your letter is crucial. Read through your letter and remove any grammar, punctuation or spelling errors. Even though modern word processors have in-built spell checkers, there are still chances that they will miss some errors.
Another careless mistake is to use spell-check in the wrong language (e.g. U.S. English vs. U.K. English). Ask a family member or a friend to review the letter if needed. You should minimise careless mistakes by triple-checking your application letters.
2. Zero Personalisation
Believe it or not, hiring managers are able to tell if you are using standard or ‘stock’ job application letter templates when applying for jobs. Using stock templates does a great job at showing how lazy you are, and suggests that you have not done any research on that particular company or job position.
Make sure that you personalise your application letter for each job position you are applying for. Research their website to understand their culture, values and business model. The more you understand about the company, the more personalised your job application letter can be.
Every company also has different goals, concerns and requirements for a job position. Be sure to address the concerns in your application letter and explain how your skills and experiences make you the best candidate for the role.
3. “It’s Just a Mini Resume”
Most fresh graduates think that a job application letter is just a simplified resume in paragraph form. Why should hiring managers waste their time reading a mini resume? Change the mindset right away and think of application letters as your own elevator pitch.
Application letters should highlight a few examples of your experiences and skills, showing the specific value you can bring to the company. It is a great way to help employers imagine the way you attain great achievements in the company if they decide to hire you.
4. Lack of Value Proposition
Some job applicants focus too much on their academic qualifications instead of value proposition. Here’s the truth, academic qualifications and training are getting less relevant these days. Instead, highlight the immediate benefits that you can bring to the company.
Even if you talk about how qualified you are, make sure to relate it to the job requirements and what the company is looking for. Try to position yourself as the perfect candidate for the job. You are more likely to land an interview if your qualifications, skills and experiences match the company’s needs.
5. Wrong Company!
Getting the basic information correct, common sense right? Unfortunately, applicants often reference the wrong company and address the wrong person in their job application letter. It basically destroys credibility, making the entire letter useless no matter how attractive your profile is.
It is absolutely crucial to triple-check your cover letter greeting, and make sure that you address the right company and the right contact. Try to mention the company’s name a few times in your letter to show your sincerity.
6. Irrelevant Information
Job application letters should be simple and concise. It should be a summary of who you are, selling your profile to the busy hiring managers, nothing more. No one needs to know about your awesome hobbies, boring social life, and family issues in the application letter.
Do not include unnecessary information unless it is relevant to the job position. If you do, keep your information short to ensure that hiring managers are able to focus more on your skills and experiences. Lastly, do NOT talk about your salary expectations here. Too soon.
Important Tips for Writing an Effective Job Application Letter
Use The Right Format
Ensure that your job application letter uses the formal business letter format. Include your contact information, the date, employer’s contact information, a salutation at the beginning, and your signature at the end. For more formatting tips, visit our cover letter guide now.
Pitch and Sell Yourself
It sounds obvious but often overlooked. Emphasise the values you would bring to the company (and provide examples!). It is crucial that you mention experiences or abilities that are highly suitable for the job position.
Use Relevant Keywords
Research the job listing. Identify keywords that are relevant to your applied job position. Try your best to include those keywords and it will help employers identify you as a strong candidate for the position.
Keep it Brief
Your application letter should just be under a page long. Your content should be concise, about four paragraphs. This improves readability for the hiring managers.
Final Thoughts
Once you have all these tips in mind, it is time to review your job application letter and make the necessary changes. Avoid making these mistakes that your application will stand out from thousands of applicants out there.
It is time for you to submit your application letter along with your beautiful resume and ace the job application. Nervous about the upcoming job interviews? We have just the right guide on how to successfully pass job interviews in Malaysia.
Read the Mandarin version here: 毕业生求职信(Job Application Letter)最常犯的6大错误
