Welcome! If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you’ve already decided to write a cover letter for your Upwork project. You’ve taken the first step in winning over prospective clients by showing how seriously you take your work and how professional it is.
It’s now time to get specific about what makes you qualified for the job at hand. Let’s review some common cover letter mistakes that might be holding back your success:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Customize your cover letter for each job |
| Avoid common mistakes like grammatical errors |
| Use a professional tone and showcase your skills |
| Provide evidence of your past successes |
| Keep your cover letter concise and to the point |
| Avoid mentioning your rates |
| Seek feedback and revise your approach if you’re not getting responses |
Not Addressing The Client By Name
When you’re addressing the client, it’s important to use their name. It’s not just for politeness’ sake; it’s also a good way to show them that you’re interested in making sure this project is successful. If you don’t know their name, use the company name instead—and make sure they’re aware of your cover letter!
If you can’t find their name anywhere on Upwork or through Google searches, try calling up customer service and politely asking for it. They will be happy to help!
Looking to write a killer cover letter on Upwork? Check out our guide on how to write a killer Upwork cover letter that includes real samples and tips to help you stand out from the competition.
Not Focusing On The Actual Job
The job description will tell you what the client wants. The client wants a cover letter that focuses on their needs. They want to see that you understand their needs, and they want to see that you can deliver.
You can do this by focusing your cover letter on what skills or experiences are relevant for the job being advertised, and then explaining how those skills or experiences make you uniquely qualified for the position.
This is your opportunity to be as specific as possible about why this job is perfect for you!
Not Showcasing Your Best Skills
Your cover letter is a chance to show off your best skills, but if you don’t do it in the right way, your potential employer will miss out on them.
For example, let’s say that you’re applying for a job as an SEO specialist at a digital marketing agency and have been looking up SEO on Google every day since 2009. You know this is one of your best skills because it comes so naturally to you that everyone around has had to ask what SEO stands for over 200 times in the last 6 months (it stands for Search Engine Optimization). You might think that highlighting your knowledge about SEO would be enough to make you stand out from other candidates but it isn’t!
Instead, showcase why exactly those skills are so valuable by showing how they fit into what the business needs from its employees and how they relate back specifically to this particular opportunity.
For example: “I’m excited about this position because I’m well versed in all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO), which has given me practical experience working with companies both large and small around the San Francisco Bay Area.”
Not Reading The Job Description Carefully
There’s no way around it: you need to read the job description thoroughly. The client is looking for a specific type of applicant, and if you don’t match that description, there’s no reason why they should hire you instead of someone else.
When reading the job description, look for phrases that indicate what skills or experience are needed by the client for example, “experience with HTML coding”, “a portfolio”, or “strong communication skills”.
These are things that can be incorporated into your cover letter. If there are any vague requirements such as “a positive attitude” or “good communication skills,” ask clarifying questions before applying: these vague descriptions often mean nothing more than “we just want someone who isn’t awful.”
Are you a web developer looking for inspiration on crafting the perfect Upwork cover letter? Check out our Upwork cover letter sample for web developers to see how you can showcase your skills and experience to potential clients.
Focusing On Yourself Instead Of The Client
While you want to make sure that your cover letter is about you, it’s even more important to focus on what you can do for the client. Writing a cover letter that discusses all of the reasons why you are the right person for the job will help demonstrate how valuable you are and will be better at getting your resume looked at than one that focuses too much on yourself.
Think about how you can make them successful by being with them or working with them.
If they need someone who has been an accountant in a big company before and knows how to handle projects like this one, then say “I worked as an accountant at the such-and-such company, where I handled large projects just like this one!” If they need someone who has been handling similar types of clients while working at other companies (like small businesses), mention those experiences too!
Explaining Why You Need The Job Instead Of Why You’re Good At It
It’s tempting to explain why you need the job, especially if you have a really good reason (a friend died and left you with his cat). But that’s not what an employer wants to hear. They want to know why they should hire you, not why they should feel bad for hiring someone who’s down on their luck.
So instead of explaining why it’s so important that you get this job, talk about how great your skills and abilities are and how those will benefit the client. This is one of the most common mistakes in cover letters I see on Upwork, so make sure yours avoids it!
Not Keeping It Short And Sweet
Your cover letter should be no longer than one page.
It’s important to keep it short, sweet, and focused on the job description.
Use bullet points for each section of your cover letter: introduction, qualifications and how you can help the client.
Include a brief summary of your career goals at the end—this can be a paragraph or two that describes what you want out of this position (or career), as well as any relevant experience or skills that will help in reaching those goals.
Don’t try to be too clever with your writing style; just stick with what works! Use the first person whenever possible (referring back to yourself), the active voice (using verbs like “wrote” instead of “were written”), and if possible mention the name of who will be reading your CV/resume/cover letter when introducing yourself in order to show that you have done some research into who they are and why they’re looking for someone like you specifically…
Not Following Directions
Not following directions. If a job description has instructions, be sure to follow them. If there are no instructions, be sure to ask the client directly if they want any specific information included in your cover letter or not (and then follow their instructions).
If there are no instructions and you have no other way of knowing what information to include or omit from your cover letter, then go ahead and send it along anyway—you can’t go wrong by being professional.
