when do you need to send a cover letter brainly

The little-known truth about cover letters is: You do NOT always need to include a cover letter when applying for jobs, and you may be wasting hours sending cover letters that employers won’t read.

So if you’re wondering whether you should always submit a cover letter with your job application and resume, then keep reading.

After working for years as a recruiter , I’m going to share the exact situations where you should provide a cover letter and the situations where it’s not needed.

Should You Always Submit a Cover Letter?

Many people on LinkedIn and other sites will tell you that you should include a cover letter every time because it “can’t hurt,” but that’s not true…

Here’s how it CAN hurt you…

Writing a great cover letter takes a LOT of time and mental energy. So if it’s not making a difference, or not even getting read, then it  is hurting you in terms of wasted time and energy (I’d argue that writing a cover letter is the toughest and most time-consuming part of the process for many job seekers).

Writing a resume is tough, sure. But once you get it, you’re done. You spend 5-15 minutes tailoring it for each specific job you apply for, but that’s it.

Cover letters take a lot of time EVERY time (at least when done right).

That’s why it’s important to look at how important a cover letter is, and which situations it’s necessary and truly beneficial in.

3 Situations Where You Need to Send a Cover Letter:

There are a couple of specific scenarios where cover letters are necessary, and you should send one. This article by Harvard Business Review says it best:

In those cases, according to Harvard Business Review, you can boost your chances of getting the interview by writing a short letter to point out similarities between your resume and the job requirements (e.g. why you’d do well in their job )… rather than leaving the analysis entirely up to the hiring manager.

But this is only worth doing if you meet one or more of the criteria above, or a few other situations I’ll explain below…

Two more cases where you may want to include a cover letter:

First, you should send a cover letter if an employer specifically says it’s required on their website or job application form (however, having an optional field to include it is not the same as asking for it or saying it’s required).

And second, you should send a letter if you have a large gap in employment or something unusual in your background that you feel the need to explain, and you don’t feel your resume explains it well enough on its own.

(Although I do like addressing gaps in employment directly on your resume employment history section when possible. For example, if you took a year off to raise a kid, you could say: “2018-2019: One-year break from work to raise first child.” So do try to explain this type of thing on your resume if you can!)

When You Don’t Need a Cover Letter:

If you don’t fall into any of the situations we looked at above, then a cover letter is not needed.

For example, if you’re just applying for jobs online via job boards , via LinkedIn, on company websites via their “careers” page, etc., then I’d skip it! Send your resume and let it speak for itself. (And if you don’t have a great resume yet, you can get help  here. )

In my opinion, the extra time and effort just isn’t worth it when you’re applying online with no prior relationship, no referral, and no special knowledge of the hiring manager or job requirements that you can use to make your case for why they should interview you.

This is one reason I love LinkedIn EasyApply as a part of an online job search – because a cover letter is not required or even expected.

Of course, the final judgment call is yours!

If you’re applying to your dream employer and you don’t mind spending an hour writing up a great cover letter, then go ahead! It can’t hurt in a one-off scenario like this.

But the main point I’m trying to make here is:

You should be selective about when to send a cover letter, rather than feeling obligated to send it by default.

Recap: How Important is a Cover Letter?

The answer to how important a cover letter is depends on the hiring process and situation. If you read the information above, you now know when a cover letter is necessary/recommended, and when you probably shouldn’t bother.

And you’ve seen that cover letters do matter in some cases, but that doesn’t mean that you always need to send a cover letter.

And as mentioned earlier, the main benefit of this approach is time savings…

When you look at how much time and effort goes into writing each of these letters, it can add up to hours or days of wasted time if you’re sending cover letters without analyzing whether it’s necessary for the situation.

Tips for Writing a Good Cover Letter:

Now that we’ve answered whether a cover letter is necessary, and when it’s important, here are some tips and resources to help you in situations where you decide a cover letter is needed:

First, I’d always recommend keeping it brief, easy to read (no huge paragraphs or blocks of text without spacing), and personal.

It should feel like you’re talking directly to them! That means start with “Dear Bethany”, (for example), not with, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter”.

(Recruiters almost never care about a cover letter anyway. It should be for the hiring manager).

Also, make sure you’re saying the word “you” at least as often as you say the word “I”. Talk about their needs and their company, not just about yourself .

