I have read probably 100 cover letters — and I’ve probably written that many, too. They aren’t the most fun to write and, I promise you, they aren’t the most fun to read either.
But something I’ve learned from reading so many is that it really isn’t tough to set your cover letter apart from the rest. A lot of people follow a pretty bland formula (or go totally off the rails or make silly mistakes), and by creating something that’s polished but still has personality, you’re bound to get your job or internship application placed on the top of the stack.
Here are mistakes you’re making in your cover letters, plus how to fix them.
Mistake: Not mentioning the company at all
Regardless of your intention, not mentioning the place you’re applying to makes your cover letter seem lazy, recycled, and like a generic one you send out to everyone. Your cover letter shouldn’t be about kissing the ass of the company you want to work for, but it should really make the case for two things: one, that you understand the company and its mission quite well and, two, that you are a great fit and your abilities align with the ones this role requires.
This actually brings me to mistake no. 2…
Mistake: Sending the same cover letter to multiple places
It’s very obvious when you have one generic cover letter that you send out to each place, and it makes your entire application a bit more forgettable. I also can’t tell you how many times people have sent in applications where they forgot to change the company name in the body of their letter — this makes it even more obvious this cover letter is being sent to every place you apply.
You don’t need to start every cover letter with a blank page (some parts are smart to recycle, especially if the jobs you’re seeking are quite similar to one another) but I encourage you to write at least half of it from scratch for every position you apply to. The unique, new part should be about tying you and the company together, and it should really sound genuine and as though you deeply understand the role you’re applying for.
Mistake: Using your cover letter to repeat your entire resume
There’s a reason companies want a cover letter AND a resume. If I just read your resume, I don’t want to see you listing out your past jobs and qualifications in a cover letter. Give me examples of times you put those qualifications to the test! Talk about the company and your connection to it! Tell a story!
Quick Tip: If you find yourself listing out your qualifications, take a moment to look at your resume and think of the things related to it that you are most proud of. During your first internship, did you complete a massive project? For your last job, did you end up changing something major in how the company works? Tell those relevant stories instead of just dropping in keywords from your resume.
Mistake: Using your cover letter to tell your deeply personal life story
Companies don’t need your autobiography before they’ve even met you. I’m all about having a personal story or anecdote in a cover letter (especially for positions that require you to have a voice), but keep it short and make sure the journey you’re taking the hiring manager on has an endpoint.
Ask yourself: Why am I including this story in my cover letter?
If it’s to express something related to the job listing or detail why this company/position is so meaningful and such a great fit for you, keep it. If it’s to simply share a sob story or fun anecdote, cut it.
Mistake: Not reading the job listing
Your cover letter should always, always have some tie-ins to the job listing. For example, if the listing emphasizes how much this person must understand the brand and the job is about running social media for it, it may be wise to spend your first paragraph detailing a personal experience with the brand or to include a few lines, with concrete examples, that express your deep understanding of it.
Mistake: Keeping things incredibly vague
Loading your cover letter with adjectives and key words creates a somewhat meaningless jumble that might as well be your resume. When I say to express your understanding of a brand and tie it into yourself and what you can do for the company, you best not be writing: I am a huge fan of [BRAND/COMPANY] and I have a lot to offer them.
That means nothing. Instead, get specific! Put something concrete! For example, if you’re applying to be a social media manager for Kitchen-Aid, express brand understanding and share a tale. Ex: Kitchen-Aid is a brand I’ve truly grown up with, from when I first made cookies with my mom in my childhood home to when I was gifted a mint-green mixer when I moved into my first apartment. The company’s message has always struck a chord with me because I also believe the kitchen in a place where anything can happen.
^ Boom! Personal connection and exemplifying a clear understanding of the brand’s core messaging without being too specific and insincere. After this, add some concrete examples of your work and skills.
Mistake: Making it longer than a page
Cut it down. It doesn’t matter how great you think it is, I promise you that — unless explicitly requested — a lengthy cover letter will often get skipped or skimmed. There’s no need for more than one page and if the job listing asks for a one-page cover letter and you don’t listen, it shows an inability to follow directions.
Don’t just make the font really tiny, either, to fit everything on one page.
Quick Tip: If you’re struggling to cut down your cover letter, ask someone else to do it for you. Or, create a separate word document and look over your cover letter line by line. Drag over the parts you think are absolutely crucial. Then, rework those for your final, shorter cover letter.
Mistake: Leaving your cover letter devoid of personality
As I said, your cover letter shouldn’t just be your resume. It also shouldn’t be dry and devoid of any personality. Use your cover letter as an opportunity to stand out and sort of remind recruiters that you’re an actual person.
As I mentioned earlier, a great way to do this is by tying the company and the position you’re applying to back to yourself — not in a way that says “here’s what this job could do for me” but in a way that screams “here’s why I am perfect for this job, plus what I can do for this company.” This brings me to the next point…
Mistake: Talking about how this position would be great for you, but not the other way around
Seriously, don’t write things like “this would be a great opportunity for me,” “this would change my life,” or “I will learn so much.” Your cover letter isn’t 100% about you and how this could benefit your life. Plus, sentiments like this aren’t exactly meaningful or useful. They’re just filler sentences and you’re better off leaving them out. Of course you want this opportunity if you’re applying to it, no need to write it out and take up precious cover letter space.
Quick Tip: Cut these filler sentences and use the extra space to detail how you could make a difference or do great work in this position. Focus on what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.
Mistake: Addressing it to the CEO or editor-in-chief
It’s quite common for career and internship advice blogs to suggest you address your cover letter “Dear Hiring Manager” or that you look up someone in the company and use their name as your recipient, assuming that they’re the one accepting the applications. Both are totally fine, though I think you really can’t go wrong with Hiring Manager.
That said, don’t ever address a cover letter to the CEO or the editor-in-chief or top dog at a company … especially if you’re applying to an internship or entry-level job. Unless it’s a really small startup, it’s bold and kind of silly to assume someone so high up is going to be the one screening the very first round of applications.
What have you been applying to lately?
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