As we have discussed in our earlier articles, the covering letters are the first set of communication that you have with your possibly next educational institute. As much as it is important to be real in communication and original in thoughts, there are a few sharp edges that you should absolutely avoid.
Let’s uncover a few unknowing blunders which we may commit in our emails and cover letters.
Dear, this word
The point here is not to drag to a respect and disrespect argument, but it is best to avoid such personal salutations. If we cannot do with respected, let’s just keep it mister and miss. So instead of Dear Mr. Philip, just keep it Mr. Philip. This use of salutation is very colloquial and less marred with personal representations.
Forgetting to remove FWD from the subject when forwarding an already send email to a new school
Not only in admissions but also in the corporate world, this is a mistake well committed. During customer care and sales pitches, people tend to forget to remove the word FWD from the subject line and hence, the recipient can instantly make out that it is a copy-sent forward email. Bad signal to send.
CC’ing unrequited people
No CCs to fellow friends, family or self. Even if you have to, please bcc so that the recipient does not get to know about it. Not only does it raise the question of why it has been done, it also shows a lack of sensibility of email etiquettes
Not introducing yourself
Rule No.1, they don’t know you. Ok, they probably don’t know on your first name basis. Introduce yourself each time, unless you’re conversing on the same mail thread. State your application number, name and location clearly to avoid any doubts. Also, if you’re talking further on an email already sent, mention the reference.
Extra spaces or no spaces
To err is human and emails forwarding and resending might just pop some unknowing errors, the commonest being spaces. Ensure you give a double space between new paragraphs and starts and a single space regularly. And do not copy paste from Microsoft Word to Mail and expect the same spacing, the definitions are different in both.
The Closing Line
Please ensure you close with the expected response to the email. If the response has to be the acknowledgement of the documents, mention something like ‘It’ll be great if you can acknowledge the receipt of the documents’. Mention the expected action, to have the action.
Signatory
No first names only please, provide your full name. Do mention your contact details (online profiles, alternate email address, contact number & address) beneath every signatory. It’ll just help speed up the profiles else they need to scout for your details each time they need to contact you.
Do not forget again, that it is your first interaction. Make it healthy and as comprehensive as possible. Good luck!