The purpose of your cover letter is to point out similarities between your background and the employer’s job requirements. You want to demonstrate why you’re likely to succeed in their specific role, to sell them on interviewing you! And you cannot do this without researching their job and understanding/discussing their job. So this letter isn’t just about you , it’s about them just as much.

To help you further, we’ve published two articles here on Career Sidekick with great cover letter info:

• 3 steps to writing a cover letter that stands out
• How to write a cover letter with no experience

If you follow the steps above, you’ll save time in your job search and maximize the number of interviews you get for the effort you put into your job applications!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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How to Write a Graphic Designer Cover Letter (3 Examples)

How to write a paralegal cover letter (2 examples), how to write a medical assistant cover letter (3 examples), how to write a research assistant cover letter (3 examples), how to write a software engineer cover letter (3 examples), how to write a hr cover letter (4 examples), how to write a data analyst cover letter (3 examples), how to write a bartender cover letter (3 examples), 5 thoughts on “should you always include a cover letter”.

Good stuff Biron! This is why Career Sidekick is my go-to career blog, I really admire how you take a contrarian approach to conventional job search/career wisdom!

Seems like almost every other career blog advises you to always submit a cover letter. Too bad these folks don’t consider the most important asset we all have: time!

Would being graduated out of college for 1.5 years and haven’t “launched” your career yet – getting a job in the field you got a degree in – count as something “unusual on your background” that you would need a cover letter for?

Thanks for the kind words. I don’t think you’d need a cover letter for this. Just make sure to “tailor” your resume to show the most relevant pieces of the work you have done, and to show your relevant educational background/degree. But if you’re not getting results with your resume, then it’s worth testing/trying a cover letter. My guess is that it’s not needed, and perfecting your resume will get more interviews.

Thanks for the advice Biron!

If I understand you correctly, is this an instance where you would recommend NOT using a chronological work history on a resume then?

And instead break up work experience history into a “relevant” and “other work experience” sections, since we’re trying to show specific relevant pieces of experience and educational background/degree?

I’d still keep it chronological. Just show the most relevant pieces of each past role, for the job you want now.

How about in my situation? I am looking for a job in marketing, but it has been five years and a few jobs since marketing has been the primary function of my job. My last few jobs have had a very little marketing focus and have been training, technical or sales in focus. Should I always write a cover letter to explain this when I am applying for marketing jobs?

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• Should You Always Send a Cover Letter?

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You’ve found your ideal job and you start thinking about the job application. What are the most important things to include? A resume is surely the key but what about the cover letter? Do you always need to send a cover letter?

Let’s examine the arguments for and against sending a cover letter, examine the benefits of a cover letter, consider the times when you probably don’t need to send one and the steps to writing the perfect cover letter.

COVER LETTERS ARE NOT QUITE AS RELEVANT ANY LONGER

Let’s start with the arguments against sending a cover letter with your job application. The truth is the world of job applications has changed a lot in recent years. As job applications have moved online, the cover letter has lost some of its power.

In the old days, you would send your job application by post. The cover letter made sense because it would explain to the hiring manager what your application is about and give an insight into you as a candidate. Nowadays, the application is mostly done online through a specific system.

This means you don’t have to explain your application’s purpose in the same way – the hiring manager knows what the information is about.

Furthermore, the digitalization of job applications has introduced the applicant tracking system (ATS). This algorithm checks your resume first and scans it for certain keywords the employer is looking for. Due to formatting, it tends to focus on the resume first. If your resume is not a match, then your cover letter won’t ever be picked because your application is automatically rejected.

For cover letters, this all means they aren’t as relevant any longer. The emphasis has moved to resumes and other elements of the job application – such as questionnaires some employers use as part of the online application process.

Even when applications are sent outside of a specific platform, they tend to be sent digitally via e-mail. In e-mails, the body of the e-mail has become the new cover letter and an extra attachment is often not needed.

In general, if you look at job descriptions and job postings, they don’t often mention cover letters in the list of things you need to send. For many , this is a sign the cover letter is no longer relevant.

But is this true?

COVER LETTERS ARE STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRASP WITH BOTH HANDS

The age of the cover letter is not over. You shouldn’t just ditch the cover letter altogether, as it can present plenty of opportunities for job applicants. You can make your job application better with a winning cover letter.

