Spelling, Grammar, and Tone: Good Writing Can Get You Hired
Writing is a skill. To be a good writer, in whatever form that may take, is a true intellectual and creative feat. Being able to write a decent resume and cover letter is an essential adult skill. Oh, dear reader, lean in nice and close. Whoops Word has so much to share with you! We’ve established (multiple times now) that anyone, including generative AI, can write a cover letter. But it’s the good writers who get invited for the coveted interviews and stand a chance at getting the job.
So, how does one write a cover letter that any hiring manager would be eager to read? We can hear you asking through your computer/phone/tablet screen, and we’re so glad you asked, dear reader. This week, we’re divulging how impeccable spelling, respect for the rules of the English language, and a warm yet professional tone form the basic foundation any job seeker needs to write a superior cover letter.
1. A Non-Visual First Impression
Between the inclusion of overly casual language, eye-sore typos, and creative (and we don’t mean that in a good way in this context) grammar in your cover letter, you can create a truly terrible first impression. An informal tone, paired with numerous unintentional errors, will create a caricature of you that appears unprofessional, socially inept, and sloppy.
Your cover letter is the vessel through which you make your first impression with a company. If you were walking into a room of hiring managers for the first time, you would want to look your best, right? You’d be wearing a clean, freshly ironed outfit with polished shoes. You’d school your features to look calm and capable. You’d come prepared with a well-organized folder of evidence demonstrating that your work ethic is unparalleled in terms of competence and professionalism. This is the impression a well-written cover letter can achieve.
Sophisticated and technical language paired with an authentic voice, and devoid of spelling and grammar errors – now that’s good writing! And it’s the best way to convey yourself as a reliable, detail-oriented, and confident professional.
2. Spelling and Grammar are the Easy Wins
Displaying your excellent spelling and grammar is a signal to your prospective employer that you care and take your work seriously. And the best part is that this is absolutely achievable for everyone! There are so many tools available to you, dear reader! Between free spell-check software, online dictionaries and thesauruses, or even just getting a second pair of eyes to go over your cover letter, you can catch your mistakes. If you want a trusted expert, there are always proofreaders and editors to do the hard yards for you as well. (This is just good self-care as far as we’re concerned!)
3. Tone is for a Touch of Personality
Tone can be tricky, but it’s also one of the most important elements a cover letter needs to be outstanding. In a world where generative AI can write a cover letter for you with minimal context or information, your tone is also where your humanity lives. People, as herd animals, gravitate towards one another, and even through writing, hiring managers will choose the human voices over the robotic ones.
An overly formal, protracted cover letter that lacks personal anecdotes reeks of generative AI and will be passed over by a hiring manager. To truly master tone in your cover letter, you need to convey confidence and warmth, tempered, of course, by your industry understanding. A positive and professional tone shines through when you provide personal examples, particularly in discussing professional achievements and transferable skills. Anyone can say that they’re interested in a job, but showing how you’d be the best fit is more important.
