20+ Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid Henceforth

You've done the hard part. You've graduated, served (NYSC), and polished your CV until it shines. You're scrolling through Jobberman, LinkedIn, or your WhatsApp groups, finding openings. You fire off another application, attaching your CV and a cover letter you quickly edited.

And then… silence.

You wait for the “Congratulations, you have been shortlisted…” email, but it never comes. You start to wonder, “Is it my CV? Is it my village people? What am I doing wrong?”

Let me tell you a professional secret: Your CV might be perfect, but your cover letter is letting you down.

In the hyper-competitive Nigerian job market, your cover letter is not a formality; it's your first test. A recruiter might spend only six seconds deciding your fate, and that decision is often based solely on your cover letter. A letter full of mistakes—even “small” ones—screams “careless,” “unprofessional,” or “not serious.”

This is the definitive, 4000+ word guide to every single cover letter mistake holding you back. We will cover the obvious typos, the “Naija-specific” cultural blunders, and the subtle errors in strategy that make a recruiter sigh and move on.

Let's break down the 20 most common cover letter mistakes to avoid in Nigeria and how to fix them, starting today.

The “Instant Delete” Mistakes (The Major Sins)

These are the most critical errors. If you make these, there's almost no chance a recruiter will even bother to open your CV.

Mistake #1: Not Sending a Cover Letter at All

This is the cardinal sin of job applications. You see a portal where the cover letter is “optional.” So you skip it to save time.

Why It's a Mistake: “Optional” is a trick question. It's the first and easiest test of your seriousness. By not submitting one, you are telling the recruiter:

• “I am lazy.”
• “I am not that interested in this specific role.”
• “I only do the bare minimum.”

The candidate who does submit a tailored, thoughtful letter instantly moves ahead of you.

The Fix: ALWAYS submit a cover letter unless the application explicitly forbids it. If there's no upload slot, use the body of the email as your cover letter.

Mistake #2: The Generic, “One-Size-Fits-All” Template

This is the “copy and paste” letter. It's the one that starts with “Dear Sir/Ma” and says something like, “I am writing to apply for the advertised role at your esteemed company…”

Why It's a Mistake: Recruiters are not fools. We can spot a generic template from a mile away. It shows:

• You are mass-applying to 100 jobs and don't care about this one.
• You have done zero research on the company.
• You are lazy (a running theme).

If your letter could be sent to GTBank, Shell, and a tech startup without changing a word (except the company name), it's a generic template.

The Fix: You must tailor every single letter. At a minimum, you must change:

1. The company name.
2. The specific role you're applying for.
3. One or two sentences in the body that connect your skills directly to the job description or the company's mission.

Mistake #3: Typos, Spelling, and “Gbagaun” (Grammatical Errors)

You've written a great letter, but you spelled “manager” as “manger” or used “their” instead of “there.”

Why It's a Mistake: This is the easiest way to get rejected. To a recruiter, a typo is not a small error. It is a giant, flashing red sign that says:

• “I have poor attention to detail.”
• “I am careless and don't check my work.”
• “I am not a good communicator.”

If you can't get a one-page document right, why would they trust you with a client's account, a company report, or a complex dataset?

The Fix:

1. Use a Tool: Install Grammarly (the free version is fine). It will catch 90% of your errors.
2. Read it Aloud: Read your letter slowly to yourself. You'll often hear a mistake that your eyes missed.
3. Get a Second Pair of Eyes: Ask a friend who is good with English to read it for you. “Abeg, help me check this thing” can save your career.

The “Naija-Specific” Cultural Mistakes

These are the errors I see constantly in the Nigerian and African context. They often come from a good place (wanting to show respect or humility) but backfire terribly in a professional setting.

Mistake #4: The “Begging” or “Desperate” Tone

This is the #1 most common cultural mistake. The letter is filled with language like:

• “I am humbly begging you to consider my application.”
• “Please, I am a poor graduate and I desperately need this job.”
• “I am pleading for a chance, please just help me.”
• “In the name of God, I hope you will call me.”

Why It's a Mistake: You think you are being humble. The recruiter sees you as unprofessional, desperate, and lacking confidence.

• It's Uncomfortable: It makes the recruiter feel awkward. They are not a charity or an uncle; they are a business professional looking for a colleague.
• It Screams “No Confidence”: It signals that you don't believe your own skills are good enough, so you've resorted to begging.
• It's Manipulative: Using emotional or religious pleas is a major professional red flag.

