What are the biggest turn-offs for recruiters in cover letters?

ChatGPT is a no-no-no go! Today, everyone thinks that if they start using chatGPT here and there, their writings will look smarter or more professional. Forget about it! A smart person will see the difference between your genuine answer and polished chatGPT texts in a second. So if you want to have a good, mistakes-free text, it is better to write it on your own and then check it with a special service than ask chatGPT to write something artificial!

In much my view, mention what you are based on your communication skills. No one is perfect in languages but what you mention honestly and that fits the bill, that’s sufficient. One shouldn’t use words which are thought as ones which can make the interviewer get interested in the profile, that’s not the fact. Be what you are and express what you are

I always advise people to write a cover letter that explains what emotional connection the person has to the companies products, services, mission, etc. Show the company what will make you get out of bed and excited to work here.

It has to make sense to the reader WHY you are applying for a role. If I open a cover letter and it says, "I'm looking for a full time role..." when it is a part time or casual role, then straight away I know this is an application that was NOT considered by the candidate. Another point to make - Take the time to connect the dots for the reader. If you are stepping away from traditional 'progression' (eg, less pay, less responsibility) then make it clear that this is your intention. Otherwise, it can raise more questions than answers for the person on the other side!

You have to assume you're competing against hundreds, if not thousands, of people. If you're not customizing then you can't possibly expect to stand out in pools that large.

Too long. A cover letter which takes you from today forward and written in the personal pronoun should be a maximum of 1 page. Be bold, get top the point and in closing ask when the career decision makers intends an interview date. Yes, be bold!!!

While this has always been a bit of an issue - the rise of ChatGPT is largely to blame (see my article on "Purple Prose" under my profile). The issue is that job seekers do not EDIT THE RESPONSE ChatGPT provides them.

An applicant with so many years of experience could make the cover letter short and concise by including only the relevant work experiences to the job requirements, while other non-related work experiences are left out.

ChatGPT specializes in "purple prose", and the overuse of qualifiers (adverbs/adjectives) in EVERY sentence comes across as arrogant.

I don't like cover letters in general because most are very poorly done. In this day and age, it is more important to have a clear resume so there is understanding of what you have done that fits with a role. However, for times where your career trajectory does not align exactly with the role, a short note with a positive tone explaining why you are a strong fit because of your transferrable skills can be a huge help to those that may otherwise not consider you. Stay away from language that conveys negativity or gives a sense that a role is "beneath you". I never look poorly on resumes without cover letters, but if you include one and it is negative/conceited, that can be a red flag.

'Cover Letter' is a misnomer: a cover letter, an addendum to a resume, is anything but a 'letter'. A cover letter is a series of short paragraphs that presents how the applicant is a good cultural fit for the company, and presents a short analysis between accomplishments against select job requirements. Cultural Fit EX: Why I Want to Work with Google I share Google’s commitment to significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible. My personal values drive my behavior, influence the decisions I make, and define how I live and work. I share Google’s core values to respect the user, respect the opportunity, and respect each other. These values govern how I will conduct myself in pursuit of Google’s mission.

Poorly written cover letters that just mimic the job posting don’t get read. A very engaging first line, sparse pronouns, and engaging content are all a must. Make them want to read your resume!

A cover letter (if asked for in the advertisement) is a great way to give the hiring manager some more info about yourself, your motivation for the role and why you'd like to do it. Don't just replicate your Resume/CV. Make sure you customise it for each new job advert so that I can see you've made an effort for this job, and are not just sending out the same letter to everyone.

Requesting for a cover letter seems like an outdated practice (just my opinion/thought). ***********************************

Resumes and cover letters are useless because they perpetuate hiring discrimination and offer little to no value when it comes to assessing candidate fit for a position. Yet, employers continue to allow these documents to lead their recruitment processes based on tradition. If employers want to be successful in the attraction and retention of star candidates, it's time to rethink the recruitment process altogether. The recruitment process is riddled with problems that are obvious to employers and job seekers alike. Things like flawed Applicant Tracking Systems, requiring candidates to spend hours completing an online application and employers (and candidates) who ghost, all signal that there is room for significant improvement.

Avoid "Super-adjectives" to describe your skills while writing your cover letter will be my advice. Because the recruiter needs to make a practical sense of your intent and abilities, superlative degree used in the write-up potentially blocks the effectiveness apart from making a wrong impression about you. In case you make it to the interview, the recruiter or hiring manager is harder to impress as your cover letter has already set a bar too high for you to surpass!

Cover letter should be the prequel to the resume, it should make the reader want to look at your resume. A brief introduction about who you are - two sentences should suffice Then a short summary of what you've done and measurable results Close with how your services align with the opportunity. Keeping it general to the industry prevents from having to constantly tailor it and keeps it relevant to the role.

Even if a cover letter is not asked for, I insist that a person write a cover letter that states at least specifically why that company and what skills and experience you bring to the position/company. If you can’t write this kind of cover letter, then either this isn’t the right company/role or you’re not ready. And it’s good prep for an interview.

Write your professional story in two paragraphs, and you will impress a recruiter. Today not many people can be short and clear in their texts, and if you make an attempt, you will stand out. A good motivational letter will help as well - if you like the product, again try to use a personal story to explain why. Have a kid? Use their experience especially if you apply for a role in a toy/gaming industry!