Picture this cartoon that’s circulating on the Internet: A woman sits across the desk from a job hunter and says, “I eliminated all the platitudes and cliche statements from your mission statement, and I’m left with this blank sheet of paper.”
Like with mission statements, when writing cover letters and résumés or interviewing for a new position, it’s too easy to eagerly conform to what you think others want to hear. This may be due to the fact that you are intimidated by the process itself and have yet to gain the confidence needed to claim your skilled, job-hunting voice.
One of the most overused claims found on résumés is “excellent communications skills,” and this can be detrimental when you demonstrate just the opposite.
Here are five common communication fails that limit job search success:
1. “Dear Sir.” So many people begin cover letters with this outdated and sexist salutation it boggles the mind! You might eliminate the sexist part with, “Dear Sir or Madam,” but that will still sound far too stilted.
via 5 Cliche Statements That Can Bomb Your Job Search – US News.