The key to cover letter’s relevance lies in its definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cover letter as:

“a letter that is sent with something to explain the reason for it or to give more information about it”

Your cover letter is an opportunity to pass on more information and this is important when it comes to judging whether you are the right person for the role or not.

The hiring manager will receive a number of resumes. Since most know you need to format the resume with the job posting in mind (to guarantee the ATS picks it up), the resumes tend to look similar. They will mention the same keywords and they’ll even have similar structures.

So, what sets your job application apart? Of course, the mighty cover letter! You can show personality in the cover letter and dig deeper into your passion for the role and your strengths as a candidate.

Besides, many people are still sending a version of the cover letter anyway. As mentioned above, the e-mail’s body has replaced the cover letter. But this is still essentially a cover letter even though it isn’t the traditional text-file or a written letter.

But the content of this remains exactly that of the cover letter. So even when people think they might not be writing a cover letter, they often are.

So, in many instances, you do want to send your job application with a cover letter intact – even if the employer doesn’t specifically request it. This is purely down to the benefits the cover letter comes with.

THE THREE BENEFITS OF INCLUDING A COVER LETTER TO YOUR APPLICATION

So, as the above shows, the cover letter is still a valuable member of the job application pack. You definitely don’t want to overlook it and it has an important purpose and function during the job application.

There are, essentially, three major benefits to sending a cover letter. These are:

Highlights your strengths, experience and accomplishments in a narrative manner

While the resume is a compact list of your skills and qualifications, the cover letter allows you to tell a story. We humans love stories – they thrill us and they leave us with memories. It’s not hard to understand then how effective it can be to tell your story to the hiring manager.

The cover letter allows you to give actual examples of your experience. You can create a scene in front of the hiring manager and show how you’ve used your talent. You can present your strengths in more detail and in a more compelling way than you can in a resume.

In a more practical sense, you are able to highlight things that might not make it to your resume. Your resume has length constrictions – you can’t add everything to it but you can bring up these important nuggets of information in your cover letter.

Outlines your interest in the role

The resume also doesn’t allow you to show much passion towards the role. It’s just about your skills and qualifications whereas the cover letter is the perfect place to show why you want the job. You can tell the hiring manager what the job would mean to you and what you’d do if hired. It allows you to show passion and excitement.

The simple act of writing a cover letter shows you’re motivated, especially when your cover letter is tailored to the role. Not everyone takes the time to write it anymore and if you do (and you nail the cover letter ), then you immediately stand out from the crowd.

Explains things in-depth and answers questions the resume might raise

Overall, the cover letter gives you the platform to explain your work experience and educational background in more detail. Your resume can sometimes raise questions.

Why do you have a gap in employment for three years? Why have you said you attended university but you didn’t graduate? Everyone’s past has things that might look odd when simply listed on a paper. But the cover letter is your chance to explain these little gaps and quirks.

This can be valuable. The hiring manager might have rejected you based on your resume but if you’re able to convince them with the cover letter, you might get a chance to make your case in the job interview.

There’s a lot of power and benefits to cover letter! In fact, Evelyn Salvador, author of Step-by-Step Cover Letters and principal of Creative Image Builders, told Monster , “Skip the cover letter, and you miss out on an opportunity to sell yourself”.

THERE ARE A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN A COVER LETTER SHOULD NOT BE SENT

With that in mind, there are a few instances when the cover letter is not worth it. The cover letter shouldn’t be an automatic addition to the job application and you definitely want to avoid it if:

• You are specifically told not to send it. If the job posting says in big bright letters they don’t want a cover letter, then don’t go and send it. It’s always important to follow the instructions to the letter – don’t start adding things just because you think they are worth it. Similarly, you always want to include a cover letter if the job posting specifically asks for it. On the other hand, if you’re not told either way, then you can always include the cover letter. The instructions are not just guidance to help you send a good job application. They can sometimes be part of the test – your inability to follow the employer’s instructions tells you’re either not paying attention or you don’t care what the authority says. Not very good characteristics, right?
• There isn’t a way to send it. Now, you might also need to apply through a special online application and this might limit the things you can send. You might need to apply directly on a platform with no space to upload your own file or the upload system might only state it’s for resumes. In these instances, you don’t want to start messing up the automatic system by including your own files.
• You’d be sending duplicates. You don’t want to make the mistake of typing a cover letter style introduction to your e-mail and then include an actual cover letter as well. It’s important to not duplicate cover letters but to stick to a single cover letter per the application.