The Fix: Be confident, not desperate. Your tone should be professional, respectful, and assertive. You are a professional offering your skills in exchange for a salary. This is a business transaction.

• INSTEAD OF: “I am begging you to call me for an interview.”
• USE: “I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and look forward to discussing my qualifications further.”

Mistake #5: The “Dear Sir/Ma” Over-Reliance

Ah, the classic. This is what we were all taught in secondary school. It feels safe and respectful.

Why It's a Mistake: In 2025, “Dear Sir/Ma” is the laziest, most impersonal salutation you can use. It's not fatal (especially in government or very old-school firms), but it is a massive missed opportunity. It signals:

• You are old-fashioned.
• You are lazy (you didn't spend 10 minutes on LinkedIn to find a name).
• Your letter is a generic blast (see Mistake #2).

The Fix: Finding a name is your new superpower.

1. LinkedIn is your friend: Search for “Hiring Manager at [Company Name]” or “Head of [Department] at [Company Name].”
2. The New Default: If you cannot find a name after 10 minutes of searching, DO NOT use “Dear Sir/Ma.” The modern, professional, and safe alternative is:
   • “Dear Hiring Manager,”
   • “Dear [Department] Hiring Team,” (e.g., “Dear Engineering Hiring Team,”)

Mistake #6: Over-Familiarity or Unprofessional Slang

This is the opposite of the “begging” tone, but just as bad.

• “Hi guys,”
• “Dear Oga,”
• “What's up, [Company Name] team,”
• “I'm writing this letter to ‘shoot my shot'…”

Why It's a Mistake: This is a formal business letter, not a WhatsApp chat. It shows a complete lack of professional boundaries and understanding of corporate culture. It's an instant “No.”

The Fix: Keep your language 100% professional.

• Use: “Dear Mr. Adebayo,” or “Dear Hiring Manager,”
• Avoid: All slang, abbreviations (like ‘u' instead of ‘you'), and overly familiar greetings.

Mistake #7: Misusing (or Not Using) Professional Titles

In Nigeria, respect is a big deal. Titles are earned.

• The Mistake (Part A): You find the Head of Engineering's name is “Engr. Mustapha Bello,” but you address your letter “Dear Mr. Bello.”
• The Mistake (Part B): You address a letter to a law firm as “Dear Mr. Falana” when he is “Barr. (or Chief) Femi Falana.”

Why It's a Mistake: This shows a lack of research and cultural awareness. In a culture that values titles, not using the correct one can be seen as a slight.

The Fix: Do your research. If you find their name on LinkedIn or the company website, look for a prefix.

• Engr. (for Engineers)
• Dr. (for PhDs or Medical Doctors)
• Prof. (for Professors)
• Barr. (for Barristers)
• Arc. (for Architects)
• When in doubt, “Mr. [Last Name]” or “Ms. [Last Name]” is safe, but “Dear Engr. Bello” is always better than “Dear Mr. Bello” if he is an engineer.

The “Content & Substance” Mistakes (The “Empty Suit”)

Your formatting is good, your tone is professional, but the body of your letter is weak. This is the “empty suit” – looks good on the outside, but there's nothing inside.

Mistake #8: Rehashing Your CV

This is the most common content mistake. Your cover letter just repeats your CV in paragraph form.

• Example: “My name is Tunde. I am writing to apply for the job. As you can see from my CV, I attended the University of Lagos from 2016-2020. I then did my NYSC at [Company]. My skills include Microsoft Word and Excel…”

Why It's a Mistake: The recruiter has your CV. They don't need you to read it to them. This is a colossal waste of their time and a missed opportunity.

• Your CV is the “What” (What you did).
• Your Cover Letter is the “So What?” (WHY what you did matters for this job).

The Fix: Use your cover letter to tell a story and connect the dots.

• INSTEAD OF: “My CV shows I worked at Company X.”
• USE: “In my role at Company X, I was tasked with handling customer complaints. This taught me real-world crisis management and how to de-escalate a conflict—skills that are perfect for your ‘Customer Success' role.”

Mistake #9: Making It All About “Me, Me, Me” (The “Leech” Letter)

Your letter is full of what you want.

• “I am looking for a company where I can learn and grow.”
• “Your company will give me the experience I need.”
• “I want to join your team to improve my skills.”

