6 phrases and 6 words you should never include in a cover letter

6 phrases and 6 words you should never include in a cover letter6 phrases and 6 words you should never include in a cover letterIt goes without saying that you always want to present yourself in the best possible light when youre job searching. From how you structure your resume to what you say during a job interview, it all counts towards (and against) you during the selection and hiring process. But knowing what to say - or not say - in your cover letter is particularly important. Use the right wording, and youre golden. Write the wrong thing, and your entire job application can get pitched in the thanks, but no thanks pile.Read on for these words and phrases that you should never include in your cover letter.Here are some words and phrases to avoid in your cover letterIm confident Im the perfect person for the job.Yes, confidence is a very good thingexcept when you broadcast it on a job application. It can be a turnoff to a potenzial employer who might then look to binnensee how youre not the ideal candidate for the position. You can show your confidence in other ways, such as by making sure that your resume and cover letter are customized to the job description, citing specific work experiences, skills, and education that are needed for the job. Let your experience speak for itself- and keep your opinions about yourself to, well, yourself.I need this job because You might need the job because youve been job searching for a while. You might need the job because money is super tight, or because the job has a flexible schedule, which meets your need to work remotely. No matter what your reason is, its most likely personal, and personal doesnt play out well in the professional world. Although you might think that youll be appealing to a hiring managers softer side, it might just wind up irking him instead.I would like to know the salary range for this job or Im requesting a salary of Talking money during the job interview process is a tricky topic, and ev en more taboo when youve just only applied for the position. While it would be lovely if all employers put the salary range in their job descriptions, most dont. By asking upfront about money, it could come across to a potential employer that thats all you care about, not the job itself or working for that specific company. So as much as youre dying to know what the job pays, its best to wait until later on in the hiring process when youre actually offered the job- and then you can negotiate salary.I think Its not really necessary to state I think anywhere in your cover letter because, by its nature, everything youve written is what you think. Attaching I think to any sentence can undermine its efficacy, so its best to avoid I think, and its sister phrases, like, I believe, and I feel.I would be a good fit.Of course you think youd be a good fit- why else would you apply for the position? Instead of asserting your opinion, show an employer instead why youd be a good fit by highlight ing examples of past work experience, education, or skills that make them think, Wow, this job candidate would be a good fitTo whom it may concernMany job descriptions have a point person, whether its your potential boss, a recruiter, or a hiring manager. Your cover letter should be addressed to that individual, even if theyre not going to be your actual boss, should you get hired for the job. To whom it may concern can come across as cold or aloof, and thats not the impression you want to give. If theres no name listed, try doing some research to see if you can uncover who the point person would be for the job. And if all else fails, contact the company and speak with an HR person to get the info.Words to avoid in your cover letterGoodGood is just that- good. Its not fab nor is it horrible. Its just kind of mediocre, and that is not the impression you want to give to a hiring manager about you or your abilities. So saying that your Spanish language skills are good doesnt give your interviewer much of an idea of how good you really are. Are you fluent, or are you still rocking your high school Spanish? Substitute more descriptive words for good with ones like strong or excellent. Even great will do, too.BestWho doesnt want to be the best at something (or several things)? But no matter how awesome you are at something, no one is ever the absolute best at anything. Replace the word best with more humble descriptive words like skilled, accomplished, experienced, or successful. Those still convey the idea of being the best, without being boastful.Feel or BelieveYou might strongly believe that youd be a great fit at the organization, and feel it with all of your heart. Thing is, personal feelings have no place in your cover letter. Rewrite the sentence to not include these words, or drop it entirely. Believe us.Detail-orientedNo matter what position you apply for, you should be detail-oriented. But including it as one of your assets isnt really going to impress any one. The term is so overused that, frankly, its lost its meaning. Rather than write that youre detail-oriented, cite an example that shows itLoveSure, you might love your industry or love the company youre applying to, but love doesnt always have a place on a cover letter. Let your passion shine through by talking about what got you into the field in the first place, or what specifically about the companys culture appeals to you. Using more specific terms can show the love without having to literally spell it out.This article first appeared on FlexJobs.