Cover Letter Editing and Proofreading Services
A cover letter gives the first introduction of a prospective employee to a potential employer. It communicates the identity and intentions of the applicant, creating an initial impression and demonstrating skills and abilities that make the candidate an asset that will add value to the organization in case they are hired.
The cover letter should not be a repetition of what is already written in the resume, rather it should highlight or elaborate the features that are directly relevant to the position being applied for. A well-written cover letter is persuasive, shows why the candidate is the best fit for the position, and introduces the recruiter to the resume.
According to research, attaching a cover letter to a resume boosts the candidate’s chances of getting a job by 49%. However, applicants still face a 58% probability of being dismissed by recruiters if their letters are found to contain typographical errors, hence the need for a cover letter editing service.
To avoid being dismissed by the recruiting team, applicants should consider buying cover letter editing and proofreading services from professionals. Our proofreading and editing services ensure all flaws and inconsistencies are fixed before the job applications reach the target audience.
This article contains a discussion on the factors we consider when editing and proofreading a cover letter. Because it gives the first impression to a potential employer even before they can read the resume, a cover letter should be edited and proofread to correct errors, making the applicant stand out from other applicants and a chance of being scheduled for an interview.
Factors We Consider When Editing and Proofreading Cover Letters
The cover letter plays an important role in the hiring process. Recent research indicates that 83% of the surveyed hiring decision-makers attributed an excellent cover letter to their decision to schedule a candidate for an interview even when the resume wasn’t good enough to make them stand out. In addition, 77% of the recruiters said that they would prefer a candidate who sent a cover letter even when it was not requested; with 72% of such recruiters stating their expectation for a cover letter even when it is regarded as an optional requirement for the job application.
The importance attached to the cover letter by recruiters cannot be overemphasized. It is, therefore, important to seek editing and proofreading help from experienced editors to ensure it does not jeopardize the candidate’s chances of securing a job because of errors and inconsistencies.
Our cover letter editing and proofreading services give the applicant an opportunity to present themselves exceptionally by addressing the following factors.
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The target audience and purpose of the cover letter
Understanding the target audience determines how one addresses the cover letter without using old-fashioned phrases like to whom it may concern. If the applicant knows the hiring manager, they may directly address them or the company recruitment team, without sounding impersonal or passive. The type of content to include in the cover letter is also dependent on to whom and for what purpose it is written. Our professional editors are able to evaluate the suitability of the content after understanding the audience.
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Layout and design
Editing and proofreading experts ensure that the cover letter adheres to the standard format set for such letters. Appropriate margins and easy-to-read font type and size should be used throughout the document. If need be, emphasis features such as bold, italics, capitalization, or underlining should be used, but sparingly to avoid making the document look awkward.
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Planning and tone
Our editing team ensures that each cover letter is customized for one specific position to ensure that it includes the specific industry language, terminology, and keywords evident from the job listing. The tone should remain positive, ensuring every sentence of the cover letter leaves a positive impression on the target audience.
We offer exceptional cover letter editing and proofreading services to assess the tone to ensure one sounds confident and determined in their application rather than a desperate person begging for consideration. Employers are most likely to consider a confident person who portrays determination in pursuit of purpose and enthusiasm to accomplish given tasks. The tone may however vary with organizational culture.
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Writing style
Individuals may have different writing styles but in cover letters, one must ensure that it is contextualized and organized in a logical order. Simple terms and language, short, and clear sentences are most preferred for easy readability and comprehensibility. Because of the brief nature of the cover letter, we are keen on the word count requirements, ensuring that every word counts so that space is not wasted on vague sentences and statements.
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The content
The content of the cover letter should be focused on the employer’s needs and how the applicant’s knowledge, skills, education, and experiences are the perfect match for what the recruiter is looking for. Every sentence should be in support of the value the applicant can add to the organization once given a chance as an employee. Researching about the hiring company and reviewing the job description helps the applicant in being specific to avoid using general statements in the cover letter.
