There’s nothing worse than having a job interview go well and then not getting the job. It can feel like you’ve wasted all that time, energy, and money on a resume and cover letter that looked great but didn’t get you anywhere.
Despite all your best efforts, though, there are some mistakes that are so common that they show up in almost everyone’s cover letters and they’re easy to fix! In this article, we’ll look at those mistakes and how you can avoid them so your cover letter is the best it can be.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Avoid using generic templates for your cover letter. Customize it for each job application to make a strong impression. |
| 2. Don’t focus too much on personal details. Instead, emphasize your qualifications and relevant experiences. |
| 3. Be mindful of the length of your cover letter. Keep it concise and focused, typically consisting of three to four paragraphs. |
| 4. Avoid including salary expectations in your cover letter unless explicitly requested by the employer. Discuss salary negotiations later in the hiring process. |
| 5. Customize your cover letter for each job application to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that align with the specific job requirements. |
| 6. Proofread your cover letter carefully to avoid spelling and grammatical errors. Attention to detail is crucial in making a positive impression. |
| 7. Address any employment gaps or career changes in a positive and confident manner, focusing on how your experiences make you a strong candidate. |
| 8. Avoid being too formal or overly casual in your tone. Strive for a professional yet personable approach in your writing. |
| 9. Use the cover letter as an opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the position and company. |
| 10. Don’t forget to follow up after sending your cover letter. A well-timed and polite follow-up can demonstrate your proactive attitude and commitment. |
1. You Didn’t Customize The Letter To Fit The Job
When you’re writing a cover letter, it is essential that you tailor your letter to the job. This means addressing specific details in the job advertisement and highlighting how you can meet the employer’s needs.
To do this, take some time to research the company before writing your cover letter. What are their goals and mission? How do they describe themselves? What are their values? Once you’ve answered those questions and looked at the position description, think about how your past experience and qualifications relate to what they’re looking for.
Then, incorporate these details into your cover letter so that it speaks directly to them and isn’t just another generic “cover-letter-template” that could have been sent off by anyone who read an ad on Craigslist.*
Try addressing each point made in their posting with a sentence or two explaining why it’s relevant or where/how you would use that skill set if hired (e.g., “My experience working for a small team where we prioritized efficiency over speed has taught me how important effective communication is when moving quickly”).
The goal here is not only to sound knowledgeable about the company but also to demonstrate how well researched your application was.*
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2. Your Letter Is Too Long (Or Too Short)
Cover letters should be around three paragraphs long. A longer cover letter is going to be boring and a shorter one won’t give you enough space to really explain why you’re the right fit for the role.
Don’t be too long or too short. If your cover letter is too long, hiring managers will get bored by all of the information they have to read through (and they’ll also wonder if other candidates wrote similar cover letters).
On the other hand, if your cover letter is too short, it doesn’t provide enough information about who you are and what makes you stand out from other applicants and since we’ve already established that recruiters need clear reasons for why someone should be hired over another candidate, this isn’t ideal either!
3. Your Letter Is Vague, Or Too General
If you’re like many applicants, you may be tempted to send out cover letters without paying much attention to them. This can be a mistake; even if your resume is perfect, a generic cover letter can do more harm than good. The key is to keep it focused and specific.
A vague letter will make hiring managers wonder why they should read on, while a personalized one will help them decide whether or not they want to get to know you better.
To avoid writing an overly general letter:
Avoid “to whom it may concern.” Instead of addressing the letter “to whom it may concern,” address it directly by name and make sure that name matches the company’s actual name (i.e., don’t use “Coca Cola” when applying for openings at P&G).
Don’t use “I am writing…” instead of “I’m writing…”; otherwise, your cover letter might come across as robotic and impersonal. Also, avoid any other cliches or phrases that are overused in job applications; these include “seeking employment,” “pursuing your position,” etc.).
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4. Your Letter Isn’t Specific Enough About What You Can Do For The Company
One of the most common mistakes in cover letters is a lack of specificity. If you want to stand out from other applicants, don’t be afraid to be specific about how you can help the company.
The best way to do this is by using one or two examples from your previous jobs or volunteer experience that highlight your skills and abilities. For example: “I was on the marketing team at my last job, and we increased sales by 10%.”
Or: “Our organization’s mission statement is to work with young children who are at risk for abuse and neglect. I have always been passionate about working with kids in these situations because I believe every child deserves a chance at success.”
5. You Try To Be Funny (Or Unnecessarily Quirky)
The first rule of writing a cover letter is that you need to keep it professional and formal. Quirky can be fine, but if you’re trying too hard, it can seem like you don’t take the job seriously enough and are just using this as an excuse to showcase your personality.
That said, if you have a quirky personality or have something funny or unique about your background, feel free to share it! Just keep it short and easy to understand and don’t let your sense of humor get in over its head (see below).
You go overboard in generalizing statements about yourself or others because they might sound better than what’s actually true (or vice versa).
A good example is saying “I’m very responsible” when asked why someone should hire you; this statement could possibly come across as false because no one knows whether or not it’s true until after they’ve hired you and found out how responsible (or irresponsible) you really were during the process. Or maybe even worse.
It could end up sounding like bragging instead of mere factuality..
6. You Sound Entitled And Act Like The Job Owes You Something
It’s important to avoid any language that makes it sound like you’re entitled to the job. Avoid using the word “I” when possible, instead, use “you.” For example, instead of saying “I am a hard worker,” say “You have made it clear that hard work is valued at this company.”
Additionally, avoid using words like “please” and “sincerely.” The tone of your letter should be professional and formal throughout. Your goal is for the hiring manager to see how amazing you are not how nice he or she can be in return!
