write a cover letter 2022

A cover letter is an application document you pair with your resume that explains why you want a particular job, and why you think you’re the right person for that job.

But seeing an example is always better than just reading a definition. So here’s an example of a cover letter to show you what a good cover letter looks like in 2023:

Download Cover Letter Example

Cover Letter Template (Text Version)

I’m writing to apply for the Restaurant Manager opening at Cool Bistro. I have more than three years of experience managing successful restaurants and bars, delivering excellent customer service, and creating unique dining experiences. I’m confident my professional expertise would make me a great addition to the team at Cool Bistro.

In my role as Restaurant Manager for Bar Louie, I proved to be an efficient, enthusiastic, and strong leader. My value quickly became apparent to Bar Louie’s owners after I trained and prepared the entire waitstaff for opening night. Not only did our team meet sales goals each month for the first year, but we received glowing reviews in the local papers as well.

I’m confident Cool Bistro would benefit from my skills in the following areas:

I believe Cool Bistro will be a great success for many years to come, and my extensive expertise will help ensure your establishment succeeds well into the future. My time spent in this industry has prepared me for such an opportunity, and I sincerely hope I can contribute soon as a member of your team.

I’d appreciate the opportunity to discuss the Restaurant Manager position in more detail soon. I’m happy to come by whenever is most convenient for you. Thank you for your time, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

[Your Name]

To maximize your chances of getting an interview, you need to write a cover letter that makes a strong positive first impression on employers. And if you don’t have time to write one, no worries — you can also make a cover letter quickly using online tools or a cover letter template .

Writing a cover letter for a job with no experience ? Watch the video below to get started. Or keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about how to write a good cover letter that gets you hired regardless of your background.

How to write a cover letter for a job application

Not sure what to write in a cover letter? Follow the seven simple steps below to make a cover letter that leaves a lasting impression on employers:

1. List your contact details

An image showing how to write a cover letter header

Underneath your name in your cover letter header , list the following contact information:

2. Address the hiring manager by name

An image showing how to write a cover letter address

Here’s how the top half of your cover letter should look.

After your header, include the date and the company contact information in this format:

Cover Letter Address Format

Name or job title of the person or team you’re writing to Company name Company’s street address Company’s phone number Hiring manager’s email address

Next, address your cover letter to the hiring manager — by name if possible.

A standard cover letter salutation includes the hiring manager’s last name, and begins with “Mr.”, “Ms.”, or another relevant professional title.

If you don’t see the hiring manager’s name listed in the job ad, don’t worry. You can still easily find out who to address your cover letter to:

Ways to find the hiring manager’s name

However, if you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, using their job title or something like Dear [Department Name] Director is okay.

Here are some example cover letter greetings:

Ways to open your cover letter

3. Write an attention-grabbing opening paragraph

An image showing you how to write the opening paragraph of your cover letter

Start your cover letter with an informative, direct introduction.

In the first one or two sentences, mention the position and organization you’re applying for, where you found the position, and why you’re excited about the opportunity. Check out this example of an effective cover letter introduction:

Example of a good cover letter introduction

How to write the opening paragraph of a cover letter

Your opening paragraph should encourage the employer to read the rest of your cover letter.

Highlight your passion

You can make your introduction even more attention-grabbing by adding some personality, or by including a career highlight. Here’s a sample cover letter for a job application highlighting the jobseeker’s passion for the role.

Displaying your passion for a job

As a teenager, I would cut my friends’ hair because of my passion for haircare. Eventually, many of my friends and family would come exclusively to me when they needed their hair cut. Today, if anything, I’m even more passionate about hair care, which is why I’m applying for the open Stylist role at Grateful Dreads.

Showing personality in your cover letter helps employers understand what motivates you.

Just be sure to strike the right tone for your industry or field. For instance, if you’re applying for a job in law or finance, keep your writing formal.

Mention any referrals or contacts you have at the job

If you received a referral to the job by a current employee, your introduction is the place to mention it. Include a referral in your cover letter by quickly stating their name and your connection to them. This is a great way to quickly win over a hiring manager.

Adding a referral for a role

Your Personal Trainer, Augusta Maine, informed me about your open Executive Diary Secretary role and encouraged me to apply.

4. Explain why you’re qualified for the job

Image of a cover letter's body paragraphs

Your second and third paragraphs should convince employers that you’re the right person for the job. Use these paragraphs to best market yourself by discussing your relevant work experience, skills, and achievements.

Some things to include in your cover letter that highlight your value to employers include achievements , awards , and expertise . Here’s how you can add these elements:

An example of body paragraphs in a cover letter.

If you’ve received compliments from management or colleagues for your work, you can add them to your cover letter:

Showcasing success on a cover letter

The managing partner of the law firm, Olympia Washington — one of my references — informed me that without my research skills, we wouldn’t have been able to guarantee such a good result for our clients in a class-action suit against an eldercare facility that had been overcharging its residents.

5. Relate your experience to the company’s needs

An image showing how to begin closing your cover letter

Begin to close your cover letter by restating your interest in the job and explaining how your experience fits into the needs of the company.

For example, if you’re applying to work at a company that’s seeking to break into a new market that you have experience in, you should highlight this experience in your writing.

Showing prior experience on a cover letter

I noticed in The San Antonio Express-News that you’re expanding Los Pollos Sobrinos into neighboring New Mexico. As a supervisor at Big Kahuna Burger, I’ve onboarded 20+ new employees, and I’m sure I could help you rapidly grow and train your team.

If you’re not sure what the goals or needs of the company are, find out by doing some research online. Take note of the products or services they offer, what their work culture is like, and if they have any future goals.

The job ad is also an excellent place to find out what the company is seeking.

6. Finish with a concise closing paragraph and sign-off

An image showing the closing paragraph and sign-off of a cover letter.

When writing a cover letter closing , be polite, confident, and continue to market yourself as the best candidate for the job.

First, restate your excitement about the job opportunity. Then, encourage the hiring manager to interview you (remember to mention when you’re available), and thank them for their time:

Finally, wrap up your cover letter with a professional closing salutation. The standard closing is “Sincerely” but here are some more options:

6 more sign offs for a cover letter

Then, make two spaces below the salutation, and type your full name.

7. Check your cover letter’s content and formatting

After creating your cover letter, you need to review it before you send it off. Here are a few things to consider when reviewing your cover letter:

Double-check your cover letter formatting

A professional cover letter is normally:

Take a look at the checklist below before you submit your application to make sure your cover letter is formatted correctly.

Checklist for formatting your cover letter, an important step in making your cover letter

Simplify your writing

The trick to writing a good cover letter that gives employers an easy overview of your qualifications is to use direct language.

Ideally, a cover letter for a resume should be easy to read, confident, and friendly.

To instantly improve your writing tone:

Here’s a comparison between a friendly writing style and an overly formal one:

Excited and professional

I’m thrilled to apply for the customer service position at [Company Name]. Having been a customer service representative for 5+ years at Walmart, I’m confident I can quickly apply my experience using Zendesk and Salesforce to make a positive impact on [Company Name]’s bottom line.

It is with great interest that I apply for the open customer service position posted by your company on Indeed. I possess the requisite skill set to ably perform the customer service duties described in the job requirements.

Proofread carefully

Typos and grammatical errors in your cover letter will leave a negative impression on employers.

Here are two quick tricks professional editors use to catch mistakes:

After you’ve read your cover letter out loud, have someone else read it over. They can provide helpful feedback like whether your letter is clear and well-argued, or vague and filled with cliches. They’ll also (hopefully) notice any small grammar and spelling errors you missed.

How to make a cover letter using online software

If you’re short on time, try using a web application to quickly make a convincing cover letter.

There are several powerful cover letter builders online that you can try out. We’ll walk you through our own cover letter generator , so you can create your own letter in a few quick steps.

Step 1: Fill in your personal information

A screenshot from the beginning of the Resume Genius cover letter generator, featuring a button that says "start now"

This information is what the software uses to generate your cover letter, and includes your:

Work experience

Additionally, you’ll need to list the job title and company that you’re applying for so that the builder knows how to address your cover letter.

A screenshot from the Resume Genius cover letter generator, where the user is being asked to fill in their education history

Depending on your educational status and how much relevant work experience you have, the software will highlight different information to help put the focus on your strengths as a candidate.

For example, if you already have several years of relevant work experience, the builder won’t mention your college education because your degree is no longer your most relevant qualification.

A screenshot from the Resume Genius cover letter generator, where the user is filling out their industry and job skills

The last question asks you to explain how your coworkers might describe you (the answer ultimately being a soft skill you’ve developed over time). The builder then uses this detail in your cover letter to help further market you as the best candidate for the job.

Step 2: Select your template

A screenshot from the Resume Genius cover letter generator, where the user is being presented their completed cover letter

But before you download your cover letter, make sure it looks appropriate for the job you’re applying for and matches the design of your resume.

Click on the left or right side of your cover letter to swap between the many HR-approved templates available in our builder. We offer a variety of templates designed for different industries and levels of formality, so you’ll soon find a design that works for you:

A screenshot of our cover letter generator's template options

Step 3: Download your completed cover letter

With your cover letter written and neatly formatted, you’re ready to download your finished document.

Once you click “Proceed to Download”, you’ll be prompted to download your file in either PDF or .docx format.

In most situations, you should save your cover letter as a PDF because it’s easy for employers to open and ensures the reader doesn’t accidentally edit your cover letter when viewing it.

However, if a company specifically asks you to send your job application in .docx format, you should save your cover letter as a docx.

Frequently asked questions about how to write a cover letter

Still unsure about something? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about writing a cover letter:

What makes a good cover letter?

A good cover letter expands upon the information in your resume, providing context for your skills and accomplishments. It also gives employers insight into your personality so they can determine if you’d be a good cultural fit for the company.

What should you not say in a cover letter?

