Remember there are usually hundreds of applicants for every job, so your potential future employer has to whittle down the numbers of applicants to something more manageable. The first step in the elimination process is binning the letters that don’t come up to scratch. So make sure you take care of the basics, your letter must be well presented with no spelling or grammar mistakes.

There is no excuse for poor spelling, if you can’t spell make sure you use the spellchecker! Don’t forget also that there is a difference between US spelling and UK spelling, so do yourself a favor, or a favour, and choose the correct language option. Take care also with words that a spellchecker may not necessarily pick up, such as ‘there’, ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ etc… If you don’t know the difference then ask someone who does. You can also have a look at the top 11 spelling and grammar mistakes guaranteed to make you look clueless.

Once you have ensured that you have made no basic errors it is time to move on to creating the right psychological impression and influencing the person reading the letter favorably or favourably, if he/she is British.   Remember that other famous saying, “It’s all about sincerity. Once you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” You must tell your potential employer everything he/she wants to hear !
 

•  Espouse the values of the target company - and let them know just how willing you are to learn. It may sound creepy to you, but phrases like “I sincerely value…” “I understand the importance of…” permeate your target’s brain cells unnoticed. Don’t forget, it’s all about sincerity. “I understand the importance of individual responsibility among employees,” is a wonderful line, not restricted to politicians at election time. What it really means is “I understand the importance of increasing productivity whilst keeping costs/wages down!” It also shows that you are willing to use words creatively to defend the values of the company and you can be counted on in times of crisis.
• Accentuate the positive - and don’t hold back on the jargon “I have always been good at multitasking.” – meaning, I can do the work of two or three people for no extra pay. Remember, the idea is to get you the job, once you’ve got the job whether you are really good at multitasking is up to you.
• The tone should be formal yet personal – you shouldn’t offend your potential employer by adopting a tone that is too informal or casual, but you should show that you have a personality.“I await your response with much anticipation.” This may sound cheesy but there may be a modicum of truth in it, after all you are probably interested in finding out if you’ve got past the first hurdle or not.
• Avoid flattering yourself or bragging. This is a difficult area as you need to highlight your good points without bragging and making yourself sound obnoxious. Remember, if they offer you the job they are going to have to work with you ! Bragging is however acceptable where bragging and an inflated sense or your own importance are requirements for the job,  sales and marketing come to mind.
• Last but not least, show that you are grateful for being considered. Let’s face it, they may need someone to do their job, but the chances are you need them more (otherwise they would be writing to you). So a small amount of gratitude is not out of place. “I am very excited about this opportunity, as I have always wanted to join a team like the one at XYZ. I am eagerly awaiting your response.”

Finally, to avoid your letter flying straight into the bin see the tips on how not to appear clueless in your covering letter