The One Thing You Should Never Do on Your Cover Letter

When I was working in Career Services, the thing I got the most questions about was cover letters. No one seemed to know why they needed one, if they needed one, or how to write one.

Your cover letter is an incredibly important part of your application- it shows your potential employer how your resume is connected to their position description. This is exactly why you want all aspects of your cover letter, even the seemingly small details, to be perfect.

In my years working for Career Services, there was one cover letter mistake that would make me cringe every single time I saw it. It’s so small, you might not even give it a second thought. BUT, it’s those details- the ones most people don’t think about- that will make your cover letter stand out.

Think about it- if the smallest details of your application are perfect, and everyone else’s are not, then you are sure to stand out- even if you’re up against a huge stack of competitors

So, what is the one thing you should never do on your cover letter? The one detail that you can fix right here, right now, to stand out above everyone else?

Do you see it? Can you tell what’s wrong?

The signature!

Before computers, job applications were delivered by mail. So, people would hand write their signatures. Now, obviously, it’s more typical to type your cover letter and send it online.

So, without the ability to sign their cover letter by hand, people will instead type their name in a cursive font. This is a HUGE no no! It’s absolutely not the same as a signature, looks a little silly, and is pretty unprofessional overall.

No offense, of course, to anyone that does have a cursive font on their cover letter- you didn’t know any better, I understand! What’s important is that you change it.

What can you change it to?

You have two options. You can just type your name in the plain font you used for the rest of your cover letter- there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, it’s what most people do. It would look like this:

Sincerely,
Olivia Sod

There is one other option that will make you stand out above everyone else. It takes a little extra time and effort, which is why most people don’t bother to do it. BUT if you do, it’ll totally separate you from the herd of other applicants.

Here’s what you do: Sign your best signature on a plain piece of paper. Scan (you can get a docu-scanning app on your phone!) your signature on to your computer and save it. Then, insert that image into the bottom of your cover letter and type your name underneath, just for clarity.

BOOM you have your signature on your cover letter! While this isn’t necessary, it does show employers that you took the extra time and effort to put your actual signature on your cover letter. That extra time can go a long way if it means getting you an interview!

There you have it- the one thing to never do on your cover letter and my secret tip to fix it! Don’t ever sign your cover letter by typing your name in a cursive font- it’s so, so much better to type it in plain text. OR, if you want to go the extra mile, you can scan your handwritten signature and insert it onto your cover letter.

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