Applying for a job for the first time? Landing a dream job as a recent graduate isn’t easy, and no matter how impressive a CV may be, a single mistake in the cover letter could send the application straight to the rejection pile. From generic greetings to spelling slip-ups, even the brightest candidates fall into avoidable traps. This blog reveals the 15 most common graduate cover letter mistakes and, more importantly, exactly how to steer clear of them for a higher chance at success.
Furthermore, we have added expert tips to help you write the perfect graduate cover letter for every job!
What Is a Graduate Cover Letter?
A graduate cover letter is a one-page document submitted with a CV in the UK during job hunting for entry-level roles, internships, or graduate programs, specifically designed to showcase your skills, qualifications, and personality in relation to the position or company in question.
Why Is Writing a Cover Letter Important for Graduates?
Tells a Unique Story:
The recruiter of the job you’re applying for does not know you personally. So, evidently, you need to show them the real you. To set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants, you must utilise your cover letter to explain your motivations and control how your educational history and skills are presented. To sum up, it allows you to highlight your strengths that may not be apparent from your CV alone.
Makes a Compelling Case:
As a fresher, you may not have extensive relevant experience to showcase; however, you can present your uniqueness, knowledge, and fresh ideas to recruiters, allowing you to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression.
Showcases Enthusiasm and Fit:
This is your best opportunity to show your genuine enthusiasm for the position and highlight relevant coursework or achievements in extracurricular activities. In short, you can smooth your application process just by presenting yourself as the right fit for the company.
Shows Professional Writing Skills:
A well-crafted and easy to read graduate cover letter shows an employer that you can communicate effectively, a skill vital in almost any graduate job vs apprenticeship.
Do Graduates Often Make Cover Letter Mistakes?
Yes! In the UK, graduates often make mistakes in cover letters. Statistics show 81% of recruiters have rejected applicants solely based on their cover letters, and 51% of hiring managers reject otherwise strong candidates due to weak cover letters alone. Therefore, let’s discuss the mistakes to avoid when writing a Graduate cover letter.
Weak Opening: First Impression Matters!
When a recruiter is reading your cover letter, they must feel your emotions. Therefore, start strong with a concise, compelling sentence that highlights your key strength or enthusiasm relevant to the job.
How to avoid/fix this
“Having completed a challenging internship in digital marketing where I increased engagement by 30%, I am excited to bring my skills to your innovative team.”
Wrong Company Name: This Will Break Your Career!
One of the most common graduate cover letter mistakes is including the incorrect company or hiring manager’s name. Always double-check the company name and personalise the letter for every application.
How to avoid/fix this
Instead of “Dear Hiring Manager at ABC Corp,” use “Dear Hiring Manager at XYZ Innovations,” after confirming the exact company name.
Making It All about You: Highlight Skills, Not Yourself!
Focus on how your skills benefit the specific company rather than what you want. The prospective employer is looking for someone who is passionate about the work and possesses the right skills to utilise and enhance the company.
How to avoid/fix this
“I am eager to apply my data analysis experience to help drive insightful business decisions in your growing finance team.”
Being Too Formal: Don't Be Overly Formal or Informal!
Use professional yet approachable language that aligns with the company’s culture in all application documents. Formality will get you the job, but being overly formal or informal in your graduate cover letters or CVs will signal disrespect.
How to avoid/fix this
Instead of “I hereby submit my application,” say “I am excited to apply for this role and contribute to your team.”
Not Following Instructions: Read and Optimise As per JD!
Carefully read the job description and tailor your cover letter to address the requirements listed. The right person reading your cover letter will not only be impressed but also appreciate you taking the time to learn about the company.
How to avoid/fix this
If the JD asks for leadership experience, include: “During my university project, I led a team of five to deliver results two weeks ahead of deadline.”
Repeating Your CV: Your Cover Letter Is Not Your Long CV!
Whether you are writing a high level cover letter or an entry-level one, your cover letter must not be the longer version of your Graduate CV. Therefore, use the cover letter to explain the “why” behind key achievements, not list them.
How to avoid/fix this
“While my resume shows my internship experience, what it doesn’t fully convey is how I developed problem-solving skills by managing real client projects.”
Grammatical and Spelling Errors: Proofread Before You Submit!
One of the best career advice any expert will give you is proofreading your cover letter and CV multiple times before final submission. Use grammar tools, check punctuation, and ask a friend to skim through your letter.
How to avoid/fix this
Change “I beleive my skills fits” to “I believe my skills fit perfectly the role requirements.”
Not Addressing the Hiring Manager: "Dear -" is a Thing of the Past!
Starting the letter with ‘dear sir’ shows your laziness. Therefore, find the name of the hiring manager or use a specific title.
How to avoid/fix this
“Dear Ms. Johnson,” instead of “Dear Hiring Manager.”
Poor Layout and Formatting: Looks Messy and Bores Readers!
Use clean fonts, consistent spacing, and bullet points for readability. Check various cover letters or CV Examples for Graduates to gain insights.
How to avoid/fix this
Use a standard font, such as Arial, in 11-point size, and align paragraphs to the left. Avoid using large blocks of text.
Underselling Yourself: Be Bold; Don't Shy Away from Yourself!
