Cover Letter Phrases You Must Avoid

The processes involved in a job application cannot be skipped and crafting your cover letter is one of them. The problem that most people face when writing one is the common mistakes with certain cover letter words and phrases. 

A cover letter goes beyond listing skills rather it’s a good point to sell yourself and wow your hiring manager. Why? Get this; there are so many job applicants for that same job. There’s no way an employer will accept every applicant. Instead, they will take one or a few persons out of the pool. So do you think your cover letter will make you part of the 1%? 

Well, whatever answer you gave to that question will be attended to in this article. You’ll find out what cover letter phrases to avoid and the ones to replace them with. 

A good cover letter sets the right tone for your job application.

What are the cover letter phrases to avoid and what are good words for a cover letter? 

Your cover letter words and phrases do matter. It could get you in the long run in the application process and later land the job. Or it could archive your application to the “Not interested” folder. Whatever the case might be, everyone will agree that they prefer the first option to land a job. 

With that being said, you must take note of cover letter phrases to avoid. These are the cover letter words and phrases that can immediately turn off your hiring manager’s zeal to reach out to you. Let’s look at a few: 

“Best”

As daunting as it sounds, the word “best” is one of the cover letter phrases to avoid at all costs. Why? Because every other applicant is an awesome candidate too. No one will say they are the worst fit for the job. You must avoid using this word in any part of your cover letter. Most employers are already used to seeing this mistake. Once they spot it in your cover letter, they won’t hesitate to archive your application. So what should you say instead of this? We’ve got you. 

You can say this in place of “Best”

• Great
• Excellent 
• Strong
• Outstanding
• Unique 

“I think I’d be a great fit”

When it comes to saying things like “I think”, “I feel” or “I believe”, there’s a not-so-confident thought that could stick to the mind of your hiring manager. It’s okay to feel like you are a great candidate for the job but there’s no need to say that in your cover letter. Saying this in your cover letter will only make your hiring manager see you as someone who isn’t sure if they can handle the task—and no employer wants that either. So what can you say instead?

You can say this in place of “I think I’d be a great fit” 

• My experience in customer service will make me an outstanding customer support manager. 
• My WordPress and problem-solving skills would make me a great web developer for your company.

“I’m a good…”

Just like “best”, the term “good” makes no difference in your cover letter. It just shows the employer that you are just like every other applicant. That’s why you need to add some spice to it. Avoiding this cover letter word and phrase will help you in the long run. 

What you can say in place of “I’m a good…”

• I’m an experienced manager. 
• I’m a talented social media creator. 
• I’m an expert in digital marketing. 
• I’m skilled in copywriting. 
• I’m a seasoned writer. 

“To whom it may concern”

Your cover letter is more of a personal letter and less of a letter written to a robot. That is why it should be as personalized as possible. One of the cover letter words and phrases to avoid is “To whom it may concern.” This phrase says a lot about you as a job applicant. It shows you did not bother to find the hiring manager‘s name or even do a bit of research. It’s worse when the hiring manager’s name was clearly stated in the job application. You’ll be noted as a candidate that does not pay attention to details and so much more. To avoid these assumptions, you should write a personalized cover letter. How?

What to write in place of “To whom it may concern”

• Dear/Hello [Name]
• Dear/Hello hiring manager X [company’s name]—this should be used when the hiring manager’s name can’t be found. 

Conclusion

Your cover letter words and phrases do matter. They are the foundation that can determine whether your application will be accepted or rejected. We advise that you use appropriate words and phrases when crafting one. 

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