When writing a cover letter for employment in a desired organization, it is absolutely critical that your letter is free of the 3 most common mistakes of cover letter writing.

These mistakes will be noticed very quickly by recruiters and hiring managers. Some hiring managers will, in fact, perform a quick scan of your letter to spot if any of these mistakes exist before even proceeding to read the letter in detail.

Listed here are 3 of the most common mistakes that job seekers make when writing a cover letter for employment.

1. Cover letter is not addressed by name to a specific person.

Use of "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern" just does not make the cut in an accompanying letter to a resume.

You must take the effort to call the prospective employer and inquire politely with the receptionist or secretary for the name of the hiring manager or HR manager who receives the applications. Be upfront about why you are seeking the names of these individuals. Sometimes they will be understandably cagey about releasing names to outsiders.

If that fails, do some research on the internet for the organization you are seeking employment with. LinkedIn is also a good place to search for names.

2. The letter does not follow standard format.

Cover letters for employment must follow a standard format:

Your Name, Address and Contact Details (telephone and email) on the top right corner of the letter.

Today's date on the left side of the letter, below your personal details.

Contact details of prospective employer one line space below the date. Include name, job title and company address.

Start the letter with "Dear Mr Smith" (remember to use a name, and not Sir / Madam!)

Paragraphing - do not go beyond 4 paragraphs. You must succinctly 'sell yourself' and convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job in 3 or 4 paragraphs at most. And remember that anything more than a one-page letter is a NO-NO!

Close with "Yours Sincerely" or "Sincerely". If you are unable to address your prospective employer by name, and are using "Dear Sir/Madam", then close your letter with "Yours Faithfully."

3. Asking for an "interview" in your cover letter

The hiring process is not a one-way street. The use of the term "interview" gives the impression that you are being questioned or interrogated by the employer. This is not the way modern companies hire these days. Employers seek to understand as much as to be understood about company goals and objectives. Do not shy away from asking relevant questions about the position.

In your cover letter for employment, request for "the opportunity to meet and discuss" or "to speak with you in person" rather than asking for an "interview."

And finally, if you would like to view samples of cover letter templates or need help with professional cover letter writing services, visit www.coverletterhelp.org