What you shouldn’t say in a cover letter is anything that makes you seem negative . For example, avoid talking about why you hate your job , or complaining about your current employer.

Instead, focus on what you learned in your current position that will help you succeed in your next role.

Should you include salary requirements in a cover letter?

No, you shouldn’t include salary requirements in your cover letter unless the company requests it.

If the salary you state is too high, the employer might reject your application before you get the opportunity to explain why your skill set and experience warrant a higher salary.

How do you write a general cover letter for a resume?

You write a general cover letter for a resume by highlighting the skills that make you a competitive candidate in your target industry without including any specific details about the job you’re applying for.

However, keep in mind that tailoring your cover letter to each position you apply for will increase your chances of landing a job. We recommend against using a general cover letter unless you really need to save time.

Additional cover letter FAQs:

Still have some questions that haven’t been answered? Here are some of our other cover letter FAQs:

We also have the answers to many more frequently asked questions about cover letters if you don’t see your question above.

Click to rate this article

Written by Ida Pettersson

Ida is a Content Writer at Resume Genius, where she assists job seekers as they plan their next career moves. She graduated from New College of Florida with a double major... more

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How to Write a Cover Letter in 2023 | Beginner's Guide

After weeks of heavy job search, you’re almost there!

You’ve perfected your resume.

You’ve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You’ve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.

Now you’re stuck wondering how to write a cover letter ...

Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think.

In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

So, let’s get started with the basics!

What is a Cover Letter? (and Why It’s Important)

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume).

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can spark the HR manager’s interest and get them to read your resume.

A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, here’s an example:

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, you’re probably not a professional writer.

The thing is, though, you don’t need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:

Or, here’s what this looks like in practice:

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, we’re going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step.

Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what’s a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?

You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in a jiffy!

As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.

Step #2 - Start the Cover Letter with a Header

As with a resume, it’s important to start your cover letter with a Contact Information section:

Here, you want to include all essential information, including:

In certain cases, you might also consider adding:

And here’s what you shouldn’t mention in your header:

Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.

The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager .

That’s right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular “Dear Sir or Madam.” You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this.

The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.

So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:

And voila! You have your hiring manager.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of a server. In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager.”

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Here are several other greetings you could use:

Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph .

The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say pretty much anything except the fact that you’ve worked the job before.

Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.

Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

So now, let’s make our previous example shine:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.

See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?

Now that we’ve covered the introduction, let’s talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why you’re the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that you’re a good fit for the company.

So, let’s get started...

Step #5 - Explain why you’re the perfect person for the job

This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you’re a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.

But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.

For the sake of the example, let’s say you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:

Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, here’s how that would look for our example:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy , images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

Google Search

Are you a student applying for your first internship? You probably don’t have a lot of work experience to show off in this section. Learn how to write an internship cover letter here.

Step #6 - Explain why you’re a good fit for the company

Once you’ve written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - I’m a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? I’ll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.

Well, no. You’re not quite there yet.

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary .

Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that you’re really passionate about working with them.

How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:

So, get to Googling. Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.

Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.

Let’s say, for example, you’re passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.

You’d write something like:

I’ve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative tech I’ve used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device.

I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.

What you don’t want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Let’s take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):

I’d love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since I’m super creative, I’d be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.

See what’s wrong here? The example doesn’t really say anything about the company. “Culture of Innovation” is something most companies claim to have.

The same goes for “values of integrity and transparency” - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.

Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.

So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.

Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action

Finally, it’s time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

And now, let’s turn this into a practical example:

So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.

Step #8 - Use the right formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:

And we’re finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

Do you successfully convey that you’re the right pro for the job?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re applying to?

Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action?

Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?

5+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples we’ve seen (for different fields).

College Student Cover Letter Example

Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Career Change Cover Letter Example

Management Cover Letter Example

Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples .

Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught.

After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.

...But don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered on that end, too.

If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume , as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.

Or, if you’re already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides…

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How to Write a Cover Letter for 2022: a Beginner's Guide

It's a new dawn, and with the coronavirus pandemic still lurking, you're looking to switch up your career or apply for a new job entirely. You will have to do more than just fill out a job application or send a resume for most professional positions. At the very least, hiring managers will need you to curate a customized resume and targeted cover letter that shows why you're the most eligible candidate for the position.

However, it won't be enough to send in your cover letter. In 2022 you'll have to ensure that your resume and cover letter are written in a way that'll land you an interview. After all, landing an interview is the primary goal of applying for any job.

So, are you ready to get started? If yes, below is a detailed guide on how to write a perfectly curated cover letter that'll get your application noticed. Check out all the tips on what to include, the different types of cover letters, and how to format them.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document you send with your resume to offer additional information on your skills and expertise. It serves as a sales pitch in which you market your credentials in the hope of landing an interview.

According to a recent study, 85% of recruiters pay close attention to cover letters since they help determine whether you'll be called for an interview. Therefore, understanding how best to write a cover letter is essential to impress your interviewer.

Types of cover letters

Before you leap onto writing a cover letter, you need to ensure you've chosen the correct type of letter. The style will differ depending on whether you're writing one to inquire about a job opening, mentioning a referral, or uploading your resume.

There are generally three types of cover letters:

Pro tip: When applying for a job posted by a firm looking to hire new staff, you'll be using the application letter style, which we will elaborate on below.

Tips for writing an interview-landing cover letter

Here is an outline of the items you need to include in your cover letter in 2022:

Yup, the basics first. Application letters need to begin with your and the employer's contact information. This includes the name, address, phone number, and email). You should follow this with the date.

If it's an email, include your contact details at the end of the letter after your signature.

And remember to keep it professional by using an email address that includes your official names. [email protected] or [email protected] won't up your chances. Additionally, avoid using your current work address to send a cover letter – it's impolite to your current and potential future employer.

Bonus tip: If you're writing a cover letter and don't know the hiring manager's name, in the address section, include only the department's name. For instance, 'Digital Marketing Department.'

Don't know who to address your cover letter to?

Well, according to career experts, it should be directed to the hiring manager who'll read it.

What's more, the greeting might be the first thing the hiring manager grades you on, making it one of the most crucial parts of any cover letter. And, there's one foolproof way of ensuring your salutation snatches your recruiter's attention:

Dear Michael

That's right. Using their name.

According to a slew of studies , when people hear or see their name, they react. Therefore, once the hiring manager sees their name in the salutation, they're going to feel like the cover letter is specifically tailored for them, giving you an edge over other applicants.

If you don't know their name, check the firm's website, LinkedIn Profile, and other social media platforms where the staff is listed.

After exhausting all the resources, opt for a simple ' Dear Hiring Manager .' Avoid starting your application letter with a ' to whom it may concern .' It feels impersonal and obnoxious.

Introduction

Let's cut to the chase.

The first few sentences in your cover letter will determine if the hiring manager will keep reading it. Studies show that hiring managers skim through cover letters for an average of 7.4 seconds, and the introduction is one of the most determining factors.

So, rather than stating the obvious details in your resume, offer a quick window into your relevant skills and expertise, highlight a contact (perhaps your referral), and emphasize a critical accomplishment that would make you an asset to the firm.

Your objective is to capture the recruiter's attention.

You might also want to include some keywords used in the job listing. For instance, you can mention that your track history of successfully leading national online campaigns with budgets of less than $250,000 makes you an excellent fit for the role.

Body of the letter

In the second paragraph, explain why you're interested in the position and why you're the best fit. Mention relevant qualifications listed in the job posting and explain how you effortlessly meet those requirements. Don't restate your resume, but offer specific qualities that will help satisfy the firm's needs.

Remember, actions speak louder than words, so don't just state your qualifications. Instead, use tangible examples from your work experience that show the hiring manager these traits in action.

A sample script:

In my current role at XYZ, I have supervised every phase of the online marketing initiative, creative and technical . Last year, my primary challenge was designing and optimizing ten-product websites for XYZ's most strategic products, boosting the SEO results, and enhancing the UX . Here we are, six months later:

So far, so good.

Your cover letter offers a quick rundown of your relevant skills and expertise. What could go wrong?

According to career coaches, a lot.

You need to write the ending, and it's a crucial decisive part.

It should amplify the impression you've made with previous paragraphs. Therefore, you need to restate how your skills make you the perfect fit for the position. You can also discuss why you'd like to work with the firm if you have room.

You should also state that you'd be elated at the opportunity to interview or discuss employment opportunities. Discuss what you'll do to follow up and when you'll do this.

Sample script:

I'd welcome a chance to discuss your digital marketing goals further and demonstrate how my success at XYZ can translate into the online marketing growth of ABC.

Once you've written your conclusion, you need to put a formal closing at the very end with phrases such as:

Afterward, you can input your signature, handwritten, followed by your typed name. If it's an email, include your typed name and contact information after the complimentary close.

How to format your cover letter

Before sending off your perfectly written cover letter, you need to review the format used. This includes:

A cover letter shouldn't be more than six paragraphs are plenty, and it shouldn't be longer than one page. If it's too long, don't use a smaller font. Instead, edit it and ensure it's a single page long.

Your application letter should be formatted professionally. The font needs to match the font you used on your resume. It needs to be also simple to skim through. Pick fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

The Font Size

Yes, size is an essential element too – make the text small, and the recruiter might not want to continue reading it. Based on the font type, somewhere between 10- and 12-point is recommended for readability.

Letter Spacing

Ensure to include a space between the header and salutation before every paragraph, the closing, and your signature.

Reviewing your cover letter

Apart from the cover letter format, you also need to:

Check for grammatical errors

Don't just click and upload your letter before checking for typos and grammatical errors. Read it aloud and see if you made any mistakes. If it's an email, you can use tools such as Grammarly to make the relevant edits.

Heed to instructions

An advert will indicate that a more substantial letter is needed in exceptional cases. Therefore, be sure to follow the stated instructions and include specifically requested information.

For example, some firms might ask you to include your current salary or desired remuneration range.

