8 min read
Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid
Common cover letter mistakes that weaken an application — and what to do instead when you draft a tailored letter for one job.
Writing a letter that could go to any company
If you can swap the company name and nothing else changes, the letter is too generic. Hiring managers finish letters that explain why this role and what evidence you bring. They skim letters that only say you are hardworking and excited about opportunities.
Fix: name one concrete reason the posting fits work you have done. One specific example beats three empty compliments.
Repeating the resume line by line
A cover letter is not a second resume in paragraph form. If every sentence restates a bullet, you waste the chance to connect your background to the job.
Fix: pick one or two relevant examples and explain the match. Point to the resume for the full list. A cover letter structure hiring managers can finish shows a short format that stays readable.
Claiming skills you cannot discuss
Borrowing tools, certifications, or results from the job description is a fast way to fail a screening call. Keyword awareness belongs on the resume when the work is real — not as invented qualifications in a letter.
Fix: reuse shared language only when it names your experience. How to match resume keywords without stuffing covers that discipline for the resume; the same honesty applies here.
Making the letter too long
Long autobiography letters get abandoned. Most roles need a page or less. How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? goes deeper on length; the practical rule is that every paragraph must earn its space.
Fix: open with the role, give one relevant example, add a brief why-this-company line only if it is specific, then close. Cut adjectives that do not carry evidence.
Sending an unedited AI draft
AI can help you draft faster. It can also invent a tone, a metric, or a reason for applying that is not yours. Sending that unread is the mistake — not using a draft tool in the first place.
Fix: generate from real background and a real posting, then edit until every sentence sounds like you. The Cover Letter Generator is built for that workflow. Keep what is true; delete the rest.
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