A cover letter is often the first piece of writing an employer will see from your side. This writing piece is your chance to make a strong first impression before they even glance at your resume. By writing a few short paragraphs, you can tell the employer why you are the perfect match for the role.
But the thing is that many of the job seekers waste this chance. They send dull cover letters to employers. And you know what this results in? “Application Rejected.”
We are writing this blog post to help you avoid that. In this post, you will learn five common mistakes people make when writing a cover letter and how you can fix them.
1. Repeating the Resume Word-for-Word
A big mistake many people make while writing a cover letter is that they copy words from their resume word-for-word. This makes their cover letter a rewritten version of their resume. Doing this is a big mistake because the employer already has your resume.
How to Fix This?
Instead of copying from a resume, use your cover letter to add further context. If you want tips on how to craft a resume that already makes a strong impression, check out our guide on how to make your resume stand out. Using it showcases your achievement and tells why they matter. Plus, while writing, try to connect your past job experience with the one you are applying for.
Tip: Pick two or three key achievements from your resume. Expand them in your cover letter with details or outcomes.
2. Using a Robotic or Overly Formal Tone
Another mistake that many people make is making their cover letters extremely formal to sound professional. Believe us, it’s none other than a blunder.
Employers often view such letters as lifeless, having been generated with AI or copied from an online template. This made them think:
Why hire a professional who doesn’t even know how to write things that give a feeling to the reader that a human wrote it?
How to Get Rid of Robotic Tone?
Making your cover letter less robotic requires a lot of effort and good writing skills. You have to make use of:
- Short vocabulary
- Variations in sentence structure
- Good writing flow
- No jargon or complex phrases
If you think that this is what is difficult for you to achieve, get assistance from tools like AI to Human Text Converter. This tool will not write a cover letter for you from scratch. Instead, you have to provide it with the letter you wrote on your own.
What it will do is it will remove the robotic elements from your texts, such as robotic phrases, complex vocabulary, and irregular sentence structure. This will make your cover letter a better version that sounds more like a human wrote it.
3. Sending a Generic Letter
Recruiters went through hundreds or thousands of cover letters while hiring. When they receive a copy-paste letter, they spot it right away. And you know where this leads to. It shows that the employer that you just randomly applied for the job and have no interest in the company or its project. It makes the employer feel like you’re applying anywhere just to get a job, not because you truly want this one.
How to Fix It?
A better way to fix this is to do the following while writing a cover letter:
- Mention the company’s name in the opening line.
- Refer to something specific about them. For example, a recent campaign, product launch, or value they stand for.
- Explain how your skills match their exact needs.
4. Focusing Only on Yourself
It’s natural to talk about your goals in a cover letter. But focusing solely on what you want can turn employers off. Don’t write statements explaining why they should hire you.
Employers care about one main thing, and that is how you can help them succeed.
Shift Your Approach to Fix This
Instead of:
“I’m applying because I want to work in a company where I can learn and grow.”
Try:
“I’m applying because I believe my experience in process improvement can help streamline your operations, saving time and resources.”
See the difference?
The second version focuses on their benefit, not just your growth.
Tip: Use the 70/30 rule. Spend 70% of your cover letter talking about how you’ll help them. In the rest of the 30% talk about your skills and goals.
5. Ignoring Formatting and Proofreading
Even the strongest cover letter can fail if it’s messy or contains errors. Typos suggest carelessness, and poor formatting can make it hard to read. For your convenience, we asked an expert content writer about cover letter formatting and proofreading tips. They suggested the following:
Formatting Tips
- Please keep it to one page.
- Use a clean, readable font.
- Use short paragraphs and bullet points where possible.
- Leave enough white space so it’s easy on the eyes.
Proofreading Tips
- Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing.
- Use a spelling and grammar checker.
- Ask a friend to review it. They might spot errors you missed.
Remember: If your cover letter looks rushed or sloppy, it can leave a bad impression before the employer even reads the first line.
Final Thoughts
A cover letter is more than a formality. It is like your sales pitch. It’s where you can stand out, show your personality, and convince the employer that you’re not just another resume in the pile.
To recap, avoid these five mistakes:
- Repeating your resume without adding context
- Writing in a robotic, overly formal tone
- Sending the same letter to every company
- Focusing only on your needs, not theirs
- Skipping formatting and proofreading
Avoid the above-mentioned mistakes no matter what. Follow the simple fixes we shared in this post for you. It will be your first step to land the right job.