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7. You Sound Arrogant
There are many ways to sound arrogant in your cover letter, but one of the worst offenders is when you go on and on about how great you are. This can be seen in everything from the length of your resume (which should be short) to how long you spend talking about yourself in general.
It’s important not to sound boastful or entitled, so it’s best if you keep yourself out of the spotlight as much as possible and focus more on selling yourself through specific examples rather than generic descriptions.
8. Your Cover Letter Doesn’t Add Anything New To Your Resume
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a cover letter that reads like a rehash of your resume. Your cover letter should be brief and to the point, highlighting your skills and abilities and how you can benefit the company.
It is not an opportunity to list all of your past jobs or responsibilities in great detail (that will come later). If you are applying for a position that requires technical knowledge, consider offering an example of how you used that skill set on a previous project or assignment.
It’s best to keep your cover letter at 3-4 paragraphs long if possible any longer than this, and it’ll likely become difficult for hiring managers to digest everything they need from reading it quickly. Make sure each paragraph offers something new about yourself or why you’re qualified for the job; don’t just repeat what’s already said elsewhere in your application materials!
Also keep in mind that different industries may have different expectations regarding length: some require lengthy explanations of why exactly one person is better than another; others will only require brief introductions because there isn’t much time between receiving applications from various candidates anyway (like with online applications).
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9. You Use A Generic First Paragraph That Could Come From Anyone’s Cover Letter
In a cover letter, you want to give the reader a sense of who you are, why they should hire you, and how your skills and experience connect with the job posting.
If you’re applying for something like “account manager,” don’t start off by saying: “I am an experienced account manager.” Everyone applying for that job will have that experience! Instead, say something more specific about yourself maybe even mention a specific project or client from your past.
For instance: “When I worked at Globo-TV as their youngest account executive ever (at age 22), I managed several billion-dollar accounts such as Fictitious Products Incorporated.”
10. Your Letter Is Boring And/Or Confusing
Your cover letter can be one of the most important documents you submit when applying for a job, so it’s worth taking the time to write something that makes an impact and gets noticed. Here are some common mistakes people make in their cover letters and how to fix them:
Boring or confusing writing style. Use action verbs (like “designed,” “created,” or “managed”) instead of more passive verbs like “was responsible for” or “was involved in.”
Be specific about what you’ve done in your past jobs; don’t just say you “successfully managed multiple projects at once” or “helped launch new products into the market.” Describe how this makes you a valuable candidate for this new role and try not to sound too generic!
Being negative about previous jobs or coworkers/managers/peers (or having any other negative thing to say). If there was something negative that happened during your employment, focus on what positive things came out of it instead!
For example: “Although my initial experience at XYZ Company was challenging, I learned a lot about myself as well as leadership skills because I had never worked with so many people before.”
It also helps if there were no real problems at all then say something along these lines: “I have always enjoyed working with team members who are motivated by innovation and collaboration.”
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Keep Cover Letters Interesting And Relevant, And Be Sure To Avoid Mistakes
Keep cover letters interesting and relevant. Keep in mind that the purpose of a cover letter is to get you an interview.
If your introductory paragraph is filled with information that has nothing to do with why you’re applying for a job, it’s unlikely that hiring managers will stick around long enough to read more than the first sentence of the second paragraph.
The key here is making sure your opening sentences are geared toward showing how you fit into their organization and why you want this specific job.
Avoid mistakes at all costs! Not only does grammatically incorrect writing make you look unprofessional, but it also takes away from any other strengths or accomplishments mentioned in your cover letter or resume, and believe me when I say we notice these things!
It’s essential for job seekers at all levels (from entry-level positions up to C-suite executives) to proofread their materials thoroughly before submitting them for review by potential employers; if something sounds off or awkward during this process, take another pass until it feels natural enough not only for you but also anyone else reading it later down the line.”
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on cover letter mistakes that you may find helpful:
What Not to Put in a Cover Letter: Discover common pitfalls to avoid when crafting your cover letter and learn what information should not be included.
Cover Letter Mistakes: Avoid These Common Errors: Gain insights into common cover letter mistakes and how to steer clear of them to make a positive impression on employers.
Top Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid: Explore the most prevalent cover letter mistakes that job seekers make and get tips on how to rectify them to improve your chances of success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Submit A Cover Letter Instead Of A Resume?
In short, no. A cover letter should be used as an introduction to your work experience and qualifications for the specific job in question. It provides context for why you want the position, what makes you qualified, and how your skills will benefit the company. It should not be used to repeat information that is already on your resume (or LinkedIn profile).
In fact, if there is any overlap between the content of the two documents and there probably won’t be much at all it’s better to just use one document: either your resume or your cover letter.
How Do I Write A Cover Letter For A Part-Time Job?
Since most employers require full-time employment as part of their application process these days, it can feel like an uphill battle if all you’re looking for is some extra cash on the side.
If that describes your situation, try focusing on what skills or knowledge have been gained from working with other companies in this industry before rounding out your reasons why they should hire YOU specifically (even if they only need someone on weekends).
What Do You Put In A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is an introduction to your resume. It describes why you are interested in the job, what qualifies you for it, and how you want to contribute to the company. If possible, also include any details from your resume that will help show what makes you an ideal candidate for this position.
This can include anything from significant accomplishments or awards won at previous jobs (if relevant), to training or skills acquired during internships or volunteer experiences that would make you valuable on day one at the new company.
What Is The Difference Between A Cover Letter And A Letter Of Interest?
A cover letter is always used when applying for jobs; but fortunately for employers who have no openings available at present but would like to keep strong applicants on file for future consideration, there’s another option called “letters of interest”:
These documents should be sent after submitting applications online in other words: when applying via email and they’re often used as follow-up reminders by hiring managers who want more information about potential candidates before making decisions about which ones they’ll interview further down their selection processes (or hire).
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.