10 common cover letter mistakes

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• 10 of the Worst Cover Letter...

10 of the Worst Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

8 min read · Updated on March 10, 2022

Make sure your cover letter helps your candidacy by avoiding these all-too-common mistakes.

Once you've updated your professional resume , it's time to prepare your job applications for submission to hiring managers. This usually involves making some small tweaks to your resume and creating a cover letter to accompany your application.

But aren't cover letters a thing of the past?

Yes and no. While 74 percent of recruiters don't find the cover letter to be an important factor when evaluating candidates, the remaining percentage do. And since you have no way of knowing which type of recruiter will receive your application, it's best to cover your bases and include a cover letter with every job application. As an added bonus, a reported 53 percent of employers admit they prefer candidates to send a cover letter when applying for a job.

However, not just any cover letter will do. If you're going to take the time to craft this document, make sure it helps, not hurts, your candidacy, by following cover letter dos and don'ts. Below are 10 common and costly mistakes to avoid when writing your next cover letter .

Cover Letter Mistake #1: Lack of research

Thanks to the Internet, there's little excuse to not personalize your cover letters. Whenever possible, research the name of the hiring manager or recruiter (if it's not listed on the actual job post) and the company who's filling the position, and use this information to customize your opening document.  If you skip this step, you're sending the message to the reader that you don't really care enough about the position to do your homework. In a world where employers are inundated with applications, any excuse to eliminate candidates along the application process will do. Don't let this cover letter mistake give them a reason to cut you from the pile.

There are some exceptions to this rule. If you're responding to an anonymous job posting, you're not expected to include the name of the company or the hiring manager in the cover letter. When a company goes out of its way to keep its name and the names of its employees confidential, you can assume the hiring manager won't take off points if you use a generic opener.

Cover Letter Mistake #2: Overly formal or casual greetings

Whenever you're applying for a position or preparing for an interview, take the company's culture into account. You can get a better sense of the employer's brand by checking out its Careers section online, reading reviews on Glassdoor, searching for its profile on The Muse , following the social media accounts the company set up for recruitment purposes, and talking to your networking connections who've worked at the organization. This will help you decide if you're better off going with a “Hello Jeff” or a “Dear Mr. Berger” type of greeting.

If you're unable to address your cover letter to a specific person, steer clear of incredibly formal introductions, such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as they are not conversational and can be considered off-putting. The same goes for super casual openers like “Hi!” Even if you're dealing with a startup that prides themselves on being non-traditional, this cover letter greeting is a little too laid back for your first communication and may have the reader questioning your professionalism.

Play it safe and stick with a gender-neutral opener such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter.”

Cover Letter Mistake #3: Talking all about me, me, me

Think of your cover letter as your sales pitch to the hiring manager. Instead of spending the entire time talking about yourself and your wants and needs, consider the needs of your prospective employer. Your potential boss is the one who will (hopefully) read your cover letter, after all.

Review the job description again and check out the latest news on the company. Ask yourself why the organization is hiring for this role. In other words, what pain point will this position solve? When you can relate to the hiring manager's concerns and position your skills as the solution to his or her needs, you have a better chance of avoiding cover letter mistakes and capturing the reader's attention.

Cover Letter Mistake #4: Repeating your entire resume

Remember, the recruiter already has your resume - there's no need to rehash your entire job history when writing your cover letter. In fact, I believe this is why so many employers disregard the cover letter; they've read so many bad cover letters that merely summarize their candidates' resumes, that they see no need to read them.

One cover letter tip is to surprise the hiring manager by using your opening to demonstrate your understanding of the company's position in the marketplace and its needs and then highlight your work experience and accomplishments that speak to these requirements.

Avoid these common cover letter mistakes.  Hire a TopResume writer today .

Cover Letter Mistake #5: Generic messaging

Even if you're applying to an anonymous job listing, a common cover letter mistake is using boilerplate text. While your introduction may not be as specific as it would be for a position where the employer is known, this doesn't give you license to use a generic template for the main sections of your cover letter.

Based upon the job description, make a list of the top 3-5 requirements for the role. This may have to do with your knowledge, skills, and experience of a certain topic or an industry, your experience performing a particular task, or your education and other credentials. Then, brainstorm how you possess each prerequisite, referencing a specific contribution, accomplishment, or experience from your work history that illustrates these qualifications. Summarize this information in a paragraph or a set of bullets. This is a great way to customize your cover letter and grab the reader's attention.

Cover Letter Mistake #6: Not following instructions

As I previously mentioned, some employers, especially those in the healthcare, education, and legal sector, still value a cover letter and will request one in their job description. Do yourself a favor and re-read the job description carefully to provide context to your cover letter dos and don'ts. Oftentimes the employer will request certain information to be included in the cover letter. The last thing you want to do is ignore this request, as the reader will assume you are not detail-oriented and unable to follow the simplest of instructions.

Cover Letter Mistake #7: Typos

When you're competing against a large pool of candidates for one role, the smallest cover letter mistakes could be used to eliminate you from the pile. These days, we've grown all too reliant on spell-check and autocorrect to edit our communication. It's easy to overlook the small mistakes, such as using “higher” when you really meant to say “hire.” Don't let these silly details derail your job application.

Follow this simple cover letter tip: Reread your cover letter. Then read it again. Then hand it over to a trusted friend. You know, the one that majored in English. If you're looking for some resources to improve your grammar and punctuation, check out Lynne Truss' book, “ Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation ,” and “ Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English ” by Patricia T. O'Conner. They're great reads!

Cover Letter Mistake #8: Writing a novel

If recruiters spend an average of six seconds scanning your resume before deciding if you're a fit, how long do you think they'll spend reading your cover letter? Here's another set of cover letter dos and don'ts: your cover letter shouldn't be any longer than is necessary to get your points across. And it definitely shouldn't exceed one page.

Also, keep its readability in mind. Similar to your resume, try to create white space in your cover letter by avoiding dense blocks of text.

Cover Letter Mistake #9: Going off brand

Whether you're searching for a new job or managing your career path, it's important to pay close attention to how you present your professional brand to others — online, on paper, and face to face. To that end, another cover letter tip is to give it the same look and feel as your resume. If you're uploading your cover letter as a separate document to an online application, ensure it uses the same header as your resume. Also, make sure the font type, color, and size, the contact information you provide, and even the name you use on both documents remain consistent.

Cover Letter Mistake #10: TMI

While you can use a cover letter to explain an employment gap or your interest in relocating to a new city, don't overshare your personal details with a prospective employer. The recruiter doesn't need to know the gory details of your back surgery or how you had your heart broken and need to find a new city to call home. These extraneous details can't be used as selling points and will only detract from your qualifications and candidacy.

Your resume should be mistake free as well. Is yours? Find out with a free resume review .

Recommended Reading:

• Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?
• How to Be a Great Candidate Even if You're Under-Qualified for the Job
• How to Write a Catchy Cover Letter

Related Articles:

How to Maximize Your Resume Action Words to Wow the Employer

Resume Spelling and Accent Explained

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

11 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

When it comes to the job application process, cover letters are as relevant as ever.

They complement your resume and can effectively set you apart from a sea of other candidates…

And yet, most job-seekers tend to make the same common cover letter mistakes (which can even cost them the job).

To prevent you from making the same mistakes, we compiled this list of job-seekers' 11 most common cover letter mistakes.

Avoid these mistakes, and you’re well on your way to landing your next job!

Ready? Let’s dive in! 

11 Cover Letter Mistakes (That You Should Avoid)

Mistake #1. making it all about yourself.

“How can I not make it about myself,” you might think. “After all, this is my cover letter.”

Well, yes, but here’s the thing.

You should use your cover letter to better explain why you’re the perfect fit for the company, not as free space to talk about yourself. Think about what the recruiter wants to read, not only what you want to say. 

Specifically, do talk about a few relevant strengths and noteworthy achievements that will highlight your skills for the position (that you couldn’t elaborate on your resume). 

Don’t overuse “I,” don’t start sharing your life story as if your cover letter is your autobiography, and don’t come up with irrelevant competencies you just assume will make you look good. Huge cover letter mistakes.   

Mistake #2. Repeating your resume

There’s a quote by Zig Ziglar that says: “ repetition is the mother of learning. ” Great quote, but it still doesn’t justify using your cover letter to repeat your resume. 

Recruiters want you to prove that you’re worth the job. But if they open your cover letter and re-read your resume (which they’ve surely already read), you’d have made a big cover letter mistake. 

If you have nothing new to say, you can explain in more detail how one of your achievements prepared you for the job you’re applying for, or how you can contribute to the company’s mission. Anything that will add value instead of just listing out your job history and responsibilities will do.  

Want to promote your personal brand and make a lasting impression as a candidate? Match your cover letter with your resume! All of the Novorésumé resume templates come with a matching cover letter design. So, just pick a style you like and get started now!

Mistake #3. Exceeding one page 

Your cover letter shouldn’t be an autobiography.

You might be tempted to go on and on and describe your entire career history, but that’s simply not what the cover letter is for.

A good cover letter has 3 main objectives:

• To (briefly) introduce you and your career goals
• To summarize your (relevant) professional background
• To explain anything that you didn’t have space for in your resume, but that the recruiter should know

As such, the ideal cover letter length is 250-400 words long or between three to six paragraphs . 

Mistake #4. Mass sending a cover letter

Ideally, your cover letters should be tailored to each job that you apply for. 

A generic cover letter that you just copy and paste from an internet sample shows you submitted one just because you have to, not out of genuine interest for the position. 

Your cover letter should show that you put in the effort—that’s what makes all the difference. 

If, however, you’re applying to many jobs and don’t really have the time to write, say, 20 cover letters, make sure to at least customize the company’s and the hiring manager’s name in each. 

Wondering how to start off your cover letter? Our guides on how to start a cover letter can help you with that! 