Our professional editors possess the extensive experience to offer the best cover letter editing and proofreading service; evaluating the content to establish whether it aligns with what the employer needs and portrays the applicant as the perfect match for the position.
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The overall structure of the cover letter
The overall structure and appearance of a cover letter are prone to change and update over time. The subject matter experts in our team of editors have helped thousands of applicants to get their dream jobs through effective proofreading and editing services. However, the following information should be organized and ordered logically within the cover letter structure.
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Personal information
Personal statements and details in the cover letter should include the contact information written in block style on the left margin, towards the top of the paper. The name, address, phone number, and email address should be included to facilitate identity and communication when there is a need to call the applicant for an interview.
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Date
Just like any other business letter, cover letters should also have a date to indicate when it was sent.
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Recipient’s information
The recipient’s details such as the contact person’s name, title, employer, and address can be personalized by including specific names. This is effective in ensuring that the letter reaches the recruiting manager in time and creates a personal touch between the applicant and the potential employer.
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Salutation
The way to address the contact person should be chosen carefully to ensure they are not offended by the applicant's way of addressing them.
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The body
The body of a cover letter should be appropriately divided into logical paragraphs, ensuring that each communicates a specific element of the cover letter. Our experienced editors offer the best cover letter editing service, giving valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement.
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Closing
The closing sentences should give a call-to-action and information about the applicant’s availability for the job, or for a discussion with the hiring manager about the value they could bring into the organization if given a chance. One may also indicate where they can be contacted when needed, and thank the recipient for their time or consideration.
when editing for structure, we ensure that all the elements featured in the cover letter are arranged logically to fit into the requirements of the job application. Should the applicant be uncertain whether the structure adopted is appropriate for the type of document and purpose, they should consider buying cover letter editing and proofreading services from experts who know exactly what an effective and impactful cover letter should look like.
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Industry Jargon
Each industry has the type of vocabulary that is acceptable and understandable across the globe. Our specialists in editing and proofreading ensure that the cover letter does not contain vocabulary and terminology that is not appropriate for the specific field or position of interest.
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Professionalism
A cover letter should be a persuasive, engaging, and professional document that represents the applicant. The contact information given, especially the email must be formal to ensure the applicant does not lose their professional identity. A formal tone has to be maintained throughout the document.
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Knowledge of the company
Demonstrating knowledge about the company to which one is applying is impressive to the employer because it shows that the applicant is specifically interested in that company rather than applying to any vacancy that seems fit for them. One should conduct thorough research about the company and find a way of interlacing the information into the cover letter before sending it to the target audience. For our experienced editors to be able to offer the best cover letter editing and proofreading service, they first conduct vast research about the company of interest to assess the applicant’s knowledge of the organizational culture, products, services, values, and any other relevant information.
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Spelling and grammatical errors
Our professional cover letter editors ensure correct spelling for every word to make grammatically correct sentences and logical paragraphs. The cover letter may be the first thing that the hiring manager reads to make a judgment on the candidate’s suitability. We correct mistakes in spelling, punctuation, grammar errors, and other inconsistencies based on our proficiency in the English language.
The decision to hire a person to edit and proofread the cover letter is the best at this point because even after self-editing, it may still be impossible to detect all the errors in own written documents. A fresh pair of eyes can detect more errors and inconsistencies that were missed out during self-editing, thereby, enhancing the quality of the letter.
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Homophones and contractions
It is possible to have a mix-up of contractions and similar-sounding words. Despite sounding the same, these words have different definitions and meanings. If used interchangeably, they could change the meaning of the sentence or lead to misinterpretation.
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Accuracy of details
Fact-checking is essential to ensure all the information provided in the cover letter is correct. The personal data, abbreviations, dates, work history, and accomplishments should be correct and not contradictory to what the resume contains. We ensure that the cover letter is error-free and attains standards that can land the applicant a new job.
