Let's be honest. Writing a cover letter feels like a chore. You spend hours agonizing over the perfect opening sentence only to wonder if a human will ever actually read it.
But here is the truth. People do read them. Especially when they are on the fence about your resume.
A great letter can open doors. A bad one slams them shut. The problem is that most candidates make the same avoidable errors over and over again.
They treat the cover letter as an afterthought. Or they treat it like a biography. You don't want to be that applicant.
The biggest mistake is rehashing your resume. Your cover letter must tell a story that connects your skills to the company's specific needs.
Let's break down the major pitfalls and look at how to write a cover letter that actually gets you the interview.
Why is my content falling flat?
Don't rewrite your resume in paragraph form. Focus on two or three specific achievements that prove you can solve the hiring manager's problems.
The "Resume Rewrite" Error
This is the most common blunder we see. You take the bullet points from your resume. You turn them into full sentences. You paste them onto a page.
That creates a boring document. The hiring manager already has your resume. They don't need a remix.
Look at high-quality cover letter examples online. You will notice a pattern. They tell a story. They pick one or two major wins and expand on how they achieved them. They add context that a resume bullet point just can't provide.
OneTwo Resume analyzed 50,000+ resumes and found that 62% of applicants simply repeat their resume summary in the first paragraph of their cover letter.
Don't be part of that 62%. Use this space to connect the dots.
Focusing on What You Want
"I am looking for a role where I can grow my skills and learn..."
Stop right there. It sounds harsh, but the company doesn't hire you to help you learn. They hire you to solve a problem.
When you focus entirely on your needs, you look inexperienced. Shift the perspective. Talk about what you can do for them. Mention their recent challenges. Show you've done your homework. For a deep dive on shifting this perspective, check out this guide on How to Write a Cover Letter from the Harvard Business Review.
If you struggle to identify your best selling points, our Resume Checker can help highlight your strongest skills to feature in your letter.
Is your layout hurting your chances?
A messy layout screams lack of attention to detail. Stick to clean fonts and standard margins to ensure your application looks professional on any screen.
The Wall of Text
Nothing scares a recruiter more than a solid block of text. It looks exhausting. They are scanning dozens of applications a day. They won't wade through a 400-word paragraph to find your qualifications.
Keep it readable. Use short paragraphs. Use bullet points if you are listing achievements. White space is your friend.
When you look for a cover letter template, pick one that matches your resume header. It creates a cohesive personal brand. But ensure it leaves enough room for the text to breathe.
Being Too Generic
"To Whom It May Concern."
It feels cold. It feels robotic. In the age of LinkedIn, you can usually find the hiring manager's name. If you absolutely can't find it, use "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Department] Team."
Avoid generic phrases throughout the body text too. Tailoring takes time. We know. But it's better to send five tailored applications than fifty generic ones.
Here is a quick comparison of how to upgrade your language:
| Generic & Boring | Tailored & Engaging |
|---|---|
| I am writing to apply for the Sales Manager position. | As a long-time admirer of [Company]'s approach to SaaS, I was thrilled to see the Sales Manager opening. |
| I am a hard worker with good communication skills. | In my last role, I used my communication skills to close a $50k deal with a hesitant client. |
| I believe I am a good fit for this job. | My experience scaling teams matches the growth trajectory [Company] is currently aiming for. |
Did you really check everything?
Typos and wrong company names are instant dealbreakers. Proofread your document backwards or read it aloud to catch errors your brain automatically corrects.
The Copy-Paste Disaster
We have all been there. You are applying to ten jobs at once. You copy your standard letter. You paste it. You hit send.
Then you realize you left the previous company's name in the third paragraph.
It's fatal. It shows you don't care enough to double-check. Our recent data shows 73% of hiring managers stop reading after the second typo or formatting error.
Always use "Find and Replace" carefully. Better yet, read it out loud. Your ears will catch awkward phrasing that your eyes miss. Indeed has a great list of other Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid if you want to be extra safe.
Ignoring the **Cover Letter Format**
Standard business letter format exists for a reason. It is expected. Put your contact info at the top. Date it. Include the recipient's info. Sign off professionally.
Don't get weird with fonts. Comic Sans is never the answer. Stick to Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica. Keep the font size between 10 and 12 points.
If you need help structuring this, our Resume Builder isn't just for resumes. It helps ensure your entire application package looks consistent and professional.
A visual 'Anatomy of a Perfect Cover Letter' showing where contact info goes, how to hook the reader in the intro, body paragraph structure, and a strong call to action conclusion
Not Following Instructions
Some job postings have specific requests. "Include the word 'pineapple' in your subject line." "Submit as a PDF only."
These are tests. They test your attention to detail. If you miss a simple instruction in the application, the manager assumes you will miss instructions on the job.
Read the job description twice. Then read it again.
Key Takeaways
Writing a cover letter doesn't have to be painful. Avoid these traps and you will already be ahead of the competition.
- Don't summarize. Tell a story that complements your resume.
- Focus on them. Explain how you solve the company's problems, not just what you want.
- Check your formatting. Avoid walls of text and use a clean cover letter template.
- Proofread. Then proofread again. No wrong company names allowed.
- Review examples. Look at good cover letter examples to understand tone and structure.
Ready to build an application that gets noticed? Use OneTwo Resume to create a flawless resume and cover letter pair today.