Mistake #5. Using cliches without backing them up

As you’re writing your cover letter, you might be tempted to use phrases like “I’m an excellent team player,” “dedicated problem-solver,” or “great communicator.” 

Which is fair - these are very important skills but any job out there.

Here’s the thing, though: these buzzwords are used so often in resumes & cover letters today that they’ve become cliches.

Sure, you can claim to be a “great communicator,” but so do all the other applicants.

The only case we do recommend mentioning such cliches is when you can actually back them up with your past experiences.

So instead of saying “I’m a great communicator,” you say “I’m a great communicator, as proven by Experience A, B, and C.”

Developed teamwork skills by coordinating with 10 other people on my project team to develop and deliver software solutions for the client both behind budget and ahead of schedule.

Mistake #6. Being too formal...or too informal

Look, extremes are rarely your friend. 

So, just like your instinct probably tells you that addressing the hiring manager like you would a friend isn’t the brightest idea, you should also refrain from being overly formal. 

Dear Sarah,

I’d like to apply for the role of junior project manager at Company X.

Hey Sarah, what’s up?

Name’s John and I’m here for that project manager gig!

Our guide on how to address a cover letter shows you the best ways to address a cover letter without being overly formal, or informal. 

Mistake #7. Typos and grammar mistakes

Out of all cover letter mistakes to avoid, typos and grammar mistakes should be the easiest. 

Microsoft Word will underline your typos red and your grammar mistakes green, but you have the option of easily proofreading your cover letter no matter where you’re writing it. 

A simple spell-checker and software like Grammarly should be enough to save you from this dreary, but easily avoidable, mistake.  

Mistake #8. Unnecessary flattery

You don’t need to write a love letter to the company for the hiring manager to like you. 

Sure, if you hold the company’s values, mission, or culture at a high standard, feel free to mention how it inspires you professionally. 

But if you just use your cover letter to throw random compliments at the company with the hopes the recruiter will like you, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. 

Remember: you want to (smartly) flatter your achievements, not the company. 

Mistake #9. Going off-topic

Going off-topic is a big no-no when it comes to cover letters.

You might think it’s OK, as long as you’re talking about work, but explaining the backstories of your professional decisions will get you nothing but a yawn from the recruiter.

For example, opening up to the hiring manager about how you decided to leave your job because you broke up with your girlfriend is (as you might imagine) totally going off-topic and definitely too much information (even if that’s the reason you did quit your job). 

Generally, in your cover letter, refrain from discussing:  

• Your weaknesses (unless they’re asking about them at an interview)
• Uncomfortable life/professional experiences
• Details of every job you ever had 
• Reasons, excuses, or details on why you were fired from a past job (again, unless asked at an interview)

Mistake #10. Not following specific instructions

Did your teacher ever tell you to carefully read the test questions before starting to answer? 

Rightfully so! Sometimes, we hurry so much to get something done that we completely miss what we are being asked in the first place. 

You don’t want that cover letter mistake to happen to you, so read the job description carefully before you start writing your resume and cover letter.

If the hiring manager has any specific requirements about the cover letter’s content or format, you’ll find them in the job description. It might even happen that the position doesn’t require a cover letter at all, so give this part its due attention. 

If the job description doesn’t provide any specifications, your best bet is to submit your cover letter in PDF format.

Want to go the extra mile and impress the recruiter with your attention to detail? Use the same design as in your resume.

Mistake #11. Forgetting to sign your cover letter

Signing your cover letter goes a long way to showing business etiquette and attention to detail, so make sure to do that! 

If you’re sending your cover letter and job application as part of an email, though, then you don’t have to sign your cover letter. 

In any case, pay extra attention to how you end your cover letter. People are bound to remember the ending of things, so you want to conclude your cover letter as politely and memorably as possible. 

Not sure what that means? Our article on how to end a cover letter will show you all you need to know! 

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! We hope you know what cover letter mistakes to look out for when you start writing. Here are a few of the main points we covered: 

• Don’t overuse “I” in your cover letter. Instead, focus on describing a few of your most noteworthy achievements, relevant to the position.
• Using your cover letter to repeat your resume is a cover letter mistake you must avoid.
• Avoid using cliches such as “team player,” “great communicator” and the sorts when you’re describing yourself. Instead, prove your skills by backing them up with your professional experiences.
• Make sure you proofread your cover letter before submitting it; typos and grammar mistakes are intolerable cover letter mistakes.

Related Readings: 

• Top Cover Letter Examples in 2024
• How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

15 Cover Letter Mistakes You Might Not Realize You’re Making

• How To Write A Cover Letter
• When Is A Cover Letter Necessary
• Free Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid
• Cover Letter Tips
• How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter

Find a Job You Really Want In

Writing a cover letter can be difficult, but how good yours is can determine whether or not you get the job. To make matters worse, you could be making a bunch of mistakes that are getting you screened out of the hiring process — and you might not even realize you’re making them.

So now you’ve got to write a cover letter that’s good enough to make an employer want to call you in for an interview. Lucky for you, you’ll find it’s easy to make sure that your cover letter is convincing and mistake-free. Here are 15 common cover letter mistakes to avoid so you can land an interview and get the job.

Key Takeaways:

Cover letter mistakes are fast way to have your job application ignored.

Common cover letter mistakes include forgetting to proofread, adding irrelevant information, and not addressing the company’s needs.

The best way to avoid cover letter mistakes is to spend time editing your letter.

If possible have someone you trust read your cover letter before you submit it.

15 cover letter mistakes

Frequently asked questions about cover letter mistakes, final thoughts on cover letters.

• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs

Forgetting to Proofread. Sending a cover letter that’s full of typos and errors is a quick and easy way to get yourself screened out of a possible interview.

We all know that writing a cover letter can be a painful process, but do yourself a favor and just proofread. Use free editing software like Grammarly or spell-check in Microsoft Word to catch the obvious mistakes.

For more nuanced changes, try reading your cover letter backwards — it’ll minimize the risk of reading over the same mistake over and over without noticing it.

If you can, ask a friend to look over your cover letter and point out any mistakes before you send it in. A second pair of eyes is great for finding errors you might not realize you’ve made.

Sending a Generic Cover Letter to Every Job You Apply For. This mistake is so common that employers will be able to tell right away if you’re using a one-size-fits-all cover letter when applying for jobs.

Make sure you mention the specific position you’re applying for in your first paragraph, address the company’s specific concerns and desired qualifications, and explain how your skills and experiences make you the best fit for the job.

A good way to optimize your cover letter is to start by reading the job description closely . Highlight all the action verbs in one color, all the hard skills in another, and the adjectives in a third color. Then, look for ways to incorporate some of those words into your cover letter, paying special attention to keywords that get used multiple times in the job description.

Not Getting Basic Company Facts Right. Getting basic information incorrect, like referencing the wrong company or addressing your cover letter to the wrong person, basically tells employers “I literally could not care less about this job opportunity and I’m using this same letter to apply for 20 other jobs right this second.”

Double check your cover letter greeting and make sure that you list the right company and the right contact, and mention the company name a few times throughout your letter.

Also, have a basic sense of what the company does , who their target audience is, what competition they face, and the challenges they are currently up against. When you can communicate like an insider, the hiring manager or recruiter will have a much easier time envisioning you as a member of the company.

Using an Outdated Greeting. Save the “ Dear Sir or Madam ” cover letter greetings for the grave. Instead, just use gender neutral terms like “Dear Hiring Manager,” when you’re unsure of who’s going to be reading your cover letter.

If you know exactly who’s going to be reading your letter, mention their name specifically, and always address women with the title “Ms.” rather than “Mrs.”

You should always do your best to find the name of the hiring manager . Check the job posting, the company’s career page on their website, or LinkedIn to find a name. If all else fails, simply call the company and ask who the hiring manager is for the given position.

If you can’t find a name and don’t want to use “ Dear Hiring Manager ,” try another greeting that’s a bit more specific like:

Dear [Department] Manager

Dear Hiring Committee

Dear [Title of Person You’d Report To]

Dear [Department] Hiring Team

Making Your Cover Letter Too Short. Submitting a cover letter that’s less than half a page will send the wrong message to employers about your work ethic or your interest in the job at hand. Plus, you’re completely blowing off the opportunity to highlight your skills and experience and show off why you’re the best person for the job.

Making Your Cover Letter Too Long. A good cover letter shouldn’t be any longer than one page . Unless you’re applying for a managerial or executive position, there’s really no reason why your cover letter should be any longer. Plus, you risk burdening the employer and losing their interest.

Hiring managers read about a million cover letters and resumes everyday, and you’ll want to make sure yours is concise to avoid wasting their time. Keep your cover letter brief, and only include the most important information need to make an employer want to invite you in for an interview.

Including Too Much Information or Over-Explaining. Don’t include more information than the employer needs to know. Address their concerns and let them know that you have all of the necessary qualifications.

Some people feel the need to explain career changes or why they’re applying for a job from somewhere far away. Keep your explanations short to make sure that the employer is able to focus on your skills and experiences.

Not Giving Concrete Examples. The skills and qualifications you claim to have in your cover letter are meaningless if you can’t back them up. Support your statements by giving examples of jobs or roles where you used these strengths.

For example, instead of just saying “I have great organizational skills and I’m a hard worker,” say something like, “I personally organized our annual fundraiser and increased employee participation by 30%.” Much more convincing.

Notice how the above example also quantifies the writer’s accomplishments. Whenever you can, include numbers to make a bigger impact with your statements. Recruiters and hiring managers love to see verifiable proof of your deeds, so make it easy to see how you’ve added value in the past.

Starting Your Introductory Paragraph With Your Name. Nothing says “rookie mistake” like opening your cover letter with “My name is Joe Schmo.” Your name should be listed in the sign off of your cover letter, in your resume, and elsewhere in your application materials.