In terms of the last point, you have two options. The first option is to use the e-mail’s body as your cover letter and to simply avoid including the resume as an attachment. This is actually common now in the era of digital applications. If you prefer to attach the cover letter as an attachment, then don’t write a lengthy e-mail body. You can simply state something along the lines of:

“Dear (hiring manager), I’m sending you my job application for the position of (job title). Please find my cover letter and resume attached to the e-mail.”

So, make sure you always follow the instructions. You don’t want to force a cover letter down the throat of the hiring manager if they really don’t want it. But just because they don’t specifically ask for it, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send it either!

THE TOP TIPS FOR WRITING A COVER LETTER

Of course, the most important thing is to ensure your cover letter is top-notch when you do send it. If you don’t pay any attention to your cover letter and just scribble down a few words, it might have turned out better not to send one.

In the end, the substance matters more and not whether you attach it or not to your application.

So, you want to learn the secrets of writing a cover letter. You can find plenty of tips from this post here . But as general tips, you should focus on these three steps to writing a successful cover letter:

• Tailor the cover letter to the job position. Always tailor your cover letter to fit the job position and the potential employer. You need to make sure you emphasize the skills and qualifications that would serve you the best in this specific position. Research the job posting and the company well before you start writing your cover letter. Make sure to also compare your cover letter with the resume you’re sending. You want to make them supportive but different from each other. You don’t want to repeat everything you’ve said in the resume in your cover letter.
• Keep it short. Your cover letter shouldn’t be your life’s story. It can’t read like a novel – the hiring manager’s attention span is famously fickle . A successful cover letter is concise and has around three to five paragraphs.
• Proofread and edit your cover letter well. Perhaps the most important thing is to ensure your cover letter is error-free. Ensure all the details, dates and other such information are correct. Never lie in your job application, including the cover letter! You can polish your image but don’t claim to be a great public speaker if you can’t do it at all. Proofread the cover letter multiple times to remove any grammar mistakes you might have made. It’s a good idea to have another person read it as well – it can give you insight into the effectiveness of the message and a fresh pair of eyes can often spot errors you might have missed.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The cover letter might have lost some of its importance to technology but it isn’t irrelevant. It’s a great way to market yourself further – it allows you to tell your story and it shows passion towards the role. It’s another tool for showing the employer why you’d be such a great pick.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you always have to send it or that you can just whip up a cover letter on the go. A successful cover letter is tailored and well-written – you need to take the time to learn the secrets of a good cover letter to ensure that when you attach it to your application , you are benefitting from it and not being dragged down.

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When Are Cover Letters Necessary (With Examples)

• How To Write A Cover Letter
• When Is A Cover Letter Necessary
• Free Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid
• Cover Letter Tips
• How To Sell Yourself In A Cover Letter

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Summary. Cover letters can be necessary and important to clarify a confusing resume , fill in employment gaps, and to add information that doesn’t fit in your resume. You should avoid sending a cover letter if the employer doesn’t want it or you are not tailoring it to each specific job.

Job trends have changed over the past few years with working from home becoming common, large amounts of people unemployed due to covid-19, and companies overwhelmed with applicants. Your biggest concern is making a great impression and getting the job.

The first question you need answered — are cover letters necessary?

A recent study found that employers place a significant amount of importance on cover letters. If you feel like you’re suddenly being asked to perform for an empty auditorium — you’re right. Employers want you to submit a cover letter but they’re never going to read it — probably.

Add that little tidbit of data to your desire not to write a cover letter and your belief that they do little to advance your application and you come up even more confused than before. We’re going to help you understand why and when cover letters are important so you can make an informed decision based on your particular situation.

Key Takeaways:

Showing the effort to add a cover letter, even when they aren’t required, shows that you’re willing to put in extra work and that can push you over the top and make you stand out.

Make sure to check the employer’s application requirements on whether or not to include a cover letter and if they don’t specify, err on the side of adding one anyway.

Submitting a poorly written or uninformative cover letter won’t help you chances of getting a job it’ll make you look unprofessional.

Cover letters serve to introduce you to the company in a way that resumes can’t so it’s important to include reasons why you want the job, about accomplishments that are hard to put in a resume.

A cover letter is a great place explain any oddities in your resume, such as employment gaps and special projects

When a Cover Letter Is Important

When not to send a cover letter, why write a cover letter, is a cover letter necessary to get a job, submitting a cover letter and resume, parts of a cover letter (with examples), importance of a cover letter faq.

