[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-256196-105":53,"doc-detail-256196-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","5-common-cover-letter-mistakes","5-Common-Cover-Letter-Mistakes","","This document highlights five common mistakes people make when writing cover letters and provides alternative approaches to create more effective and compelling applications. The first mistake is repeating information already present on a resume, such as educational background. Instead, the advice is to get straight to the point about qualifications relevant to the specific job. The second common error is not tailoring the cover letter to the job posting, by discussing irrelevant skills and experiences. The recommended approach is to focus on 2-3 key items from the job description that align with the applicant's expertise. The third pitfall is an excessive focus on personal career benefits rather than how the applicant can contribute to the company. The corrected approach emphasizes transferable skills and quantifiable achievements that directly address the role's requirements. Fourthly, the document warns against including pointless or overly detailed anecdotes, such as the story about the lab mouse, suggesting instead that specific, results-oriented details be used to demonstrate capabilities. Finally, the document addresses the issue of using generative AI to write cover letters, cautioning that companies can often detect AI-generated content. The recommended alternative is to write in one's own voice, though AI can be used as a tool for refinement or inspiration.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/5-common-cover-letter-mistakes/256196/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/5-common-cover-letter-mistakes/256196.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Chloe Bennett","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":30},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the first common cover letter mistake highlighted in the document?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"The first mistake is repeating information already present on your resume, such as your degree. Instead, you should immediately focus on how your qualifications align with the specific job requirements.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How should a cover letter be tailored to a job posting?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Instead of discussing general skills, your cover letter should be based on 2-3 key items from the job description that you are most experienced with, demonstrating direct relevance and expertise.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Why is focusing on personal benefits a mistake in a cover letter?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Focusing too much on how the role will benefit your career path shifts the attention away from your potential contributions to the employer. The recommended approach is to clearly state how your specific experience will allow you to successfully perform the duties of the role.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},256196,1790132429,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":30,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":9,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":139,"read_time":4},962084925782,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","5 Common Cover Letter Mistakes  \nInstead of...  \nTry...  \n\n| Repeats\u003Cbr>Resume | “I recently graduated from BU with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.” | Get right to the point about how you’re qualified for this position. They already know these details from your resume. |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Doesn’t Respond to Job Posting | Talking about skills and experiences that aren’t listed on the job posting or relevant to the role. | Forming your thesis based on 2-3 key items from the job description that you are most experienced with. |\n| Too Focused on Personal Benefits | “This role is the perfect next step to build my skills for a successful manufacturing career.” | “My experience evaluating new biomaterial inks for 3 D printing will allow me to successfully and efficiently create and test new biomaterials in this role.” |\n| Pointless Details | “I became particularly close with one of the lab mice, who I named Pierre. Each day Pierre would meet me at the Northeast corner of his cage for his dose of 1.82 mg/kg of antibiotic delivered through Pierre’s favorite fruit.” | “After dosing the lab mice daily over the course of 3 months and collecting the trial data, we found that uptake of the antibiotic increased 10 fold when delivered orally.” |\n| Clearly Written by AI | Using generative AI to write your cover letter. | Writing the letter in your own voice. Companies can easily tell when AI writes cover letters, but AI could be used to refine your letter or provide some inspiration. |","cbCaiaHyUb422Uzc","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiaHyUb422Uzc","pdf",77940,"English","# 5 Common Cover Letter Mistakes\n## Repeats Resume\n## Doesn’t Respond to Job Posting\n## Too Focused on Personal Benefits\n## Pointless Details\n## Clearly Written by AI","[{\"question\":\"What is the first common cover letter mistake highlighted in the document?\",\"answer\":\"The first mistake is repeating information already present on your resume, such as your degree. Instead, you should immediately focus on how your qualifications align with the specific job requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a cover letter be tailored to a job posting?\",\"answer\":\"Instead of discussing general skills, your cover letter should be based on 2-3 key items from the job description that you are most experienced with, demonstrating direct relevance and expertise.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is focusing on personal benefits a mistake in a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"Focusing too much on how the role will benefit your career path shifts the attention away from your potential contributions to the employer. The recommended approach is to clearly state how your specific experience will allow you to successfully perform the duties of the role.\"}]","5-Common-Cover-Letter-Mistakes | PDF",1789299510]