Over the past couple days, I've been reviewing cover letters and resumes for a new position at AIER. As I look them over, I'm struck by a few recurring problems that seem to plague cover letters.

1. Please, please don't have typos or grammatical errors in your cover letter. I know you've heard that a thousand times before, but it cannot be stressed enough. Read, re-read, and re-read your resume and cover letter a thousand times. And, while you're at it, go contact your smartest friend and have her give it a look over.
2. Avoid long bullet lists. Fine, if you really have to use bullets, make sure it highlights a few of your most important accomplishments. But 10 or 12 bullets in your cover letter? This is beginning to read like an abbreviated, poorly designed version of your resume.
3. Don't go smaller than 12-pt font. I'm  young enough to be able to read 6-pt font, but that doesn't mean I want to. Learn how to narrow down your cover letter to the most important points instead of narrowing down your font to cover all the different things you've done.

So, in summary: take your time, proofread, and focus on the most important and relevant aspects of your experience as they relate to the job you're applying for.

Please.