{"id":34269,"date":"2025-11-13T18:23:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T23:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/?p=34269"},"modified":"2026-03-24T21:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T01:34:24","slug":"phrases-to-avoid-using-in-your-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/phrases-to-avoid-using-in-your-cover-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Phrases to Avoid Using in Your Cover Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module preset--module--divi-text--default\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stand Out With Straightforward Language and Proof of Your Skills<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">When crafting a cover letter, many job seekers fall into the trap of relying on tired clich\u00e9s and vague statements. While these might seem like safe bets, they can actually diminish your chances of standing out in a crowded applicant pool. Below, we\u2019ll explore common phrases to avoid and suggest more impactful approaches, drawing on practical advice and examples.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong><br \/>Why Avoid Common Cover Letter Clich\u00e9s?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #666666; font-weight: 500;\">Employers sift through countless cover letters, many of which sound nearly identical. Phrases like \"I think outside the box,\" \"I go the extra mile,\" or \"I\u2019m an independent self-starter\" are so overused that they risk wasting precious space and making you blend in with all the other candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">It astounds me how many job seekers begin their Professional Summary by stating something like \u201cHighly skilled and motivated self-starter with a demonstrated history of working in [x field.\" In addition to sounding incredibly generic, it makes three unverified claims: the person is \u201chighly skilled,\u201d \u201cmotivated,\u201d and \u201ca self-starter.\u201d As the reader, I don\u2019t want <strong>claims;<\/strong> I want <strong>proof.<\/strong> \"Any of these cover letter clich\u00e9s, and others like them, risk wasting space and making you sound like all the other candidates out there,\u201d notes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idealist.org\/en\/careers\/cover-letter-cliches\">Amy Bergen, a career columnist at Idealist<\/a>. Instead of making claims, lean on statements that stand on their own, that you can back up repeatedly with relevant evidence throughout your resume.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><br \/>Present Your Evidence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Back up your arguments with hard data. Some examples of evidence that stand on their own include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Years of experience<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Industries you\u2019ve worked in<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Companies you've worked for<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Types of projects you've worked on<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Measurable impact you've had on things like:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Revenue and sales<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Process Impro<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Manual work reduction<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Company growth<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Customer satisfaction<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Uptime\/downtime<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Employee satisfaction<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Conversion rate<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Cost reduction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phrases to Skip\u2014and What to Write Instead<\/strong><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color: #ff8a0f;\"><strong><em>\u201cI\u2019m highly organized.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\">Don\u2019t just tell employers you\u2019re organized\u2014show them. Instead of using this phrase, briefly describe a system you implemented or a process you streamlined, quantifying your impact when possible. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/novoresume.com\/career-blog\/resume-buzzwords-to-avoid\">Andrei Kurtuy, Co-Founder and Career Expert at Novo Resume<\/a>, \u201cStrong, case-specific language will make your resume stand out and clearly communicate your value to potential employers.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color: #ff8a0f;\"><strong><em>\u201cI have excellent communication skills.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\">This phrase is so general that it doesn\u2019t tell the reader anything memorable. Rather than stating this, provide a concrete example: did you lead team meetings, deliver presentations, or launch a new product? Share those details. Additionally, use the Editor in Microsoft Word or a tool like Grammarly to identify misspelled words and grammatical errors. It\u2019s no use claiming you have \u201cexcellent communication skills\u201d if your copy says otherwise. After correcting any errors, read through the document and consider asking a friend to read through it. Sometimes you may spell a word correctly but realize you used a similar but altogether wrong word that the checker missed because it was a correctly spelled word, just the wrong one. Reading through the document a few times or getting a second set of eyes on it reduces the possibility that errors create confusion for the reader or create an impression that your communication skills need improvement.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color: #ff8a0f;\"><strong><em>\u201cI thrive in a fast-paced environment.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\">While adaptability is essential, this phrase is generic. Instead, cite a specific project or achievement that required you to adapt quickly, emphasizing measurable outcomes.<\/p>\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>For example:<\/em><\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">\u201cStreamlined project workflows by prioritizing deliverables based on urgency and business impact, reducing project completion times by 20%.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color: #ff8a0f;\"><strong><em>\u201cI\u2019m a quick learner.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\">Employers want evidence, not empty claims. Illustrate your ability to learn fast by mentioning how you mastered a new software or process in record time and the results it produced.<\/p>\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>For example:<\/em><\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">\u201cMastered the company's proprietary data tracking system within one week, leading to department-wide adoption of a new training method, leading to a 20% increase in team productivity.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-white-background-color has-background\" style=\"grid-template-columns: 42% auto;\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?fit=500%2C203&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34272 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=300%2C122&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=500%2C203&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=768%2C311&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=640%2C260&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=480%2C195&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.seancook.net\/staging\/6029\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bigstock-187399462.jpg?resize=600%2C243&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use Numbers and Metrics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\">Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Saying \u201cSupervised the marketing team\u201d describes a job duty. \u201cSupervised a four-person marketing team, comprised of a copywriter, editor, photographer, and designer,\u201d illustrates the scope of your supervisory responsibilities. With a few extra details, you\u2019ve provided a more concrete example of your leadership acumen. Those extra details may help you stand out from your competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make Yourself Memorable<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color\">The ultimate goal is to ensure the reader remembers you. When a hiring manager has hundreds of resumes to review, things start to blend together. Tell your story by including examples of your unique achievements. When you say something different, your materials stand out.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color: #4a80a0;\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">While it may be tempting to fall back on familiar phrases, doing so can hurt your chances of making a lasting impression. Replace clich\u00e9s with specific examples and quantifiable results. By doing so, you\u2019ll not only avoid sounding like everyone else\u2014you\u2019ll give employers a clear reason to remember and consider you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When crafting a cover letter, many job seekers fall into the trap of relying on tired clich\u00e9s and vague statements. While these might seem like safe bets, they can actually diminish your chances of standing out in a crowded applicant pool. In this article, Certified Advanced Resume Writer Sean Cook explores common phrases to avoid and suggest more impactful approaches, drawing on practical advice and examples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,87],"tags":[157,153,90,88,97,116,156,122,155],"class_list":["post-34269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-letters","category-job-search","tag-career-advice","tag-cover-letter","tag-job-search","tag-job-seeker","tag-jobseeker","tag-resume-advice","tag-resume-writer","tag-writing","tag-writing-advice"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Phrases to Avoid Using in Your Cover Letter - Cook Coaching &amp; Consulting LLC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.seancook.net\/phrases-to-avoid-using-in-your-cover-letter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Phrases to Avoid Using in Your Cover Letter - Cook Coaching &amp; Consulting LLC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When crafting a cover letter, many job seekers fall into the trap of relying on tired clich\u00e9s and vague statements. 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