Include an email signature

When you email an application letter, ensure to include a signature with your name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile (this is an essential inclusion for your 2022 cover letter). This will make it easier for the hiring manager to contact you.

How to Write a Cover Letter That Sounds Like You (and Gets Noticed)

Elainy Mata

Do the research, start off strong, and emphasize your value.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

I hate cover letters. They add so much stress to the already uncomfortable and grueling job hunt. Every time I’m writing one, I find myself wondering: Do people even read these?

Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” But, there are some ways to make the process a little less terrible. I asked Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review editor and author of “ How to Write a Cover Letter ,” for her advice. From doing the research, to starting off strong, to emphasizing your value — Gallo taught me exactly what I need to do to get my cover letters noticed by hiring managers. I even wrote a new cover letter that has her blessing. (Scroll down if you’re in need of an expert-approved example.)

Subscribe to HBR Ascend on YouTube for more videos on work, life, and everything in between.

Transcript

ELAINY MATA: So you want to know how to tackle the cover letter. I do too. I actually really hate cover letters. I hate cover letters. I hate cover letters.

But the cover letter is important. It’s time to face our fears, and just figure out how in the world we are actually going to write it.

I got you, and we’re going to do this together. These tips are going to help you go through the process a lot easier. So if you are ready to tackle the cover letter, stick around and keep watching.

In front of me right now are three cover letters that I’ve written in the past, for three different jobs. And I’m just embarrassed. I’m embarrassed to read these.

To whom it may concern, to whom it may concern, to whom it may concern. I would like to respectfully submit this cover letter. I would like to respectfully submit this cover letter. I am a passionate, detail-oriented person. I am passionate, detail-oriented person.

This sounds like I’m — this doesn’t sound like me at all. I think you want me to talk this way. Here we go like. Hire me.

I talked to Amy Gallo, an HBR editor, and the author of one of our most popular articles, “How to Write a Cover Letter.”

AMY GALLO: First of all, you’re not alone. I write about how to write cover letters, and I also hate them.

ELAINY MATA: She’s done the research. She’s talked to the experts. And I’m going to tell you exactly what she told me.

Make it one page

ELAINY MATA: So how long does a cover letter actually have to be? Just one page, one.

AMY GALLO: Don’t play with the font, and make it like eight point font, and like make your margins really wide. Just really figure out what is the most essential things that need to go on one page.

Do research, find a name

ELAINY MATA: This should be a no-brainer, but let’s get specific. Let’s say you’re applying for a job here, at Harvard Business Review. Go on the company’s website, go to their “About Us” section, and read what they’re about, see their mission statement, see their tone, see what that company is actually looking for, and what they stand for.

So you’ve got the broad stuff, but let’s dig a little bit deeper. What is the company that you’re applying for talking about now? You should actually go into their LinkedIn, their Twitter, see what they’re sharing, see who are they’re talking to, see what they’re talking about, so you can get a sense of what is currently happening. Lastly, find that hiring manager. It is so much better to address your cover letter to an actual person and a name rather than, to whom it may concern. So I have to kind of creep a little bit, and be like a private investigator.

AMY GALLO: Yeah, creeping is definitely part of the process. Usually, with LinkedIn, you can see who’s posted the job, who is sharing it with their network. You may not know for sure that that’s the hiring manager, but at least it’s a little more personable. Sometimes, I’ve heard people just reach out and say, “Who’s the hiring manager for this job? I’d like to address my cover letter to that person.”

Start strong

ELAINY MATA: You’ve probably written this 100 times before. “Hi, my name is this. I’m based here, and I’m applying for this job.” No, no, no, no, don’t do that. The hiring manager has a stack of cover letters. So you have to write yours to grab their attention. Amy, can you please give me an example of a strong, bold, opening line for cover letter. I promise I won’t steal it.

AMY GALLO: You’re allowed to steal it. Anyone should be able to steal it:

“I saw your listing on this website, and I was thrilled to see it, because it’s exactly the kind of job I’ve been looking for to apply my skills in X.”

Write something that’s short, to the point, but shows both enthusiasm, as well as experience that’s relevant to the job.

Emphasize your value

ELAINY MATA: Figure out what problem the company is facing. They’re hiring for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and how you can best solve that problem. Amy also found the top two qualities that people generally look for is adaptability, and the ability to learn quickly.

How about if I just got out of college, and I’m looking at these jobs that are asking for three to five years or more of experience. How can I write a cover letter if I feel like I don’t have enough to write about?

AMY GALLO: Yeah, so that’s a good question, because the cover letter shouldn’t be focused so much on the past. That’s the resume’s job. The cover letter is really about the future. So how are you going to take what’s in that resume, your past, and apply it to where you’re going.

Convey enthusiasm, not desperation

ELAINY MATA: This is really hard to balance. You want to show them that you’re excited to work there, and that you’re going to bring a lot of energy to the team. But don’t be too strong, because over eagerness can actually work against you.

Find a proofreader

AMY GALLO: Write the letter you want to write. Then share it with someone else, someone who knows you well, but someone who also will tell you like it is. We’re not good judges of our own writing.

ELAINY MATA: So getting a second pair of eyes will help you look for any errors, typos, and most importantly, they can tell you if you make sense.

Amy, this sounds like a lot. Is there even like a sort of a shortcut to this, or a sort of scalable way that I can do this for multiple different jobs?

AMY GALLO: I mean, you’ve probably heard the phrase looking for a job is a full-time job. It does take a lot of time. You’re tweaking some things. You’re not writing a whole new letter. So you’re going to have a template. Write your best cover letter for the first job you apply for. Share that with your friend to check the tone. Do the research on the company, right? Do that the first time. Then and adjust the cover letter accordingly. Does that seem more reasonable?

ELAINY MATA: Yes, much more reasonable.

So my task is to apply for a job here at HBR, and to write a new cover letter using the advice that Amy gave me. Let’s do it.

This is hard. I never said it was going to be easy, maybe easier than what you were doing before, but definitely not easy.

The first draft

Dear Maureen and hiring team, I saw your listing on Linkedln and am excited because this is exactly the job that I’ve been looking for to showcase my skills in video production and production management to assist the creative center in producing compelling content. Working in news and movie production has taught me to hear an idea and a concept and be able to fully plan out the logistics needed to make the desired final visual product. I have been able to work with software like Adobe Creative Suite and TriCaster, and have worked with other team members to write scripts and compose story boards. Being part of the Creative Center team will give me the challenges to grow as a skilled producer and assist in production, help the production planning process, create a quick tum around for video publication, and manage content.

AMY GALLO: You did well on length. It is very short. That’s good.

ELAINY MATA: My gosh.

AMY GALLO: I read this, I’m like, that first sentence is spot on. And then it gets a little bit stilted. And then it goes into what’s probably on your resume. And I want a little more personality.

The final draft

ELAINY MATA: So Amy, after many back and forths — How do you think I did?

AMY GALLO: All right. So I’m looking at it right now. And I think you did a really good job.

You’ve got the main components here. There’s some personality in it. There’s some flattery in it about the company you’re applying to, but it’s not like over the top. I have to tell you, I would have you in. I think it’s a great letter.

ELAINY MATA: That’s it for me. I wrote the cover letter. You got to see the whole process. And I feel like I definitely have a better outlook on how to approach it. These are not easy to write, so good luck out there. Watch as many times as you can. Practice makes perfect. I’ll see you soon.

Cover letter example

Dear Maureen and hiring team, I was so excited to see your post on LinkedIn because it’s exactly the type of job I’m looking for: an opportunity to bring my experience with video production and enthusiasm for storytelling to an organization that sets the standard for high-quality management content. In addition to five years of experience in broadcast journalism, research, and video production, I would bring an organized and systems-level perspective to this role. I view video production as a puzzle, and like to think about which parts need to come together in order to make a great final product. My approach is to have in-depth conversations with my team members, and the various stakeholders, before each project. This helps me nail down the logistics — from location to talent. From there, the fun begins: fleshing out the concept and identifying what visuals will best represent it. Ideation and storyboarding are essential in this step. I know I’m not right all the time, so I enjoy working with a diverse team that can bring in new perspectives, brainstorm, and pitch ideas that will make the final product stronger. Whenever possible, I also try to seek out other sources for inspiration, like magazines, which allow me to observe different ways of expression and storytelling. This approach has served me well. It’s what has allowed me to enter the film industry and grow as a creator. On my website, you can see examples of how I use the above process to create fun, engaging content. Given this experience and my enthusiasm for the work you do, I believe I’d make a great addition to your team. I recently had a chance to try out your Patient Zero product at my current organization. The simulation is both challenging and engaging. I was impressed by your ability to apply different storytelling methods to an online training course (which, let’s admit, can often be a little dry). Your work exemplifies exactly what I believe: There’s an opportunity to tell a compelling story in everything — all you have to do is deliver it right. I’d love to come in and speak with you more about what I’d be able to offer in this role. Harvard Business Publishing is my top choice and I believe I’d make valuable contributions to your team. Thank you for your time and consideration!

EM Elainy Mata is a Multimedia Producer at Harvard Business Review. ElainyMata

Partner Center

Your Complete Guide to Writing a Cover Letter (Plus Bonus Tips and Examples)

Hot jobs on the muse.

person sitting at a kitchen table, typing on a laptop, with a Golden Retriever standing next to them, putting its nose against their face

Ah yes, the familiar cycle: You sit down to write a cover letter, open a blank document, check your email, browse cover letter examples , do some chores, watch that cursor blink a few more times, and finally Google something like “how to write a cover letter”—which hopefully brought you here. But you still might be thinking something to the effect of: Does anyone really read cover letters? Why do they even exist?

First off: Yes, we can assure you that cover letters do, in fact, get read . To some hiring managers, they’re the most important part of your job application . And regardless, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to tell prospective employers who you are, showcase why they should hire you, and stand out above all the other candidates.

