13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix Them

13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix Them 13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix Them Do you hate writing cover letters? You’re not alone! Most jobseekers hate writing them. What’s more, most people can’t write them well. Unfortunately, no article can teach you how to write an excellent cover letter. That takes time, lots of writing practice and a little bit of alchemy. Still, an article can help you avoid some of the worst mistakes. Like this article about terrible cover letter phrases you should never use in your own cover letter. Let’s have a look at 13 terrible phrases people put on their cover letters and see how you can avoid using their pitfalls in yours. 1. Say hello to your recruiter Dont use a vague greeting like To whom it may concern. Imagine you get heaps of letters but none of the job candidates knows your name. Look up the person who will be reading your cover letter and address them by their name. Its definitely worth the effort. 2. Dont think aloud Generally, avoid verbs of thinking. Dont use words you dont need to, phrases like   I think I’d be a great fit make your sentences sound weak. It is clear you are expressing your opinions, so youd better keep a wary eye on verbs such as think, guess, assume, or believe. 3. Job search is no charity Including the phrase This job would help me because in your cover letter might very well put  the final nail in your job search coffin. Honestly, who cares about what would help you? Recruiters want to hear exactly the opposite- how you can help the company. 4. Never state the obvious Stating the obvious in your cover letter wastes time of someone who doesnt have it. As you can see on my resume…  is one of the most redundant phrases widely used in cover letters. Make sure your text  flows from one idea to another. Your cover letter should take the reader on an exciting journey, not tell them what they already know. 5. Be creative and build suspense Recruiters are flooded with cover letters. Theyve seen the phrase I’m the best candidate because… over a bajillion times. So this is the perfect occasion to season your cover letter with a pinch of creativity. Hook your reader by saying I do have some skills that are hard to come by. Intrigue the recruiters so that theyll want to read on. Feel free to deviate from the standard template that everyone else follows. 6. Promote your expertise Don’t sell yourself short. Be confident and mention any specific experience that will make you an ideal candidate for the position. Start by saying Given my extensive experience as… and make your distinctive skills come into light. 7.  Cut the fluff Avoid using catchphrases like goal-oriented, hard-working  or fast-paced. Let your experience and references speak for you. Employers will be more impressed to hear you talk about your passion for the field and dedication to the people or team with whom you worked. 8. Make your adjectives paint a colorful picture Using  flavorless adjectives such as good or nice will make you sound average. You definitely dont want to sink into mediocrity. Dont use language that downplays your abilities and  opt for adjectives with added value like attentive, competent, mature, or vigorous. 9. Express genuine humility Avoid using always, everybody, never and other extremes. Its just gloating over your own skills. Keep your feet on the ground. Staying reasonable when describing your abilities pays off, it is better to display modesty than some unduly braggadociousness. 10. Spice it up with verbs Avoid using weak verbs like make or do. Dont be vague when you can be specific. Heres just a selection of few action verbs for inspiration: accelerated, coordinated, facilitated, initiated, mastered, launched, proposed, reviewed, supervised.  Check this infographic for a more complete list. Use descriptive words whenever you can. Rather than just stating a list of duties, include action keywords in your position descriptions e.g. proficient in Adobe Illustrator, specialised in social media marketing. 11. Dont think inside the box Scan, scan, scan for clichés. Phrases like fast learner, go-getter, team player, dynamic leader,  or  thinking outside the box  will make any recruiter roll their eyes. Think about how you can rephrase them to make them more specific, meaningful, personal, and also targeted to the specific job ad and its requirements. 12. Introduce your current employer Make sure to slip in the fact that you are currently employed, if that is the case. Employment shows that a candidate is valued by someone else, and that they are looking for a new job to advance their careers, not of out of desperation. 13. Keywords to their hearts Take your time and search for keywords specific to your occupation. They help to make your resume selected by hiring managers who screen documents. Keywords are used to match an applicant with an available job. If the keywords in a cover letter match the job description, the candidates chances of being selected for a job interview are much higher. Avoiding the terrible cover letter phrases is only the beginning. Hopefully, these 13 tips helped you see your old familiar cover letter in a new light. Now you can recognise the awkwardness of pat phrases and unlock the potential of informed word choices. If this still sounds a bit far-fetched, check out  these  10 cover letter samples from real jobseekers who got hired at prestigious companies. Knocking a cover letter into shape isn’t the easiest task- but getting the job you want makes it all worth it! Need to write a cover letter but dont know where to begin? Check out our Ultimate Cover Letter Guide  and get hired fast!   Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments!