Bad Cover Letter Examples: What Not to Do When Applying for a Job

Crafting an effective cover letter is a crucial step in the job application process. However, not all
cover letters are created equal. In fact, some can do more harm than good, potentially costing you the
opportunity to land your dream job. In this article, we will dissect and highlight bad cover letter
examples to help you understand what to avoid when composing your own.

1. Generic and Unfocused Content: One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is
creating a generic cover letter that lacks specificity. Recruiters can easily spot a one-size-fits-
all letter, and it doesn't convey genuine interest in the position.
2. Overemphasizing Personal Information: Sharing too much personal information, unrelated
to the job, can be a turn-off for employers. Keep your cover letter professional and focused
on your qualifications and skills relevant to the position.
3. Excessive Bragging or Self-Promotion: While it's important to showcase your strengths, an
overly boastful tone can be off-putting. Instead, aim for a balanced approach that highlights
your achievements without sounding arrogant.
4. Ignoring Instructions in the Job Posting: Failure to follow application instructions can be
detrimental. Whether it's submitting a specific document or addressing certain criteria, not
adhering to the guidelines shows a lack of attention to detail.
5. Typos and Grammatical Errors: A cover letter filled with typos and grammatical mistakes
reflects poorly on your communication skills. Always proofread your cover letter thoroughly
to present yourself as a detail-oriented and competent candidate.
6. Copying and Pasting from Your Resume: Your cover letter should complement your
resume, not duplicate it. Avoid regurgitating your resume content; instead, use the cover
letter to delve deeper into specific experiences and skills that make you a standout candidate.
7. Lack of Research about the Company: Failing to research the company and customize your
cover letter accordingly demonstrates a lack of genuine interest. Tailor your letter to show
that you understand the company's values, mission, and how your skills align with their
needs.
8. Unprofessional Tone or Language: Keep in mind that a cover letter is a professional
document. Avoid using slang, overly casual language, or inappropriate jokes. Maintain a tone
that aligns with the company culture and industry standards.

In conclusion, learning from bad cover letter examples is crucial for improving your own application
materials. By steering clear of these common mistakes, you'll increase your chances of creating a
compelling cover letter that captures the attention of recruiters and sets you apart from the
competition.