To ensure your letter is in amazing shape (and crafting it is as painless as possible), we’ve got easy-to-follow steps plus examples, a few bonus tips, and answers to frequently asked questions

What is a cover letter and why is it important?

How to write a cover letter hiring managers will love, what do examples of cover letters look like, bonus cover letter tips to give you an edge over the competition, cover letter faqs (a.k.a., everything else you need to know about cover letters).

A cover letter is a brief (one page or less) note that you write to a hiring manager or recruiter to go along with your resume and other application materials. Done well , a cover letter gives you the chance to speak directly to how your skills and experience line up with the specific job you’re pursuing. It also affords you an opportunity to hint to the reviewer that you’re likable, original, and likely to be a great addition to the team.

Instead of using cover letters to their strategic advantage, most job applicants blabber on and on about what they want, toss out bland, cliché-filled paragraphs that essentially just regurgitate their resume, or go off on some strange tangent in an effort to be unique.

Given this reality, imagine the leg up you’ll have if you learn how to do cover letters right.

OK, you’re sold on how important cover letters are. Here are eight steps to writing one that screams, “I’m a great hire!”

Step 1: Write a fresh cover letter for each job (but yes, you can use a template).

Yes, it’s way faster and easier to take the cover letter you wrote for your last application, change the name of the company, and send it off. But most employers want to see that you’re truly excited about the specific position and organization—which means creating a custom letter for each position.

While it’s OK to recycle a few strong sentences and phrases from one cover letter to the next, don’t even think about sending out a 100% generic letter. “Dear Hiring Manager, I am excited to apply to the open position at your company ” is an immediate signal to recruiters and hiring managers that you’re mass-applying to every job listing that pops up on LinkedIn.

At the same time, there’s nothing that says you can’t get a little help: Try out one of our free cover letter templates to make the process a bit easier.

Step 2: Add your contact info.

At the top of your cover letter, you should list out your basic info. You can even copy the same heading from your resume if you’d like. Some contact info you might include (and the order you might include it in) is:

Note that only name and email are mandatory, and you don’t need to put a full address on a cover letter or resume anymore. A city and state (or metro area) are more than enough.

So your header might look like this:

Inigo Montoya he/him Florin Metropolitan Area [email protected] 555-999-2222

If the job posting tells you to submit your cover letter in the body of an email, you can add your contact info at the end, after your name (and if you’d like to forgo the email address here, you can—they have it already).

So your sign off could look like this:

Violet Baudelaire she/her [email protected] 123-123-1234 https://www.linkedin.com/in/violet-baudelaire/

Step 3: Address your cover letter to the hiring manager—preferably by name.

The most traditional way to address a cover letter is to use the person’s first and last name, including “Mr.” or “Ms.” (for example, “Dear Ms. Jane Smith” or just “Dear Ms. Smith”). But to avoid accidentally using the wrong title, or worse, inadvertently misgendering someone—first and last name also work just fine. And if “Dear” feels a bit too stiff, try “Hello.” But never use generic salutations like “ To Whom it May Concern ” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

For more help, read these rules for addressing your cover letter and a few tips for how to find the hiring manager .

Step 4: Craft an opening paragraph that’ll hook your reader.

Your opening sets the stage for the whole cover letter. So you want it to be memorable, friendly, conversational, and hyper-relevant to the job you’re pursuing.

No need to lead with your name—the hiring manager can see it already. But it’s good to mention the job you’re applying for (the hiring manager may be combing through candidates for half a dozen different jobs), and yes, you could go with something simple like, “I am excited to apply for [job] with [Company].” But consider introducing yourself with a snappy first paragraph that highlights your excitement about the company you’re applying to, your passion for the work you do, and/or your past accomplishments.

This is a prime spot to include the “why” for your application. Make it very clear why you want this job at this company . Are you a longtime user of their products? Do you have experience solving a problem they’re working on? Do you love their brand voice or approach to product development? Do your research on the company (and check out their Muse profile if they have one) to find out.

For instance, say you’re applying for a marketing job with a company known for its incredible pies and baked goods. You might want to use your opening to mention how you love pie so much that when you were in the 4th grade, you took the blue ribbon in the National Cherry Festival pie-eating contest. Or take a look at this cover letter hook by a client of career coach and Muse writer Jenny Foss , who was working to land a leadership role at a nonprofit specializing in fire prevention:

“I have a personal interest in fire prevention that dates back to my youth. As the daughter of a nurse who worked in a hospital burns unit for many years, I grew up with significant exposure to those impacted by fire. I’d spend hours thinking about my mom’s patients, wishing there were some way to better protect people from fire.”

Step 5: Convey why you’d be a great hire for this job.

A common cover letter mistake is only talking about how great the position would be for you . Frankly, hiring managers are aware of that—what they really want to know is what you’re going to bring to the position and company.

So once you’ve got the opening under wraps, you should pull out a few key ideas that will make up the backbone of your cover letter. They should show that you understand what the organization is looking for and spell out how your background lines up with the position. Study the job description for hints . What problems is the company looking to solve with this hire? What skills or experiences are mentioned high up, or more than once? These will likely be the most important qualifications.

Select the three to five important qualifications that you feel you exemplify best. For instance, maybe you’re looking for an account executive role and come across a posting that excites you. You might pull out these details that match you well:

If you tend to have a hard time singing your own praises and can’t nail down your strengths, here’s a quick trick : What would your favorite boss, your best friend, or your mentor say about you? How would they sing your praises? Use the answers to inform how you write about yourself. You can even weave in feedback you’ve received to strengthen your case (occasionally, don’t overuse this!). For example:

“When I oversaw our last office move, my color-coded spreadsheets covering every minute detail of the logistics were legendary; my manager said I was so organized, she’d trust me to plan an expedition to Mars.”

Step 6: Back up your qualifications with examples and numbers.

Look at your list of qualifications from the previous step, and think of examples from your past that prove you have them. And go beyond your resume . Don’t just regurgitate what the hiring manager can read elsewhere. Simply put, you want to paint a fuller picture of what experiences and accomplishments make you a great hire and show off what you can sashay through their doors with and deliver once you land the job.

For example, what tells a hiring manager more about your ability to win back former clients? This: “I was in charge of identifying and re-engaging former clients.” Or this: “By analyzing past client surveys, NPS scores, and KPIs, as well as simply picking up the phone, I was able to bring both a data-driven approach and a human touch to the task of re-engaging former clients.”

Having trouble figuring out how to do this? Try asking yourself these questions and finding answers that line up with the qualifications you’ve chosen to focus on:

Come up with your examples, then throw in a few numbers. Hiring managers love to see stats—they show you’ve had a measurable impact on an organization you’ve worked for. Did you bring in more clients than any of your peers? Put together an impressive number of events? Make a process at work 30% more efficient? Work it into your cover letter!

Going back to the example from the last step. How could you prove that you’ll meet and exceed sales quotas if they hire you? Try something like:

“ I’ve always been very goal-oriented—whether that goal was hitting a new personal best on the swim team in college or smashing my quotas as a sales development rep for ZZZ Inc. As an SDR, I break my quarterly sales goals down month-by-month and then week-by-week—so that I always know whether I’m ahead, behind, or on-track. I also take an hour every Friday to reflect on what I could’ve done better in the previous week—so that I’m always improving. With these strategies, I’ve met my goals for meetings set 10 out of the last 10 quarters and actually averaged 114% to goal for finding leads that eventually turned into sales over every quarter last year. As an account executive for your company, I’d bring that same drive and systematic approach for meeting longer-term targets to my sales quotas. ”

Do this for each of the qualifications you want to focus on, and feel free to connect your accomplishments directly to the company. Pro tip: Use your space wisely. For more important qualifications, you might dedicate an entire paragraph, while others may only need a sentence or two.

Step 7: Finish with a strong conclusion.

It’s tempting to treat the final lines of your cover letter as a throwaway: “I look forward to hearing from you.” But your closing paragraph is your last chance to emphasize your enthusiasm for the company or how you’d be a great fit for the position. You can also use the end of your letter to add important details—like, say, the fact that you’re willing to relocate for the job.

Some advice might tell you to go with a hard close: Boldly insist that you’re the one, and that you’re going to call them within a week to set up a meeting. But with over 10 years of experience as a recruiter, Foss finds this annoying. It’s one thing to be proactive and confident but, to her, this approach feels like a cheesy tactic stripped out of an old school “How to sell yourself” textbook.

Instead, try something like this:

“I believe my energy, desire to innovate, and experience as a sales leader will serve OrangePurple Co. very well. I would love to meet to discuss the value I could add as your next West Coast Sales Director. I appreciate your consideration and hope to meet with you soon.”

Then be sure to sign off professionally , with an appropriate closing and your first and last name.

Step 8: Reread and revise.

We shouldn’t have to tell you to run your cover letter through spell-check, but remember that having your computer scan for typos isn’t the same as editing . Set your letter aside for a day or even just a few hours, and then read through it again with fresh eyes—you’ll probably notice some changes you want to make.

You might even want to ask a friend or family member to give it a look. In addition to asking them if they spot any errors, you should ask them two questions:

If the answer to either is “no,” or even slight hesitation, go back for another pass.

person kneeling on floor in front of orange pillows, writing in a notebook while looking at open laptop

Here’s an example cover letter that follows this advice:

Alia Farhat San Francisco Bay Area [email protected] 444-000-1111

Hello Danny Tanaka,

If I’m being honest, I still haven’t fully gotten over the death of my first Tamagotchi pet when I was six years old. (His name was Tommy, and I’ve gotten far more creative since then, I promise.) When I was older, I discovered NeoPets and I was hooked for years—not just on the site, but on the community that surrounded it. So when I heard about FantasyPets last year, I immediately started following news about your development process, and that’s how I saw your post looking for a marketing strategist. Not only do I have eight years of experience in digital marketing, but as a lifelong gamer with a passion for pet-focused titles who’s spent years in online communities with like-minded people, I also know exactly what kind of messaging resonates with your target audience.

