In today’s competitive job market, writing the right CV (Curriculum Vitae) or cover letter might mean the difference between getting an interview and having your application thrown away. During this process, you may have to make a lot of choices about how to promote oneself in a professional way. One of the most talked-about choices when drafting a CV and cover letter is whether or not to utilize contractions.
People often utilize contractions in speech and writing that isn’t formal. But the topic is still there: Should you use contractions in your business papers? In this post, we’ll look at how contractions might affect your CV or cover letter. This will help you figure out when to use them and when to stay away from them.
What are contractions, and why are they important?
Contractions are shorter versions of words or phrases. They are commonly made by putting two words together and replacing certain letters with an apostrophe. For example:
- I’m becomes I’m
- Don’t become Don’t
- You are now You’re
People often use these shorter forms in everyday speech and writing. But in official writing, especially in CVs and cover letters, they are sometimes looked down upon. Using contractions can change the tone of your message and how professional the employer thinks you are.
Why the Argument?
Using contractions in business documents might make things confusing. On one side, they might make you seem friendly and up-to-date, but on the other hand, they could make you seem too casual. You need to find the proper balance between being professional and being relatable when you write your CV or cover letter. To do this, you need to think about the industry, the corporate culture, and the job you are applying for.
The Benefits of Using Contractions in Your CV or Cover Letter
People used to avoid using contractions in business documents, but views have changed over time. More and more businesses are adopting a casual tone that fits with how people talk to each other these days. Here are some reasons why you might want to employ contractions in your resume or cover letter:
1. Tone that sounds natural
Using contractions can make your writing sound more like a conversation. Using contractions like “I’m” and “I’ll” makes your message sound more personable and less artificial. This skill to get along with others is especially important if the job you want involves talking to others, as in customer service, marketing, or public relations.
2. Easier to read
Contractions usually make sentences shorter and more to the point. It’s important to make sure your CV or cover letter is easy to read because recruiters and hiring managers often look over a lot of applications quickly. Using contractions can make your writing easier to read and more interesting.
3. Showing How People Talk in Real Life
Communication in most modern businesses is becoming less formal. It’s normal to use contractions in emails, virtual meetings, and even informal interactions. Using them in your CV or cover letter shows that you are comfortable with how people talk at work these days, especially in fields like tech, creative, or media.
The Bad Things About Using Contractions in Your CV or Cover Letter
specific employers may think that using contractions is unprofessional or not right for specific jobs, even though there are benefits to doing so. There are some good reasons not to use contractions in your business documents:
1. A sense of informality
If you work in a more traditional industry like law, finance, or academia, your CV or cover letter must always be formal. In these fields, people tend to prefer more structured and official communication. Using contractions could be perceived as an indication of being informal. In these situations, it’s best to eliminate contractions to keep a professional and polished look.
2. The risk of being informal
Some jobs may not like it if you use contractions in your CV or cover letter. If you’re applying for a senior-level or executive position that requires a lot of professionalism and seriousness, using contractions could make your application seem less serious. It’s crucial to show that you know what you’re doing and respect the job you’re seeking for, especially if it requires leadership and power.
3. What People Expect from Each Other
Some areas or industries may have severe rules on writing that don’t allow contractions. For instance, Japan and Germany are two countries that tend to prefer formal business communication. Also, companies that have been around for a long time may have their own rules about how to write. In these situations, it’s best to stay away from contractions completely.
When to Use Short Forms in Your CV or Cover Letter
In some situations, utilizing contractions can be a smart move. Let’s go over these times where contractions can make your document better:
1. In the arts and entertainment
The tone is often friendly and easygoing in fields including advertising, design, media, and marketing. Employers in these sectors often look for people who are creative and have a good personality. Using contractions in your CV or cover letter could show that you can adjust to a changing work environment.
2. For Junior or Mid-Level Jobs
If you’re interviewing for a junior or mid-level job, especially at a startup or a company with a laid-back culture, employing contractions can show that you get the organization’s easygoing tone and informal way of talking. It demonstrates that you can easily fit in with the group and talk to your peers in a clear way.
3. In Applications That Aren’t Too Formal
Using contractions can help your application fit with what they expect if the job posting or the company’s website shows that they have a casual work culture. You show that you fit in with their culture by talking to them the same way they do.
When to Not Use Contractions in Your Cover Letter or CV
Sometimes it’s best to avoid contractions to keep the right tone and level of professionalism. These are some examples:
1. In Formal Businesses
In fields including law, banking, consulting, and government, all professional communications should be formal. To keep the polite and professional tone that these fields require, don’t use contractions in your CV or cover letter.
2. For jobs at the top level
Formality is very important if you want to be an executive or have a lot of power in your job. If you want to sound more professional and respectful, don’t use contractions.
3. In High-Stakes Situations
Using contractions could make your application look less professional for very competitive or prestigious jobs, such academic positions, research positions, or specialist fields where you need to know a lot about something. It’s important to show that you are a serious applicant who follows the rules of the industry in these situations.
How to Find the Right Balance: Using Contractions Correctly
To write a good CV or cover letter, you need to find the right mix. You don’t have to completely avoid or always use contractions. Instead, you should aim to find a tone that fits the job and the industry. Here are some suggestions for how to get there:
1. Put contractions where they belong
You don’t have to stay away from contractions in every element of your CV or cover letter. Using contractions can make you sound more natural and interesting in parts where a conversational tone is helpful, as in your personal statement or when talking about your skills. But don’t use them in more formal parts, like your schooling or work history.
2. Keep your professionalism
No matter what you choose, make sure the tone of your document is still professional. Even if you use contractions, don’t use slang, informal language, or language that is too familiar and could come across as unprofessional.
3. Make it fit the job posting
Look at the words used in the job posting. If the employer’s way of talking is formal, don’t use contractions. Using contractions can help you fit in with their way of talking if it’s casual or friendly.
Conclusion
When deciding whether or not to include contractions in your CV or cover letter, you should think about the industry, the company’s culture, and the job you’re looking for. Using contractions can make your writing sound more genuine and approachable, but they can also make it less official, which is important in some fields. You can utilize contractions to your advantage or avoid them to keep a more professional tone, depending on who you are talking to and what the role is.