Why It's a Mistake: The company is not a school or a charity. They are not hiring you to give you things. They are hiring you to solve their problems and add value. Your letter reads like you just want to take, not give.

The Fix: Flip the script. Make it about their needs and how you can meet them.

• BEFORE (Me-focused): “I am excited to join your team to learn from the best and develop my marketing skills.”
• AFTER (Them-focused): “I am excited to bring my proven skills in social media engagement (which grew my last company's IG followers by 40%) to your team and help you achieve your goal of reaching a younger demographic.”

Mistake #10: Lying or Grossly Exaggerating (The “Oversabi” Mistake)

You claim you are “a world-class expert” in a skill you just learned. You say you “led a team of 10” when you were just a member of the group. You claim to be “proficient” in a software you've only opened twice.

Why It's a Mistake: You will be caught. Either in the interview or on the job. The Nigerian professional world is smaller than you think. A lie can get you blacklisted. It shows a lack of integrity.

The Fix: Be honest, but strategic. You don't have to be a “world-class expert.”

• INSTEAD OF: “I am a proficient expert in Python.”
• USE: “I have a strong foundational knowledge of Python and have used it to build several personal projects, including [Project Name].”

Mistake #11: Focusing on “Duties,” Not “Achievements”

Your letter is a list of your job duties.

• “I was responsible for making sales calls.”
• “My job was to manage the social media accounts.”
• “I was in charge of filing reports.”

Why It's a Mistake: This is boring and tells the recruiter nothing. Anyone can “be responsible for” something. A top candidate gets results.

The Fix: Quantify! Use numbers. Show your impact.

• INSTEAD OF: “I was responsible for making sales calls.”
• USE: “I made 50+ sales calls daily, which resulted in a 15% increase in qualified leads for my team.”
• INSTEAD OF: “My job was to manage the social media accounts.”
• USE: “I managed the company's social media accounts, growing our engagement by 25% and generating over 200 new leads in one quarter.”

Mistake #12: No Research (The “Esteemed Company” Syndrome)

Your letter is full of generic compliments like “your esteemed company” or “your prestigious organization” but has zero specific details.

Why It's a Mistake: It proves you are using a generic template (Mistake #2). It shows you don't care enough to even do a 5-minute Google search.

The Fix: Spend 5 minutes. Find one specific, positive thing.

• “I was impressed by your recent launch of the [Product Name]…”
• “I have been following [Company Name]'s commitment to sustainability in the Niger Delta…”
• “Your recent award for ‘Best FinTech Employer' is what motivated me to apply…”

The “Formatting & Technical” Mistakes (The “Bad Packaging”)

These are the “unforced errors.” Your content might be great, but it's packaged so poorly that no one will read it.

Mistake #13: Unprofessional File Naming

You upload your letter with the file name: doc1.pdf, cover_letter_new_final.pdf, or my_cv_edit.docx.

Why It's a Mistake: The recruiter is downloading 100+ attachments. Your file name becomes a mess on their desktop. It's disorganized and unprofessional.

The Fix: Use a clean, simple, and professional file name.

• The Formula: [YourFullName]_CoverLetter_[CompanyName].pdf
• Example: Tunde_Adebayo_CoverLetter_Paystack.pdf

Mistake #14: Using a “Bad” Email Address

You are applying for a job at KPMG, and your email address is hotboy_segun@yahoo.com or princess_tola@gmail.com.

Why It's a Mistake: This is an instant rejection. It's the #1 sign of an unprofessional, unserious candidate.

The Fix: This is non-negotiable. Create a new, free, professional email address today.

• The Formula: [FirstName].[LastName]@gmail.com
• Example: Tunde.Adebayo@gmail.com or T.Adebayo@gmail.com

Mistake #15: Writing a 3-Page “Epistle” (The “Life Story” Mistake)

Your cover letter is two or three pages long. You've included your primary school, your life philosophy, and your struggles.

Why It's a Mistake: No one will read it. A recruiter has 6 seconds, not 6 minutes. A long letter is a huge burden.

The Fix: ONE. PAGE. ONLY. That's the rule. No exceptions.

• 3-4 paragraphs.
• Clear, concise, and to the point.
• Respect the recruiter's time.

Mistake #16: Terrible Formatting (The “Wall of Text”)

You send your letter as one giant block of text. No paragraphs, no margins, tiny font.