You’re looking for someone to help you craft a social media marketing campaign to go along with your game launch, and I’ve been a part of three launch-day marketing campaigns for mobile and web-based games. In my current role as social media manager at Phun Inc., I proposed a campaign across Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok based on competitor research and analysis of our social campaigns for similar games to go along with the launch of the mobile game FarmWorld. Using my strategy of featuring both kids and adults in ads, we ended up driving over one million impressions and 80k downloads in the first three months.

I’ve always believed that the best way to find the right messaging for a game is to understand the audience and immerse myself in it as much as possible. I spend some of my research time on gaming forums and watching Twitch streams and Let’s Plays to see what really matters to the audience and how they talk about it. Of course, I always back my strategies up with data—I’m even responsible for training new members of the marketing team at Phun Inc. in Google AdWords and data visualization.

I believe that my passion for games exactly like yours, my digital marketing and market research experience, and my flair for turning data into actionable insights will help put FantasyPets on the map. I see so much promise in this game, and as a future player, I want to see its user base grow as much as you do. I appreciate your consideration for the marketing strategist role and hope to speak with you soon.

Alia Farhat

Looking for more cover letter examples? Check out these from across our site:

As you write your cover letter, here are a few more tips to consider to help you stand out from the stack of applicants:

The bottom line with cover letters is this: They matter, much more than the naysayers will have you believe. If you nail yours, you could easily go from the “maybe” pile straight to “Oh, hell yes.”

Regina Borsellino and Jenny Foss contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

How to write an impressive cover letter in 2022

Impress the prospective employer with an impressive cover letter

Resumoz cover letter builder utilized by millions of job seekers

You know how difficult it is to find a job in this competitive world. Maybe you’re already tired of looking for a job. You probably have a good resume too. But did you know that many people miss out on job opportunities without a proper cover letter?

Maybe this is your problem too. Then you have to learn to write a cover letter accurately. After reading this article you will have the opportunity to become a proud owner of an impressive and job-winning cover letter.

So let’s jump into the complete guide on how to write a cover letter.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that you send along with your job application. Most likely this will be attached to your resume or CV. The main purpose of sending a cover letter is to give a brief introduction about yourself and your job and educational background to the recruiting manager.

A good cover letter can generate a positive attitude in the recruiter’s mind about yourself. It will make the hiring manager look at your resume with a little more attention. You probably know that a typical recruiter spends averagely as little as 6 seconds on testing a resume. But a good cover letter gives you the ability to extend this short period of time.

Also, a properly written cover letter will make it easier to communicate in a way that makes the manager feel that you are the right person for the position. So you don’t need to talk any more about the value here. Now let’s see how to write an impressive cover letter .

Structure of a cover letter

You may not be a professional writer. If you are writing a cover letter for the first time, an impressive cover letter might be a big challenge for you.

But if you do it with proper knowledge, you may find it easy to write a job-winning cover letter. The only thing you need to do is to structure your cover letter as we have shown here and format your cover letter according to the tips given below.

A good cover letter should be made with the following structure.

When you put all these together and make a cover letter, it looks like below at the end.

How to write a cover letter?

Now you know what are the basic parts that a cover letter should have. Now let’s see how to write an impressive cover letter with ten simple steps.

We have introduced a 10 steps tutorial to write a job-winning cover letter in 2022. This will be a great source for anyone who does not know how to write a cover letter. So, here we go.

Step #01 – Choose a perfect cover letter template

The first thing you need to do is to pick a cover letter template that suits your job. If you go to our templates library you will find well-formatted and tried-and-tested cover letter templates. Choose a template that matches your resume and start writing your cover letter.

Our cover letter builder will provide you the ability to generate a tailored cover letter in minutes. So you don’t need to waste hours of time writing your cover letter.

If you wish to write it on your own, let’s continue.

Step #02 – Create an impressive cover letter header

It is a good idea to start your cover letter with the contact information section the same as in your resume. We simply call this section a cover letter header.

Here you have to include your much-needed contact information such as:

Other than this information you can include any links to your professional websites and social media profiles and the information about your personal websites or blog sites if there are any. For example:

What you shouldn’t do in your cover letter header?

Maybe this is a problem you might have. Yes, there are actually some things you should not do in your cover letter header. Let us examine them one by one.

Don’t use an unprofessional email – You are writing a professional document that will help you to get your job. So you have to take maximum care of the professionalism here. Therefore you need to make your email address professional. Make it with your first and last names with a valid email service provider. For example:

“First name + last name @ email service provider.com”

[email protected]

Step #03 – Include the recipient’s address and the date

The next step is to specify the address of the recipient of the cover letter. Enter the name and position of the hiring manager. Then enter the address of the company name.

Usually, you can find this address easily in the job advertisement. If you can’t find it, you can do research on the Internet, LinkedIn, and company social media profiles to find the office address.

Next to the name and address of the recipient of the letter, you should write the date of writing the cover letter. But this is an optional piece of information. However, if you include it, be sure to include it as mentioned below.

There are usually several ways to enter a date. One of the main date formats is the month first, then the date, and finally the year. (E.g. October 30, 2020.) You can enter the date in numbers only. There are two methods as American and British. The traditional British format is 30/10/2020, but in American format, the date format has to change as of 10/30/2020.

Step #04 – Insert a subject line that describes your cover letter intent

A subject line makes a brief and clear statement of the reason for writing your cover letter. This is very similar to the subject line of an email box.

You have the right to write the subject line creatively. But you have to think about how relevant it is to your cover letter. If you write this correctly, you will save space and time in explaining why you are writing this cover letter in the cover letter body.

Sometimes job advertisements advise you on how to write the subject line. Sometimes they ask you to mention the job reference number. Or write down the job location and position. You need to read the job advertisement and decide how you need to write the subject line of your cover letter.

Here are some example subject lines:

Step #05 – Greet the hiring manager with a proper salutation

Do you know to whom you should address the cover letter you write?

This is more crucial information than you think. Even if it is a small piece of information, it is an important factor that will affect the success of your cover letter.

Imagine that if a letter comes to you in your name, you look at it with great attention. Isn’t that right?

Now it’s time for us to say goodbye to the traditional greeting, “Dear Sir or Madam.” Now there are super different ways you can address a recruiter. You can directly address the cover letter by the name like, “Dear Mike Anderson.”

But before that, you need to find out who is the hiring manager.

We recommend LinkedIn as the best way to know your hiring manager’s name. This is a professional network. Almost every professional in the world has its own profile on linkedin.com . So it’s not a difficult task anymore to find the name of your hiring manager.

Suppose you want to find out the name of the hiring manager at Resumoz. All you have to do is go to LinkedIn and type in the search bar as HR manager at Resumoz or Head of the HR department at Resumoz. Instantly the name of the person concerned will be shown to you as follows.

See how easy it is?

Once you know the exact name of the person to whom you want to address the cover letter, you can address him directly by his name.

But if you are unable to find the name through LinkedIn, you can go to the website of the relevant company and go to its “Team” page to find the details of the relevant people.

Do not worry if you are still not able to find the name of the person to whom it may concern. There are better options for you to salute the person.

Take a look at these greeting options too.

Step #06 – Write an impressive cover letter opener

If you do not write an impressive opening paragraph, the recruiter will not spend time to continue reading your cover letter. Even if you don’t like it, that’s the bitter truth.

So you need to know how to write that part in a very catchy way and win his attention and consent.

Take a look at the example below.

Bad Example

I am writing this in response to your software engineering job advertisement. I would like to hold a relevant position in your organization. I am passionate about that. I have 5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer so I think I am suitable for this position.

The above example has no impressive feeling. There is no important information or mention of your value in the above example. It only states that you have some years of experience and that you think you deserve the job. Right?

But this is not what a recruiter expects from your cover letter opener. They want to know your worth. So you need to use your skills to show the achievements you have made. If possible, try to show your achievements by adding numeric values. They value the quantified results you have got more than the job duties and responsibilities.

You can get more positive results by showing your passion and interest in the profession. Then the recruiting manager will feel that you are the right person for the job.

The following example will show you how to open a cover letter properly.

Good Example

I have a huge interest in the digital marketing field and I was delighted to see an SEO Specialist opportunity in your company. I have worked for about 5+ websites and have 2 years of experience as a digital marketer. In each case, I have managed to increase the monthly organic traffic from 0 to 10,000 in two years. My SEO and social media marketing skills have helped me a lot to achieve them. I hope these experiences will make it very easy for me to work in your organization.

Step #07 – Explain how you could be the perfect pick for the job

You see a job vacancy in your dream company. Suppose you even have the qualifications needed to apply for that job. However, if you fail to show your value properly in your cover letter, you will not be able to reserve a seat in the company.

So to impress recruiters you need to show why you are suitable for the position. It is important not only to describe your skills, experience, etc. related to the job but also to explain the benefits to the organization if you are recruited.

Let the recruiters know that you are a good problem-solver. However, just mentioning your problem-solving skills is not enough. Explain a situation where you solved a particular problem and describe how you did it. In other words how you used your existing skills to solve that problem.

To further keep the recruiter’s attention to you, find a problem in the company you are applying for, and explain how you can solve it. Explain how you can help the company to grow with your skills and abilities. Then the recruiters will undoubtedly be impressed with you.

Step #08 – Explain how you could be a good fit for the company

Here you have to explain that you are a very friendly person and are very willing to work with them.

It is true that recruiters always give priority to those with relevant experience. But they give even more opportunities if you are a good team player and can adapt well to the current environment of the organization.

Explain that you are ready to enjoy working with them. Tell him that this will be a rewarding career for you. Then they will know that you will be staying with them for a longer period and not be quitting your job quickly.

