3 key takeaways
- Cover letter mistakes are common errors—like typos, lack of personalization, or missing keywords—that can weaken your application.
- There are 13 cover letter mistakes you should steer clear of.
- Teal's AI Resume Builder with Cover Letter Generator can help you avoid these common errors altogether.
If your cover letter isn't dialed in, you're missing a chance to show why you’re the perfect fit for the role. And one way to guarantee that happens? Making common cover letter mistakes.
Cover letter mistakes send the wrong message. Whether it's a typo, missing keywords, or a lack of personalization, these errors can quickly take you out of the running.
This article breaks down thirteen of the most frequent mistakes job seekers make, along with actionable tips and tools to help you avoid them, ensuring your cover letter works for you, not against you.
Want to avoid cover letter mistakes altogether? Try the Teal AI Cover Letter Generator today!
13 cover letter mistakes to avoid
Writing a cover letter that hits the mark can be challenging, and even small errors can hold you back. Below, are thirteen common cover letter mistakes that many job seekers make, along with quick fixes to help you avoid them.
1. Lack of personalization
A generic cover letter—one that doesn’t address the specific company or role—misses the opportunity to show how your unique skills and experience align with what a company is looking for. It doesn’t clearly convey your value prop or why you’re the right fit for their needs—making it harder for a hiring team to see how you’ll contribute to their goals.
Tailoring your cover letter to each unique opportunity shows you’re genuinely interested in the company and the role. This level of personalization highlights not just your enthusiasm but also demonstrates you’ve done your homework to make the connection between what you have to offer and what a company needs.
How to fix it
Beyond reading the job description, there are a few steps you can take to personalize your cover letters:
- Take time to research the company—its mission, values, and recent projects
- Weave in company-specific details in your cover letter to show you’re aligned with their goals
- Address your cover letter using the hiring manager's name (if possible)
- Explain why you’re excited about this specific opportunity
- Include a sentence or two about how your skills can directly benefit the team or solve a problem the company is facing
2. Repeating your resume
One of the most common cover letter mistakes is simply regurgitating the information already found in your resume. While your resume lists your skills and experience, your cover letter is an opportunity to go deeper and show more of your personality and motivations.
A cover letter that reads like a summary of your resume doesn’t offer any new information, making it redundant. Especially when a cover letter is required, hiring managers are looking for insight into who you are beyond your resume bullet points—why you're excited about the role and how your experience can uniquely benefit their team.
How to fix it
Instead of listing everything you’ve already covered in your resume, focus on a few top accomplishments or experiences. Use your cover letter to give context or share a brief anecdote that highlights your skills in action.
For example:
Resume: "Led a cross-functional team to implement a new CRM system that improved sales tracking by 20%."
Cover letter: "In my previous role, I led a cross-functional team to implement a new CRM system. One challenge we faced was resistance from the sales team, who felt the new system was too complex. To address this, I organized tailored training sessions and offered one-on-one support, which led to full adoption of the system within three months. As a result, we improved sales tracking accuracy by 20%, giving leadership clearer insights to drive strategic decisions."
3. Focusing on responsibilities instead of achievements
A cover letter that only lists your job responsibilities without highlighting your achievements and impact can make it harder for hiring managers to see that you're capable of results. Responsibilities tell them what you did, but achievements show them how well you did it and the value you brought to previous roles.
How to fix it
Rather than just listing duties, focus on specific accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and impact. Use measurable results when possible, like increased revenue, improved processes, or successful projects. This helps paint a clearer picture of how you can contribute to their team.
4. Talking about yourself too much
Should your cover letter be about you? Yes. Can you overdo it? Also, yes.
Much like your resume should connect your experience to the job you’re applying for, your cover letter should focus on how you can help the company, not just how the role benefits you.
TL;DR? Hiring managers are looking for someone who can solve their challenges, contribute to their goals, and fit seamlessly into their team. If your cover letter only highlights what you’re hoping to achieve, it misses the opportunity to connect you to those needs.
How to fix it
While you should absolutely highlight your skills and achievements, always frame them in the context of how they benefit the prospective employer. Use the JD as your blueprint; what are they looking for? Then, position your experience as the solution to their needs or challenges, and show how your background can help them succeed. When it comes to how to write a cover letter, this doesn’t mean leaving out your personal value—it’s about bridging the gap between what you offer and what they need.
5. Not including keywords from the job description
If you don’t include relevant keywords from the job description in your cover letter, hiring teams searching their ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for specific terms may not find your application—even if you’re highly qualified. This mistake can prevent your materials from surfacing when recruiters are looking for candidates with certain skills or experience.
How to fix it
Review the job description closely and identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities they mention. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your cover letter, making sure to tie them to your relevant experience. This helps both ATS systems and hiring managers see how your background aligns with the role they’re looking to fill.
6. Using a boring or generic opening
Starting with a cliché or generic introduction—like "I’m writing to apply for..."—can lose the reader before they even get to the second sentence. Hiring managers see countless cover letters and a bland opening won't set you apart.
How to fix it
One creative cover letter approach is to open with an engaging, specific statement that highlights your excitement for the role and why you’re a great fit. Instead of leading with generic phrasing, try sharing a unique experience or skill relevant to the position. For example: “As someone who thrives on transforming complex data into actionable insights, I was excited to see the opening for a Data Analyst at [Company Name]."
This grabs attention by showing enthusiasm and directly tying your skills to the role.
