{"id":503,"date":"2026-06-13T20:25:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T20:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T14:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T14:45:10","slug":"cover-letter-mistakes-rejection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/","title":{"rendered":"Cover Letter Mistakes That Get You Rejected Immediately"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cover Letter Mistakes That Get You Rejected Immediately is a key focus of this guide. Cover letter mistakes rejection is the focus of this expert recruiter guide. Most cover letters that get rejected are not rejected because the candidate was unqualified. They are rejected because the letter gave the recruiter a reason to stop reading. These are the most common mistakes that kill your chances before you even get to the first interview.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-cover-letter.jpg\" alt=\"Person writing a cover letter by hand at a desk\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Opening_With_%E2%80%9CI_Am_Writing_to_Apply_For%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D\" >Opening With &#8220;I Am Writing to Apply For&#8230;&#8221;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Restating_Your_Resume_Line_by_Line\" >Restating Your Resume Line by Line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Making_It_All_About_What_You_Want\" >Making It All About What You Want<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Generic_Letters_That_Could_Be_Sent_Anywhere\" >Generic Letters That Could Be Sent Anywhere<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Typos_or_Getting_the_Company_Name_Wrong\" >Typos or Getting the Company Name Wrong<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Closing_Without_a_Clear_Ask\" >Closing Without a Clear Ask<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Read_next\" >Read next<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Should_I_always_include_a_cover_letter\" >Should I always include a cover letter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#How_long_should_a_cover_letter_be\" >How long should a cover letter be?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#What_should_the_first_sentence_of_a_cover_letter_say\" >What should the first sentence of a cover letter say?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#What_should_I_leave_out_of_a_cover_letter\" >What should I leave out of a cover letter?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/#Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\" >Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opening_With_%E2%80%9CI_Am_Writing_to_Apply_For%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Opening With &#8220;I Am Writing to Apply For&#8230;&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This opener is the most overused line in job applications. It is so common that recruiters have trained their eyes to skip it. The recruiter already knows you are applying. Start with something that earns their attention instead: a specific accomplishment, a sharp observation about the company, or a bold, relevant statement.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Restating_Your_Resume_Line_by_Line\"><\/span>Restating Your Resume Line by Line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cover letter is not a second resume. If you are summarizing your work history the same way your resume already does, the letter is doing nothing for you. The cover letter is where you connect the dots, tell the story, and explain the why behind your career that bullet points cannot capture. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-vs-no-cover-letter\/\">cover letter vs. no cover letter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_It_All_About_What_You_Want\"><\/span>Making It All About What You Want<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many cover letters focus almost entirely on what the candidate is looking for in their next role. Recruiters do not hire people to fulfill their career ambitions, they hire people to solve a problem. Reframe everything around what you bring to them, not what the role offers you.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Generic_Letters_That_Could_Be_Sent_Anywhere\"><\/span>Generic Letters That Could Be Sent Anywhere<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you could replace the company name in your letter with any other company and it would still make perfect sense, the letter is too generic. Recruiters can spot form letters immediately, and they signal low interest and low effort. Reference something specific about the company, the team, or the product.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Typos_or_Getting_the_Company_Name_Wrong\"><\/span>Typos or Getting the Company Name Wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sending a letter with a typo, the wrong company name, or the wrong job title is an immediate disqualifier for most recruiters. It signals a lack of attention to detail, which is one of the core things a cover letter is meant to demonstrate. Proofread every single application before you send it. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-that-get-you-ignored\/\">cover letter mistakes that get you ignored<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closing_Without_a_Clear_Ask\"><\/span>Closing Without a Clear Ask<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ending with &#8220;I hope to hear from you&#8221; is a passive close that leaves the decision entirely with them. A better close makes a direct ask: &#8220;I would love to set up a 20-minute call to discuss how my background fits this role.&#8221; You are not being pushy, you are demonstrating initiative.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Read_next\"><\/span>Read next<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list atr-read-next\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/career-change-cover-letter\/\">How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter That Works<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-for-recent-graduate\/\">Cover Letter for a Recent Graduate: A Step-by-Step Guide<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\">How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_always_include_a_cover_letter\"><\/span>Should I always include a cover letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Include one when requested, when writing ability is core to the role, or when you need to explain context your resume cannot. For high-volume technical roles, it is often not read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_should_a_cover_letter_be\"><\/span>How long should a cover letter be?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three to four short paragraphs, 200-300 words maximum. If you are writing more, you are probably repeating your resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_the_first_sentence_of_a_cover_letter_say\"><\/span>What should the first sentence of a cover letter say?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with something specific. &#8220;I have spent four years doing exactly what this role requires&#8221; beats &#8220;I am excited to apply for this position.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_leave_out_of_a_cover_letter\"><\/span>What should I leave out of a cover letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not restate your resume, explain why you need the job, apologize for gaps, or use clich\u00e9s. Every sentence should add information not already in the resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most cover letters fail because they summarize the resume rather than add to it. A recruiter reading your cover letter already has your resume in hand. They do not need you to recap it. What they want to know is why this role, at this company, is one you are genuinely excited about, and what specific experience makes you a stronger candidate than the other 150 applicants who also ticked all the required boxes.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best cover letters I have seen treat the format like a brief business proposal. They open with a specific observation about the company or role, connect that observation to a relevant achievement, and close with a clear next step. This structure respects the hiring manager&#8217;s time while demonstrating that you have done real research rather than sending a mass application. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/internship-cover-letter\/\">write an internship cover letter that stands out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\"><\/span>Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At AskTheRecruiter.com, every resume review is done by a human recruiter with years of hiring experience. You&#8217;ll get honest, specific feedback you can act on right away. No automated scoring, no generic tips.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"\/get-your-resume-reviewed\/\">Get My Free Resume Review<\/a><\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"atr-schema-jsonld\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I always include a cover letter?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Include one when requested, when writing ability is core to the role, or when you need to explain context your resume cannot. For high-volume technical roles, it is often not read.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long should a cover letter be?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Three to four short paragraphs, 200-300 words maximum. If you are writing more, you are probably repeating your resume.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What should the first sentence of a cover letter say?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Start with something specific. \\\"I have spent four years doing exactly what this role requires\\\" beats \\\"I am excited to apply for this position.\\\"\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What should I leave out of a cover letter?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Do not restate your resume, explain why you need the job, apologize for gaps, or use clich\u00e9s. Every sentence should add information not already in the resume.\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Cover Letters\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/category\/cover-letters\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Cover Letter Mistakes That Get You Rejected Immediately\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-mistakes-rejection\/\"}]}]}<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn the most common cover letter mistakes that get applications rejected. Avoid these errors and write cover letters that actually get read and lead to interviews.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[21,25,27],"class_list":["post-503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-letters","tag-cover-letter","tag-job-application","tag-recruiter-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5166,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions\/5166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}