Why It's a Mistake: It's unreadable. The human eye hates large walls of text. The recruiter will just close it.

The Fix: Use white space as a weapon.

• Font: Use a professional font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Inter).
• Size: 10-12 points.
• Paragraphs: Keep them short (3-4 sentences).
• Spacing: Leave a blank line between each paragraph.
• Margins: Standard 1-inch margins.

Mistake #17: The Wrong File Format

You send your letter as a .pages file (from an Apple Mac), an editable .docx (Word) file, or a .txt file.

Why It's a Mistake:

• .pages won't open on 99% of recruiters' Windows computers.
• .docx can look messy. The formatting can break when they open it on their computer, making your “one-page” letter spill onto two.
• It looks lazy.

The Fix: ALWAYS send a PDF. A PDF is the universal professional standard. It locks in your formatting, looks clean, and opens on any device. “Save as PDF” is your best friend.

The “Opening & Closing” Mistakes

You've made it this far, but you fumble at the beginning and the end.

Mistake #18: The Weak, Generic Opening

Your letter starts with:

• “My name is Tunde…”
• “I am writing to apply for the advertised role…”
• “In response to your job post…”

Why It's a Mistake: You've wasted your most important sentence. This is the 6-second hook! You've used it to state the obvious.

The Fix: Start with a compelling hook.

• Achievement-First: “In my previous role, I grew my sales territory by 40% in one year…”
• Passion-First: “My passion for fintech is not just a hobby; I have built three personal projects on the Flutterwave API…”
• Research-First: “I've been following [Company Name]'s recent expansion into Ghana and I was impressed by…”

Mistake #19: The Wrong Sign-Off (Sincerely vs. Faithfully)

You use “Yours sincerely,” with “Dear Sir/Ma.” Or you use “Best regards,” and it feels too informal.

Why It's a Mistake: This is a “secret handshake” of business etiquette. Getting it wrong shows a lack of polish.

The Fix: The Golden Rule of Sign-Offs:

1. If you KNOW their name (e.g., “Dear Mr. Adebayo,”): You end with “Yours sincerely,”
2. If you DON'T know their name (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “Dear Sir/Ma,”): You end with “Yours faithfully,”

While “Best regards,” is common and acceptable in email, “Yours sincerely/faithfully” is the classic, correct, and safest choice for a formal letter.

Mistake #20: A Weak or Non-Existent Call to Action (CTA)

Your letter just… stops. Or it ends passively.

• “I hope to hear from you.”
• “Thank you for your time.”

Why It's a Mistake: This is your final chance to be assertive and professional. You're not “hoping”; you're a serious candidate.

The Fix: End with a clear, confident, and professional CTA.

• “Thank you for your time and consideration. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and look forward to discussing how my skills in logistics can be an asset to your team.”
• “I have attached my CV for your review and welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about this role.”

Your “Mistake-Proof” Checklist

Before you hit “send” on your next application, run it through this final 1-minute checklist.

Technical & Formatting:

• [ ] Is it one page only?
• [ ] Is it saved as a PDF?
• [ ] Is the file name professional (FullName_CoverLetter_Company.pdf)?
• [ ] Is my email address professional (firstname.lastname@gmail.com)?
• [ ] Is the formatting clean (good font, short paragraphs, white space)?

Content & Tone:

• [ ] Did I avoid all typos and check my grammar?
• [ ] Is my tone confident, not “begging” or “arrogant”?
• [ ] Did I avoid “Dear Sir/Ma” and use a name or “Dear Hiring Manager”?
• [S ] Is my opening paragraph a strong hook, not a boring “I am writing…”?
• [ ] Is the letter tailored with the correct company name and role?
• [ ] Did I show research (mention one specific thing about the company)?
• [ ] Did I focus on achievements (with numbers), not just “duties”?
• [ ] Is it about what I can do for them,” not what they can do for me?
• [ ] Is my sign-off correct (Sincerely/Faithfully)?
• [ ] Do I have a strong Call to Action at the end?

Conclusion

Your cover letter is your ambassador. It speaks for you before you get a chance to. In the Nigerian job market, you cannot afford for your ambassador to be dressed badly, to speak poorly, or to be lazy.

The difference between “No reply” and “You're shortlisted” is often just a 15-minute review to fix these common, avoidable mistakes. You are a qualified, valuable professional. Stop letting these errors hide your talent.

Now, go and fix that letter.