The Quiet Reason Many Job Seekers Still Get Rejected: Bad Cover Letters
Every year, millions of people apply for new jobs. They spend hours fine-tuning their resumes, cover letters, adjusting bullet points, and updating LinkedIn profiles. Yet even with all that effort, many never hear back. Often, the real reason is not the resume at all – it is the cover letter.
For all the talk about how cover letters are outdated, hiring managers quietly disagree. A strong cover letter can set a candidate apart, especially when qualifications are similar. But a bad one? It can sink an application before the resume even gets read.
The Real Role of a Cover Letter Today
In 2025, most recruiters will tell you the same thing: they want to hire people who actually want the job. Resumes show what you have done. Cover letters show why you care.
A good cover letter answers a few key questions:
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- Why do you want this role?
- How do your skills directly match what the company needs?
- What makes you different from the next equally qualified candidate?
Without a clear, tailored message, hiring teams are often left guessing. And when they have hundreds of applications, they will not guess for long.
The Most Common Cover Letter Mistakes
Several mistakes of cover letter mistakes show up again and again:
A. Generic Openings
- “I am writing to apply for the position of…”
- “I believe I would be a great fit for your company.”
These lines are so common that recruiters barely register them anymore.
B. Repeating the Resume
Cover letters that simply restate job titles and skills offer nothing new.
- No Personalization
Mass-produced letters that could be sent to any company get ignored. - Overly Formal or Robotic Tone
Some candidates, trying to sound professional, end up sounding stiff or worse, like they used a template without editing it. - Missing the ‘Why You’ Connection
Candidates often describe what they want out of the job but forget to explain what value they will bring to the company.
Why It Still Matters More Than Ever
Paradoxically, in an era when applications are easier to send, cover letters matter more. Companies get flooded with resumes through platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. A thoughtful cover letter is a quick filter to separate serious candidates from those just firing off applications.
It is also a test. If you cannot take the time to craft a letter for this role, what does that say about how you will approach the work?
How AI Is Helping and Hurting
AI tools have made it easier than ever to draft cover letters. Some candidates use ChatGPT or similar models to crank out quick letters. But these often fall into the same traps: too generic, too wordy, or too impersonal.
However, more specialized AI tools are emerging that address these issues. InterviewPal’s Cover Letter Generator, for example, is built specifically to help users create personalized, role-specific letters that sound natural based on Harvard’s Resume and Cover Letter Resouce. Instead of reusing tired phrases, it helps applicants craft a message that feels like it could only have come from them.
The key is using AI as a starting point, not an end point. A generated draft still needs your input: your experiences, your reasons, your personality.
What a Good Cover Letter Actually Looks Like
- Starts with a Strong Hook
- A short, specific opening that shows you know the company and the role.
- Connects Your Skills to Their Needs
- Rather than listing your entire background, pick 2-3 skills or experiences that directly match what they asked for.
- Shows Genuine Interest
- Mention something real about the company: a product, a mission, a recent achievement.
- Sounds Like a Human Wrote It
- Warm, confident, but still professional.
A Simple Plan to Fix Your Cover Letter Today
If you have been sending out applications without much success, try this:
- Find a Good Model
Use a specialized generator like InterviewPal to get a solid first draft.
- Customize the Draft
Add details about the company or job that only a real person would know.
- Cut the Fluff
Remove anything that sounds generic or could apply to any job.
- Keep It Short
Aim for 3–4 paragraphs, under one page.
- Proofread Out Loud
Hearing it can catch awkward phrasing or robotic sentences.
Bad cover letters are a silent dealbreaker for too many job seekers. The good news is they are also one of the easiest things to fix. With a little extra care, and the right tools to get you started – you can turn a weak link into a real advantage.
A few minutes of thoughtful work can mean the difference between another “no response” and a real interview. In a tight market, that makes all the difference.
