If you happened to miss it, there is a cover letter circulating the Internet about what has been coined by some as the “worst cover letter in the world.” The cover letter written by an NYU junior has quickly gone viral, initially within big name Wall Street banks and now spreading across mainstream media.
Here is the original cover letter:
1/23/2012
So where do you think Matt went wrong?
1. Matt underestimated the importance and power of an effective cover letter. If he had taken his cover letter more seriously, maybe he could have prevented the disaster he is dealing with right now.
This is a crucial time for college students looking for highly competitive summer analyst positions with leading banks in New York City’s financial district. As a triple major in Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science, Matt appears to have the credentials as a promising candidate. Unfortunately a cover letter can make or break your chances.
2. A cover letter should be centralized around the company instead of around you. Matt’s entire cover letter solely broadcasted his abilities and he also managed to do it in a manner that lacked humility and composure.
Matt’s crass approach earned him the title of Wall Street laughing stock among companies like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Citi just to name a few.
3. Proof and double check your cover letters before you attach them to your resume. Regardless of how impeccable your resume may be, a careless mistake in your cover letter can be the factor that keeps you on the unemployment line.
Among the syntax errors in Matt’s cover letter, he also addresses Morgan Stanley at one point, indicating that either he isn’t paying attention to what should be an important task or he is circulating a generic cover letter and missed that correction before sending it.
Now we can’t be too hard on Matt, everyone has succumbed to these mistakes at least once. Writing a cover letter and developing a resume that highlights your skills and background is not only difficult, but it can be nerve-racking.
If you want to tackle the job search with a cover letter you have written on your own, follow these tips.
Cover Letter Do’s & Don’ts
Do attach a cover letter to each resume you submit. A survey found that 76% of employers may automatically eliminate in employment candidate for any further hiring consideration based solely on the quality of his or her cover letter.
Don’t send a general cover letter to every company. Customize each one to that particular company’s mission and industry.
Do address the cover letter to a specific contact at the company when possible. This information may not be supplied in the advertised job opening; it is up to you to do some research.
Don’t use this cover letter as a means of self promotion. Show the hiring manager why you would be an asset to his/her team.
Do mention relevant news about the company to display your knowledge and fervor for this position.
Don’t misconstrue the word “letter” in “cover letter” as an invitation to write a lengthy essay. KISS: Keep It Simple Silly.
Do end your cover letter with a compelling closing.
Don’t write a cover letter like Matt.
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