Most cover letters get rejected in the first 10 seconds. Not because the candidate was unqualified, but because of avoidable mistakes that signal a lack of effort or attention.
We have looked at what hiring managers say about the cover letters they receive and compiled the 10 mistakes that get applications rejected most often. Fix these and your chances of getting an interview go up dramatically.
Want to skip the mistakes entirely? Our AI cover letter generator writes a tailored, professional cover letter for you in seconds.
Mistake 1: Starting with “I am writing to apply for…”
This is the single most common opening line in cover letters, which is exactly why you should never use it. Hiring managers read it hundreds of times a week. It signals immediately that this is a generic, low-effort letter.
Fix it: Open with something specific and engaging. Reference a recent company achievement, your most relevant result, or a genuine reason why this particular role excites you.
Instead of: “I am writing to apply for the Sales Manager position.”
Try: “After three years of growing a sales team from four to twelve people and increasing revenue by 65%, I am ready for a new challenge, and [Company]’s focus on enterprise sales is exactly the environment I want to grow in.”
Mistake 2: Sending the same letter to every employer
Hiring managers can tell immediately when a letter has been mass-sent. Generic phrases like “your esteemed company” or “any suitable role” are dead giveaways.
Fix it: At minimum, personalise the company name, the job title, and one specific reason why you want to work there. Ideally, reference something specific about the company, a product, a value, a recent news story, to show genuine research.
Mistake 3: Repeating your CV word for word
Your cover letter is not a second CV. If you are just listing the same bullet points in paragraph form, you are wasting valuable space.
Fix it: Use your cover letter to add context and tell a story. Pick one or two highlights from your CV and expand on them. Explain the impact, the challenge, the result, things a bullet point cannot capture.
Mistake 4: Making it too long
Hiring managers spend about 7 seconds on each application. A cover letter that runs to two or three pages will not be read. Even a dense, text-heavy single page is risky.
Fix it: Aim for three to four short paragraphs. 250-350 words is ideal for most roles. If you are applying for a senior or executive position, you can go up to 500 words, but no more.
Mistake 5: Using cliches and buzzwords
Phrases like “results-driven professional”, “dynamic self-starter”, “excellent communication skills” and “team player” appear in almost every cover letter. They have lost all meaning.
Fix it: Replace every cliche with a specific example. Instead of “I am a results-driven professional”, say “In my last role I reduced customer churn by 22% in six months.” Specifics are memorable. Buzzwords are not.
Mistake 6: Focusing on what you want, not what you offer
Many cover letters read like a wish list: “I want to develop my skills”, “I am looking for a challenging environment”, “I hope to grow within the company.” This is all about you, not about what you bring to them.
Fix it: Reframe every sentence around value. What can you do for them? What problem can you solve? What results can you deliver? The hiring manager’s only question is “can this person help us?”, make sure your letter answers it.
Mistake 7: Failing ATS software
Most large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter applications before a human ever sees them. A poorly formatted cover letter can get rejected by the software before anyone reads it.
Fix it:
- Use keywords from the job description naturally in your letter
- Avoid tables, text boxes, columns and graphics, ATS cannot read them
- Submit as a Word document or simple PDF
- Use a standard font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman
Mistake 8: Spelling and grammar errors
A single typo can get your application rejected immediately. It signals a lack of care and attention to detail, qualities no employer wants in a new hire.
Fix it: Proofread at least twice. Read it out loud, you will catch errors your eyes miss when reading silently. Use a tool like Grammarly. Ask a friend or family member to read it. Never submit a cover letter you have just written without at least one proofread.
Mistake 9: Including irrelevant information
Your hobbies, your family situation, your school grades from ten years ago, none of this belongs in a cover letter unless it is directly relevant to the role. Every sentence should earn its place.
Fix it: Before including any information, ask yourself: “Does this make me a more attractive candidate for this specific role?” If the answer is no, cut it.
Mistake 10: A weak or no closing
Ending with “I hope to hear from you” or “Thank you for your consideration” is forgettable. Your closing is your last chance to make an impression, do not waste it.
Fix it: Close with confidence and a clear call to action. Express genuine enthusiasm for the role and invite them to take the next step.
Example: “I am genuinely excited about this opportunity and would welcome the chance to discuss how my background in [area] could contribute to [Company]’s goals. I am available for an interview at any time convenient for you.”
The fastest way to avoid all of these mistakes
Our AI cover letter generator writes a tailored, ATS-friendly cover letter that avoids every one of these mistakes, in under 30 seconds. Just enter the job title, company and your experience, and it does the rest.
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New to writing one from scratch? Start with our full guide on how to write a cover letter, then come back to this list before you send.
Quick reference — cover letter mistake checklist
- Did NOT start with “I am writing to apply”
- Personalised specifically for this company and role
- Does not repeat the CV, adds context and story
- Under 400 words, three to four paragraphs
- No cliches or buzzwords, specific examples only
- Focused on value to the employer, not personal goals
- ATS-friendly format, no tables or graphics
- Proofread at least twice
- Every sentence is relevant to the role
- Ends with a confident call to action