Cover letter tone: Formal or friendly?
When creating cover letters, a common mistake is to use essentially the same letter every time. Many applicants do not change anything other than the company name. This is a bad idea and you can be sure that those who read it see your generic letter as such. It’s not as difficult to spot these types of cover letters as you might think. The other common mistake is in the tone. As a general rule, formal is better. But this is not always the case, although it is safe to choose this style if you are not sure what to do. It is always better to dress too much than under, right?
I’m going to assume you’ve done your homework and know enough about the job you’re looking for to be specific in your cover letter. If you don’t have that information, get it before you start writing. You can’t write a decent cover letter without details. Also, during your research, you may find a reason or reasons to skip the entire application process entirely!
The tone of the letter will depend on the position you are seeking. The rule of thumb is that the more authority the position has, the more formal the cover letter should be and the more specific it is. Makes sense, don’t you think?
You want the letter to be short but complete. It is important to highlight your skills in relation to the specific job being offered and explain why you are a perfect fit for the position. Any of your skills may seem unimportant to you when it comes to the job at hand, but it might be something the company deems more important. Find a way to include anything that can help you get the job.
Of course, you will send the letter to the person conducting the interview. If you don’t know who it is, just call and ask because “To Whom It May Concern” is not enough. Address him or her formally throughout your letter. Never shorten someone’s name unless you have permission to do so. Save the informal and friendly approach for your friends.
When writing a cover letter, you want to convey your point of view as briefly as possible while showing respect to the reader. The tone should always err on the formality, you never know how high your request might go.