The secret of writing this paragraph is to show that you are very passionate about this job.

Explain away your work gaps eloquently

Do you have a clear career gap in your resume? Did you know that it is not so suitable for your job hunt? The real solution to this is to briefly explain away the reason for your work gap.

So your cover letter is the best place to explain why. There are probably job gaps in your resume for the following reasons.

If there is a long work gap between any of the jobs in your resume due to the above reasons, briefly describing the reasons for that will help you to reduce your risk of losing the job opportunity.

Step #09 – End up your cover letter with a call to action

In the end, you should finish the cover letter with a good call to action.

If there are other factors that you could not say in the previous paragraphs and that affect the recruiter’s decision, mention them here. If you can finish the cover letter with a reason for them to contact you, that means you have done well.

Tell the recruiter that you are waiting for a response from him. But it has to be polite and open-ended. Tell him you would like to tell more valuable information about yourself in the interview.

Finally, don’t forget to thank the hiring manager for sacrificing their precious time reading your cover letter.

Step #10 – Use the right formal closing

After you have written the last paragraph of the cover letter, all you have to do is say goodbye to the reader in a professional manner. You can use several methods for this as below.

After one of these phrases, you can follow it with either your full name or signature.

Top Secret – Add the Postscript, A great hack a very few uses

Every part we talked about earlier must be in a standard cover letter.

But did you know that adding a postscript makes your cover letter stand out from the rest?

Although this is a piece of information mentioned at the bottom of a cover letter, it is often the recipient’s eye that goes first.

If you have any special information to mention in this section, that would be great. It may not be relevant to the job you are applying for. But it must be very captivating. The recruiters might find that is a very interesting fact about you.

P.S. – I have successfully managed to bring 100,000+ monthly organic visitors to the company website where I have worked before within 6 months and I am super excited to reveal that top secret to you.

How to format your cover letter?

A cover letter should always look professional, clean, and clear. Also, your cover letter should match the resume that you are sending. Because this document is not just a paper. This is a factor that will determine your future. So follow the tricks we have outlined below to better protect its legibility. That will make it easy for you to create a job-winning cover letter.

Keep it short

A cover letter should generally be easy to read and concise . It should also contain everything that should be in a typical cover letter.

When writing a cover letter, always consider the number of words in it. Try to keep it at 300-400 words level as much as possible. Avoid extending this limit of words and also more than one page. Extending the cover letter further may make recruiters reluctant to read it.

Writing a cover letter within this range can be a hard task at first. But if you use our cover letter builder this will not be a difficult task at all. Our Free Cover Letter Builder is made for people like you. So why are you still late to use it? Hurry!

Use a good cover letter font

As mentioned earlier, the clarity of a cover letter is very important. So it is very important to choose a clear font type when you create it.

We can recommend fonts like Arial, Calibri, Verdana, Times New Roman, Roboto, etc. as suitable fonts for a cover letter. But you have to choose only one of these and make the whole cover letter. Do not use multiple fonts to destroy the consistency of the cover letter.

When we talk about font size, you can maintain the professionalism of the cover letter by keeping a font size between 10-12 points. But you can use a larger font size in the cover letter header. However, remember to use the same font type and font size in your cover letter which you have already used in your resume. That will give the recruiter a sense that you are a well-organized candidate.

Finally, don’t forget to Proofread your cover letter

As humans, we can make mistakes. That’s not something we can say no to. But if there is a mistake in the cover letter we write, it will not be a good thing for our job hunt. If a recruiter finds a mistake in our cover letter, we cannot make excuses. Then we have failed.

That is why we should proofread the cover letter twice or thrice to see if there are any errors before submitting it. Often when you proofread like that there may be spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, etc. Fix them.

Don’t stop there. Give your cover letter to a friend or a professional you know to re-examine it. Maybe he can see some mistakes that you did not see. Be sure to submit a cover letter at the end without any grammar, spelling, and typo errors.

Jacob Smith

Certified Professional Résumé Writer, Career Expert

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Writing Your Research Statement and Cover Letter

September 15, 2022 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am.

When: Thursday, 9/15, 10:00-11:00 am

Join representatives of the UNC Writing Center to learn about the purpose of cover letters and research statements, how they work together as part of your application packet, and how you can draft the most compelling versions of these critical documents.

This event is co-sponsored by The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the UNC Writing Center.

How to Write a Cover Letter (Cover Letter Tips + Free Templates)

A well-written cover letter to accompany your resume can help you stand out to employers and significantly impact a hiring manager’s decision to call you for an interview.

David Grimes, director of people and talent operations at Taulia LLC, gave us his insight as a hiring manager and human resources industry veteran:

“From my perspective, I sincerely appreciate cover letters, as they signal to me an amplification of interest and offer an additional opportunity to convey that [job candidates] have taken the time to truly review the position or organization and see an alignment.” He notes that “when done well, a cover letter can provide a window into the candidate as they picture themselves at our organization.”

So, how do you make a cover letter that influences hiring managers to interview you ? We’re here to show you!

Our detailed guide will cover:

Table of Contents

What is a cover letter for a resume, and how long should a cover letter be?

What should a cover letter look like?

How to write a cover letter for a job

How to make a cover letter fast

Cover letter tips

Cover letter examples

How to write a cover letter: important takeaways, how to write a cover letter faq, more help writing a cover letter.

What is a cover letter, and how long should a cover letter be?

A cover letter is a one-page business letter, between 250 and 500 words, that can:

All cover letters follow a basic business letter structure that looks like this.

What to include in a cover letter

A professional cover letter must contain:

Your contact information

The current date

The hiring manager’s name and title

The company’s address

The hiring manager’s email address

A salutation (greeting)

An opening paragraph

Body paragraphs

A closing paragraph

How to write a cover letter

What should a cover letter say? Follow the steps below to learn what to write in a cover letter to pique a prospective employer’s interest.

STEP 1 Add your contact information.

Place your name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and email address in your cover letter heading. Your email address should be professional like [email protected] and not personal like [email protected] Include links to your LinkedIn profile or professional online portfolio if you have one.

STEP 2 Add the recipient’s address.

Here’s how to address a cover letter correctly:

First, write the current date followed by a space. Then include the hiring manager’s name and title, company address and hiring manager’s email address (in that order).

It should look like this:

Pro tip Always follow instructions in the job ad. If an ad directs you to address your cover letter to a human resources team member or the HR department, use the information the prospective employer provides for the recipient’s address.

STEP 3 Address the hiring manager (by name).

Writing a good cover letter salutation is relatively straightforward. Always start with “Dear Ms., Mr., Miss or Mrs. [surname]. If you do not know the person’s gender or marital status, then use “Dear [hiring manager’s full name],” but if your research doesn’t turn up a name, then use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team.” If you know their title, then write “Dear [Title].

Don’t use informal language like “Hello,” or “Hi,” or old-fashioned salutations like “Dear Sir or Madam,” or “To Whom it May Concern,” to greet the person reading your letter.

Pro tip What if you don’t know the hiring manager’s name? Try to find it! Doing so conveys resourcefulness, interest and determination — all qualities most hiring managers want in their employees. Search the company’s website, look on LinkedIn or call the HR department and ask. It can’t hurt!

STEP 4 Grab the hiring manager’s attention with a powerful opening paragraph.

The first few sentences of a cover letter are the most important because they have to grab the reader’s attention immediately and keep them on the page. But how do you start a cover letter?

Think of your introduction as a sales pitch: You’ve got to convey your message clearly and concisely in a compelling way. Try some of the following time-proven techniques to get prospective employers to notice you and want to learn more:

Exude confidence, passion and enthusiasm.

Talk up your skills and experience.

Show you’ve done some research.

Mention an interesting fact or statistic from an article, news story or the company’s website.

Highlight an impressive accomplishment , award or honor and use numbers when possible.

Be creative.

Tell a story about why you are applying.

Mention a shared contact (only if you’re sure it’s a positive connection!)

STEP 5 Tell them why they should hire you in the main body of your letter.

While your resume should summarize the most notable aspects of your career, the body of your cover letter should paint an in-depth picture of your professional life and provide insight into your personality. Here’s how to write a cover letter body that complements your resume and stands out from the competition.

NEED MORE GUIDANCE? Check out our extensive library of cover letter examples for most job titles in every industry. We also have matching resume examples !

STEP 6 Write your closing paragraph.

When you write a cover letter closing statement, make it clear that you’re excited about the possibility of working for the employer and that you are confident you have the expertise to be successful at the job.

You must also thank your reader for their time and consideration, and perhaps most importantly, end with a call-to-action that encourages the reader to follow up with you.

Remember that you’re writing a cover letter to a specific person, so thank them for their time and consideration. You should also encourage the recipient to follow up (e.g., “I look forward to further discussing my qualifications with you.”).

Here are a few examples of how to create a cover letter closing statement.

STEP 7 Sign off.

What goes in a cover letter sign-off? Honestly, it’s not complicated, but you have to get it right if you want a chance at the job.

That means you must be respectful, polite, professional and formal.

Now that you know what to put in a cover letter don’t forget to proofread your document at least once when you’re finished writing. Typos and grammatical and spelling mistakes can reduce your chances of getting hired. When you’ve finished, have someone else read it for you, too, just to be sure it’s application-ready.

And there you go! That’s how to write a good cover letter.

Cover letter writing checklist

The best place to start a cover letter is a professional cover letter template .

Download one for free to create a cover letter from scratch, or use one of our expertly designed templates with our Cover Letter Builder to make a cover letter in minutes.

Our templates frame your qualifications with the correct cover letter format , and they meet the latest applicant tracking system (ATS) requirements.

Our builder makes writing a cover letter a snap with:

Did you use our online resume maker ? If so, upload your new resume to our cover letter generator to get a cover letter customized to match your resume

Pro tip Always match your cover letter template to your resume template for a polished job application.