Making Your Cover Letter a Written-Out Version of Your Resume. Your cover letter shouldn’t be your resume in paragraph form. Your resume is the first thing most employers look at, so you’re just wasting everyone’s time if you use your cover letter to write out everything that’s already on your resume.

Use your cover letter to focus on one or two examples of your work experiences that show what you can bring to the table. Help employers picture you doing the work by explaining what you’ve done in your previous positions.

Using the Wrong Format. There’s no one-size-fits-all format for every cover letter , and how you write yours depends on your experience and what you have to offer.

If you’re describing one or two particular relevant experiences, it may make sense to go with the standard three-paragraph format . On the other hand, if you’re listing your skills or detailing your career path , a more creative approach like bullet points may be more suitable.

Always include these sections in your cover letter:

Your contact information

An opening paragaph that grabs the reader’s attention

2-3 body paragraphs that highlight your relevant professional achievements and interest in the company/job

A closing paragaph with a call-to-action and a thank-you

A professional sign-off

Focusing Too Much on Education and Training. We’re all super proud that you finally finished that college thing and got your degree, but what employers really care about is your relevant experience and what you can bring to the table on day one.

Briefly mention education if it’s relevant to the job, but make the main focus of your cover letter your relevant experiences. If you’re new on the job scene and your education is your most relevant experience, describe projects you worked on and the skills you gained, instead of just the course content .

Sharing Completely Irrelevant Information. If you have a good idea of the company’s culture, it makes sense to show your compatibility in your cover letter.

Instead of describing your weird hobbies or your booming social life, talk about your values and how they align with the core values of the company. Check their website to get a good feel for their culture and values and use that information to show you’re the perfect fit.

Not Showing Any Actual Interest in the Job. If you don’t sound genuinely interested or excited for the job opportunity, you’re probably not going to land an interview. Show enthusiasm for the job so the hiring manager knows that you’re highly motivated, and not just looking for a paycheck.

Forgetting to Address the Employer’s Concerns. While you’re talking about how awesome and qualified you are, make sure to do so in the context of the job requirements and the company’s needs. If the hiring manager can see that everything about you is perfect for the specific job, you’re bound to land an interview.

Are there weaknesses to a cover letter?

Yes there is a big disadvantage to a cover letter if it has too many mistakes. If you send a cover letter that has a lot of mistakes, you care going to give the hiring manager a bad impression of yourself. Whether or not you’re a good candidate will no longer matter if you cannot ably present your qualifications. That is why it is important to review your cover letter before you submit it.

What are the advantages of a cover letter?

Cover letters have to advantage of explaining your qualifications in more detail while adding a personal touch. A cover letter will also underscore how serious you are about the position, especially if you have done your research and show how your skills will fulfill the needs of the position. Just make sure to use specific examples that directly connect back to the job description.

Is it OK to use “Dear Hiring Manager”?

Yes, it is OK to use “Dear Hiring Manager” if you do not have a specific name to address your cover letter. Obviously it is always better to address a specific person, which is why you should do your research before you send the letter, however sometimes it is impossible to know the name of the person. In this case, the generic “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.

One of the first things employers notice about a job candidate is their cover letter. A good cover letter shows that you’re an effective communicator and that you have what it takes to get the job done, so you’ll want yours to be effective and error-free.

Many cover letters don’t get the attention they deserve, and a lot of people just write one at the last minute, attach it to their resume , and hope that it gets the job done — and these cover letters happen to be full of these common errors.

Make sure to check through your resume and make sure you don’t make any of the mistakes we’ve mentioned in this article, and you’re sure to get called in for an interview!

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

Recent Job Searches

• Registered Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Truck Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Call Center Representative Jobs Resume Location
• Customer Service Representative Jobs Resume
• Delivery Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Warehouse Worker Jobs Resume Location
• Account Executive Jobs Resume Location
• Sales Associate Jobs Resume Location
• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Company Driver Jobs Resume

Related posts

Miss, Mrs., Or Ms.: When To Use Each

Cover Letter Spacing and Margins

How To Address A Cover Letter (With Examples)

How To Write A Cover Letter Opening (With Examples)

• Career Advice >
• Cover Letter >
• Cover Letter Mistakes

Top 10 Cover Letter Tips (+ Mistakes To Avoid)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

Ah, the cover letter. While it seems like writing a cover letter would be so incredibly simple, it’s often one of the most intimidating parts of the application process. Why? Well, there are quite a few reasons.

With a cover letter, you have to showcase your capabilities differently than you would in a resume. If you’re new to cover letters, that alone could be enough to set you on edge.

Plus, cover letters can feel a lot like bragging. It’s a one-sided conversation, where you tout your abilities to an audience that isn’t answering. That, too, can be a bit uncomfortable.

But that doesn’t mean you should shy away from creating one. With the right cover letter tips, you can create an effective cover letter that boosts your job search prospect. Ready to make the most of this little document? Then, come with us as we explore how to do just that.

What Is a Cover Letter? What Are They Used For?

Before we dig into any cover letter tips, let’s take a step back and answer a couple of basic questions.

First, what is a cover letter?

Well, a cover letter is a critical document that takes the form of a traditional letter. It lets you introduce yourself to the hiring manager in a way that isn’t possible with a resume alone. In many ways, it allows you to extend a more meaningful digital handshake.

Generally speaking, resumes are fact-based documents. You list your achievements, using a bullet point approach. It’s succinct, targeted, and straightforward.

Cover letters have more flow. You can use “I” statements and describe yourself. You can showcase your personality, both in the way you write and the points you choose to cover. While it needs to be relevant to the position you want to land, a cover letter is more conversational.

A second question that frequently crosses job seekers’ minds is, what are cover letters used for? After all, your resume highlights your skills, traits, and achievements. Do you really need anything more than that? Well, yes, you do.

Your resume has to be incredibly focused and concise , and the presentation of your abilities often feels a bit rigid. It’s hard to showcase your personality in a resume. Plus, you don’t have a lot of room to explain various details. Sometimes, that works against you.

With a cover letter, you give yourself that room. You can cultivate a narrative, sharing aspects of your story that have no place on a resume. Got a gap in your work history? You can discuss why in your cover letter. Switching careers? You can explain your choice and tap on how your skills are transferable in a cover letter.

Now, that doesn’t mean you want to get too personal – we’ll dig into that more in a bit – a cover letter does give you some freedom of expression. When used well, it can make a world of difference, helping you stand out from the pack and land an interview.

Characteristics of a Good Cover Letter

What to put in a cover letter? That’s likely a question running through your mind. Luckily, the answer isn’t challenging.

Now, we’ve covered the various structural aspects of an effective cover letter before, so we’ll just tap on them briefly here.

Just like resumes, cover letters need the right components and structure. You want to address a cover letter the right way and choose the correct cover letter format .

If you aren’t sure where to begin, your best bet is to start with a cover letter template . You can also review some cover letter examples to get moving in the right direction.

Just remember, if you’re using examples, don’t copy them verbatim even if they are a good match for your capabilities. There’s always a chance that a hiring manager is going to check your cover letter for plagiarism and, if they discover you pulled yours straight from another website, you can kiss that job goodbye.

At the opening of your cover letter – after you’ve covered your and the hiring manager’s contact information along with a greeting – you need to introduce yourself. Also, in the first paragraph, mention the job title and department of the position you’re going after. If you’re applying to a recruiter that fills openings at multiple businesses, list the company name, too. That way, there’s no doubt as to why you’re writing.

After that, when you are deciding what to put in a cover letter, drawing the hiring manager in needs to be your goal. How do you do that? By targeting the content.

You already know that tailoring your resume is important; the same is true of your cover letter. You don’t want to send out a generic form letter. That won’t pack a punch.

Instead, you want your cover letter to showcase why you’re the best fit for this specific job. When you’re writing a cover letter, it’s all about creating a standout value proposition. You need to highlight how your capabilities will help the company thrive. You can’t do that without tailoring the content.

Luckily, the process isn’t unlike targeting a resume. If you get to know the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method , you can use many of those techniques in your cover letter, too.

Awesome, right?

Usually, you’ll extol your virtues and present a standout value proposition in two or three body paragraphs. Then, it’s time for an amazing closing.

Express your appreciation. Reaffirm your interest. Say, “thank you.” Let them know you’re looking forward to hearing back and how you intend to follow up. Then, sign off, listing your LinkedIn page or personal branding website after your signature.

Keep the overall length of your cover letter reasonable. Usually, you are aiming for about one page, with one opening paragraph, two or three body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Alright, we are getting closer to the amazing cover letter tips that will help you stand out from the masses. But before we start on those, let’s take a minute to cover something else important: what not to do.

Cover letter mistakes can turn a great cover letter into a terrible one. That’s why avoiding missteps is essential. So, without further ado, here are three things you don’t want to do.

1. Not Writing a Cover Letter

In reality, the biggest cover letter mistake you can make is not writing one. Even if the application doesn’t make one mandatory, skipping it will usually hurt you.

After all, 26 percent of recruiters view cover letters as important when they are trying to make hiring decisions. Why? Think about it. Cover letters help them learn more about candidates. If they really want to find the cream of the crop, reviewing job seeker cover letters can help them do it.

Plus, 52 percent of hiring managers would give more attention to a resume with a cover letter. When you add a good cover letter to your resume, you’re going the extra mile. It takes effort to create one of the best cover letters around, and hiring managers will notice that you gave it your all.

In nearly all cases, creating an effective cover letter works in your favor. That’s why skipping it is generally a bad move.

There is one situation where you don’t want to submit a cover letter: when the instructions specifically say not to. If you send one in anyway, you’re not following the directions. Even if you literally wrote the most spectacular cover letter ever created, you failed to do what the instructions said, and that usually means a one-way trip to the discard pile.