For professional assistance in crafting a winning cover letter, consider seeking help from experts at
BestResumeHelp.com . Their experienced team can provide personalized guidance to ensure your
cover letter makes a positive impression on potential employers.
Always re-read your application before hitting the send button to make sure you don’t have any of
this. Misspelled words and bad grammar will send your letter. Don’t start explaining why you quit
your last job or why you were fired on the second paragraph of your cover letter. I don’t have
George Clooney’s face or Brad Pitt’s body but I don’t get thrown out of bed for eating crackers
either. Failing to include positive facts about yourself isn't giving the reader a true representation of
who you are. Use it as your starting point and you’ll be on track to a great cover letter that will get
your application noticed. Okay, um, big NO. BIG, BIG NO. Considering the amount of mail we
receive on any given project, you have to understand that the “call to confirm receipt” thing is just
way poor form. A sample can help you decide what to include in your letter, and show you how to
format it. Oh yeah, and I def won’t tell you how much I love a podcast your competitor produces.
(That would be silly, I say as I delete a reference to The Daily.) Nor will I confuse Idaho Matters and
Talk of Iowa. Maybe that thing will not be how I reported on a Sad Person and learned a Valuable
Lesson About Journalism, though, because everyone is doing that and also this isn’t a college
admissions essay. You want to know exactly when you will hear from them, if you will hear from
them and if you do hear from them what is the next process. Oct 08 2013 Weve spent our morning
cringing after being forwarded the Worlds Worst Cover Letter as weve officially dubbed it and
couldnt resist sharing it with you as an example of what you should never ever do. Plus a great cover
letter does 4 things extremely well. Bad example: Curriculum Vitae Mark Taylor Address: 66
Hendford Hill, Mouldsworth, WA6 8DE, United Kingdom Tel: 07900257283 Email. We staff
industry experts, always eager to boost your confidence to crack interviews. More years ago than I
now care to think about, I put out a breakdown for a patient education video I was casting. If you
fail to hook the recruiter, they may pass you by and move on to the next applicant. Many large
companies are using technology to read your cover letters. Ideally, you will get someone else to do
the proofreading as other people can be more objective if it is not your own CV and therefore pick
up on it with fresh eyes. Prior to GHYC, Bogdan led the content programs at LinkedIn Learning. It
is important to consider what should be included in a cover letter but we will focus in this article on
what not to cover. And the best way to do that is to make sure it’s a true reflection of you as a person
and what you’ve achieved. This collection of free, professionally written cover letters will help you
get started. Some modelling companies may require photos for their positions but as a general rule, it
is not required and in fact on receiving a covering letter or CV with a photo most companies actually
feel that it is silly sending in photos and wonder what has possessed someone to do that. Yes I would
love it, be honored to have it and be passionate about every aspect of it. Resume File Size: 1024 x
1024 pixels (114314 bytes) Image Name: Straight To The Trash On To The Pile For Consideration
File Size: 600 x 600 pixels (93239 bytes) Examples Of Good And Bad Resumes, Cover Letters
Examples from the Connecticut Department Of Labor. Don’t steal! Instead, take what’s brilliant and
build upon it to make it your own. You must have me confused with 40% of your applicant pool.
Some people call attention to their weaknesses in a letter that's supposed to summarize their
strengths. We staff industry experts, always eager to boost your confidence to crack interviews.
I want to help make it better by telling you all the reasons I am exactly right for your opening for a
sales manager: I have always dreamed about working for your company. Try reading it aloud, or
better yet, have someone you trust look over it to give you feedback. Describing how your skills and
goals will benefit a future position at their company is much more appealing to a recruiter than a
discussion about your hopes and dreams. Ideally, you will get someone else to do the proofreading as
other people can be more objective if it is not your own CV and therefore pick up on it with fresh
eyes. It’s a sad fact but nonetheless one that requires you use your cover letter as the ultimate
weapon. You want to know exactly when you will hear from them, if you will hear from them and if
you do hear from them what is the next process. You can lavish praise once, but more than that and it
reads insincere. So, while a cover letter isn't absolutely necessary, if you're trying to stand out in a
crowd of resumes, it certainly helps. Breaks New Ground In Collaborative Coding Innovation
December 19, 2023. Writing a generic cover letter: Creating a template cover letter saves your time.
Sep 17 2020 When applying for a job its always a good idea to include a cover letter unless the
employer specifies that they only want an application or a resumeEven if a job listing does not
specifically request a cover letter including one can be a terrific way to summarize your skills and
experiences and explain in more detail than in a resume why you are an ideal candidate for the.
Resume File Size: 1024 x 1024 pixels (114314 bytes) Image Name: Straight To The Trash On To The
Pile For Consideration File Size: 600 x 600 pixels (93239 bytes) Examples Of Good And Bad
Resumes, Cover Letters Examples from the Connecticut Department Of Labor. Don’t steal! Instead,
take what’s brilliant and build upon it to make it your own. Machines are scanning application letters
for specific keywords and if they like it then send your application to HR. 0161 237 4658 E-mail
address. Some of them are really great, and tell me instantly that the applicant gets what we're trying
to do here and why they are someone we might want to hire. You are supposed to write these
documents to impress whichever prospective company you are contacting specifically. She founded
CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process.
Plus a great cover letter does 4 things extremely well. We staff industry experts, always eager to
boost your confidence to crack interviews. Telling the employer what the organization can do for you
instead of what you can do for the organization: This mistake is common among inexperienced job-
seekers like new college graduates. Some people are way too long-winded and never get to the point.
She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington
Post, as well as many other publications. Ideally, you will get someone else to do the proofreading as
other people can be more objective if it is not your own CV and therefore pick up on it with fresh
eyes. Because that’s what this is all about: Scoring an interview so I can dazzle you. But you should
customize each one to each employer and job to show how you fit the requirements. Have fun, let
your personality shine through, and REMEMBER P, P, and P. You must have me confused with 40%
of your applicant pool. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you. I could probably dig up old
sample cover letters that say those very things. 12 Bad Cover Letters - Business Insider. You are not
talking to your friend through a letter, you are wanting to be extremely professional and therefore the
tone of your letter needs to be courteous and professional whilst demonstrating that you can do the
role that they are advertising.
Remember that the most important thing for you to accomplish with your cover letter is to
demonstrate how you add value to the company you are applying to, and you want to make sure this
never gets lost when you get caught. By subscribing, you’ll get a weekly digest of modern job
hunting trends. Certainly, if you’re confidently creative and can come off professional while having a
bit of fun with it, that’s great too. I’m a UK-based seasoned senior recruitment consultant with an
unwavering commitment to helping individuals find their calling and businesses find the right talent.
It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Our extensive list of samples is
perfect for all job seekers, whether you need a cover letter for a specific life situation (like a career
change) or you’re just looking for the best cover letter format for your job title. Here are top ten
mistakes that you shouldn’t do while writing a cover letter: Not addressing a specific name of the
recipient: Do NOT use “To Whom It May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam”. If you fail to hook the
recruiter, they may pass you by and move on to the next applicant. If you think we might be a good
fit Id love to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience. Rating ( 3 assessment, average 5
from 5 ) You may also like Cover Letter 0 Cover Letter Samples Are you looking for job. It’s a role
that I’m very proud of and feel is reflective of my ability to play strong, independent yet sensitive
young women. A sample can help you decide what to include in your letter, and show you how to
format it. A good cover letter will highlight a few accomplishments, particularly those that increase
business or cut costs. Sep 17 2020 When applying for a job its always a good idea to include a cover
letter unless the employer specifies that they only want an application or a resumeEven if a job listing
does not specifically request a cover letter including one can be a terrific way to summarize your
skills and experiences and explain in more detail than in a resume why you are an ideal candidate for
the. Being too casual or familiar: Your tone should be kept formal. Infuse your personality into your
writing to show the reader who you are. Some modelling companies may require photos for their
positions but as a general rule, it is not required and in fact on receiving a covering letter or CV with
a photo most companies actually feel that it is silly sending in photos and wonder what has possessed
someone to do that. Otherwise you will just be another candidate complaining about how you have
been applying for jobs but no positive response. Or maybe I am (Wait, you can see that in your
recruitment software?!), but THIS is the job I REALLY want. You want to write in a very formal
tone starting with Dear NAME and ending with Yours sincerely and your full name. Browse through
this list and click on ones that sound good. 50 Sample Cover Letters. You can write a proposal cover
letter for all of the following points and more. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast
Company, HR Dive, and more. It may be temporarily unavailable, moved or no longer exist. No
matter what youre writing a proposal for youll want a smart cover letter to introduce your project. So
I saw it all—the good, the bad, and the standout cover letter examples that I can still remember. The
role at would allow me to contribute my skills to the team, and in doing so, help to succeed in.”. See
other similar resources ?0.00 (no rating) 0 reviews Download Save for later Not quite what you were
looking for. Show them instead that you have done your research and you know your stuff and that
is another positive reason as to why you want to apply for the job they are advertising. Some people
call attention to their weaknesses in a letter that's supposed to summarize their strengths.