Five reasons why your cover letter isn’t landing you jobs
Hey there! Are you tired of sending out countless job applications and hearing crickets chirping in return? It could be that your cover letter, the first impression you make on recruiters, isnt doing you any favors.
A cover letter is your opportunity to stand out, showcase your personality, and convince employers that youre the best fit for the job. But if youre not getting called for interviews, something may be going wrong with how you present yourself through your cover letter.
Lets explore five common mistakes that could be holding you back.
- Generic opening lines
Opening lines like Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to express my interest in the position of… BORING!!! If this is how your cover letter begins, youve lost your reader already. You need an engaging opener that grabs attention and stands out from the dozens of other letters on the hiring managers desk. Share a unique fact about your professional journey or why youre excited about the role. A captivating opening sets the tone for the rest of your letter. You might be expecting a line here for you to steal. No way! Do your assignment. - Lack of personalisation
If your cover letter looks like it could be sent to any company for any role, youre in trouble. Hiring managers can tell when a letter has been copied and pasted from a template without any real customization. Make sure you mention the companys name, the position youre applying for, and why you specifically want to work there. Do a little research and add a line or two that shows you understand their values or recent projects. Its the little touches that matter most! - Talking about responsibilities instead of achievements
Listing your previous job duties is not what recruiters are looking out for. They want to know how you made an impact in your past roles and the successes you achieved. Did you increase sales by 20%? Lead a team to complete a project ahead of schedule? Complete that report in due time? Met that target? Engaged more clients? Employers are more interested in measurable outcomes than generic job descriptions. Your cover letter should highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your value. - Overly formal language
While its important to maintain a professional tone, overly formal or jargon-heavy language can make your cover letter feel stiff and impersonal. Instead, speak in a natural voice, as if you were having a conversation with the hiring manager. Remember, the goal is to show your personality and create a connection, not to overwhelm the reader with complex terminology that would make you seem like a grammarian. Your heavy grammar is not what will land you a job! - Failing to address potential concerns
If you have a gap in your employment history or are switching careers, dont ignore it. Use your cover letter to proactively address any potential red flags in your resume by briefly explaining why you took a break from work or why youre looking to change industries and focus on what youve learned or accomplished during that time. This shows employers youre honest, self-aware, and committed to your professional growth.
In conclusion, now that you know the pitfalls to avoid, its time to give your cover letter a complete makeover. Make it personal, impactful, and engaging, and youll start to see the interview invites roll in. You can do this by researching for the best language, tenses, and grammatical constructs to use that will best communicate your value. But dont stop there! If youre ready to take your job search to the next level, the Yakazi app has you covered. With a load of resources, expert tips, tools to fine-tune your cover letter and CV, and a community of career coaches and professionals, the Yakazi app helps you leverage technology to land your dream job. Download the app today from Google Play store and give your job search a boost!
Happy applying!