Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

The most common cover letter mistakes are sending a generic copy-paste letter, simply repeating your CV, writing far too much, leaving in typos, and talking only about yourself, and the good news is that every one of them is fixable in minutes. A cover letter rarely fails because you are underqualified. It usually fails because small, avoidable errors make you look like every other applicant.

Below are the cover letter mistakes to avoid, each with a one-line fix. Some are about what your letter says, some about how it reads, and some about the software and people who see it first. Skim the list, spot the ones that apply to you, and correct them before you send. You do not need a perfect letter. You need one without the errors that get you filtered out early.

1. Sending a generic, copy-paste letter

A letter that could go to any company goes in the bin at most of them. Employers can spot a template instantly. Fix: name the company and role, and add one or two lines that connect your skills to that specific job.

2. Just repeating your CV

Your cover letter should add to your CV, not read it back word for word. The employer already has your CV, so a letter that lists the same bullet points again says nothing new and wastes the reader's time. Fix: pick one or two achievements and explain the story or result behind them.

3. Making it too long

Most employers skim, so extra paragraphs bury your best points. Fix: keep it to three or four short paragraphs on a single page.

4. A weak or slow opening

Lines like "I am writing to apply for the role of..." tell the reader nothing they do not already know. Fix: open with a specific hook, such as a relevant result or why this exact company interests you.

5. Using "To whom it may concern"

A vague greeting signals you did not bother to look. Fix: find the hiring manager's name on the job ad, the company site, or LinkedIn, and address them directly. "Dear Hiring Manager" is a fine backup if no name exists.

6. Focusing on yourself instead of the employer

"I want this job because it will help my career" is about you. Employers care about what you can do for them, not the other way around. Fix: frame your skills around the problems the role is meant to solve, and show how you would make their day easier.

7. Typos and spelling errors

A single obvious mistake hints that you rush or do not check your work. An error in the company name looks especially bad. Fix: run a spell checker, read the letter out loud, and ask one other person to proofread it.

8. Empty buzzwords with no proof

Phrases like "hard worker," "team player," and "go-getter" are claims anyone can make. Fix: replace each one with a short, specific example that proves the point.

9. No call to action at the end

A letter that just stops leaves the reader unsure what happens next. Fix: close with a confident line, such as saying you would welcome the chance to discuss how you can help the team.

10. Getting the company or role name wrong

Reusing an old letter and forgetting to swap the details is an instant rejection. Fix: double-check the company name, the exact job title, and the greeting every single time.

11. Being too formal or too casual

Stiff, old-fashioned language feels cold, while slang feels careless. Fix: write in clear, warm, professional sentences, the way you would speak in a good interview.

12. Ignoring the ATS

An ATS (applicant tracking system) is software many employers use to scan applications before a human reads them. A letter stuffed into an image or an odd file type may be skipped. Fix: send plain text or a clean PDF, and naturally include a few key terms from the job ad.

Quick things to leave out

Some details add nothing and can even hurt you. Keep these off your cover letter:

• Salary demands or expectations, unless the ad specifically asks
• Negative comments about a current or past employer
• Personal details like age, marital status, or a photo
• Long life stories that are not relevant to the role
• Reasons you left previous jobs
• Anything that is not true or that you cannot back up

A simple check before you send

Most of these errors slip through because we read what we meant to write, not what is actually there. A short routine catches almost all of them.

• Read the whole letter out loud to catch clumsy or missing words.
• Check the company name, role title, and greeting are correct.
• Make sure each paragraph is about the employer's needs, not just yours.
• Confirm there is a clear closing line and a call to action.
• Compare the letter against the job ad and mirror a few key terms.

If you want the structure right from the start, our guide on how to write a cover letter walks through it step by step.

Key takeaways

• Most cover letter mistakes are small and quick to fix, so a short review makes a big difference.
• Never send a generic letter. Tailor the company name, role, and a line or two to each job.
• Add to your CV rather than repeating it, and prove claims with a specific example.
• Keep it short, focus on the employer's needs, and end with a clear call to action.
• Always proofread and double-check names before you hit send.

Want to skip the mistakes above in one go? Try CVify AI's free cover letter generator. It helps you write a short, tailored, error-free letter for each job, and you can build your CV free to match, so your whole application looks sharp before you send it.