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[noncountablenoun]

Last year, I applied for a CC job and was offered a phone interview and then a campus interview (travel expenses paid).  For this and other reasons, I'm fairly confident that I'm a good fit for a CC position and that my application materials (letter, CV) reflect my suitability.  Ultimately, although the position was attractive, I didn't pursue it further b/c of personal/professional considerations.

Well, right now, the time *is* right. I just applied for a CC job in the humanities, but I also discovered two glaring typos in my cover letter.  I referred to the institution in question using an acronym.  In my closing paragraph, I misspelled (well, mistyped) the acronym by ONE LETTER. [Crap!]  Elsewhere in the letter, I didn't make this mistake.

I worried this error will make it look like I was using an old cover letter where I just plug-n-chugged the school name, etc., despite the fact I custom-tailored my letter to the specific needs/requirements in the listing.

Is this a huge deal?  Will they be offended, laugh, and toss my materials in the trash? 

 

[sugaree]

You're off by a single letter in an acronym? To the dungeon with you!

Seriously, though, I doubt anyone will even notice. But if they do, I doubt anyone is going to hold it against you. Fear not.

[lottie]

The job search is clearly making you paranoid. Take a deep breath and let it go.

[merit_decrease]

Well, that depends - is the real acronym FUCC and you replaced the last C with a K?

That might get their attention.  Otherwise, what everyone else said.  ;)

[systeme_d_]

Good answer, m_d.

Everyone is absolutely correct, Diamonddel. This will not make or break you.  Breathe, friend.

[lizzy]

I agree.

If your application is strong and good, one goof will be forgiven.

[bread_pirate_naan]

You do not want to work with the person petty and picky enough to care.  Consider it a special pea, or haystack needle, to filter out the petty princes and princesses.  Nothing but upside to a single typo like that. 

[zharkov]

Friend asked me to proofread an app to Duke University.  It was addressed to the SC at Duck University.  He fixed that canard (!) before it went out.

[infopri]

Mistyping or omitting/adding one letter in an acronym is a far cry from sending a letter to ABC University that retains a reference to XYZ College because you were recycling an old letter.  I agree that (a) most people won't notice, (b) most of those who do won't hold it against you, and (c) you don't want to work with those who do hold it against you.

I understand your panic, but remember that you look at these materials far more critically than the SC is likely to.  They will care if your letter is rife with typos, but one or two are easily forgivable.  It sounds as though it will be clear that this isn't a recycled letter--even if there's another institution whose acronym happens to match your typo.

Go do something fun for a few hours that will take your mind off the job search.  And good luck!

[fedscholar]

Hey, I just did this too.

No mispellings, but I inverted an "and" and a "the" or two. Enough to look like a damn idiot!

Danged last minute editing! :[

[finallyoffthemarket]

I am currently employed after a typo in my cover letter.  I also received interviews in the past with typos.  Typos are simple mistakes.  The content of the letter matters most, but it is best to check before sending.

[elbowteaching]

I did the classic mistake, instead of "or" I used "are" or was it the other way around? 

[snowbound]

Let's not assume that OP would be unwilling to work at an institution that harbors people that are petty.  On these fora, we're constantly hearing this sort of thing: "Well, you wouldn't want to work there anyway, would you, if they care about wardrobe/typos/age/parental status/____(fill in the blank)"  The fact of the matter is: in the current job market, very few applicants can afford to be so darn picky.  The idea that those on the job market can hold out for the perfect colleagues in the perfect institution is crazy. 

[infopri]

One of my colleagues who is on the market was upset last week that she had sent out an application letter recycled from a prior application to another school--and, you guessed it, she forgot to change the name of the school in the new version of the letter.

Today she told me that she now has an on-campus interview scheduled with the recipient of the letter, in spite of the error.  So these things aren't necessarily fatal.

[dillywilly]

Same thing happened to me as to infopri's friend. I addressed the letter correctly but referred to another college in the body of the letter. I noticed this AFTER I had been invited for an interview. Most places understand about that one typo (though my issues was admittedly WORSE). And they also understand that we're applying to as many places as we can, and we don't have the time to write each letter from scratch. Their considering you will not depend upon the wrong letter in an acronym. Good luck!