There are 3 Things You Should NEVER Include When Writing a Cover Letter. If you want your job seeking letters to generate quality interviews for you, be very careful about the do's and don't's. Some the mistakes you make may only lead you to the end of the queue being called for interview. But some mistakes will simply lead your letter and resume to the trash bin. So what are the disastrous three things that you should NEVER include when writing a cover letter?

NEVER mention your recent redundancy should you have been laid off. Keep a cover letter positive and what you can do for the employer. If your resume shows a period of unemployment, you can explain your position in the interview.

NEVER Over Sell. A cover letter is a sales tool, but we still don't want to make it too aggressive. Of course you believe you are the best candidate, but you would never say it. If you say it, it will only irritate the hiring manager. You just explain why you believe you are the right fit and how you can contribute to the position. Remain humble. Compare these two:

(A) If I were granted an interview, I'll explain why I'm the best candidate for this position.
(B) I would appreciate an opportunity to meet you and explain why I believe I may be the right fit for this position.

See the difference?

NEVER include personal information such as your race, sex, age, religion or marital status in the cover letter. These things are against the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and as such will not gain you extra credit. It may even create a negative impact such as you are too old or too young for the role. Few employers will ask for this information nowadays. Even if they want to find out your age, they can simply make an intelligent guess from your year of graduation. Save the valuable space on your cover letter and focus writing how and why you can contribute to the position you are applying.

Here is one more 'never' in case you haven't been made redundant recently: Never Over-emphasis your interest in the position. You may sound desperate if you do. In the eyes of the hiring manager, all applicants are interested in the role or they won't submit an application. More important to the employer is what you can do for the company and why they have to hire you. Compare these two:

(A) I hope we can meet so that I can convey my strong interest in this position to you in person.
(B) I hope we can meet so that I can find out your expectations for the right candidate and to show you how I will work hard to meet them.

Above are just a few simple tips. Want to speed up your job hunting process? Learn more cover letter writing skills by completing the free mini course and workshop from the Cover Letter Blog. Click here for instant access.

Anna M D'Souza is a headhunter and author of the Cover Letter Blog http://cover-letter-blog.blogspot.com/.