7. Including buzzwords or clichés
When it comes to what not to include on a cover letter, avoid relying on overused terms like "team player" or "great communicator" without backing them up. These buzzwords don't set you apart. The proof of your skills is in your impact; without it, these are just clichés on a page.
How to fix it
Replace buzzwords with specific examples that demonstrate those skills in action. Instead of just saying you're a "team player," describe a project where collaboration led to measurable success. Show how being a "great communicator" helped resolve conflicts or streamline processes. Concrete examples give weight to your claims and help a hiring manager see your value.
8. Being too formal or too casual
Writing in a tone that’s either overly stiff or too informal for the company can make it harder for your message to resonate. You want to make a connection by meeting the company where they’re at.
How to fix it
Here are a few quick ways to align your tone with the company’s style:
- Know your industry and field: Adjust your tone to what’s typical for your industry
- Understand the company’s tone: Review their website and the job description carefully for clues
- Mirror their style: Match their level of formality or casualness
- Stay professional but friendly: Keep things respectful without being overly formal
Pro Tip: Teal's AI cover letter generation is fully customizable, so you can set the tone of every cover letter—for every unique application and company—upfront.
9. Writing too much (or too little)
There's a delicate balance between over-explaining and being too brief.
While too much detail can make your cover letter hard to follow, too little can make it feel incomplete or disinterested. Your goal is to provide enough information to establish your qualifications without overwhelming the reader or leaving key points out.
How to fix it
Keep your letter between 250-400 words. Your cover letter format should consist of 3-4 well-structured paragraphs that address:
- Why you're interested in the role and the company
- How your experience and skills match the job description
- What value you can bring to the company and team
10. Failing to address employment gaps
This common cover letter mistake isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it’s worth considering. If you have a gap in employment, addressing it head-on—in both your resume and cover letter—removes any lingering questions.
Teal's Director of Talent, Mike Peditto, explains why you should consider addressing employment gaps:
"Addressing a career gap in your cover letter isn’t a rule you have to follow, but here’s why I like it: you’re going to get asked about a gap in an interview, so why not address it upfront? Writing a cover letter that includes this information lets hiring managers see the reason and decide to interview you anyway, saving time and keeping the focus on your qualifications."
How to fix it
You don’t need to go into detail. A simple sentence acknowledging the gap is usually enough for a hiring manager to decide whether to move forward. For example, you could say, “After taking time to raise my children, I’m excited to return to work and bring my skills in [specific area] to [Company Name].” Keep it brief and then redirect attention to your relevant skills and experience.
11. Not following job application instructions
There's no way around it: one surefire way to get your application dismissed is to ignore job application instructions. This can look like not addressing a requested prompt, neglecting to write a short cover letter, leaving out a keyword the company asked you to include, or other dismissed directives. It tells a hiring manager one thing: this job is not important enough to you to follow their guidelines.
How to fix it
Read the job posting carefully and follow every instruction. If the job description asks you to address a specific question in your cover letter (like three reasons you’re a great fit for the role), make sure you include that. If they ask for a specific word or phrase, make sure it’s in there. Paying attention to these details shows you’re thorough and serious about the opportunity.
12. Typos and grammar mistakes
Basic spelling and grammar errors are some of the most avoidable cover letter mistakes. A cover letter that's riddled with typos, awkward phrasing, or incorrect punctuation can seem rushed, unprofessional, and lacking attention to detail. Of course, you're only human, and mistakes happen, but this is one area where you can—and should—take extra time to make sure your application is polished.
How to fix it
Proofread thoroughly, use spell-check tools, or even have a trusted person review your letter. Reading it aloud can also help you catch any awkward wording or grammar issues that might slip by unnoticed.
Pro Tip: Teal's Cover Letter Generator has built-in spell-check, so even if you adjust the AI-written content, your final version is scanned for errors, so you submit a good cover letter—every time.
13. Ending without a call-to-action
People want to know what you want them to do next—don’t make it harder for them to take the next step. Even hiring managers appreciate clear guidance. Closing your letter passively or without reinforcing your interest in the role can weaken your message and leave them guessing how to proceed.
How to fix it
End with a compelling call to action, inviting the employer to contact you for an interview. Be direct and confident, and include your contact information. For example: “I would love the opportunity to discuss how my skills can contribute to your team. Please feel free to contact me at [your email] to arrange an interview.”
Avoid cover letter mistakes with Teal
Cover letter mistakes can cost you opportunities, but they’re easy to avoid if you know what to look for. By taking the time to catch common mistakes, you’ll set yourself apart and show why you’re the right fit for the job.
Teal can help you avoid cover letter mistakes altogether.
With customizable AI tools, you can tailor each cover letter to the job description, fine-tune your tone, and ensure the right length—all while avoiding typos and errors.
Write tailored cover letters for every job faster, without the mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 5 common cover letter mistakes?
5 common cover letter mistakes are: Lack of personalization for the company or role, repeating information already found in your resume, focusing on job responsibilities instead of achievements, using too many buzzwords or clichés without examples, and typos and grammatical errors that reduce professionalism.
What happens if you make a mistake on your cover letter?
If you make a mistake on your cover letter, it can signal to employers that you lack attention to detail or genuine interest in the role, potentially leading to your application being dismissed.
What is considered a bad cover letter?
A bad cover letter is one that’s generic, filled with buzzwords, repetitive of your resume, or contains spelling and grammar errors, making it unprofessional and less likely to catch the employer’s attention.
What should be avoided in a cover letter?
In a cover letter, you should avoid being too generic, repeating your resume, using excessive buzzwords, making grammar mistakes, and ignoring keywords from the job description.