2. Making It All About You

Alright, we admit this mistake is a bit counter intuitive. After all, aren’t you supposed to tell the hiring manager why you’re amazing? Well, yeah, you are.

The trick is how you approach it. It shouldn’t be “me, me, me.” Instead, it needs to explore what you can do for the company.

You’re creating a value proposition. You need to position yourself as a solution to specific company challenges. How do you do that? Start by scouring the job description .

As you look at the vacancy announcement, look for insights about how this role functions based on the bigger picture. What critical duties will the new hire handle? How does this employee push the company towards its goals and broader success?

Once you figure that out, showcase how you can do that for the company.

Now, this doesn’t mean you rehash what’s on your resume. No, no, no. Redundancy is never good. Instead, you want to cover points that don’t work in your application elsewhere, or add context about your capabilities that didn’t fit on your resume. That’s how you make your value proposition stronger.

3. Being Too Personal

Showcasing your personality is a good idea, but that doesn’t mean you need to give the hiring manager intimate details about your life. The focus needs to be on your professional capabilities, not your strange hobby, your recent back surgery, or that you’re relocating because your ex was a nightmare.

If you cross the line, there’s a good chance that the hiring manager is going to have immediate doubts about you as a candidate. They may figure that you don’t know what is or isn’t appropriate to discuss in a professional environment, at a minimum.

Oversharing doesn’t help you stand out, at least, not in a good way. So, resist the urge to tell them about any aspect of your life that isn’t highly relevant to the job.

Remember, cover letters are short. Don’t waste real estate on something that isn’t making your value proposition stronger.

Top 10 Cover Letter Tips

Now it’s time for what you’ve been waiting for. Here are 10 cover letter tips that can help you make yours as awesome as possible.

1. Make It a Document, Not Just an Email

Alright, this piece of cover letter advice might seem a bit weird in the digital age. After all, if you’re applying via email, why shouldn’t you just put your cover letter in the body of the message?

Well, the thing is, many hiring managers still print out the attachments. A surprising number of companies rely heavily on paper files. If your cover letter isn’t in a separate document, it might not get printed. That means it gets detached from the rest of your application.

Make sure your cover letter is printable, and not just as an email. That way, if this hiring manager prefers to review paper documents, you’re covered.

2. Use Keywords

If the company you want to work for uses an ATS, there’s a chance your cover letter and resume will go through a keyword screening. That can work in your favor, giving you another place to get some valuable keywords in.

Now, you don’t want to just regurgitate what’s in your resume. Instead, if you didn’t get a chance to tap on a keyword in your resume (or could only fit it in once), you can use your cover letter to cover it.

3. Watch Your Sentence Structure

Since you’re writing about yourself, you may have a tendency to start every sentence with “I.” While you can do that on occasion, if every sentence starts “I,” one after another, the tone of your cover letter is going to be a miss.

Similarly, if every sentence is the same length, you’ll run into trouble. It makes your cover letter sound monotonous and, monotonous often equals boring. You’re trying to catch the hiring manager’s attention, so mix things up a bit.

Make sure you use different starting words and vary your sentence length. It’ll make your cover letter more interesting, and that’s ridiculously important.

4. Talk About Them

Creating a value proposition means showing how your skills will make life easier for them. Discuss yourself but only in the context of applying your capabilities to solve their problems. That makes you look like a solution, and that’s what you really want.

One of the simplest ways to pull this off is to identify a pain point. Then, you can mention it briefly and follow that up with how you can make it easier to overcome. Easy peasy.

5. Match Tone

Hiring managers need to find candidates that are also great culture fits. If you want to highlight yourself as a potential match, use the company’s tone as a guide.

See what language they use in social media posts, mission and values statements, website, and job ad. Then, convey a similar tone, while keeping things professional. It’ll make you seem like a better fit, and that’s a great thing.

6. Use Numbers

Quantifying your cover letter is just as important as quantifying your resume. Numbers stand out visually and provide valuable context. So add in some digits whenever it’s appropriate.

7. Make the Most of Your Opening Line

While your first paragraph needs to serve as an introduction, that doesn’t mean you have to start with, “My name is…” In fact, you shouldn’t. Your name is at the top of the page, so you don’t need to repeat yourself.

Similarly, starting with, “I’m applying to [position]…” won’t help you stand out. While you do need to cover that information, consider making your first sentence something different.

Use a relevant quote. Highlight your professional motto. Lead with a brief anecdote. Any of those options are fairly unique, and may increase your odds of standing out.

8. Go Image-Free

Pictures, graphics, emojis… they don’t usually have a place in a cover letter. Plus, if your cover letter is screened by an ATS, anything other than text can confuse the system, and that could hurt you. So, leave the images out.

9. Skip Cliches

If you want to be unmemorable, rely on cliches. Phrases like “go-getter” and “team player” won’t help you. You’re better off using your achievements to showcase those traits than telling the hiring manager you have them.

10. Follow the Directions

If there are any directions regarding the cover letter, follow them to the letter, period. Failing to follow the instructions won’t result in anything but a rejection.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, all of the cover letter tips above can help you stand out from the crowd. Make use of every single one. That way, you can stand out from the crowd for all of the right reasons.

Remember, you’re an exceptional candidate. Let that shine through in your cover letter.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

Copyright © 2024 · TheInterviewguys.com · All Rights Reserved

• Our Products
• Case Studies
• Interview Questions
• Jobs Articles
• Members Login

9 Biggest Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• October 6, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Avoiding common cover letter mistakes can quickly boost your chances and convince the hiring manager that you are the right fit for the position. After all, you’ve only got three paragraphs to tell the employer what makes you the perfect addition to their team. Because of that, you need to prioritize the most critical information and work effectively within the limited space. So, let’s look at how you can avoid common cover letter mistakes and motivate the employer to choose you out of all the candidates.

Common cover letter mistakes and how to fix them

Writing a cover letter is an important part of the job application process. However, there are common mistakes that many people make when crafting their cover letters. In this response, we will discuss some of these mistakes and provide tips on how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Not analyzing the job description

Mistake 2: using the wrong cover letter format, mistake 3: highlighting duties instead of accomplishments, mistake 4: repeating your resume, mistake 5: focusing on yourself too much, mistake 6: sharing irrelevant experience, mistake 7: using the same cover letter template for multiple jobs, mistake 8: including too much information, mistake 9: making spelling or grammar mistakes, how to avoid cover letter mistakes.

In this day and age, there’s no excuse for failing to do your research. So, before you start writing your cover letter, take a moment to read through the job description carefully. While doing this, focus on the top 5 requirements for the role. These may be related to experience, education, skills, or other qualifications. Once you’ve found these perquisites, brainstorm examples of when you’ve used them in your career. Then, summarize your experience with successfully using these top qualifications in one paragraph. This will grab the hiring manager’s attention and show that you aren’t using a generic template.

Avoid trying to catch the reader’s attention with intricate design at the expense of readability. Your cover letter can be unique and use a similar design to your resume but don’t get too artistic with it. By using an easy-to-read font, you will ensure that the content of your cover letter will stand out. To improve the readability, remember to break up text into shorter, concise paragraphs. Above all, keep your cover letter to one page at most, and leave space between the paragraphs.

Leave the list of job duties in your resume. In your cover letter, focus more on your professional accomplishments and times when you have exceeded the goals. For example, highlight any awards or recognition you have earned throughout your career. If you don’t know which ones to include, choose the ones that are most impressive and relevant to the position you’re applying to.

There’s no need to write out the content of your resume in your cover letter. In fact, it can quickly put the hiring manager off if you reiterate what they’ve already read in your resume. Your cover letter should expand on the information that is in your resume. For example, discuss specific accomplishments you achieved in your past jobs using the skills that you mention on your resume.

Remember that your cover letter is essentially your sales pitch. In it, you should address the employer’s needs and how you could fulfill them. So, stay away from describing your wishes and wants in length. Instead, ask yourself what you can offer to the company. What challenges are they facing right now? What pain points can you help them solve? By looking at the position from the employer’s point of view, you will better relate your skills and qualifications to their needs.

You might be in a position where you know that your experience is not relevant to the job. As a result, you may want to explain this in your cover letter. But before you do so and alert the hiring manager to this fact, pause. Instead of explaining why your experience is irrelevant, focus on how it prepared you for the job at hand. Discuss transferable skills and knowledge you gained during your career and how you would apply them in your new position to become a valuable employee.

While the formatting of your cover letter can stay the same, the contents should always be unique and tailored to the position. A good cover letter addresses the specific requirements of the role and company you’re applying to. Thus, you should always edit or rewrite your cover letter before applying for a new job. Some of the key things to focus on include the hiring manager’s name and the exact title of the position you’re applying to. Of course, you should also highlight the most relevant skills, qualifications, and values that align with what the company is seeking.

Before sending your cover letter, ask yourself whether the information is relevant to the job. For example, you might want to explain why you are changing careers or relocating. On the other hand, the employer doesn’t need to know the personal details. Those are unlikely to add to your qualifications and could even seem like a red flag. So, only include the information that enhances your application and highlights the positives.

Even a tiny cover letter mistake can land you in the ‘no’ pile in today’s competitive job market. So, never skip over proofreading your cover letter multiple times. First, use spell-check in your word editing program. Then, go over the cover letter again and read through it carefully to catch any mistakes that might have slipped past. You can also try reading it out loud or from the bottom to the top to detect errors. Ask a friend, colleague, or family member to proofread it for you and get their feedback on the overall tone of the cover letter.