Make a cover letter with My Perfect Resume

Our Cover letter builder can help you write the perfect cover letter. Start Now!

Cover letter writing tips

We’ve given you almost all the cover letter advice you need, but we’ve saved some of our favorite pointers for last.

Here are our top five tips for how to write a cover letter that makes an impact:

TIP #1 Follow instructions. This is probably the most important cover letter tip: Read the job description carefully and do what it says. If the job posting says to send your letter as a PDF, don’t send a Word document. If it tells you to send your cover letter as an email attachment, then do so. If the job posting says to write your cover letter in the body of an email, then do that. If you fail to follow all instructions in a job ad, you will likely not be considered for the position.

TIP #2 Tailor your cover letter to the job. Hiring managers know a generic cover letter when they see one — and they usually ignore them. That’s why it’s critical to customize your cover letter to show your enthusiasm for the specific job and company you’re applying to. To do this, use keywords from the job description when they apply to you. Doing so also ensures ATS software can find you and signals to hiring managers that you meet their requirements. Our Cover Letter Builder makes it fast easy to customize a cover letter for every job you target.

TIP #3 Don’t apologize. If you have some of the required skills for the job, play them up but never point out the skills you lack. The same goes for experience: If you are qualified for the job but don’t have much experience in the field, don’t apologize. Instead, focus on experiences like volunteering, school projects and community service you’ve done that make you a good fit and play up your transferable skills.

TIP #4 Don’t overshare. While using your cover letter to explain a career change or job gap is a good idea, sharing every detail about your life or career is not a good idea. Here are some of the biggest no-no topics to keep to yourself when you create a cover letter:

TIP #5 It’s possible to be too enthusiastic. We stress the importance of conveying enthusiasm for the job, passion for the work, and a keen interest in the company when you write a cover letter because you should. However, use caution when displaying your zeal for the role. Keep the tone professional, be genuine and never present yourself as desperate.

Cover letter examples by job and industry

Get inspired with our professionally crafted cover letter examples for top jobs and industries. You can use them with our builder to make a cover letter that’s as unique as you are.

Cover letter examples by situation

Example of a cover letter for a job with no experience.

Use this example to help you make a cover letter for a career change.

Here’s what to include in a cover letter if you have employment gaps .

Example of how to write a “cold call” cover letter.

This example shows how to write a cover letter for a job that isn’t advertised.

Here’s how to write a cover letter for a temporary to a permanent position.

Example of a cover letter for a job with the same company.

This example shows how to write a cover letter when seeking a promotion.

Let’s recap the basics of what to include in a cover letter one more time:

What is a cover letter for a job application?

A cover letter is a business document that should complement a CV or a resume as part of an application for a job. Its purpose is to give insight into the job applicant’s personality, career goals and details about their work experience, skills and education.

Is a cover letter necessary?

Yes! Unless a job posting specifically states not to send one, writing a cover letter for a job application is a must if you want to stand out from the competition. Sending a cover letter along with your resume shows recruiters that you are a professional who is sincerely interested in the job and willing to go the extra mile for it — traits employers look for in job candidates.

What do I write in a cover letter?

Generally, cover letters should tell employers why you’re the best fit for your target job. Write about your background and how it fits the job, show your personality, and explain precisely what you can do for the employer and how. It’s also a good idea to explain unique situations like job gaps and the reasons for a career change in a cover letter.

Of course, you should also include your name, contact information, links to professional profiles, the employer’s address, addressee’s name and title, a greeting, a job applicant’s contact information, the employer’s address, a compelling introduction, a strong closing inviting the hiring manager or recruiter to follow up and a formal sign off.

What does a good cover letter look like?

A good cover letter looks like a classic business letter. Some cover letter templates have splashes of color, like this one:

Kellie Hanna

Content strategist, career advice expert.

Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

Get Hired Fast: Best Cover Letter Writing Tips of 2022

From researching the company to cutting the fluff, these seven cover letter tips will help you write a cover letter in the right frame of mind.

5 Qualities Found On Every Successful Cover Letter

5 Qualities That Are Part of Every Successful Cover Letter

Ever wonder what makes one cover letter effective but not another? Read on to learn the secrets of a good cover letter.

4 Ways A Cover Letter Can Launch Your Career

More than an introduction, a cover letter could take you to the next level. Read more to find out how.

RESUME BUILDER

COVER LETTER BUILDER

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How to Write a Cover Letter to Get a Job This Year

Cover letters can make a huge difference in scoring you the all-important job interview. What do you need to know about writing a cover letter for your next job application?

How to Write a Cover Letter

Writing a stand-out job application is about more than turning in a stellar resume. Cover letters are just as essential when it comes to making a good impression in your job search. Even entry-level positions require cover letters these days. To write a cover letter that tells employers what they need to know about your strengths and qualifications, read on.

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a short letter that introduces who you are as an employee to the recruiter and why you would be the perfect fit for a specific position. Essentially, it’s your first chance to communicate with a recruiter. All job seekers need to write the best cover letter they can to impress their prospective employers into scheduling that coveted first interview.

The Argument for Writing a Cover Letter

Cover letters immediately set you apart from other applicants who don’t even submit a cover letter. Even if the cover letter is listed as optional, it is still a good idea to take the time to craft one for your job application.

While your resume acts as a summary of your work experience and accomplishments, it doesn’t delve into who you are as a potential employee. A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself to the hiring manager on your terms. It will display your personality and background, allowing for the hiring manager to better connect you to the position you are applying for.

Cover Letter Structure

There are five key elements to writing a great cover letter: the header, the introduction that hooks your potential employer’s attention, a list of your most impressive achievements, an explanation of why those achievements make you the perfect candidate and a call-to-action.

The header should contain all your contact information. This includes:

It should also address the hiring manager directly. You need to include:

2. Introduction and hook

One of the best ways to hook a potential employer’s attention is by addressing them by name. Try to avoid using any of the following salutations:

This can come off as impersonal or lazy. You want to perform your due diligence in researching the company you want to work for, so address your letter to the specific person in charge of hiring for this position.

The first sentence of a cover letter can also be crucial. Many recruiters will often hear phrases such as “I am excited to apply for [Job Position]”. Instead, start by giving the hiring manager a reason or two why you believe you are the perfect fit. This can also help give you space to go over other previous work experiences and achievements in the body of your cover letter.

3. Opening Paragraph: Most Impressive Achievements

The first paragraph should not be a rehash of your resume. Rather, you need to list your most impressive (and relevant) work experiences, achievements and skill sets that are relevant to the job posting. This paragraph doesn’t need to be too long since you will go more in-depth in the next paragraph.

4. Second Paragraph: Why You are the Perfect Candidate

This paragraph is perhaps the most critical to the cover letter. It is where you need to explain why your previous work experiences and achievements make you the best possible fit for any given position. Having the job description on hand will be especially useful here. Elaborate on your experiences and how they match this current job description will let the hiring manager know that you are the right person for the job.

5. Closing Paragraph: Call to Action for the Interview

The final paragraph should reiterate your enthusiasm for the position, and sum up to the hiring manager why you would be the perfect fit. Finally, end your letter by stating you are available for an interview at their earliest convenience.

Tips to Make Your Cover Letter Shine

Once you have finished writing your cover letter, do the following:

FAQ: How to Write a Cover Letter

Cover letters can be understandably difficult to write from scratch for every single application. This is where using cover letter samples and builders can come in. Of course, you also don’t want to send in a letter that sounds as though you simply copied and pasted from a template either.

The difference between a generic cover letter and one that can help you land an interview all lies in customizing it for each hiring manager and the company. This means getting to know more about the company culture, values, mission statement, and other important facts, so you can address these areas in your letter, and how you can contribute.

Cover letter templates can help shape your professional cover letter into one that stands out above the rest. Following these templates and cover letter examples can also give you a better idea of what hiring managers are looking for in a good cover letter.

If you are still having trouble writing an effective cover letter, ResumeNerd’s blog has plenty of helpful cover letter writing tips, cover letter templates and other cover letter examples for you to use.

Cover letters should not be longer than one page. Ideally, they should be under 3/4 of a page, but if you believe that your accomplishments or past work experience will make you truly stand out, then you may want to write one full page.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc . Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.

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SHRM GLOBAL

How to Write a Great HR Cover Letter

Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organization’s culture, industry, and practices. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRM’s permission. To request permission for specific items, click on the “reuse permissions” button on the page where you find the item.

While you might read hundreds (or thousands) of cover letters as part of your HR job, it can be a challenge to write one of your own. Where do you begin? What should you include? How do you get someone to read it carefully? And probably the most important question: Do you still need one?

The answer is yes . A cover letter is still an important tool in an effective job search. The cover letter's job is to give the reader specific information tailored to the open position. It is also the perfect place to show passion for your career. You want to go above and beyond what's on your resume by giving a personal touch to your achievements and stories of success.

You're likely familiar with the basics of a cover letter. You should have a strong opening that highlights an accomplishment, talks about your excitement for the job or shares a networking connection. The body should showcase your most relevant stories of success and skills (using either paragraphs or bullet points), and your closing should thank the reader for their time. But a cover letter is also an opportunity to stand out by tailoring your message.

What follows is an overview of the various types of cover letters, how to decide which one you should use and how to best personalize your cover letter to capture your reader's attention.

Types of Cover Letters

Did you know there are many types of cover letters? You're likely familiar with the traditional cover letter that responds directly to a job posting, but there are actually several versions you might need to utilize in your job search. Some of the more common types include:

Job-Posting Reply Letters

Your "normal" cover letter. This cover letter is tailored to a specific job posting and company. Key Tip: Focus on demonstrating why you are the best candidate for the role by showcasing specific skills and achievements tailored to the open position.

Cold-Call Letters

A letter used to reach out to a company or recruiter to explore potential opportunities. You're not responding to a particular job posting but instead introducing yourself to a company you'd like to work for. Key Tip: A cold-call letter needs to grab the reader's attention. Consider a powerful first sentence highlighting your best result or answering a specific problem: "Does your organization need a proven diversity and inclusion expert with 20+ years of experience?"

