Your cover letter should highlight all the reasons why you are a perfect fit for the job in question. Most hiring managers or interviewers expect you to use three paragraphs to ‘sell’ them your value proposition.
Using this space wisely is vital because it means that you’ll know what to include while discarding anything that could jeopardise your chances of finding favour with the interviewers. Unfortunately, there are some mistakes that applicants make when writing their cover letters that are detrimental to their chances of getting hired.
We recommend checking out platforms like Adobe that feature cover letter builders and templates that will help you build a great cover letter fit for your industry and specific job.
With that said, here are the top 5 mistakes that you should avoid when creating a cover letter for the teaching role.
Not Following Job Application Instructions
Each job post has its own set of unique instructions that hiring managers typically issue to allow for a standardized staffing process. But you’d be surprised at just how many rarely read these instructions especially those that pertain to writing a cv or cover letter.
Skimming through these instructions can ultimately cost you the job because you might miss a few key details to include in your cover letter. For instance, these instructions might include anything from vital guidelines on formatting to asking for specific keywords to be included in content and submission procedures or protocols.
Failing to thoroughly read through these instructions and tailor your cover letter will inadvertently eliminate you from consideration. One study showed that 42% of employers would automatically reject a candidate if they failed to provide the requested documents or follow application instructions.
So, it’s in your best interest to leave no stone unturned when reading these instructions.
Being Totally Uninformed about the Organization or Institution
Another huge oversight professionals in the teaching industry make when writing their cover letters is failing to understand more about the organization or institutions that they are applying to.
Schools and academic institutions prioritize cultural fit as much as professional skills. Writing your cover letter without failing to recognize the school’s philosophy, programs, or community will make you appear disinterested.
Take time to understand what makes the institution unique, and then craft your letter. Remember, every cover letter should be unique and tailored to the job in question.
Having Spelling errors, Typos and Sloppy Formatting in Your Cover Letter
You might already have read or heard about the cost of typos and spelling errors in CVs and cover letters. Unfortunately, it is still one of the biggest and most common mistakes that job seekers make.
A single typo can be the difference between moving forward in the hiring process or your document being tossed to the side. Remember that employers often receive dozens, if not hundreds, of applications.
Simple errors may make your CV or cover letter stand out for the wrong reasons, leading to an automatic rejection.
Not Presenting Your Value Proposition to the Employer But Instead Focusing on Yourself
Don’t focus too much on your skills and attributes when writing your cover letter. Rather, focus on the value that you’ll add if hired. Hiring managers typically look for candidates who can contribute to the organizational success.
If your application focuses solely on what you’ve accomplished without connecting it to the company’s needs, it can come across as self-centred. Don’t try too hard to impress the reader because this might lead to a situation where you end up boasting using sentences like, ‘I’m the only uniquely qualified candidate for this job’.
Make sure your cover letter really emphasizes the value you bring to the employer, not just your accomplishments.
Using a Generic Cover Letter, That’s not Tailored For a Specific Role
Trust us – we understand how tedious and tiring it can be to change your cover letter for every job that you apply for. But there really is no alternative to this because hiring managers can easily spot generic cover letters and reject your application. Tailoring your cover letter for each job you apply for helps you stand out as a serious and thoughtful candidate.
In Conclusion, These are the Top Mistakes Job Applicants in the Teaching Industry Make When Writing Their Cover Letters
The teaching industry is different from other sectors but shares a few similarities especially where job application processes are involved. If you’re looking for a job in this sector, you’ll have to prepare an elaborate and clear cover letter to compliment your CV.
But when doing so, be careful not to make these mistakes, as they can be detrimental to your overall job-hunting process.
