Free Agent Primer - Nasty Cover Letters (3 in a Series of 6)

If you have made it this far in the series on cover letters, you have bought in to the notion that a quality cover letter can help you beat similar candidates in this thing we call the job hunt.  With the intros over, now it's on to what's right and just as importantly, what's wrong with cover letters.  First up, a quick primer on what not to do with cover letters.

As outlined in previous posts, the biggest mistake candidates make when they finally decide to create a cover letter is that they can create one letter, then send it to any employer without further customization.  Here's a great example of such a letter sent in to SourceMedical - it's well done for the most part, but doesn't really speak to why the candidate wants the job in question, etc.   I'm going to imagine this letter came from a intelligent if somewhat underachieving candidate named Jeff Lebowski, aka "The Dude".

To whom it may concern,

My name is Jeff Lebowski, I received my B.A. in Education in 2002 and I completed my A.S. in web design / systems administration this July. Recently, I have developed complete websites from conception to launch and I have worked on database integrated websites. I have been in education since 2000 and worked in direct supervisory roles since that time. I was selected as a learning team leader in the development and implementation of a new curriculum for out of school time care, (this curriculum will be published for national use) and I have given presentations to many groups, students, peers and funding organizations. Both, my technical and more importantly personal skills are exceptional.

A day, at any of my previous employers, never passed in which my poise, reliability, ability to multi-task and assertiveness were not tested.

My warmest regards,

Jeff Lebowski

Most of you read that and said, "that's not bad".  You are right - it wasn't bad, but did nothing to distinguish itself from any other cover letter.  As we'll cover in the upcoming posts on cover letters, the manta is ABC.... which for cover letters means Always Be Customizing.  You have to do the following in the cover letter - 1) mention to position you are applying for, 2) offer up a contrast of your knowledge, skills and abilities with the stated needs of the position, and 3) close by asking for an interview.

While the Dude has taken a nice shot at the letter, he has not hit on any of these core items... Which means he will remain available in the marketplace until further notice....