5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great tool to help you persuade employers that you’re suitable for a role and will allow you to highlight any skills and experiences that you’ve not mentioned in your CV. However, a generalised, lengthy and repetitive cover letter can harm your job prospects. Ensuring your letter is well-structured and personalised can help you to stand out from the crowd and boost your prospects. Here are 5 cover letter mistakes that could be harming your job search!

1. Rewriting your CV

A cover letter gives you the opportunity to mention any skills and experiences you didn’t refer to in your CV. Choosing to re-write your CV as a cover letter will not only be a wasted opportunity but will also make your application repetitive. Using different examples will keep the employer interested and help you to stand out.

2. Forgetting to proof read

It’s really important that you proof read your cover letter before you submit it. Mistakes can make you appear less suitable for a role, especially if the job requires attention to detail. Try getting a friend or family member to read over your letter before you send it, they may be able to pick up on errors you’ve missed.

3. Using the same letter for every job

Using the same cover letter for every job may be a lot quicker but it won’t be doing you any favours. Personalising your letter for each job and company will help you show a genuine interest in a role and ensure any examples you use are relevant.

4. Mentioning your weaknesses

An employer wants to know why you’re suitable for a role, not why you aren’t! Stay positive and only highlight skills and experiences that will help you to complete a job effectively.

5. Irrelevant long paragraphs

Make sure that what you’re writing is relevant to the role. Anything that you have previously mentioned in your CV or can’t be applied directly to the job you’re applying for should be avoided. Staying on point and keeping your wording concise will make your cover letter easier to read and will help an employer pick out key pieces of information.

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