What Not To Write In Your Resume Cover Letter

Here is an (real) example of what you don’t want to write on a cover letter with explanations.

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am looking forward to a job, which matches my qualifications and where analytical skills & logical reasoning are involved. I am a hard worker towards achieving my goals.

The enclosed resume elaborates the details of my skills and merits.

Looking forward to a positive reply.

Current CTC : Rs. X.Y lacs/A
Expected CTC : 25% Hike
Joining Date : 15 days

Thanks and Regards
[Name Removed]

Email : [Email Removed]

ph: [Phone Removed]

The first mistake was not including the actual resume in the email. Look at his first sentence:
“I am looking forward to a job, which matches my qualifications and where analytical skills & logical reasoning are involved.”

While this is reasonable, it is a stock response. He obviously hasn’t done any research on what the company does or else he would have known. It is always advisable to provide individually tailored blurb in your cover letter.

“analytical skills & logical reasoning are involved”
Even in flipping burgers they are involved to some extent. He clearly hasn’t thought about his blurb.

” I am a hard worker towards achieving my goals.”
Normally companies and recruiters want to hear how you can work towards achieving their goals and not necessarily the candidates. Other than that this sentence actually adds some value by stating his proclivity to hard work. Personally I prefer intelligent work.

“The enclosed resume elaborates the details of my skills and merits. ”
It is advisable not to state the obvious.

“Current CTC : Rs. X.Y lacs/A
Expected CTC : 25% Hike”
This is plain outrageous. The candidate wasn’t even interviewed or even communicated with and he is stating his terms in potential salary negotiation!
First of all most companies are first and foremost interested in what a candidate can contribute. If they are happy then will go an extra mile or two, even bend over backwards at times, to accomodate the candidates needs. I think this scores very much against the candidate. While employer-employee relationship is mostly bonded by money, nobody wants to hire a purely money centric guy (or gal) because of loyalty concerns.

I think he should have briefly mentioned his capabilites and how he can contribute to the company and convey his eagerness, if real, to work for the company. That’s all that is required in a cover letter.

As an employer (if you are one), what are your thoughts on this candidate?