Cover Letters

Career Readiness

Personal Branding

29.4 min

Updated Jan. 31, 2024

When applying for a job, your cover letter allows for a glimpse into your personality. If nowhere else, this one-page document is where you—in your voice—communicate your genuine interest in the position, the company, and the field. This is your opportunity to provide context and introduction to the lists and lists of bulleted points painted across your resume.

CORE CONTENT | 4 min read

More often than you may think, cover letters are an employer’s first impression of you as an applicant. Sometimes, they are the deciding factor when weighing two otherwise equal applications. So, tempting as it may be, your cover letter is the last thing you want to play fast and loose with. A hiring manager can smell a decade-old, recycled template a mile away. It’s a letter; it should sound like you wrote it for the recipient. Ideally, no two job postings, even in the same industry (even at the same company!), should receive the same cover letter from you. Every cover letter you draft should be tailored specifically to the exact circumstances of the role.

For a decent letter, all you need to do is convince whoever’s reading it that you might be a good fit for the position. A great cover letter only needs 3 or 4 paragraphs. Yes, you should allude to relevant skills and experiences, but you don’t need to lay out everything you have ever done at every job you have ever had. Save that for your resume. Yes, your writing should be of a narrative style and written in your voice, but you don’t have to make the reader fall in love with you. That’s what an interview’s for. All you have to do is convince the hiring manager that you take the application seriously and would be pleasant to work with.

“Taking the Application Seriously”

You can gauge a lot about an applicant purely by the amount of apparent effort put into their application. If you’re taking shortcuts before even getting the job, who’s to say you won’t do so once hired? Here are some questions a recruiter may ask themselves while reading your cover letter:

  • Did they read the job listing?
  • Have they researched the company?
  • Why do they want this job?
Usually, you can figure out everything an employer is looking for just from the job posting. You will very quickly understand what a hiree is expected to do and if you’re qualified to do it. The skills and experience you highlight in your letter should directly relate to the job description. Beyond being qualified for the job, you need to be a good fit for the organization. Draw a connection between the organization’s goals and mission and your experience and values.

Communicating You are Pleasant to Work With

A better title may be “Not Communicating You’re a Pain to Work With.” Unless they’ve been badly burned before, your recruiter probably won’t go in wondering how insufferable you’ll be. Instead, this thought is prompted by displays of arrogance, inflexibility, extreme unenthusiasm, and many other negatively perceived traits. So avoid those as best as you can. You should also be cautious of overly formal, generic, or negative language. The same goes for “bragging”; there is a delicate balance between “Selling Yourself” as the perfect candidate and maintaining humility. You can discuss skills, experience, and qualifications with pride, but do not condescend, overshare, or use excessive hyperbole. Now, if you aren’t applying to be an orator, writer, editor, or similar, you may receive some grace. Some of these reactions can be chalked up to poor phrasing. Writer or not, you want to paint yourself as a team player.

We’ve talked a lot about being true to you, but like all things career-related, you must uphold a certain decorum in your cover letter. Your letter must be professional. Letting your personality shine through does not mean utilizing casual and colloquial language. It's paramount to assure employers of your ability to integrate into their work environment. Working with a “drag” is no worse than working with someone who can’t behave seriously when it is time to do so.

Structuring a Cover Letter

Your cover letter should start like any other business letter. Begin with today’s date, followed by the addressee’s information (name, company, company address). Next comes the greeting. Use a standard greeting such as “Dear” or “Hello” followed by the name of the person who will read your letter. You can substitute in the title if you don’t know their name. If you are unsure who will receive the letter, address it to the “Hiring Manager” or “Hiring Committee.” Do not use overly formal, generic, or outdated greetings such as “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom it may Concern.”

Opening Paragraph: Personal Introduction

State the name of the position you are applying to in your opening sentence. Use the rest of your opening paragraph to show interest in the role. Articulate your motivation for pursuing the position and highlight your key qualifications that are closely related to it. This should be a brief introduction that you will expand on in your next paragraph or two.

1-2 Middle Paragraphs: Relevant Skills and Experience

This is where you establish that you’re a good fit. Describe why you want to work the role, why you want to work for the company, and what expertise and experience you possess that make you the best candidate.

Closing Paragraph: Call to Action

In a few sentences, wrap up your cover letter. Convey an eagerness to continue this process and an appreciation for the hiring manager’s time and consideration. Be sure to include your contact information, such as an email and phone number.

Finally, end your letter with a standard closing and signature.

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE | 0.1 min read

Sample Cover Letters (via Indeed)

KEY TAKEAWAYS | 0.3 min read

  • Cover letters can play a pivotal role in the success of a job application.
  • Your cover letter should be a page or less, formatted as a business letter, and communicate an understanding of why you are a good fit for the company and role.
  • Cover letters include:
    • An introductory paragraph
    • 1-2 paragraph describing relevant skills and experience
    • A closing paragraph with a call to action

PRACTICE | 25 min activity

Think of a job you are [or could be] in the market for. One that is in line with your career goals and that you could feasibly get with your current skills and level of experience. Find a job posting online that fits that description. After reading the listing, write a sample cover letter as though you were going to apply for that position.

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