To avoid cover letter mistakes, consider the following tips:

• Personalize your cover letter: Tailor your cover letter to the specific job and company you are applying to. Avoid using generic templates and make an effort to address the hiring manager by name, if possible.
• Avoid being too formal or informal: Strike a balance between being professional and personable in your writing. Avoid overly formal language and clichés, but also avoid being too casual or using slang.
• Focus on the employer’s needs: Instead of solely talking about yourself, highlight how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the job. Show the employer how you can add value to their organization.
• Keep it concise: A cover letter should be clear, concise, and to the point. Avoid rambling or including unnecessary details. Stick to the most relevant information that showcases your qualifications.
• Proofread for errors: Thoroughly proofread your cover letter for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Read it multiple times or ask someone else to review it for you. Mistakes can create a negative impression and harm your chances of getting an interview.
• Avoid discussing salary expectations: Unless specifically requested, it’s generally best to avoid discussing salary expectations in your cover letter. Save this discussion for later stages of the hiring process.

Popular related posts:

• ATS-Friendly Resume: How to Beat ATS in 2023
• Cover Letter Format: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2024
• How To Write a Cover Letter With No Experience in 9 Steps
• How to Write a Resume With No Work Experience
• 7 Insider Tips: How to Choose an Executive Resume Writing Service

Get a Resume Expert Writing Help

No time to polish your resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, or LinkedIn? Our resume writing experts are ready to check your documents right now.

• No products in the cart.
• Resume Writing Service
• Free Resume Review
• Resume Templates
• Career Advice

• Career Advice
• Cover Letters

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

A cover letter should strengthen an applicant's chances of landing a job, but if done carelessly, it can be the reason your resume ends up on the rejection pile. Your cover letter should be professional, concise, and informative. Here is a list of common mistakes that you should avoid.

Try Betterteam

Post your jobs to 100+ job boards

• Reach over 250 million candidates.
• Get candidates in hours, not days.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes:

1. submitting the same cover letter for every position..

If you're going to send a generic cover letter to every hiring manager, you might be better off not sending one at all. Even if you're in a rush, include the name of the company or organization you're applying to in the cover letter.

Never submit a cover letter that does not show your interest in or knowledge of the company you're applying to.

2. Using the incorrect company name.

Never copy and paste sections of one cover letter into another. If you're applying for several jobs, double-check that you've included the correct name of the institution and that you've addressed the letter to the relevant hiring manager.

3. Not conducting sufficient research.

Unless you don't know the name of the company you're applying to, there's no excuse not to conduct research on them. Before constructing a cover letter, you need to look into the company or institution, as well as its key staff members.

Once you have an idea of the company culture, and the initiatives and projects they do, you'll have an idea of the value you can add to their ventures.

4. Embellishing or lying.

It's one thing to repackage your skills and experience so that they work in your favor, but lying about your abilities and work experience to get a position is not okay. If you're hired, you'll be required to make good on the promises you've made.

5. Using an inappropriate tone.

Being too formal can be just as bad as being too casual. By conducting in-depth research on the company or institution, you'll be able to express yourself appropriately.

6. Repeating everything in your resume.

A cover letter should supplement your resume, but it shouldn't be a summary of it. Don't speak at length about yourself in the cover letter; rather use the space to impress the hiring manager with your knowledge of the company and how you plan on adding value with your skills and experience.

7. Drawing attention to your shortcomings.

If you don't have all the qualities or skills specified in the job posting, highlight the strengths you do possess, but don't mention your shortcomings.

8. Misreading the job posting's instructions.

Make sure you've read and re-read all the job posting's instructions and underlined the keywords and phrases before starting your cover letter. If there's specific information they've asked you to include in your cover letter, ensure you have done so.

9. Submitting a cover letter riddled with errors.

You may be the best candidate for the job, but sending the hiring manager a sloppy cover letter won't get you an interview. Make sure you've used tools like Grammarly to double-check for spelling and grammar errors. It is also advisable to get someone else to read over your cover letter before you send it off.

10. Incorrect formatting.

Refrain from using color, graphics, or fancy fonts in your cover letter. Stick to a tried-and-tested format.

11. Having a cover letter that's too long.

Your cover letter should span half a page to one page. Remember, hiring managers receive hundreds of applications and they don't have time to read your essay.

12. Going off-topic or providing too much information.

Keep it short and sweet. Brainstorming your cover letter and mapping out each paragraph before you begin will help to keep you on track. Using a template as a guide is also a good idea.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

What are the most common cover letter mistakes?

• Using the incorrect company name.
• Embellishing or lying.
• Using an inappropriate tone.
• Repeating everything in your resume.
• Drawing attention to your shortcomings.
• Submitting a cover letter with spelling and grammar errors.
• Incorrect formatting.
• Providing too much information.

Will a bad cover letter hurt my application?

Yes, a poorly written cover letter can result in your resume not being read or put to the bottom of the pile.

How long should your cover letter be?

A cover letter should not be longer than a single page.

What shouldn't be included in a cover letter?

• Informal greetings.
• Overly personal details.
• Text abbreviations.

What makes a strong cover letter?

• Keeping the letter concise and informative.
• Addressing the hiring manager by name.
• Showing relevant achievements.
• Targeting the needs of the employer.

Related Articles:

How to write a cover letter, how to address a cover letter, smartcoverletter, best cover letter generators, the 12 best cover letter tips for 2024.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Know Before Applying

You’ve probably heard the rumor going around that you don’t need a cover letter anymore. But while these controversial headlines are catchy, they’re not being totally honest with you .

Having an outstanding cover letter could be your ticket to a job interview – and having cover letter mistakes (or no cover letter at all) could result in your resume getting trashed.

The truth is that there’s no way to predict how much a hiring manager will care about your cover letter. They could ignore it entirely or analyze every word you write.

You’re playing a dangerous game if you skip out on creating a standout cover letter. Don’t gamble with the risk!

Just create a good cover letter so you’ll be confident in your job application.

So, how do you create a cover letter that you can be proud of?

First, start with the online cover letter builder .

Second, check out the free online resume samples here , here , and here .

Third, read these crucial cover letter tips and tricks in the Careers Center , including the following five common cover letter mistakes you’re probably making right now.

Cover Letter Mistake #1: Sounding Boring – Or Worse, Bored

Your cover letter probably isn’t the right place to talk about last year’s wild Spring Break bender. However, your cover letter still needs to be interesting enough to keep the hiring manager from getting bored silly.

One of the biggest mistakes you could make with your cover letter is being so boring – or sounding so bored – that the hiring manager stops reading why they should hire you. And if they stop reading, what’s the point of writing it?

A boring cover letter defeats the purpose of writing a cover letter at all.

Do your best to gauge the level of creativity that the hiring manager would appreciate at the company you’re applying for. You can tell a lot about how traditional they would want cover letters to be by the way they represent themselves on their websites.

Check out their About Us pages for clues, such as looking at the words and photos they choose. Ask yourself these questions to help determine how you should add interest to your cover letter:

• Do they have pictures of employees having fun or are they hard at work?
• Do they use slang or professional jargon?
• Do they use formal words or contractions like “aren’t” and “can’t”?

For example, if they’re strictly professional and corporate, such as an established accounting firm, concentrate on adding interesting statistics and quantitative examples of how you’ve excelled at your previous jobs or in school.

On the other hand, if they’re a cutting-edge fashion magazine or hyper-hip marketing firm, you can be a little more creative in how you spice up your cover letter. Try a clever opening line or tell an interesting anecdote about why you’re a fantastic candidate.

Cover Letter Mistake #2: Recycling Your Resume

Your cover letter is the place where you can share why you’re a great candidate. It isn’t where you recycle your resume. Rehashing everything you already listed in your resume summary, qualifications, education, job history, and interests isn’t just unnecessary – it’s boring.

While it’s important that your cover letter, resume, and summary are all tailored for the job you’re applying for , they don’t have to say the same thing over and over again.

Resumes are supposed to be short and concise. There were probably a lot of skills and experiences that you could wished you could have fit in it, but there just wasn’t enough room.

Cover letters are the best place for you to share the qualifications that were interesting, but just didn’t make the cut into your resume.

Remember, the hiring manager is perfectly capable of reading your resume. You don’t need to rewrite it out again in your cover letter!

Cover Letter Mistake #3: Not Personalizing the Cover Letter Template

Addressing your cover letter to “Whom It May Concern” or worse, “Sir or Ma’am,” is an instant tip-off to the hiring manager that you didn’t care enough to check what their name was.

Little things like checking the hiring manager’s LinkedIn profile or calling the company to ask go a long way. It’s totally worth it to do a little digging to find out the name of the hiring manager.

Check out this article for more details on how to personalize your cover letter template here .

Cover Letter Mistake #4: Avoiding Employers’ Most Important Question

The basic question that every hiring manager is asking when they read your cover letter is, “Why should I hire you?”

Your cover letter should answer their question indirectly (or even directly, if you think that the hiring manager would find it appropriate) by telling them why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Share stories, facts, evidence, and qualifications that make you stand out as a candidate. However, it’s crucial that you tell the truth. Never lie on your cover letter or resume .

Cover Letter Mistake #5: Your Cover Letter is Too Long

Hiring managers expect cover letters to be between half to one page long. They probably won’t read anything longer than one page, unless you’re applying for a very senior position at a company. Stick to one page or less!

Check out The Ultimate Guide to Cover Letters by Resume.com for access to the online cover letter builder, cover letter examples, and more essential articles on cover letters today!

Start Building Your Résumé

RESOURCES FOR:    Job Seekers Faculty Employers

RESOURCES FOR:

Job Seekers Faculty Employers

10 Common Cover Letter Mistakes

By  Sarah Hildebrand

Photo by Burst on Unsplash

Alongside your resume, your cover letter is one of the most important parts of your job application. How well you write this document will often determine whether or not you’ll be offered an interview. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure your cover letter is as polished as possible and that you avoid making the following 10 mistakes.

