7 Cover Letter Mistakes Costing You Interviews
1. Restating the CV. A cover letter's job is to explain *why this role, why you* — not to repeat your work history in sentence form.
2. Generic openers like 'I am writing to apply for...'. Lead with a specific, relevant achievement instead.
3. No research on the company. One sentence showing you understand what they actually do signals more than any generic enthusiasm line.
4. Over three paragraphs. Hiring managers skim; keep it under 300 words.
5. Addressed 'To Whom It May Concern' when the hiring manager's name is findable on LinkedIn in thirty seconds.
6. No clear call to action — end by stating you'd welcome the chance to discuss the role, not just 'thank you for your consideration'.
7. Typos. Read it aloud before sending, every time — it catches errors spell-check doesn't.