Recruiter Letters

A recruiter letter is simply a letter sent to a recruiter or search firm. You'll use this kind of letter when you want to respond to job postings placed by a search firm or to explore potential roles the recruiter is trying to fill.

Networking Letters

This letter's purpose is exactly as it sounds: to network with a colleague, an acquaintance, a former manager and anyone else who can help your search.

Key Tip: Immediately let your contact know why you're reaching out and how they can help you. Are you seeking a recommendation? A new connection to get your foot in the door at a company? Keep the letter brief and to the point.

Should You Write an E-Note or Traditional Letter?

An e-note is simply a letter sent in the body of an e-mail rather than a stand-alone letter in a separate attachment. There's no need to let the recipient know you're enclosing a cover letter—just write it in the e-mail itself.

An e-note is shorter than a traditional cover letter attachment and doesn't have the normal heading (with your name, contact info and formatting that matches your resume). Both an e-note and a traditional cover letter should be customized to the job and focused on your achievements.

In most cases, an e-note is the best approach with just a few exceptions. If you're submitting your documents to a database or e-mailing a top executive (like a CEO or member of a board), you'll still want to use the traditional cover letter. If you're simply e-mailing your resume, use an e-note instead.

Key Tip: I recommend writing a traditional cover letter and then copying and pasting the body of the letter when you need to use an e-note (simply remove the format/heading). Then read through it to make sure it isn't too long for an e-mail.

Write Separate Cover Letters for Specific Jobs

There's no doubt that an effective cover letter needs to be written for individual jobs and companies. But how? Focus on your best achievements, relevant skills and something that the resume may not have: a personal touch!

Look through your resume for some of your best stories and proudest moments. Maybe you reduced the average time-to-hire by weeks or lowered the monthly health insurance premiums by 36 percent. Consider using these results within your cover letter by sharing the story in detail, with information on how you went above and beyond.

Also, consider showcasing your best skills, whether they are talent sourcing, creating job descriptions, preparing budgets, onboarding, benefits coordination, project management or any other HR-related function. Don't forget about leadership, mentoring and training—key skills for many HR positions. You can also share your relevant education, training, certifications, credentials and organizational activities, including being a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Lastly, don't forget the human touch. Write about why you are passionate about what you do. Why do you love HR? What skills are you fantastic at? Why are you the perfect fit for this role? How can you help transform the organization's HR efforts?

The best piece of advice when writing a great cover letter is to tailor it to your goal . Think about your best, most relevant skills and achievements that you want to showcase. Then add a personal touch about why are you excited about this opportunity. Taking a few minutes to customize your cover letter will improve your chances of achieving your goal: to earn an interview.

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE COVER LETTER

Laura Fontenot, ACRW, CPRW, is an award-winning expert resume writer who has helped thousands of clients excel in their job search for more than 15 years. She offers a complimentary resume review at www.masterworkresumes.com and at linkedin.com/in/laura-fontenot-acrw-cprw .

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How to Write an Internship Cover Letter: Examples & Tips

Reviewed by Jacob Imm

Mar 18, 2022

Before the days of applying for jobs online, the cover letter had the perfect name; it was the cover page for your paper resume. Today, the cover letter doesn’t physically cover anything. It’s simply one of the many digital attachments you’ll add to your internship application form.

While your cover letter is no longer the first page of your application, it’s still the hiring manager’s first impression of you as a person. Whether you’re on the job search or you’re applying for an internship position that could carry you straight into your career, it’s essential to make that introduction count.

This guide on writing an internship cover letter will help you put your best foot forward.

What is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?

Without a solid understanding of a cover letter’s purpose, it’s easy to wander off track when writing it. So, before we provide writing tips and internship cover letter examples, let’s explore the importance of a strong cover letter in the hiring process.

In short, a strong cover letter gives you the chance to:

If you see that a cover letter is optional for an application, don’t skip it. According to a ResumeLab survey of hiring managers, “83% [of] respondents claimed that a great cover letter can secure you an interview even if your resume isn’t good enough.”

That figure may seem high, but think about the information that document holds. Your cover letter offers hints about your personality, your writing skills and your goals—all things that a resume can’t do.

Writing An Internship Cover Letter, Step by Step (With Examples)

A typical cover letter for an internship should include five sections:

Open up a blank document, make yourself some coffee or tea, and follow these five steps for a top-notch cover letter.

Step 1: The Header

A header provides essential information at first glance. Your header should include your full name, your email address, your phone number and, if relevant, your physical or home address. This section of your header can be aligned in the center or left justified, depending on your preference of format.

Below your personal information, you should include the date and the hiring manager details on the left side of the page.

An Example Header

Jane Doe, Hiring Manager

Example Company Name

City, State, ZIP code

555.123.4567

[email protected]

Step 2: The Greeting

The greeting sets the tone for the rest of the cover letter; aim to be courteous and conversational. A greeting is also incomplete without a name. Always try to address the hiring manager by name to prove you’ve done your research.

In professional workplaces, you should use their title and full name. For more casual businesses, you may opt to use only their first name.

Example Greetings

If you can find the name of the hiring manager:

Dear Ms. Jane Doe ,

Hello Jane ,

If you can’t address your letter to a specific person:

Dear Hiring Manager ,

Step 3: The Opening Paragraph

The first paragraph contextualizes your application and introduces you to the hiring manager. It should include your reason for applying and a high-level summary of your qualifications.

While you may be tempted to start with a line like, “I’m applying to work as an intern at Example Company,” aim for something more compelling. The hiring manager already knows which position you’re applying for; take this opportunity to wow them instead.

An Example First Paragraph

With my graduation from the Example School business program around the corner, I’m looking to bring my passion for marketing into a workplace that drives change in the industry. Between my in-school experience and my work helping entrepreneurs, I’m confident I can bring fresh new ideas to Example Company as an intern.

Step 4: The Body Paragraph(s)

The following one or two paragraphs should be where you sell yourself. Write about any significant accomplishments and the relevant experience you have. Adding statistics or verifiable facts can further elevate your cover letter.

An Example Second Paragraph

My knowledge of market trends and knack for visuals have propelled me to the top of my classes. My time in the debate club has allowed me to hone my communication skills. Outside of college, I’ve helped fellow students grow their businesses by offering my knowledge of digital marketing. For one dropshipping operation, I increased sales by 25% over three months by leveraging social media ads.

Find out more about North Central College

Step 5: The Closing Paragraph

This section is where you can relate your experience to the internship and explain why you’re the best candidate for the role. Be sure to include a thank-you and a sign-off at the end.

An Example Final Paragraph

These accomplishments are aligned perfectly with the work that Example Company does. Apart from my technical skills, I believe my ambition makes me an excellent candidate for this internship. To me, self-improvement is a never-ending journey, and I’m excited for the opportunity to learn from the best at Example Company.

Thanks for taking the time to read my cover letter. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Internship Cover Letter Tips and Tricks

Once you understand the framework of a standard cover letter, it’s time to fine-tune the appearance and the content. Here are some general cover letter tips that you can leverage when applying to internships.

Make a Strong First Impression

Before a hiring manager begins reading your cover letter, they’ll notice the formatting. Cover letters should be simple; there’s no need to go overboard with borders or graphics.

For a proper cover letter, be sure to:

Remember: Shorter is Better

You can value a company’s time and your own by keeping your cover letter short and to the point. Writing three or four paragraphs is sufficient, and it should all fit on one page.

To keep your cover letter on the shorter side, you can omit some of your accomplishments or your less relevant experience, as this information will be available on your resume.

Keep the Tone Conversational

Your writing should be professional without feeling robotic. Consider the following two sentences:

“I am writing this cover letter to apply for the internship at your company.”

“I’m writing to express my interest in Example Company’s summer internship.”

Notice how the first line feels somewhat sterile. The lack of contractions and plain language remove all of the personality from the sentence. On the other hand, the second line feels warm and engaging while remaining business-like. That’s the tone you’re striving to achieve.

Demonstrate Your Worth

The company you’re applying to knows you want to intern there; otherwise, you wouldn’t have sent them a resume! Instead of writing about why you want the internship, focus on how the company can benefit from taking you on as an intern.

Don’t Worry About Your Lack of Work Experience

Companies know that interns from colleges typically have little to no work experience. Rather than mentioning your lack of on-the-job experience, find ways to make your coursework and extracurriculars highlight your relevant skills.

For example, you can talk about:

Work Smarter, Not Harder

You should tailor your cover letter to each internship you’re applying to, but you don’t need to start from scratch every time. Instead, try drafting up a “template” cover letter with your major accomplishments, transferable skills, and tweak it to suit each new application.

Don’t Forget to Edit

There’s nothing more off-putting in a cover letter than an obvious typo or a formatting issue. These errors may seem insignificant, but to a hiring manager, they show a lack of attention to detail.

To perfect your writing before sending your application, try these proofreading tips:

Where to Find More Support for Writing Cover Letters

The best colleges recognize the important role that internships play in helping students reach their career goals and provide the necessary support to help students land these roles. Many schools offer cover letter workshops or help from career counselors. From answering questions like “ What is an internship ?” to explaining the differences in an externship vs. internship , you can always find help.

Look for a college like North Central College, where students and alumni can access online resources surrounding internships and jobs or work directly with the Office of Career Development to put their best foot forward.

For more advice on landing your dream internship, view our list of common internship interview questions and how to prepare.

Jacob Imm is the assistant director of communications at North Central College Office of Marketing and Communications. He has 11 years of collegiate communications experience and has worked with hundreds of college students. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

Tomaszewski, M. (2021, December 23). Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2022? Do I Need a Cover Letter? ResumeLab. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://resumelab.com/cover-letter/are-cover-letters-necessary

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