If there is anything that can be the kiss of death to the job search it can be the use of free resume cover letters. You’ve worked so hard on that resume and sending a cover letter that you didn’t write is only going to show the employer that you are unoriginal, uninventive and probably lazy. Why on earth would they call you in for an interview when no one wants a lazy person working for them?

One of the biggest resume cover letter example mistakes to avoid is simply using one. The whole point of a cover letter is to get you in for an interview while advertising you and your resume. What good is it going to do you if you have a stellar resume accompanied by a mediocre cover letter sample you didn’t write? It’s amazing how many people believe that an employer will never know that the cover letter is not their own. They believe that they found a letter that will impress employers. The harsh reality is that these employers and hiring managers are trained to spot good cover letters. They know firsthand what their company needs. They know better than anyone else what skills and qualifications are needed to get the job done. Also keep in mind that they sometimes receive hundreds of applications. Do you really think they are going to spend their time reading a dry, bland cover letter you got online? It doesn’t matter how good your resume is, using one of those sample cover letters will probably ruin any chance you had of getting in that door.

Let’s break the online letter down paragraph by paragraph to show how using a free example is a big mistake. The first paragraph alone should raise a red flag. It’s important that you grab the employer’s attention in this first paragraph. This is where you make your first impression and show that you have done some research on this company. Essentially you are telling the employer that you are not just applying to them to make money. You are showing that you have a real interest in the company and what you can do for them. That’s really all the employer wants to know is what you can do for them. There are no online examples that can do that for you. Only you know what you can do for them.

The second paragraph is your resume paragraph. You recap the highlights of your resume that will pertain to the position you are applying for. Now while some of those examples online can sound really fancy and professional, take a minute to reread them. Ask yourself this important question, “does this pertain to you?” Unless you wrote the example yourself, the answer is probably no. Here is where you prove why you are such a perfect match for the company. You have your resume to back it up. Using a cover letter that has nothing to do with your resume is a huge mistake and will almost guarantee your resume and letter a trip to the shredder.

Another resume cover letter example mistake to avoid is not asking for that interview and not telling them you will follow up. The whole point of the letter is to get the interview and you are making it even easier for the employer by telling them your availability and even promising to call them to set it up. Not many examples follow this point. You’ll find that a lot of these free examples will state when the applicant is available to start work, but that means nothing to the employers. Make sure you own cover letter states when you are available to interview. Another mistake is not mentioning when you will follow up with them. Even worse, you do say you’re going to follow up and you never do.

The completion for jobs can be very stiff. With so many applicants competing against each other, it’s essential to have a cover letter that stands out amongst the rest. A cover letter with personality, flair and obvious knowledge of the company and what they expect is going to grab their attention. The biggest mistake you could make in your job search is taking a cover letter example and just adding your name to it. The best thing you can do for your job search is to avoid cover letter examples all together.

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