13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix Them

13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix Them13 Terrible Cover Letter Phrases and How You Can Fix ThemDo you hate writing titel letters? Youre bedrngnis alone Most jobseekers hate writing them. Whats more, fruchtwein people cant 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. Lets 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 recruiterDont 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 aloudGenerally, avoid verbs of thinking. Dont use words you dont need to, phrases like I think Id 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 charityIncluding the phrase This job would help me because in your cover letter might very well putthe 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 obviousStating 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 textflows 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 suspenseRecruiters are flooded with cover letters. Th eyve seen the phrase Im 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 expertiseDont 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 fluffAvoid using catchphrases like goal-oriented, hard-workingor 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 gruppe with whom you worked.8. Make your adjectives paint a colorful pictureUsingflavorless adjectives such as good or nic e will make you sound average. You definitely dont want to sink into mediocrity. Dont use language that downplays your abilities andopt for adjectives with added value like attentive, competent, mature, or vigorous.9. Express genuine humilityAvoid 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 verbsAvoid 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 boxScan, scan, scan for clichs. Phrases like fast learner, go-getter, team player, dynamic leader,orthinking outside the boxwill 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 employerMake 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 heartsTake 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 intervi ew 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 outthese10 cover letter samples from real jobseekers who got hired at prestigious companies. Knocking a cover letter into shape isnt the easiest task- but getting the job you want makes it all worth itNeed to write a cover letter but dont know where to begin? Check out our Ultimate Cover Letter Guideand get hired fast Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments