7 cover letter mistakes that cost interviews

A cover letter is short on purpose. Every line should earn its place.

The mistakes to avoid

1. Opening with a generic line that fits any company.
2. Repeating the resume instead of adding context.
3. Long paragraphs with no visual breaks.
4. Vague claims without evidence.
5. No mention of why this role matters to you.
6. Typos or inconsistent formatting.
7. No clear call to action.

A simple fix

Write one paragraph about the company, one about your impact, and one about the next step.