The Most Common Cover Letter Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Cover letter mistakes range from immediately disqualifying to quietly damaging. Here are the most common ones, ranked by the harm they do.

Mistake 1: A Generic First Line

"I am writing to apply for the position of [Role] as advertised on [job board]." This has become invisible to recruiters. It signals that you have not thought about what you actually want to say.

Fix: Open with something specific about why this role or employer interests you.

Mistake 2: Restating Your CV in Prose

"I have seven years of experience in marketing. In my current role at [Employer] I manage the marketing team. Before that I worked at [Previous Employer] where I was responsible for campaigns."

This tells the recruiter nothing they cannot read in your CV. The cover letter should add context and argument, not narrate your CV.

Fix: Select the one or two most relevant things from your background and make an active case for why they matter for this role.

Mistake 3: Overuse of "I"

A cover letter that begins every sentence with "I" becomes monotonous and reads as self-focused rather than employer-focused.

Fix: Vary your sentence structure. Occasionally lead with the outcome or the context: "After four years building X, I am looking for..." or "The role's focus on Y is particularly relevant to my experience of..."

Mistake 4: Too Long

A two-page cover letter is almost never read in full. Candidates write long cover letters because they think more evidence is more persuasive. The opposite is true — length signals poor editorial judgment.

Fix: Three to four short paragraphs, maximum one page.

Mistake 5: Focusing on What You Want, Not What You Offer

"I am looking for an opportunity to develop my skills in X and Y" is candidate-focused. The employer wants to know what you will do for them, not what you hope they will do for you.

Fix: Frame your interest in terms of what you bring, not what you hope to gain. You can mention development goals, but in the context of how they benefit the employer too.

Mistake 6: Not Addressing It to Anyone

"To Whom It May Concern" is the cover letter equivalent of not bothering. A quick LinkedIn search usually reveals the hiring manager's name.

Fix: Find the name if you can. If not, "Dear Hiring Manager" is acceptable.

Mistake 7: Spelling and Grammar Errors

One error is a red flag. Two errors and many recruiters have decided against you. For roles involving written communication, any error is potentially disqualifying.

Fix: Proofread. Read aloud. Ask someone else to read it.

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