While cover letters have, to some extent, a bad rep and are viewed as unnecessary by many jobseekers and hiring managers alike, they can be a great way to introduce yourself to potential employers, market your unique selling points and demonstrate your written communication skills.
But there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about this document. And going the wrong way can only spell disaster for your job search efforts — and even your professional reputation.
We spoke to our recruiters and hiring decision-makers to share with you the 20 most common cover letter mistakes they hate seeing — so you know what to avoid to land your dream job.
1. Not writing one
The first of a very long list of cover letter mistakes, and perhaps the worst of all, is foregoing it entirely. Not including a cover letter in your job application only signals that you’re not genuinely interested in the job and, worse, you were too lazy to write one.
WHAT TO DO
Even if the job description doesn’t specifically request a cover letter, it’s crucial that you send one, anyway. The only time you absolutely, categorically shouldn’t send a cover letter is when you’re asked not to. Which rarely ever happens.
2. Making it too long (or too short)
Hiring managers are busy creatures and don’t have the time (or the will) to read a novel in the form of a cover letter, which only suggests that you struggle to communicate concisely or prioritize the most relevant information.
Equally a turn-off is a cover letter of only a few lines, which tells hiring managers you have difficulty expressing your qualifications and enthusiasm effectively.
WHAT TO DO
Aim for a total word count of between 250 and 400 words, and about 3–6 paragraphs. This translates to between three-quarters of a page to a maximum of one full page.
3. Discussing why you’re looking for a job
Overwhelming hiring managers with the reasons behind your job search can shift the attention away from the value you bring to the role — especially if those reasons have anything to do with financial need or dissatisfaction in your current job.
WHAT TO DO
Focus on why you’re interested in the specific position and company that you’re applying to. Remember that the purpose of your cover letter is to demonstrate how and why you’re an asset.
4. Ignoring instructions
Employers will often include special instructions for applicants in job descriptions, such as answering a specific question in your cover letter or using a preferred file format.
Even accidentally missing these instructions could mean instant disqualification, as it demonstrates carelessness and disobedience — two things that employers are certainly not looking for.
WHAT TO DO
Carefully read the job description (and then read it again) to make sure you haven’t missed any instructions or specific requirements for your cover letter and overall job application.
5. Talking about salary expectations
When you include salary expectations in your cover letter, the only thing it tells employers is that you don’t really care about the job and that you’re only in it for the money. It can also be perceived as rude and unprofessional on your part.
WHAT TO DO
Keep talk of salary to the job interview or when negotiating a job offer. Make sure you’re not the one to bring up the subject, though — leave it up to the hiring manager. Only ever discuss salary expectations in your cover letter if the job description requests this information.
6. Failing to end your letter with a compelling CTA
Not ending your cover letter with a call-to-action — or, worse, ending it with a generic or passive closing like “Thank you for your time and consideration” — is a wasted opportunity to reinforce your interest in the position and encourage the hiring manager or recruiter to reach out.
WHAT TO DO
Always close your letter with a compelling CTA that will elicit a response. This should invite hiring managers to contact you, request an interview, or remind them why your accomplishments make you a great fit for the job — or a combination of these.
7. Addressing your letter to no one in particular
Starting your cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or, worse, “To Whom it May Concern” is nothing short of impersonal. It also implies a lack of effort and interest in the job.
Worse, still, is foregoing the greeting entirely.
WHAT TO DO
Address your letter (professionally!) to the person who will be reading it — you will often find their name listed in the job ad as a point of contact. If not, take the initiative to contact the company directly and ask them for a name. If all else fails, use “Dear Hiring Manager” — but only as a last resort.
8. Repeating your résumé
Simply using your cover letter to restate or recycle the same information from your résumé is a waste of space — and opportunity. Even if it’s worded slightly differently, hiring managers will lose interest, as it demonstrates a lack of creativity and originality.
WHAT TO DO
Use your cover letter to complement — not regurgitate — your résumé by offering more context or sharing anecdotes that showcase your qualifications in action, and generally expanding on what you couldn’t in your résumé.
9. Not adding any value
A generic cover letter that reads like “Here’s my résumé — whatever” or a stock example of what hiring managers have already read won’t get you far. It shows a lack of interest and purpose.
WHAT TO DO
Focus your letter on your achievements to provide proof of what you can do for the company you’re targeting. Make sure to quantify those achievements, too, with numbers, dollar amounts and percentages.
10. Using a different design from your résumé
One of the many things to avoid when putting your cover letter together is making it look completely different from your résumé. This is largely because it can give hiring managers the impression that the two documents aren’t connected — or, worse, that they belong to two different candidates.
WHAT TO DO
Use the same fonts, colors and design elements across all your application documents (including your résumé, cover letter and list of references) to ensure a consistent personal brand. Consider investing in one of our résumé template packages if you’re not confident in your graphic design skills.