1. You Didn’t Follow Directions

Some applications will ask that particular information be included in your cover letter. For example, they may want you to attend to specific traits or tasks related to the position, or they may want you to explain where exactly you see yourself fitting within the organization. Be sure to also follow any instructions about how to submit your cover letter, such as in what format you should save the document or what font it’s written in.

2. You Talked Too Much About What the Job Can Do for You

The person reading your cover letter wants to know what you can do for their organization, not the other way around. If you’re talking too much about what you could gain from being hired, you’re missing a valuable opportunity to instead be explaining why you’re the best fit for the job.

3. You Used a Template and Forgot to Change the Name of the Employer

This is perhaps one of the most embarrassing mistakes to make and one of the easiest to avoid. It’s okay if you have a “template” cover letter that you strategically revise for each new position. But don’t forget to change the name of the organization to which you’re applying or the position title. These are surefire ways to get your application moved to the bottom of the pile.

4. You Didn’t Tailor It to the Position

You should never submit a generic cover letter. Each one should be tailored to the particular position to which you’re applying. This means utilizing keywords from the job ad and making sure to highlight the experiences and accomplishments most relevant to the position. These will likely change at least somewhat amongst every cover letter you write.

5. You Repeated Too Much Information from Your Resume

Your cover letter shouldn’t read like your resume—this is your chance to expand on your resume by providing concrete examples. If your cover letter is just another list of every position you’ve held, it’s not helping to further your case. Of course you’ll mention some of those positions, but the job of a cover letter is to help provide evidence for the claims you make about the skills you possess. It enables you to tell stories about your key accomplishments rather than simply listing them.

6. You Went Off-Topic

Your cover letter should stay focused on why you’re the best fit for the position. Use this space to clearly identify your strengths and provide examples of them in action. Avoid sharing unnecessary biographical information or experiences unrelated to the job at-hand.

7. You Struck the Wrong Tone

In a cover letter, it’s better to err on the side of formality. For example, in your salutation, write “Dear _____” instead of saying “Hi” or “Hello.” You should also strike a balance between sounding overly modest and overly confident. Play up your strengths without being hyperbolic.

8. It Was Too Long (or Too Short)

A cover letter should be roughly one page single-spaced and definitely not longer. A hiring manager sifting through hundreds of applications doesn’t have time to read your autobiography. On the other hand, an overly short cover letter—a half-page or less—signals you haven’t been thoughtful about the task.

9. It Was Poorly Organized

Cover letters should begin with a greeting, move on to an explanation of your qualifications, and end with a thank you and your signature. A cover letter should also use relatively short paragraphs that are easy for a hiring manager to skim. Try to lead each one with a strong topic sentence that clearly identifies a strength.

10. It Had Too Many Typos

Always proofread your cover letter and, ideally, have someone you trust proofread it, too. Most hiring managers will have little tolerance for typos, as it signals a lack of attention to detail.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Related Posts

• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Brainstorming for Your Academic Cover Letter
• CVs vs. Resumes

Need help with the Commons?

Email us at [email protected] so we can respond to your questions and requests. Please email from your CUNY email address if possible. Or visit our help site for more information:

• Terms of Service
• Accessibility
• Creative Commons (CC) license unless otherwise noted

• SEARCH JOBS
• WHY POPCORN?

10 Worst Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• By: PopcornRecruiters Team
• On: 31 May, 2022
• Category: Blog

A cover letter is a formal letter that is sent to an employer along with a resume when applying for a job. The cover letter introduces the applicant to the employer and highlights the key qualifications that make the applicant a good fit for the position.

While cover letters are not required for every job application, they can be very helpful in making a good first impression on an employer.

Unfortunately, cover letters are often overlooked or treated as an afterthought by job seekers. As a result, many cover letters are filled with common mistakes that can hurt an applicant’s chances of getting the job.

Keep reading to find out what are the most common cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them!

Cover Letters: A Things of the Past or Not?

Aren’t cover letters a thing of the past? Well, yes and no.

According to Jobvite , 74% of recruiters don’t find the cover letter to be an important factor when evaluating candidates. But, that means 26% of recruiters do! And, your next employer might belong to this category.

More importantly, 53% of employers admit they prefer candidates to send a cover letter when applying for a job (even when it’s not required).

Keep in mind that, in order to impress your potential employer, you can’t write one generic cover letter and keep sending it for every job position you apply for. Writing cover letters requires some time and effort. To make the process easier, we bring you 10 most common (and costly) mistakes you should avoid.

1. Addressing the cover letter to the wrong person

When applying for a job, make sure you know the name of the person responsible for reviewing job applications and addressing your cover letter to them.

If you can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you can use a generic title such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter.”

2. Too casual or too formal greetings

Besides addressing the right person, you need to make sure your greeting is neither too formal or too casual.

Seer clear of too formal greetings, such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Mrs. Smith.” These are often considered off-putting, and so is the super casual opener “Hi!”

The best way to greet the recipient of your cover letter is by using their first name, such as “Dear Jane.” Or, as mentioned above a gender-neutral opener such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter” is always a safe choice.

3. Not providing enough (or any) context

Your cover letter should provide context for your resume. It should  explain why you are interested in the position and why you would be a good fit for it.

Many job seekers make the mistake of simply repeating what is already on their resume. This is not only redundant, but it also shows that you lack creativity and don’t know how to sell yourself.

4. Talking about yourself only

Yes, your cover letter should provide context for your resume. But, it shouldn’t be about you only.

Your cover letter is your sales pitch to the company. So, instead of talking about yourself only, make sure to mention the needs of your potential employee.

Read the job description in detail and consider each point and requirement carefully. Then, explain how exactly can you contribute to the company.

5. Writing a generic cover letter

Do you use one and the same cover letter for every job you apply to? If so, you need to stop doing that right away!

Customized cover letters will stand out in the sea of generic ones and increase your chances of getting an interview invite. The best part is, you don’t need to spend too much time when customizing a cover letter.

All you have to do is to make a list of the top requirements for the role, based on the job description. Then, brainstorm which skills or experiences make you qualified for those requirements. You can summarize this information in a paragraph or use bullet points.

6. Making it too long

Did you know that the average cover letter is only around 150-200 words long?

And there’s a good reason for that – recruiters and hiring managers simply don’t have time to read through lengthy cover letters. So, make sure your cover letter is doesn’t exceed one page.

Also keep the readability in mind. Format your cover letter properly and add spacing to avoid dense blocks of text.

7. Failing to proofread

Before you hit the “send” button, make sure to proofread your cover letter several times. Ideally, ask a friend or family member to read it for you as well.

Typos and grammar mistakes are one of the most common cover letter mistakes out there. They show lack of attention to detail and can be a major turn-off for recruiters.

8. Including too much information

A cover letter is a great way to explain everything you can’t in your resume. For example, a cover letter can be very useful for explaining an employment gap or your desire to move to another city.

But, don’t go into specifics. Hiring managers and recruiters don’t need to know all the details of your knee surgery or how you had your heart broken and need to move to another city.

9. Not sending a cover letter at all

In some cases, employers may not require a cover letter. But that doesn’t mean you should skip on it altogether.

If there is no mention of a cover letter in the job listing, you can still include one with your application. This will show that you’re truly interested in the  position and willing to go the extra mile.

10. Sending a cover letter in the wrong format

When sending your cover letter via email, make sure to use a professional subject line. For example, “Application for the position of Marketing Manager.”

Then, attach your cover letter and resume to the email in PDF format and send it off.

If you’re applying for a job online, you can usually upload your cover letter and resume directly on the website. Follow the instructions of the job listing carefully to avoid any issues.

And, if you’re unsure about your interview skills or you just can’t seem to find the right job – don’t hesitate to contact us!

How Can Popcorn Recruiters Help You?  🍿

Popcorn Recruiters is a recruitment agency with a significant difference: we’re border-less. Located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are in touch with ambitious and talented professionals across Europe. With a deep pool of IT and foreign-language speaking talent, our Popcorn Recruiters are leading the way to successful matches.

As a recruitment agency, our goal is not only to meet the needs and demands of our clients. We also look out for our candidates and make sure they find their ideal employer.

Once you apply to one of our open positions and join our talent network, we become your representatives – something like your personal agents.

First, we’ll have a chat (that is a brief prescreen interview) to get to know you better – your needs, skills, interests, and requirements. Then, we’ll match you with a company we know you’ll fit in with perfectly , help you prepare for the interviews, and help you land that job !

Sounds good?  Drop your CV  and we’ll get in touch!

10 Common Cover Letter Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Career

Contrary to what you’ve heard or read, cover letters are still important today. They’re not necessarily essential or required in every industry or for every role, but savvy job seekers always have one ready to go.

“A lot of companies still ask candidates for a cover letter when they apply, especially if they’re doing so through an online application system,” explains says Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder of  Résumé Writers’ Ink . “And while it might seem annoying to have to write one, it’s actually beneficial to you, the candidate, to provide one — as long as it’s well-written and free of errors.”

She says the cover letter is the best place to show you’d be a great cultural fit by letting your personality come through; to prove that you’re credible by using metrics that detail your achievements; and to connect with the hiring manager by sharing a bit of unique information about your past, your competencies, and your character.

She also highlights a few things you should never  do in your cover letter.

“These are common mistakes I see all the time,” Nicolai says. “If you want your cover letter to help you, not hurt you, you’ll want to avoid these errors.”

1. Typos and grammatical errors. 

Typos are a really easy way to land your application in the “no” pile.

“Your communication skills are perceived according to how well the letter is written,” Nicolai explains. “If a typo or grammatical error is present, the reader may think you were ‘too busy’ or lazy to check your work or don’t care enough about this job to take the application process seriously. Or worse, they’ll think you just don’t know how to spell.”

Never rely on spell check. Ask a friend or family member to look it over before you submit the cover letter to the employer.