Confidently highlight your achievements with specific examples. Your application stands as a stage to help you shine, but if you become too humble, that might cause you to miss a good opportunity.
How to avoid/fix this
“I successfully increased my blog’s readership by 50% through targeted content strategies.”
Waffling: Your Mind Palace Is Yours to See, Not Everyone's!
Keep sentences concise and focused on relevant information. Using unnecessary fillers and discussing skills and qualifications unrelated to the job will not help you get hired.
How to avoid/fix this
Instead of a long explanation, say “I organised charity events that raised $5,000, demonstrating my project management skills.”
Focusing on Grades: You Are Much More than Your Gradebook!
Emphasise your skills, experience, and qualities over grades unless explicitly asked.
How to avoid/fix this
“Through my internship, I gained hands-on experience that equipped me with practical skills in customer relations.”
Going on for Too Long: Recruiters Have Other Things to Take Care of!
Keep the cover letter to about 3/4 of a page, highlighting key points only.
How to avoid/fix this
Limit to three paragraphs: intro, skills/experience, and a closing statement.
Talking About Salary Expectations: Look for Opportunity, Not Company!
Your cover letter isn’t the right document to discuss your salary expectations. Rather, you must explain what you bring to the role and the company, not just why you like the company.
How to avoid/fix this
“Your company’s commitment to sustainability aligns with my passion for environmental projects, where I led campus initiatives. Therefore, I believe my skills and perspective will help your company grow.”
Using Stock Cover Letters Only: Might Seem Easy, But Often Fails to Impress!
Customise each cover letter with specific examples and references to the job posting.
How to avoid/fix this
Refer to a recent company project: “I admire your recent launch of the X app, and my software development experience can contribute to future updates.”
Tips to Write the Perfect Cover Letter for Every Job
A graduate job application is one of the most precious moments in life. The thrill of stepping into a world where you earn and get your independence awaits you. Thus, our cover letter writers have provided a few tips for writing the cover letter for a graduate intake.
Research the Company and the Vacancy
One of the most essential steps is to research the company so you can understand its values, mission, and recent projects. UK graduate jobs significantly depend on how much effort you have put in. Additionally, it will help you write a well-crafted cover letter and convey what you can bring to the company.
Start with an Impactful Introduction
You can search for templates for cover letter recent graduate no experience, however, you must start with an impactful introduction which will hook the recruiters. Hooking your recruiter with your cover letter is a crucial part of the job-hunting process.
Show Enthusiasm and Motivation
When writing a cover letter for graduate with no experience, you must focus on showing your enthusiasm for the work and the company. Furthermore, you must also demonstrate what motivates you to be in the field and how the company can utilise your skillset for the betterment.
Be Specific and Relevant
If you check an example of graduate cover letter, you will find that professionals do not use fillers. They are very specific and include skills, qualifications, and information relevant to the position for which they are applying.
Hire Cover Letter Writer
If you’re applying to a job for the first time and are unsure how to structure your cover letter, then you can avail cover letter writing services. Experts are familiar with the graduate cover letter format UK and can help you showcase your interest, skills, and qualifications in the best light.
In Summary,
As a graduate, making mistakes in your CV and cover letter is common. However, when you pay attention to detail, research the company well, read the instructions properly in the JD, and proofread the letter before submission, you can avoid the common mistakes and land an interview to impress the employer. Therefore, be careful with your career and seek help if necessary.
Best of Luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Stock Cover Letters?
Yes! While it is relatively common practice to use stock graduate cover letters to maintain formatting and layout, please remember that you must optimise them as per the JD and add your personal touch. Using generic cover letters often falls short.
How Long Should a Graduate Cover Letter Be?
A graduate cover letter should be no more than one page long. Since recent graduates are typically freshers and do not have extensive experience to highlight, their cover letters are generally three to five paragraphs in length, ranging from 250 to 400 words.
Could You Pleases Correct Mistakes in My Cover Letter?
Of course, we can! At iCover, we have professional cover letter writing experts with extensive experience in crafting cover letters for a diverse range of industries. They not only tailor your entry-level cover letter to match the job description but also ensure that you are showcased as a valuable asset to the company.
What Is the Difference Between a Cover Letter and a CV?
The difference between a Graduate CV and cover letter is that a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a detailed, comprehensive document outlining your full academic and professional history, including education, work experience, publications, and awards. A cover letter is a shorter, personalised letter that accompanies your CV to introduce yourself, express your interest in a specific role and company, and highlight why your qualifications make you a great fit.
Can Graduates Submit the Same Cover Letter for Every Job Role?
Absolutely not! One of the most essential job application advice for graduates is that you must tailor your cover letter for every job role. This is for your own good, as it allows you to demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and how a particular skill or qualification of yours aligns with the company’s unique needs. Furthermore, you can utilise the keywords from the job description, elevating your cover letter to a professional level, helping you get noticed by hiring managers quickly.
Is It Really a Big Mistake to Send the Same Cover Letter to Different Companies?
Yes! One of the very common cover letter mistakes graduates make is sending the same cover letter to different companies. This is so because it signals a lack of interest and effort. This will signal to recruiters that you are using generic cover letters, and you will lose opportunities or interviews.
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