11. Ignoring employment gaps
While you typically won’t have the opportunity to address any employment gaps in your résumé, you will in your cover letter. If you waste this opportunity, it can raise red flags for hiring managers, who may assume the worst or become skeptical about your qualifications and commitment.
WHAT TO DO
Make it a point to address employment gaps, but don’t dwell on them too much. Focus on how you stayed productive during those gaps (like freelancing, volunteering or upskilling), while emphasizing the skills and qualifications you gained.
12. Using a weak opening
“My name is John Smith and I’m applying for the X position at Company ABC.” That’s how most of the cover letters we’ve seen start off. And it’s bland and boring, and it loses the hiring manager’s interest from the get-go.
WHAT TO DO
Feel free to be a little creative with your cover letter’s opening to really grab the reader’s attention. Take this opening paragraph for a proofreader cover letter for example: “Can you spot the the mistake? If so, kudos to you! But if not, it’s my job to catch those little typos so you don’t have to.”
13. Failing to research the company
When you don’t research the company that you’re applying to before you start writing your cover letter, you effectively miss the opportunity to learn about and really understand the company’s values, goals and culture. This amplifies the risk of writing a generic, impersonal letter.
WHAT TO DO
Take the time to research the company, and use the information you gather to write your letter. This includes mentioning specific projects, news or challenges the organization is facing.
14. Making it all about you
“It’s my cover letter, so it should be about me.” While that is true to some extent, a cover letter that’s centered entirely on your own needs can seem self-serving, which isn’t the kind of quality that employers look for in employees.
WHAT TO DO
Instead of mentioning what the job and company can do for you (for example: “to further develop my retail skills”), focus on what you bring to the role and how your skills and past experiences can help the company succeed.
15. Going off topic
One of the worst cover letter mistakes you can make is going off topic, as it shifts the focus away from what really matters: why you’re the right candidate for the job. This includes sharing uncomfortable life or professional experiences, the reason you quit your last job, or details about every job you ever had.
WHAT TO DO
Keep your letter focused and aligned with the job you’re applying for, and only share the most relevant information that markets your top skills, achievements and qualifications.
16. Using the wrong tone
While the cover letter is a professional document, that doesn’t mean the tone should be overly formal. Indeed, it only makes your letter sound impersonal, cold and rather stiff. Likewise, an overly casual tone can come across as unprofessional.
WHAT TO DO
Strike the right balance between professional, and friendly and conversational. You can achieve this by using clear, concise and easy-to-understand language, while avoiding jargon and complex sentence structures.
17. Sending the same letter for every application
Hiring managers can spot a one-size-fits-all cover letter from a mile away. And the worst thing about a generic, impersonal cover letter is that it tells employers you’re not exactly bothered whether you work for them or potentially their competitor. This calls your loyalty into question, if you were to land a job with them.
WHAT TO DO
Tailor your cover letter to every company that you apply to. This can be achieved by mentioning company details and addressing job-specific details in your letter, as well as naturally incorporating important keywords from the job description.
18. Bringing attention to weaknesses
You might feel the urge to address, explain or even apologize for any weaknesses (for example, when you’re not familiar with a specific software), but doing so will only make hiring managers start to question your qualifications and candidacy as a whole.
WHAT TO DO
Focus on showcasing your strengths and value. If you’re concerned about a weakness, subtly address it by demonstrating how you’re actively working on it, or frame it as an opportunity for growth without explicitly mentioning it.
19. Using flattery
While it’s okay to mention how you hold the company’s values, mission or culture in high regard, throwing in random compliments or going overboard with unnecessary flattery will make you sound insincere, insecure or desperate.
WHAT TO DO
Feel free to mention specific aspects of the company that you admire, but frame them in the context of how you can contribute, and align your skills, experience and values to the employer’s needs.
20. Forgetting to proofread before submission
Many hiring managers will often review your application by first reading your cover letter. And if it’s riddled with grammar and spelling mistakes, they likely won’t even bother reading your résumé, as their initial impression of you is one of carelessness, poor communication skills and a lack of professionalism.
WHAT TO DO
Always make the time to proofread your cover letter (and proofread it again!) before sending your application. It’s also a good idea to ask a trusted friend or relative to read over it, too, as they’ll be able to give you some constructive feedback.
Final thoughts
Because cover letters are so intimidating to write, it’s easy to mess them up. And when that happens, it can get in the way of securing the job you’re applying for, even if you’re the most qualified candidate.
But if you’re aware of the things to avoid when writing your cover letter, including the mistakes we covered in this article, you’ll know what to do instead — and get one step closer to your dream job.
Can you think of any other cover letter mistakes worth mentioning? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published on March 28, 2018.