2. Writing too much.

Today, gatekeepers (recruiters and hiring managers) do not have the resources or time to read each candidate’s resume and multi-page cover letter. “I encourage people to stick to one page,” she says. “And because people have short attention spans today, and less time to read each cover letter in full, I suggest writing in bite-sized nuggets or bullet points.”

3. Addressing the letter to the wrong person. 

There’s absolutely no excuse for addressing your cover letter to the wrong person. If no name is provided, omit it completely and list your name and targeted position.

4. Not tailoring the cover letter to the company or job you’re applying to. 

The hiring manager will know if you’re using a generic, ‘one size fits all’ cover letter. And they won’t be impressed. “Customize each cover letter targeting the specified job description,” advises Nicolai. “A master cover letter is fine to use as a template or outline, but always remember to tailor it.”

5. Forgetting to replace a company name or job title. 

If you’re applying for job after job and tailoring your cover letter to each one (like you should be!) you may find yourself replacing words, names, and titles — rather than rewriting your cover letter from scratch over and over again — to save time. But be very careful when you do this. If you forget to replace the company name or job title, this will be a huge turn off to the employer you send it to.

6. Being too humble.

“Some candidates may think full disclosure is to be commended when in fact it can work against the person,” Nicolai explains. “For instance, saying something like, ‘While I do not possess 15 years in leadership, I have led teams and filled in for supervisors when on vacation,’ won’t impress.”

Talk up what you have achieved and do so with confidence. For example, something like this might work better: “I have led teams for 15 years throughout many phases in my current company. With each leadership experience, I gained XYZ.”

7. Being too confident.  

While you don’t want to be too humble, you also don’t want to come off as egotistical.

“It can be easy or tempting to go overboard boasting about how smart or talented you are in your cover letter,” she says. “But don’t.” Instead, stay focused on your fact-based achievements and tone it down on the superlatives. “Motivate with a balanced approach and let the reader figure out on their own just how fabulous you really are.”

This is pretty obvious — but don’t fib. Ever.

It doesn’t help anyone, and they will find out eventually.

9. Justifying why you were part of a layoff or why you quit your job.  

Candidates need to focus on the here and now. “Employer want current information, succinctly,” says Nicolai. “Why you were laid off or why you quit is not important. This becomes an immediate red flag and the perception of the hiring manager tends to be, ‘this person isn’t quite ready to move forward’ or ‘there are a lot of issues that are unresolved,’ and those aren’t the messages you want to send.”

10. Listing references.

Save the references for the end of the process. The cover letter is no place to start listing references or snippets from your latest review. “These names may have meaning to you, but to the hiring leader, these are unknown entities and they’re simply a waste of space,” says Nicolai.

Culled from Business Insider

• cover letter
• job application

Let’s design together

• The Ready Writers
• Free Consultation

Copyright © 2021 The Ready Writers Consult . All rights reserved.

10 Ways to Avoid Common Cover Letter Mistakes

A cover letter functions like a jacket for your resume; it can cover and highlight your values explicitly or implicitly based on how you present it.  Most candidates believe cover letter is unimportant, but the first chance to impress the recruiter is by avoiding common cover letter mistakes . While a good cover letter boosts your candidacy, a poorly written cover letter can kill your dreams in a wink!

Top 10 Cover Letter Writing Errors and Ways to Avoid Them Like a Pro

A cover letter comes in handy when the hiring manager is assessing your candidacy or doing the background check or on your profile. Universally, cover letters are focused as much as a resume. This is why knowing what to avoid in a cover letter is necessary to outwit your contenders as well.

We have compiled the ten commonest cover letter writing errors amongst freshers and experienced resumes.

1. Assuming the Cover Letter is Merely a Formality

It is true that over 90% hiring managers vouched that they never check the cover letter of a candidate while 53% confessed that they select resumes that come with a well-written cover letter. In short, a cover letter definitely adds value to your resume .

Candidates must always send a cover letter with every resume submission, regardless of its size or style.

2. Following a Generic Style of Formatting for Resume cover Letter

Your cover letter must highlight how perfectly you fit as a candidate or in short, it must not be boring. Filing your cover letter with jargon and frequently used terminology will lead to the manager rejecting it. Avoid cliché introductions in the cover letter and plunge directly into why the recruiter must offer you the job when drafting a cover letter.

3. Focusing on Irrelevant Details that adds no value to your Resume

Candidates must add details that boost the value of your cover letter than clutter it with irrelevant anecdotes or work experiences. In addition, using your cover letter to emphasize the same phrases in your resume portrays derogatory desperation on your part.

4. Wrong Choice of Cover Letter Type

Candidates must pick a Cover Letter Type that applies to their qualifications and needs. From friends to acquaintances and well-wishers, a cover letter is sent to a wide variety of people. Some of the commonly used cover letters  are

• Job Application Cover Letter,
• Referral cover Letter,
• Email Cover Letter,
• Networking cover Letter,
• Inquiry Cover Letter,
• Prospecting Cover Letter.

5. Keeping the Cover Letter Around one Central Topic : You

You must make the most of a cover letter by sharing what interests you most about the company you are applying to join. Avoid cluttering the cover letter by rehashing your resume . Simply put, stop selling yourself as a desperate candidate in the resume. Share an anecdote on how you first heard about the company or why you are excited to join the same!

You can also mention the benefit of the employer in hiring you to highlight your expertise as a qualifying candidate too. You can also elaborate on relevant jobs condensed in the resume to emphasize your candidacy.

6. Sharing Unnecessary or Uncomfortable Personal Information

A cover letter is prominently used to elaborate information that does not fit in the format of a resume . If you have red flags such as criminal history or gap years in your resume, it is best to avoid listing the same in the cover letter unless it is mandatory. It is best to avoid cringing information in a resume cover letter to avail a fair chance to be interviewed.

7. Informal Greetings and Salutations

It is necessary to maintain a formal air to your professional documents and the best way to do so is by avoiding informal salutations in the Cover Letter . Use standard salutations such as “Dear”, “Truly” or “Sincerely” to open and close your cover letter.

Yet another important thing to research prior to sending your cover letter is the address or the name of the person you are sending your documents too. It is best to find and write the name of the hiring manager you are sending your professional records to, in lieu of “Whomsoever it may concern”.

8. Failure to Follow Explicit Instructions

Hiring managers who conduct online interviews often attach specific questionnaires or request specific documents to include in the cover letter. It is important to read the job description inside out to verify any of the same. Moreover, it is not uncommon for the recruiter to request information that must be specified in the cover letter. If you forget to read the application through, the manager will conclude that you are not a detail-oriented candidate due to the mistake on the cover letter!

9. Ideal Length of a Resume Cover Letter is Short

Succinctness is an acquired skill and it is difficult to learn the same when you are writing the cover letter for the first time in your life. Hence, start by going through sample cover letters that apply to your job application. After assessing the common length of the resume cover letter, crosscheck with the job description for any word limits.

Cover Letter Writing Experts recommend keeping the length of a cover letter as 4-5 paragraphs to be on the safe side of the hiring process. Avoid presenting walls of text and remember to breakdown or condense your overlong points. Moreover, a lengthy Cover Letter is a straight ticket to the trash pile!

10. Skipping the Proofreading Session of Your Cover Letter

Proofreading is important to cite the petty errors that go unnoticed when the author creates a self- written document , especially if it is handwritten. A cover letter grammar mistake or one that is full of typos is proof of your poor communication and writing skills.

It is best to run your resume cover letter through a friend or computer to reassure that the document is free of grammatical, syntactic or semantic errors.

In a Nutshell

From length to style and formatting, there are many ways to impress the hiring manager even before he or she has scanned the resume.

The cover letter must underline your candidacy and boost the technical value of your resume. To do so, you must follow the above ten expert tips to prevent usual cover letter mistakes.

Related Resume & Cover Letter Articles

Username or Email Address

Remember Me Forgot Password?

Prove your humanity

A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address.

Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy .

Get New Password -->

10 Common Mistakes While Writing Cover Letters

• December 21, 2018
• Career Guidance , Parents Must Read

A perfect cover letter, which accompanies a job application, has the potential to increase your chances of getting noticed and eventually bagging a job. However, it is not very easy to write a flawless cover letter and there is a certain approach towards it. Often job seekers tend to ignore this job of perfecting the cover letter. It is true that it needs some efforts to get it right, but once you get there, it gets easier and every time you do it, you perform better.

Many feel that cover letters a thing of the past. However, while many recruiters consider cover letter to be unimportant while evaluating potential candidates, others value it immensely. And since it is not possible to predict the type of recruiter receiving your application, it is best to include a cover letter with all your applications.

However, while drafting a cover letter, make sure it helps your candidature. Scroll down to find the 10 common mistakes applicants make while writing cover letters. Make sure to avoid these oft-repeated mistakes in your cover letter.

1. Lack of research

Employers are always looking for excuses to eliminate applicants. In this scenario sending a cover letter that is not customised is giving a set batsman a loose ball. Personalising your cover letter, by doing required research on the name of the hiring manager (if it’s not there on the job post) and about the organisation that’s filling the position, is a smart approach. As by not doing it you will be sending the message that you are reluctant to do your homework. Also try and avoid using generic template cover letters. Do re-read the job description cautiously to understand the dos and don’ts. Often employers ask for particular information to be included in the cover letter. Ignoring this is the most undesirable thing, as the hiring manager will presume you unable to follow the simplest of instructions.

However, this is not true while responding to an anonymous job posting where the right thing is not to name of company or the hiring manager.

2. Overly formal or casual greetings

Before deciding on whether you’re better off with a “Hello Jack” or a “Dear Mr. Smith” kind of greeting, consider the company’s culture by checking out the organisation’s Careers section in its website, going through the reviews on Glassdoor, and following the social media accounts of the company. You can also find out about it from your network.

