Cover Letters Still Matter — When Done Right

Despite predictions of the cover letter's death, most hiring managers still read them — and many consider a strong one a deciding factor when candidates are otherwise equal. The problem is that most cover letters actively hurt rather than help the people who send them. Here are seven of the most common mistakes and how to avoid each one.

Mistake 1: Starting With "I Am Writing to Apply For…"

This is the most clichéd opening in professional writing. It tells the reader nothing and wastes your most valuable real estate — the first line. Instead, open with a hook: a specific achievement, a direct statement of enthusiasm, or a compelling observation about the company.

Instead of: "I am writing to apply for the Marketing Manager position at Acme Corp."

Try: "Growing a content program from zero to 40,000 monthly readers taught me how to balance creativity with strategy — and it's exactly the kind of challenge your Marketing Manager role describes."

Mistake 2: Summarizing Your Resume

Your cover letter shouldn't repeat what's already on your resume. Recruiters have both documents open at the same time — they don't need a prose version of your bullet points. Use the cover letter to add context, tell a short story, or explain something the resume can't capture: why you're making a career change, why this specific company excites you, or what a key achievement really meant.

Mistake 3: Making It All About You

A common error is treating the cover letter as a list of what you want from the role. Hiring managers care most about what you'll do for them. Reframe your language to center the employer's needs:

  • Weak: "This role would give me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills."
  • Strong: "Your team is scaling quickly, and I've led three successful hiring and onboarding processes — I'd be ready to contribute to that growth immediately."

Mistake 4: Using the Same Letter for Every Application

A generic letter reads like a generic letter. Employers can tell. Customization doesn't mean rewriting from scratch — it means changing three key things: the company name (obviously), a specific reference to something about the company or role that genuinely interests you, and a tailored example that maps to the job description.

Mistake 5: Being Too Long

A cover letter should fit on one page — and ideally be read in under 60 seconds. Three to four short paragraphs is the sweet spot. Every sentence should earn its place. If a sentence doesn't either demonstrate your value or build a connection with the employer, cut it.

Mistake 6: Weak or Passive Closing

Endings like "I hope to hear from you" or "Please feel free to contact me" are passive and forgettable. Close with confidence and a light call to action:

"I'd welcome the chance to discuss how my experience in [X] could contribute to [Company's] goals. I'm available for a conversation at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you."

Mistake 7: Skipping Proofreading

A typo in a cover letter — especially a misspelled company or hiring manager name — signals carelessness. For a role where attention to detail matters, it can end your candidacy immediately. Always proofread. Then proofread again. Read it aloud, or paste it into a fresh document to see it with fresh eyes.

The Standard to Aim For

A great cover letter does three things: it grabs attention in the first sentence, demonstrates specific, relevant value in the body, and ends with a clear and confident call to action. Avoid these seven mistakes and you'll already be ahead of the majority of applicants in any hiring pool.