Crafting a compelling cover letter is essential for landing content writing jobs on Upwork. Check out our 21 content writing cover letter templates for Upwork to see how you can make your application stand out and showcase your writing skills.
Adding Too Much Fluff About Your Previous Work Experience
- Don’t list every job you’ve ever had. Pick out the most relevant ones and only include them.
- Don’t list every skill you’ve ever used. Just choose a few that are most appropriate for this role, and make sure they’re relevant to the position’s requirements.
- Don’t say you’re a “hard worker” or “reliable.” These are really vague terms that don’t help explain any of your qualities further than saying “I’m good at my job.” Instead, give examples of when exactly in your past experience did these traits shine through.
- If it’s not specifically listed as a requirement in their job post, don’t talk about being a team player or fast learner it’s better to let them judge those qualities on their own once hired than try and guess what type of person they want based on some vague statements about how great you are at working with others or how quickly you pick up new skills.
Sending A Cover Letter For One Project Over To Another With No Editing
If you’re applying for a job, be sure to send over a cover letter that is as specific as possible. It’s best not to send out generic cover letters as in, don’t copy and paste the same cover letter for every project you apply for.
Also, avoid sending over a cover letter that is too long or too short. A good rule of thumb is to make it somewhere between one and two pages long. And if there are any specific details about what your strengths are or what experience you have related to the project at hand (e.g., “I spent my summer working on this very job!”), definitely include them!
Being wordy and long-winded
You’re probably not writing a novel, so keep your cover letter short and to the point. It should be about one page in length, give or take.
To ensure that you are not too wordy or long-winded in your cover letter:
- Avoid telling the client everything about yourself (i.e., avoid writing a biography). Instead, focus on relevant information such as your relevant skills for the job and any additional qualifications for consideration.
- Use active verbs wherever possible to make things more interesting and engaging for both you and the readers of your document(s). This can help to shorten sentences while still getting your message across effectively!
- Don’t use too many words; don’t use too many sentences; don’t use too many paragraphs! You really want this document to be super easy for both clients (or potential employers) and anyone else who might need access at some point down the road – including yourself!
If you’re a WordPress developer looking to get hired on Upwork, you’ll want to make sure your cover letter is top-notch. Check out our Upwork cover letter for WordPress developers to see real examples of winning cover letters that can help you land your next project.
Inaccurately Describing Your Skills And Abilities
Inaccurately describing your skills and abilities.
When it comes to the content of your cover letter, the most important thing is to describe yourself accurately. This means finding a way to showcase all of the relevant skills that make you right for this job in particular, while still keeping things brief and easy to read. The way I like to do this is by using bullet points so that the reader can quickly scan my description at a glance.
Failing to use the client’s job description effectively as a guide
The best way I’ve found for writing my cover letters is by reading through clients’ job descriptions until they’re familiar enough with them that I can write one based on what they’re looking for (i.e., not just making stuff up). Then when I start working on my own version of it, later on, there are no surprises!
Always Tailor Your Cover Letter Specifically To The Client’s Needs
Always tailor your cover letter specifically to the client’s needs. Don’t send the same cover letter to every client, even if they are in the same industry or type of business. Focus on showcasing your skills and experience that are relevant to the job profile posted by that client and how you can benefit them.
How long should your Upwork cover letter be? Find out in our guide on how long the Upwork cover letter should be, which includes tips on crafting a concise and effective cover letter that gets you noticed by clients.
Conclusion
The key takeaway is that you should always tailor your cover letter specifically to the client’s needs. This shows that you’re someone who has done their homework and knows what they’re applying for. You should also take care with grammar, spelling, and presentation because these all reflect on your professionalism as a whole.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful for improving your Upwork cover letter skills:
Upwork Mistakes and Killer Tips: This article discusses common mistakes made on Upwork and offers tips for freelancers to succeed on the platform.
Upwork Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid: This article provides a list of common mistakes to avoid when writing Upwork cover letters, along with tips for creating a winning cover letter.
What Not to Put in a Cover Letter: This resource from Indeed offers advice on what to avoid when writing a cover letter, including common mistakes and overused phrases.
FAQs
What are the most common mistakes to avoid in an Upwork cover letter?
Some common mistakes to avoid in an Upwork cover letter include failing to personalize the letter for each client, making grammatical errors, and using a generic template.
How can I make my Upwork cover letter stand out?
To make your Upwork cover letter stand out, you should customize it for each job, use a professional tone, showcase your skills and experience, and provide evidence of your past successes.
Should I mention my rates in my Upwork cover letter?
It’s generally not recommended to mention your rates in your Upwork cover letter, as it can come across as pushy or unprofessional. Instead, focus on demonstrating your value to the client and let them initiate the conversation about rates.
How long should my Upwork cover letter be?
Your Upwork cover letter should be concise and to the point, typically around 200-300 words. It should highlight your relevant skills and experience, but avoid including unnecessary information.
What should I do if I’m not getting any responses to my Upwork cover letters?
If you’re not getting any responses to your Upwork cover letters, it may be time to review your approach. Consider revising your cover letter to make it more targeted to the job, or seek feedback from other freelancers or Upwork community forums.
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.