Common English Mistakes in Cover Letters by Korean Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Korean speakers from South Korea when writing a Cover Letter in English.

Mistake Example #1

Omitting articles ('a', 'an', 'the')

Dear Hiring Manager,I am writing to express my interest inthe position of software developer at your company. I have experience in developing applications and Ibelieve I can contribute to yourteam. I am excited about thisopportunity to work withan innovative company like yours.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I added some articles and a few other words to make the English sound more natural. Good work!"

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my interest in the position of software developer at your company. I have experience in developing applications and I believe I can contribute to your team. I am excited about this opportunity to work with an innovative company like yours.

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my interest in position of software developer at your company. I have experience in developing applications and believe I can contribute to team. I am excited about opportunity to work with innovative company like yours.

Mistake Example #2

Confusion with prepositions ('in', 'on', 'at')

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Specialist position at your company. I have graduated infrom Seoul National University with a degree in Bbusiness Aadministration, and I have worked onat a marketing agency for three years. I am confident that my skills and experiences make me a strong candidate for this role, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute ato your team.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"Just a few small changes were needed to eliminate errors. Otherwise it sounds great!"

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Specialist position at your company. I have graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in business administration, and I have worked at a marketing agency for three years. I am confident that my skills and experience make me a strong candidate for this role, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Specialist position at your company. I have graduated in Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration, and I have worked on a marketing agency for three years. I am confident that my skills and experiences make me a strong candidate for this role, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute at your team.

Mistake Example #3

Incorrect word order in complex sentences

Dear Hiring Manager, I am very interested in the position that your company offers, and I believe my skills and experiences make me a strong candidate. In my previous job, I have developed skills that are valuable for this role, such as problem-solving and teamwork, which I think are important. I am eager to contribute to your team and learn more about the opportunities that your company provides.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"I did not see any word order problems."

Dear Hiring Manager, I am very interested in the position that your company offers, and I believe my skills and experiences make me a strong candidate. In my previous job, I have developed skills that are valuable for this role, such as problem-solving and teamwork, which I think are important. I am eager to contribute to your team and learn more about the opportunities that your company provides.

Dear Hiring Manager, I am very interested in the position that your company offers, and I believe my skills and experiences make me a strong candidate. In my previous job, I have developed skills that are valuable for this role, such as problem-solving and teamwork, which I think are important. I am eager to contribute to your team and learn more about the opportunities that your company provides.