13 Common Cover Letter Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Key Takeaways for Crafting a Stellar Cover Letter

• Common errors like typos, impersonalization, or missing keywords can weaken your cover letter.
• There are 13 specific cover letter pitfalls you should actively avoid.
• Minova's AI Resume Builder, complete with a Cover Letter Generator, can be a valuable tool in sidestepping these mistakes.

A lackluster cover letter represents a missed opportunity to showcase why you are the ideal candidate. One frequent cause of this is making easily avoidable errors.

Mistakes in your cover letter can convey the wrong message to recruiters. Whether it's a simple typo, a lack of relevant keywords, or a generic approach, these errors can quickly take your application out of consideration.

This article will dissect thirteen of the most common mistakes job seekers make, providing actionable advice and tools to help you avoid them and ensure your cover letter works in your favor.

Eager to avoid cover letter mistakes entirely? Consider exploring Minova's AI Cover Letter Generator!

13 Cover Letter Mistakes to Steer Clear Of

Writing a compelling cover letter can be a challenge, and even seemingly minor errors can hold you back. Here are thirteen common mistakes, along with practical solutions to avoid them.

1. Lack of Personalization

A generic cover letter that doesn't address the specific company or role fails to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with their needs. It doesn't clearly communicate your value proposition or why you're the right fit, making it harder for the hiring team to envision your contribution to their goals.

Tailoring your cover letter shows genuine interest in the company and the role. This level of personalization highlights your enthusiasm and demonstrates that you've researched the company and understand how your offerings align with their needs.

How to Fix It:

Beyond just reading the job description, consider these steps:

• Invest time in researching the company, including its mission, values, and recent projects.
• Incorporate company-specific details into your cover letter to demonstrate alignment with their goals.
• Address your cover letter to the hiring manager by name, if possible.
• Explain your specific excitement about this particular opportunity.
• Include a sentence or two about how your skills can directly benefit the team or solve a problem the company is facing.

2. Simply Repeating Your Resume

One of the most frequent cover letter errors is simply restating the information already present in your resume. While your resume outlines skills and experience, your cover letter offers an opportunity to delve deeper, revealing more of your personality and motivations.

A cover letter that merely summarizes your resume provides no new insights, rendering it redundant. Hiring managers seek insight beyond the bullet points – they want to know why you're enthusiastic about the role and how your experience uniquely benefits their team.

How to Fix It:

Instead of reiterating everything in your resume, focus on a few key accomplishments or experiences. Use the cover letter to provide context or share a brief anecdote that highlights your skills in action.

Example:

Resume: "Led a cross-functional team to implement a new CRM system, improving sales tracking by 20%."

Cover Letter: "In my previous role, I led a cross-functional team to implement a new CRM system. A key challenge was resistance from the sales team, who perceived the new system as overly complex. To address this, I organized tailored training sessions and provided one-on-one support, resulting in full system adoption within three months. Consequently, we improved sales tracking accuracy by 20%, providing leadership with clearer insights for strategic decisions."

3. Focusing on Responsibilities Instead of Achievements

A cover letter that only lists job responsibilities without highlighting your achievements makes it difficult for hiring managers to assess your capabilities. Responsibilities describe what you did, while achievements demonstrate how well you did it and the value you delivered.

How to Fix It:

Instead of just listing duties, focus on specific accomplishments that showcase your skills and impact. Use quantifiable results whenever possible, such as increased revenue, improved processes, or successful projects. This creates a clearer picture of how you can contribute to their team.

4. Talking About Yourself Too Much

Should your cover letter be about you? Yes, but it's possible to overdo it. Similar to how your resume should connect your experience to the job, your cover letter should emphasize how you can help the company, not just how the role benefits you.

Hiring managers seek individuals who can solve challenges, contribute to goals, and seamlessly integrate into their team. A cover letter that primarily highlights your aspirations misses the opportunity to connect your abilities to their needs.

How to Fix It:

While highlighting your skills and achievements is crucial, always frame them in the context of how they benefit the prospective employer. Use the job description as your guide: what are they seeking? Position your experience as the solution to their needs, demonstrating how your background can contribute to their success. This bridges the gap between what you offer and what they require.

5. Neglecting to Include Keywords from the Job Description

Failing to include relevant keywords from the job description can prevent your application from surfacing in ATS searches, even if you're highly qualified.

How to Fix It:

Carefully review the job description, identifying key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your cover letter, linking them to your relevant experience. This helps both ATS systems and hiring managers recognize the alignment between your background and the role.

