Employment Digest has this amusing post on language-challenged cover letters, excerpted from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  According to the article, these are statements from actual cover letters, which, unfortunately, were actually read:

 “As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.”

 “I received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.”

“Experience: Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse.”

 “I was instrumental in ruining an entire Midwest chain operation.”

“I am very detail-oreinted.”

“I worked as a Corporate Lesion.”

Funny as these examples may be, they send a clear message.  Sloppiness is the enemy in a job search.  Employers figure that if you can’t be bothered with professionalism when your own well-being is at stake, why would you do any better with the company’s work? 

How can you avoid silly oversights like these?  Well, first of all, there is no such thing as a perfect first draft, so get into the habit of proofreading all of your job search documents, from your resume and cover e-mail to your reference list and the actual application.

And just because you’re handwriting or e-mailing something doesn’t give you license to be any less vigilant.  Every document that leaves your care should be carefully checked for clean formatting, proper grammar and correct spelling.  Think of your written materials as little pieces of yourself sent out into the world, and make sure they reflect positively on you.