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outdated and sexist salutation it boggles the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.


Instead, take the time to research who is the
hiring manager or human resources staffer in
charge of this job requisition. Address your letter
directly to him or her by name: “Dear Ms. So-and-
So.” If you strike out and can’t find a specific
name, begin with “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear
Recruiter” or “Dear Hiring Team”.



2. “I’m ideally suited (or perfect) for this job.”




Whether in a cover letter or conversation, this
statement can be seen as a boast, an assertion
or a conclusion. No matter how you see it, it’s a
judgment you can’t and shouldn’t make. You
don’t know how you stack up against other
candidates or the hiring authority’s precise
priorities. Plus, more likely than not, this
statement will make you look brash or arrogant.
Instead, it’s your role to provide all the facts that
demonstrate your value based on your experience,
skills, knowledge, certifications and education. In
short, you need to make your case in such a way
that leads the employer to conclude that you are
ideally suited for this job.



3. “Hard working, results-oriented, team player
with excellent communication skills.”




It’s hard to count the number of times hiring
managers have encountered constellations of
buzzwords assembled into jargon-rich – yet
meaningless – self-descriptions at the tops of
résumés.
Remember: You are trying from the outset to
distinguish yourself from others. Who is going to
begin with the opposite? (“I’m a lazy, lone-wolf
worker, interested in punching a clock rather than
actually producing anything.”) No one, of course!



4. “When it comes to salary, I’m negotiable.”




When you respond to the “what are your salary
requirements” question this way, you can easily
be perceived as noncooperative. This is not
generally a sought-after quality! Moreover, while
you might intend this statement to mean “I’m
flexible,” it can be heard as just the opposite. You
might give someone a false impression that you’ll
play salary hardball at the end of the process.
On the other hand, you don’t want to box yourself
into a lower salary than you might otherwise
receive or eliminate yourself from consideration
because you have stated marginally higher
expectations than some other candidate. Show a
spirit of cooperation by talking about your past or
current salary. Calmly explain that while this can
provide a measure of guidance, you don’t yet
know precisely what would be appropriate for the
job in question.



5. “References available upon request.”




Everyone knows that references are part of the
hiring process and that at an appropriate time,
you’ll supply them. Have you ever heard of
anyone saying the opposite on a résumé? (“I
won’t supply references to share with you.”) Of
course not!
By eliminating this statement at the bottom of
your résumé, you gain a line or two. Use the extra
space to add a bit more detail about some
relevant accomplishment. Or even an extra line of
white space is better than this over-used cliché.



Happy hunting!

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