6. Using a Bland or Generic Opening

Starting with a cliché or generic introduction, like "I'm writing to apply for...", can lose the reader's attention immediately. Hiring managers encounter countless cover letters, and a bland opening won't make yours stand out.

How to Fix It:

Open with an engaging, specific statement that highlights your enthusiasm for the role and your qualifications. Instead of generic phrasing, share a unique experience or skill relevant to the position. For example: "As someone who thrives on transforming complex data into actionable insights, I was excited to see the opening for a Data Analyst at [Company Name]." This captures attention by demonstrating enthusiasm and directly connecting your skills to the role.

7. Including Buzzwords or Clichés

Avoid relying on overused terms like "team player" or "great communicator" without providing supporting evidence. These buzzwords don't differentiate you. The impact of your skills is the proof; without it, they're simply clichés.

How to Fix It:

Replace buzzwords with specific examples demonstrating those skills in action. Instead of stating that you're a "team player," describe a project where collaboration led to measurable success. Show how being a "great communicator" helped resolve conflicts or streamline processes. Concrete examples add weight to your claims and help the hiring manager see your value.

8. Being Too Formal or Too Casual

Writing in a tone that's either too stiff or too informal for the company can hinder your message's resonance. Aim to connect by aligning with the company's communication style.

How to Fix It:

• Understand your industry and field: Adjust your tone to match industry standards.
• Understand the company's tone: Review their website and the job description for clues.
• Mirror their style: Match their level of formality or casualness.
• Maintain a professional but friendly approach: Remain respectful without being overly formal.

9. Writing Too Much (or Too Little)

Strive for a balance between providing enough detail and being concise. Too much detail can make your cover letter difficult to follow, while too little can make it seem incomplete or disinterested. Provide enough information to establish your qualifications without overwhelming the reader or omitting key points.

How to Fix It:

Keep your letter between 250-400 words. Your cover letter should consist of 3-4 well-structured paragraphs addressing:

• Why you're interested in the role and the company.
• How your experience and skills align with the job description.
• The value you can bring to the company and team.

10. Failing to Address Employment Gaps

Addressing employment gaps in your resume and cover letter can proactively resolve any potential concerns.

A simple sentence acknowledging the gap is usually sufficient. For example, you could say, “After taking time to raise my children, I’m excited to return to work and bring my skills in [specific area] to [Company Name].” Keep it brief and redirect attention to your relevant skills and experience.

11. Not Following Job Application Instructions

Ignoring job application instructions is a guaranteed way to have your application dismissed. This includes not addressing a requested prompt, neglecting to write a short cover letter, or omitting a keyword the company asked you to include. It signals that you don't prioritize the opportunity enough to follow their guidelines.

How to Fix It:

Carefully read the job posting and adhere to every instruction. If the job description asks you to address a specific question in your cover letter, ensure you do so. If they request a specific word or phrase, include it. Paying attention to these details demonstrates thoroughness and genuine interest.

12. Typos and Grammar Mistakes

Basic spelling and grammar errors are highly avoidable. A cover letter riddled with typos or incorrect punctuation can appear rushed, unprofessional, and lacking attention to detail.

How to Fix It:

Proofread carefully, use spell-check tools, or have someone review your letter. Reading it aloud can help catch awkward wording or grammar issues.

13. Ending Without a Call to Action

Guide the reader on the next step. Closing your letter passively or without reinforcing your interest can weaken your message and leave them unsure of how to proceed.

How to Fix It:

End with a compelling call to action, inviting the employer to contact you for an interview. Be direct and confident, including your contact information. For example: “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills can contribute to your team. Please feel free to contact me at [your email] to arrange an interview.”

Avoid Cover Letter Mistakes with Minova

Cover letter mistakes can be costly, but they're easily avoidable if you know what to look for. Taking the time to address common errors will help you stand out and demonstrate your suitability for the job.

Minova can assist you in avoiding cover letter mistakes. With customizable AI tools, you can tailor each cover letter to the job description, fine-tune your tone, and ensure the right length, all while avoiding typos and errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 5 common cover letter mistakes?

Five common cover letter mistakes include a lack of personalization, repeating resume information, focusing on responsibilities instead of achievements, using excessive buzzwords, and typos or grammatical errors.

What happens if you make a mistake on your cover letter?

Mistakes on your cover letter can suggest a lack of attention to detail or genuine interest, potentially leading to application dismissal.

What is considered a bad cover letter?

A poor cover letter is generic, uses too many buzzwords, repeats your resume, or contains errors, making it less likely to grab the employer's attention.

What should be avoided in a cover letter?

Avoid being generic, repeating your resume, using excessive buzzwords, making grammatical errors, and ignoring keywords from the job description.