Writing a cover letter: 5 mistakes that halve your chances

Reading time: 3 minutes

Your cover letter isn't a box-ticking exercise — it's your secret weapon

"Cover letters are outdated, aren't they?" You hear that a lot, usually from people who can't be bothered to write one. The reality is less comfortable for them: candidates who include a cover letter are invited to interview almost twice as often as candidates who don't. While your CV shows what you've done, your cover letter explains why you should get the job. That difference is exactly what recruiters pay attention to.

The good news: a strong cover letter doesn't need to be a literary masterpiece. The bad news: most people make the same five mistakes, time and again.

The 5 mistakes that ruin your letter

1. A clichéd opening. "I am writing with great enthusiasm to apply for the position of..." The recruiter has already read that a hundred times today. Start with something specific: why this vacancy, at this company.
2. Repeating your CV in prose form. No one wants a summary of what's already on page 1. The letter is there to add context and personality, not to duplicate.
3. No concrete examples. "I'm a team player" says nothing. "As project lead, I resolved a scheduling conflict that meant we still hit the deadline" says everything.
4. Speaking negatively about your previous employer. Even if it's true. It mainly tells the reader how you might talk about them later on.
5. A weak closing line. "I hope to hear from you soon" is passive and forgettable. Close with an invitation to make contact, confident but not arrogant.

What about AI?

More and more people are letting AI write (part of) their letter — not a problem in itself, since those who use AI tools are invited to interview more often than those who don't. The problem lies in the execution: recruiters now spot generic AI language effortlessly. Words like "crucial", "transform" and "leading", or an opening like "I am delighted to respond to your vacancy", have become red flags. Use AI as a starting point, not a finished product — then make the text your own.

The structure that always works

• Greeting: "Dear [name]" if you know it. More personal than "Dear Sir/Madam".
• Introduction: short and punchy — which role, and why this vacancy appeals to you.
• Main body: link your experience to the job requirements with a concrete example.
• Closing: positive, proactive, with an invitation for a conversation.

Keep the whole thing to a maximum of one page. Longer rarely gets read properly.

Don't fancy starting from scratch?

Writing a strong cover letter that matches your experience and the vacancy normally takes an evening of head-scratching. Our Cover Letter Writing Tool helps you produce a personal, compelling letter in a few minutes — without the clichéd openings and without it feeling like AI-generated text.

Start with the Cover Letter Writing Tool →

Quick summary

• A cover letter roughly doubles your chances of getting an interview invitation.
• The biggest pitfalls: clichés, repeating your CV, no examples, negativity, weak closing.
• AI can help, but don't let it sound like AI.
• Keep it to one page, with a clear structure.