"Dear Susan, I'm very interested in the Marketing Assistant position available at GTE..."

What's wrong with this cover letter introduction? To start with, my name isn't Susan. I also don't work for a company called GTE, and our open position wasn't for a Marketing Assistant.

The sender was obviously applying for multiple positions using the same cover letter template and unfortunately neglected to update some important facts before passing it along to me.

Blunders like this -- an applicant detailing their interest in an inaccurate position or their excitement at the prospect of working for the wrong company -- are seen by recruiters surprisingly often. And such blatant mistakes are usually fatal.

After all, if a candidate appears to have put forth so little effort, why should a recruiter like myself consider them for a position?

Avoid a similar cover letter catastrophe in your own job search by tailoring your cover letter for each position and always verifying basics like the open position's title and correct company name. And if you're addressing your materials to a specific individual, be sure you get their name right!

- Sharon L., Recruiter

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