The quality of writing, grammar, and excellent command of the English language in both written and oral communication greatly affect one’s professional image and reputation. Our cover letter proofreading and editing services ensure that the document, which is the first point of contact with a potential employer, is flawless and makes the best first impression. In the competitive corporate world, there is no room for errors and once the mistake gets to the public, it cannot be taken back; explaining why it is important to hire a person to edit and proofread a cover letter to avoid losing job opportunities because of superfluous errors.
Advantages of Using a Professional Cover Letter Editing & Proofreading Service
The cover letter is an important document that helps in proving a candidate’s professionalism to a prospective employer. It ought to be written in a language that persuades the recruiting or hiring team to read the attached resume and convince the employer that the candidate will be a valuable asset if given a chance to work in the company.
The document also proves the candidate’s oral and written communication skills, talents, and ability to co-exist and work harmoniously with others for a common goal. These functions may not be possible if the cover letter has errors and inconsistencies. It is imperative to seek editing and proofreading help to avoid sending a document that has the potential for negatively affecting the employer’s perception of the prospective employee.
The following are some of the advantages of seeking cover letter editing and proofreading services from professionals.
- The services result in a revised and refined cover letter that does not have any typographical, grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and any other types of errors and inconsistencies.
- The structure, flow, clarity, and readability can be improved by the suggestions and changes recommended by our cover letter editing and proofreading experts.
- The applicant is able to track revisions and review all the recommended changes to decide whether they are acceptable or not.
- The comments and feedback provided about any remaining concerns or potential issues may help in improving the quality of the cover letter for the best results after the recruiter’s review.
- Our editing and proofreading services focus on enhancing the applicant’s strengths and making their weaknesses invisible to the employer.
- Turnaround time is reasonable to meet the application deadline.
- Plagiarism is addressed when editing and proofreading the cover letter to maintain intellectual integrity and honesty.
Generally, the quality of a cover letter improves after thorough editing and proofreading, during which our professional cover letter editors review and give recommendations to improve the structure, design, brevity, accuracy, comprehensibility, readability, and completeness to make it convincing to the employer or recruiting team. They also adjust the design to ensure the document is presentable and meets the application requirements.
Common Cover Letter Blunders to Avoid
The following are some of the mistakes job seekers make in their cover letters.
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Superficial editing and customization
It is difficult to create the desired impression if the cover letter is not edited and customized accordingly. An impactful cover letter ought to be uniquely modified to ensure it does not sound like any other to make the candidate stand out. Superficial editing may fix only a few issues, leaving the rest unattended. Therefore, editing and customization should be carried out sufficiently to ensure the cover letter makes the applicant the best among the many who may have the same interest.
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Writing vaguely
Vague statements and sentences should be avoided in cover letters. Employers want to see specific details or examples that clearly point to a particular accomplishment or achievement. The applicant should avoid being vague in their application in order to impress and convince the employer to read the resume after the cover letter.
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Not conducting research on the company
Without adequate research on the company, one may not be able to modify the cover letter to the job listing or directly address the recruiting manager. Lacking the company information means the applicant has not really made an effort in researching to know the organization they would like to work with and may be interpreted as a don’t-care attitude and personality.
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Using the inappropriate tone of voice
The level of formality appearing from the tone also matters to recruitment decision-makers. One should ensure a balanced tone that does not sound too formal or casual as it may reduce one’s chances of securing the position. A semi-formal voice keeps the reader engaged.
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Showing no real value to the employer
The cover letter is like a marketing or advertising tool used by a prospective employee to prove to a recruiter of their suitability for the position of interest. One should not lose focus on the purpose of the letter or forget to tell the recruiter what makes them the best choice for the role. One should always relate what they are or have back to the company's needs, showing the value the company can gain after hiring them.
A flawless cover letter that is well-written, edited, revised, and proofread depicts the candidate as an exceptional asset to a potential employer and can influence their chances of being offered the job. All the factors discussed in this article can be of help in editing and proofreading a cover letter to enhance quality. When unable to self-edit and proofread, there is an option of buying cover letter editing and proofreading services to ensure the candidate stands out among the rest and increase the chances of getting the job.