10 Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Let’s be honest: writing a cover letter is usually the part people dread. Most job seekers either rush through it or overthink it into oblivion. The result? A letter that reads like a bad template.
Hiring managers spot these from a mile away. They’ve seen it all—the copy-paste greetings, the recycled buzzwords, the lifeless closings. And when they see another generic letter? Straight to the bin.
If you search for cover letter examples online, you’ll find thousands of templates. But here’s the problem: copying someone else’s letter won’t help if you’re still making the same mistakes underneath. A polished format is useless if the content misses the mark.
So how do you avoid this? Simple. Stop making the same errors everyone else makes.
Here are 10 common cover letter mistakes—and how to actually fix them.
1. Sending the Same Letter to Every Company
This is the biggest mistake people make. They write one letter, save it as “cover_letter_final.docx,” and send it to 20 jobs. No changes, no personalisation, just one blanket statement for everything.
Recruiters can tell. It feels lazy. And it usually is.
Fix it:
Take the time to adjust your letter for each role. Mention the company name. Reference something about the position. It doesn’t have to be a full rewrite every time, but at least tweak the intro, highlight the most relevant skills, and make the closing specific.
It’s 10 minutes of extra work that could be the difference between an interview and a delete button.
2. Copying and Pasting Your Resume
A cover letter isn’t just a second CV. But that’s how most people treat it. They list out their job titles again, throw in a few bullet points, and wonder why nobody calls them back.
Fix it:
Use your cover letter to explain why your experience matters for this job. Don’t just say what you’ve done—show how it connects to what the company needs.
For example:
If your CV says, “Managed a team of 5 sales reps,” your cover letter might say, “Leading that team taught me how to build trust fast, even with people who didn’t always agree with my approach.”
That’s insight. That’s what hiring managers remember.
3. Starting With a Dead Line
If your first sentence is:
“I am writing to apply for the position of…”
Just stop.
That opener has been used more times than anyone can count. It’s boring. It tells the reader nothing interesting.
Fix it:
Start with something that actually says something.
Example:
“Last quarter, I launched a social campaign that increased engagement by 50%. I’d love to bring that same creative strategy to [Company Name].”
See the difference? That grabs attention.
4. Making It All About What You Want
Too many cover letters sound like wish lists.
“I’m looking for a role where I can grow my career.”
“I hope to find a company that values my development.”
That’s nice, but the employer isn’t hiring you to help you grow. They’re hiring you to solve a problem.
Fix it:
Focus on what you can do for them. Tie your experience to their goals. Show them you understand the role.
For example:
“I’m excited to help [Company Name] scale its content strategy. In my last role, I grew blog traffic by 300%, and I’m ready to do the same here.
5. Loading Up on Buzzwords
“I’m a passionate, detail-oriented, team player with excellent communication skills.”
Great. So is everyone else—on paper.
Fix it:
Use examples instead of empty phrases.
Don’t say “detail-oriented.” Say,
“I caught a £2,000 accounting error before it went out to a client.”
Don’t say “team player.” Say,
“I stayed late one night to help a colleague finish a client pitch deck because they were stuck in traffic.”
Real stories are memorable. Buzzwords are forgettable.
6. Forgetting About the Layout
If your cover letter is a giant block of text, nobody’s going to read it. People skim. That’s reality.
Fix it:
Make it easy to skim. Use:
- Short paragraphs
- Simple language
- White space between sections
This isn’t a novel. It’s a note to another human being.
7. Not Doing Any Company Research
If your letter could be sent to any company, you’ve done it wrong.
Employers want to know why you picked them, not just why you’re looking for work in general.
Fix it:
Spend five minutes looking up the company. Maybe they just launched a new product. Maybe they’re growing fast in a new market. Mention it.
For example:
“I noticed [Company Name] just rolled out a new healthcare division. My background in health tech marketing could help you grow that arm of the business.”
It’s not hard. But it shows you care.
8. Writing “To Whom It May Concern”
People still do this. In 2025.
It makes you sound like you copy-pasted a letter from 2003.
Fix it:
If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use something better:
- Dear Hiring Team
- Dear [Department Name] Team
- Dear [Position Title] Manager
At least it feels human.
9. Not Proofreading (Yes, This Still Happens)
Spelling mistakes are career killers.
So are grammar errors.
According to Grammarly’s 2023 hiring report, just one typo can slash your chances of getting a reply by 50%. Not because employers are mean—but because it shows you don’t check your work.
Fix it:
Don’t just run spellcheck. Print your letter out and read it aloud. You’ll catch weird phrasing that way.
If you can, have a friend or colleague read it too. You’re too close to your own writing—you’ll miss stuff.
10. Ending With Nothing
Most people close their letter like this:
“I look forward to hearing from you.”
It’s polite. It’s also passive. And forgettable.
Fix it:
End with something that actually moves things forward.
Example:
“Happy to hop on a quick call to talk about how I can help with the product launch. Let me know what works for you.”
It’s casual. It’s direct. And it gives them a reason to respond.
The Real Bottom Line
Most cover letters fail because they’re too stiff, too safe, or too fake.
The good ones? They sound like a real person wrote them.
So here’s the playbook:
- Be specific.
- Be human.
- Focus on what you can do for the company—not just what you hope to get.
If you do that, you’re already ahead of most of the competition.
