6 Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid In 2022
Publié le 1 August 2022
Impress hiring managers and create a strong application that will help get you the job you want by knowing 6 cover mistakes to avoid in 2022.
Virtually every job you apply to will ask you for a cover letter as part of your application. It is an essential tool to set yourself apart from the other applicants. According to a study on employer preference, about 56% of prospective employers expect a cover letter and a resume. Therefore, even in 2022, cover letters remain as crucial as ever for job seekers looking to get hired.
While writing a cover letter is common practice, it takes some skill to write a great one that stands out for the right reasons. If prospective employers are rejecting your job applications, it might be worthwhile to reassess how you write a cover letter. There are 6 cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022, which will help you to create a strong job application that will get you noticed for the job you want.
6 Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid In 2022
- Bulk sending the same cover letter
- Duplicating your resume
- Not signing your cover letter
- Exceeding one page in length
- Poor opening statement
- Grammatical errors
1. Bulk sending the same cover letter
A good hiring manager can usually tell if you have sent them a generic cover letter. It creates a negative first impression and harms your chances of getting hired. It is always a good practice to personalize your cover letter and make it specific to the job you are applying to.
This personalization should begin as early as the cover letter opening greeting. Address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager whenever possible. It will draw their attention and prove that you have researched the company.
The body of your letter should be specifically tailored to the job for which you are applying for. Read the job description carefully and identify the main keywords. For example, if they are looking for someone with a specific amount of experience in ‘data analysis’ and ‘report writing’, use them while describing your skills and relevant experience.
Remember, recruiters appreciate it when you demonstrate knowledge of the company in your cover letter. Therefore, always take the time to tailor the cover letter to the specific company you are applying to, mentioning specific company goals and policies which appeal to you as a prospective employee.
2. Duplicating your resume
The job application process is grueling and creating your resume can be one of the most taxing steps. Once you are done creating it, you want to make your resume stand out. However, rehashing your resume in your cover letter is not the way to accomplish this goal.
Repeating the resume in your cover letter is one of the most common cover letter mistakes that candidates are still making. A cover letter is supposed to complement your resume, not duplicate it. While a professional resume lists your technical skills, a cover letter should showcase your intangible skills, backed up with specific examples that demonstrate how you reached your professional goals.
For example, you can write an anecdote about a client-facing role that boosted your communication skills. Or, you can cite examples of leading brainstorming sessions and provide evidence of your cognitive skills. Be sure to include examples which will relate to the job for which you’re applying.
3. Not signing your cover letter
Did you know that something as seemingly trivial as not signing your cover letter could be a cause for rejection from your potential employers? Indeed, not signing your cover letter could convey your lack of attention to detail and be perceived as poor business etiquette, making it one of 6 cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022.
If you send your letter via email, you could choose not to sign it. However, if you have the option of attaching your electronic signature to the document, we highly recommend that you do it.
Besides that, spend some time on the ending of your cover letter. Having a solid ending is one of the common cover letter tips you will receive from industry experts. This is because people often remember the letter’s ending, and a memorable ending could help you make the cut.
Ensure that the last paragraph of your cover letter maintains a professional and friendly tone, and include a call-to-action which will motivate the hiring manager.
You should also add a line to thank the hiring manager for their time and go with a professional salutation. People often go with ‘Sincerely’ but try something different such as ‘Best regards’ to make your letter stand out.
4. Exceeding one page in length
When searching for a job you are not reading one job description per day, but hundreds of them. Similarly, the recruiters read many cover letters each day alongside the resumes as part of the hundreds of applications the average available job role receives. No hiring manager has the time to read 5 pages from every job applicant, so do not commit the cover letter mistake of drafting an unnecessarily long one.
Making your cover letter concise is the only way to increase its chances of being read. According to a study by GetCoverLetter, 70% of recruiters prefer a cover letter that does not exceed 250 to 300 words. Unfortunately, 30% of the job applicants overshoot this word count.
Therefore, it is crucial that you keep your letter brief and concise. Failing to do so if still one of the most common of the 6 cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022. Here are the main points you need to include in your letter.
- Introduce yourself, give a brief about your background and convey specific career goals
- Highlight your relevant professional experiences
- Convey to the recruiter why you would be a good fit for the position and mention details that you did not have space for in your resume
It’s a challenge for you to create a concise cover letter, and it will put your editing skills to the test. If you are unsure of what to keep and leave out, get a second or third opinion from your friends and colleagues or use a writing assistant. A fresh set of eyes can often help you distinguish between necessary and unnecessary information.
5. Poor opening statement
When you create a resume, your objective should be to create a good impression in the first six seconds. Similarly, a cover letter needs to create a great first impression, and the opening is what will make or break it. A poor opening statement can prompt the recruiter to toss your cover letter aside without reading it thoroughly. You do not want that.
Career experts recommend starting with an action sentence or an accomplishment. For example, you could say, “As an experienced content writer with 5+ years of experience in content creation, I have effective strategies to develop your audience and accelerate your website engagement.”
One of the most common cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022 is creating a long and tedious opener that simply cites your background. Hook in your reader in the first few sentences, and a lot of your job is done. You need to ensure that your opening is compelling enough and consists of important details conveyed to the recruiter to keep them hooked and nudge them to read further.
If you are struggling with the opening, read through some excellent cover letter templates and try to model your introduction after them.
6. Grammatical errors
Having spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in your cover letter can be an immediate cause for rejection. Despite this, poor and incorrect grammar remains one of the most common of the 6 cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022. It makes your letter look unprofessional and brings down your credibility. You have to be very attentive regarding the grammatical correctness of your letter. It is proof of your written communication skills, and it must reflect well on your abilities.
If you don’t want to pay for a grammar checker, you can use several free Grammarly alternatives to run a grammar check of your letter and identify the mistakes you have made. Besides that, get a second or third set of eyes to proofread your letter. This will help eliminate any lingering mistakes you might have overlooked during the writing process.
In Closing
A cover letter complements your resume and elaborates on your relevant experience and expertise for the position you are applying to. By understanding 6 cover letter mistakes to avoid in 2022, you will be able to avoid errors that could lead to your application being dismissed. Your cover letter should be concise, grammatically correct, and have a strong opener and a memorable ending. Remember to always pay attention to details and use keywords from the job description to tailor your cover letter. If you steer clear of the common cover letter mistakes highlighted above, you should have an excellent letter for the recruiter.
Applying for jobs is grueling and time-consuming, but do not give up. Draft a fresh cover letter and try again, and we are optimistic that you will be successful in your endeavours.
