Stop Writing These Lines in Cover Letters (Better Alternatives Included)

Q: Is 'Passionate' always bad?

It is a weak word. It’s significantly more effective to demonstrate your commitment through past results and specific industry knowledge.

Q: Why is 'To Whom It May Concern' outdated?

It signals a lack of effort. Modern hiring managers prefer a targeted greeting that shows you understand the structure of their organization.

Q: What is the best alternative to 'Team Player'?

Describe a specific cross-functional success. Proving you can work with others to achieve a common goal is much stronger than using the label.

Q: Should I use 'Kindly' at all?

Use it once if necessary for politeness, but avoid repetitive use as it can appear archaic and overly subservient in global business settings.

Some phrases have been used so much they have lost all meaning. If your cover letter is full of cover letter phrases from a 2010 textbook, recruiters will likely zone out. To stand out, you need to swap tired cover letter wording for fresh, professional phrases.

10 Phrases to Stop Using Immediately

"To Whom It May Concern" → "Dear [Department] Manager"
"I am a hard worker" → "I delivered [X] in [Record Time]"
"Very passionate about this role" → "My 5 years in [Industry] align with your expansion goals"
"Thought I would reach out" → "I am writing to contribute to [Specific Project]"
"Extremely talented" → "A proven track record of [Metric]"
"I am a team player" → "Collaborated with 10+ stakeholders to achieve [Goal]"
"Humbly request" → "I look forward to discussing..."
"As seen on my resume" → Just delete this! It’s redundant. Try in Email Improver.
"Dynamic individual" → "Consistently exceeded [Goal] by [Percentage]"
"Kindly revert back" → "I look forward to your reply."

SG/SEA Tone vs. Global Tone

Tired SG: "I hope you can give me a chance."
Global Alternative: "I am confident I can support the team's growth in [Region]."

Before vs After: Phrase Swaps

Pair 1: The "Passion" Swap

Before: I am really passionate about marketing and jobs.
After: My background in optimizing paid-social campaigns resulted in a 30% lower cost-per-lead for my previous firm.

Pair 2: The "Hard Work" Swap

Before: I will work very hard for you every day.
After: My previous manager recognized me for "Operational Excellence" after I recovered $50k in late invoices.

Copy-Paste Templates

Template 1: The "Direct Action" Swap

Instead of "I did sales," use: "I generated $[Amount] in new business within 4 months."

Template 2: The "Culture" Swap

Instead of "I like your mission," use: "My work on [Personal Project] aligns with your goal of [Company Goal]."

Template 3: The "Soft Skill" Swap

Instead of "I am good with people," use: "I managed client expectations during a major transition, ensuring 0% churn."

Template 4: The Closing Swap

Instead of "Hope to hear from you," use: "I am ready to share my strategy for [Task] in an interview."

Template 5: The Professional Opener

Instead of "I saw your ad," use: "Having tracked [Company]'s performance in [Market], I was motivated to apply for [Role]."

Actionable Checklist

No "To Whom It May Concern."
No "Kindly revert." Try in Email Improver.
No "Very" or "Really."
Replaced all "passionate" claims with data.
Included a specific CTA at the end. Review our pricing.

FAQ Section

1. Is "Passionate" always bad? Not always, but it's better to show passion through your projects than to say the word.

2. Why is "To Whom It May Concern" outdated? It shows you didn't do the 2 minutes of research required to find the department or hiring manager's name.

3. What is the best alternative to "Team Player"? Give a specific example: "Collaborated with engineering to ship 5 features on schedule."

4. Should I use "Kindly" at all? Use it sparingly. Overusing it can make you sound overly formal or "stiff."