If unable to address the cover letter to a definite individual, stay away from extremely formal addresses, like “To Whom It May Concern,” as these are not conversational and can be considered offensive. The same is true for too casual ones like “Hi!” as this cover letter address is a little too blasé for a first communication and may have the addressee question your professionalism. To play it safe go with a gender-neutral greeting like – “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter.”

3. Regurgitating Your Resume

Often candidates are at a loss about what to write in the cover letter and resort to repeating their job history. This isn’t a great approach as the recruiter already has your CV. Better to highlight on your on your professional journey up till then and writing about why you think it is the right career move for you to apply for the job.

 4.  Talking all about me, me, me

Cover letters are actually sales pitches to hiring managers. The smart approach is to refrain from reiterating your achievements, wants and needs, focus on the needs of your potential employer, who is going to read the letter.

It is important to go through the job description repeatedly and be updated on the latest developments of the company. It is also critical to understand why the company is hiring for this position as this will help in identifying the pain point which the position will address. Relating with the recruiters’ concerns and placing your abilities as the answer to their requirements will help you have a better prospect of avoiding cover letter mistakes and capturing the hiring manager’s attention.

5. Only Talking Up Your Soft Skills

Candidates often add too many soft skills instead of highlighting the job-related skills. Many go on writing about their reliability, level of motivation and dependability. Being reliable, motivated and dependable are the basic requirements that a recruiter expects from a candidate.

As an alternative, take efforts to stand apart by explaining how your industry skills and experience will add value to the company. Speak of your achievements that have direct relation to the position.

Depending on the job role, draft a list of the 3-5 requirements critical for the position. This could be about your familiarity with a certain domain, your skill in a particular job, your educational qualifications or other credentials. Once done, come up with how you have each requirement, referring to specific contributions in the past or experiences from your past work – that exemplifies the qualifications. Summing up the information is a great technique to tailor your cover letter and grasp the recruiter’s attention.

Today, we are heavily dependent on spell-check and autocorrect to edit our content. This creates mistakes like writing “fire” when you wanted to write “hire.” – these silly mistake have the potential to derail your professional life.

Follow an easy cover letter tip: Go through your cover letter many times before sending it. If possible get it checked by a family member or a trusted friend.

7. Writing a novel

Hiring managers are known to spend an average of six seconds scrutinizing resumes before deciding if it is good enough. It is then anybody’s guess that they’ll spend even lesser time reading cover letters. A cover letter should never be any longer than is absolutely necessary to express your key points. And it should never be more than a page long.

Besides, it is extremely important to keep the readability right. Keep it simple and avoid using block letters.

8. Going off brand

It is also very critical to focus on how you present your professional brand— online, on paper or face to face. In case of writing your cover letter the right approach is to give it the same look as your resume. While uploading the cover letter as a separate file to the online application, make sure it has the same header as your resume. Also, make the font, color and size, contact information and spelling of your name consistent.

9. Not Easing Fears About Relocation

While applying for a position away from your current location or city take efforts to make the cover letter a tool to nullify the concerns the recruiter might have about your relocating.

Identify something you have in common with the new city or location in order to connect yourself to the area.

10. Not Referencing Next Steps

Try and place the prospect of an interview in the hiring manager’s head. End the cover letter by providing your availability for interview. Think of something like – Considering my passion for this job role, I strongly feel I could make for an ideal candidate. Can we speak on phone or in person on to discuss further about my candidature?

Share this:

Discover more from stoodnt.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Ten Common Mistakes in Résumés and Cover Letters

By Petrula Vrontikis, Vrontikis Design Office

People in this business are trained to make fast judgments, so avoid these errors in your first impression.

1. “Dear Sir or Madam...”

Only on a bad day do I feel like either.

Address me as “Dear Ms. Vrontikis” if you're the formal type, or just “Dear Petrula.” It's OK, my studio is small and we are pretty easygoing. The point is to use the level of formality appropriate to the type of firm you send the letter to. “Mr.” or “Ms.” (never “Mrs.”) is the safest choice for letters to large firms and in-house agencies.

Seeing casual greetings such as “Hello There” or “Hey” will immediately trigger my delete-key reflex.

Beware: “To Whom It May Concern” may be no one. This immediately indicates a canned cover letter. Keep in mind that only meaningful letters receive meaningful responses.

2. “Dear Mr. VonTrikis”

OK, my name isn't easy to spell. Well, neither is Steff Geissbuhler's or Michael Vanderbyl's. Even Margo Chase gets her name butchered.

Think of this as test #1. Do you really know how to research? Do you care if it's right? We certainly do. If it's not clearly stated on the company's website, call them to confirm this information. Review the spelling of the recipient's name, ask for his or her exact title, then use this opportunity to check the snail mail or email address you have. Designers move around a lot.

Ask if there may be an additional person in the firm to send your résumé to. The firm's principal may be too busy to see you, but it's the creative director's job to.

3. “… your message could not be delivered to one or more of the recipients …” “… the number you have dialed has been disconnected …”

Timing is everything, so when a firm needs you, you want them to find you. The time after graduation is filled with change-which may include your phone number and email address. Your résumé should have some “permanent” way of reaching you-maybe a voicemail number, a free Gmail address, a LinkedIn account or your parent's home phone number. It's such a disappointment to not be able to locate the perfect candidate three months or so from when their portfolio was reviewed.

4. “So-and-so recommended I call you.”

There are times candidates have said this confidently, but I've never heard of “so-and-so.” It makes this transaction awkward and brings up suspicion. (See point #2 about research.)

Make sure you ask permission before using anyone's name. When you ask, confirm the relationship this person has to your desired target.

5. “I'll call next week to follow up.”

Great statement, and by the way, I believe you. So do what you say you're going to do. It's test #2.

Don't bother typing “Contact me if you are interested...” or “I can be reached at.... ” This is not the time to play hard to get. It's your job to get a job, and follow-up is in the job description.

6. “My work speaks for itself.”

If you're just starting out, this statement is a cop out. Please clearly and concisely explain the project and your approach. Don't make it a thesis. Proofread it carefully.

Invite them to view your website. Know that if viewers have to click more than twice to get an idea of what you do, they will probably just click away from your site. It's a good idea to give them links to specific projects that relate to the type of work their firm does or to the job description. This type of customization demonstrates that you have done your homework.

Because you are just starting out, there may not be that much work to present, so you need to focus on the presentation aspects. Enable the work you have to shine beautifully.

Don't try and show too much. We don't need to see a retrospective of your work from design school. Show projects that represent the designer you are  today . The work is evidence of your current capabilities.

Be aware that employers scrutinize communication and organizational aspects of the site as well as the creative.

Use good email etiquette. If you include an attachment to an email, make sure it's not more than 5 MB or 15 pages.

7. “. . . I designed stationary packages . . .”

Designing inert packages doesn't concern me, but typos do. Misspellings and other language problems are death to this process.

In addition to the obvious purpose a résumé and cover letter have to introduce, inform, and impress, they are a way for you to alleviate my fears about hiring you right out of school. These include lack of attention to detail such as grammar and consistency. The truth is that we are fairly confident about your creative skills, but concerned about your competence and general work style. Some design firms just don't hire candidates right out of school, because it's so hard to know what a young designer doesn't know.

8. Job OBJectIVe

Using too many fonts and styles, or fonts that are too trendy is just annoying! Think of a trendy font as a hairstyle that looks great today-but looking back a few years from now, you're probably going to say: “What was I thinking?!”

Know the difference between “cool” and wrong. A current example of this is using all lower case letters. It may look cool elsewhere, but for these documents, it's just lazy and wrong.

9. “Worked on many projects for local design studios and directly with companies.”

Avoid vague references about your employment experience. I don't have high expectations of a recent grad in this area. Simply state your title, the name of the firm and its location. Include a brief sentence defining your responsibilities. Don't give me a long list of the firm's clients or other “padding.” Stick to what you worked on. Definitely keep school projects, including sponsored projects, out of the “Experience” category.

Beware: Listing a lot of experience, employed or freelance, but not showing any of the work in your book makes me suspicious. I'm concerned that your design approach may drastically change when the project is real. Do include a letter of recommendation if you've completed an internship or worked for a recognized design office.

The questions to consider are: What unique experiences have I had, and how will these experiences uniquely benefit this firm? Obviously this requires soul-searching and researching. Both of these are in your job description as a job hunter.

10. “I'll take it!”

One of the biggest mistakes is not going through this process. Accepting an offer before you graduate is so seductive. You may be relieved you don't have to go through the anxiety of a real job hunt, but beware: It's like getting married at 19. You'll never really know what else is out there.

This is a nerve-racking and stressful endeavor, but actually quite rewarding once you get going. It's one of the only times you can play “Show me yours and I'll show you mine.” Meeting people you've admired, talking about the ideas you've been passionate about, seeing great studios, and ultimately deciding what appeals to you most, is really great. It is an interesting test to trust your intuition to discriminate between perception and reality. It's the best way to be introduced to a design community that you'll be a part of for many years.

About the Author

Petrula Vrontikis is a leading voice in graphic design. Her work has appeared in more than 100 books and publications. She lectures at conferences, universities, and to professional organizations worldwide about her work with  Vrontikis Design Office ; about graphic design education; and on the subject of inspiration. She has taught the senior graphic design studies course at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena since 1989. In 2007 Petrula received an AIGA Fellows Award honoring her as an essential voice raising the understanding of design within the industry and among the business and cultural communities of Los Angeles.

Engage & Learn

• AIGA Membership
• AIGA Design Conference
• AIGA Design Educators Community
• Career, Jobs, & Projects
• National Partner Program
• Sponsorship & Advertising

Sign-up for our newsletter

228 Park Ave S, Suite 58603 New York, NY 10003

© 2024 AIGA