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Can you determine if a cover letter is needed or not?

Obviously, not all jobs are the same, so their requirements probably aren’t the same. This is an absolutely correct assumption. The problem is there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules about what industries require a cover letter. Let’s first look at when a cover letter is important.

To clarify a confusing resume. If you have something in your resume that needs clarification, a cover letter is where you get your chance to do that.

Fill in or explain gaps in employment history. If you have a gap in your employment history , you can explain it in your cover letter.

Show willingness to relocate. If you live in a different region but are willing to relocate, that’s also important information.

Bolster your credentials if your new to the field. If you’re an entry-level worker , a cover letter can showcase your non-professional, related experience and convey your enthusiasm.

Showcase key skills. If you have specific skills or experience that relates directly to the position, highlight it in a cover letter.

Personal connection. If you have a connection to the company that’s hiring, your cover letter is a good place to point it out.

If you’re applying for a higher-level position. If you’re applying for a job in mid-management or above, you should always include a cover letter as part of the formal process.

The employer may request it. If the employer asks for a cover letter, even if you don’t feel it’s necessary, you need to include one with your job application.

To add information doesn’t fit in your resume. If you feel you have something relevant to say that’s not covered in your resume, then a cover letter lets you do that.

Okay, we just told you that having a cover letter is all but imperative, but what about when it’s not? There are definitely some situations where a cover letter isn’t required and then some situations when it will do you more harm than good. The following times are when it’s probably best not to send a cover letter:

When the employer doesn’t want one. Whether they tell you not to write one in the job description or they have software that doesn’t allow for one — these people don’t want to see a cover letter. Note: if it says cover letter optional, you should write one.

Your cover letter is full of errors. If your cover letter is full of mistakes and makes you look like a bad job candidate. A cover letter needs to be proofread and edited by someone who is good with language and grammar. If that’s not your strong suit, then you need to find some help or skip the cover letter.

You’re not customizing each cover letter. If you’re using a generic, non-customized, cover letter template that doesn’t add any value to your application, you can go ahead and skip it altogether.

A cover letter is your introduction to the company. It’s a handshake and a hello on paper. Even if only half of all employers read cover letters, and even if they’re just skimming them, this is still your chance to shine and to highlight your achievements, special skills , and experience.

It may be a formality and, for many, it’s not a fun part of their job search , but it can be the one thing that makes you stand out as a professional, gets you noticed, and creates a good impression.

Some percentage of hiring managers and recruiters do find cover letters valuable. A good cover letter showcases how you intend to add value to the company, suggests solutions for the role, and contains pertinent information about how to contact you and your availability.

Just think of it this way: if a hiring manager is on the fence about deciding between which candidate to call in for an interview, a stellar cover letter could be just the thing to help you pull ahead.

A cover letter is probably not necessary to get a job in most situations, but there’s always a chance that it might be, meaning there’s no harm in sending one. Your resume should give the employer the basics of your experience and they can do the math to determine if your skills line up with their opening.

Add to that the fact that most employers don’t do more than peruse a cover letter, at best. It seems like a cover letter is a thing of the past, but it’s not.

Unless the job posting specifically states that a cover letter isn’t necessary or you’re completing an online application and there’s no spot for a cover letter, then you should consider it necessary.

It’s all about showing a prospective employer that you know how to follow the rules and you’re willing to do what’s asked of you. When you think about it, just that reason alone is enough to include a cover letter.

Going further than job etiquette, if you land one of those employers who actually read cover letters, you definitely want to use it to your advantage. In today’s job market, with competition running hot, you want to use everything you can to be a desirable candidate.

You not only want to include a cover letter but you want to fill it with everything that the employer wants to hear. You need to research cover letter tips so you can craft the best cover letter that employer has ever seen.

You want to see that letter framed and hanging on their wall when you go in for a job interview — well, not really of course, but that’s the mindset you should have when you’re writing it.

All this talk about cover letters, it seems like we’re forgetting about the resume. Don’t worry, we’re not.

Writing a great resume that gets you hired is such an important task that it’s a topic for another article. Just know that if you’re submitting a cover letter, you definitely need to include a resume because that’s something that’s not only going to get read, but also resonate with future employers.

Now that we’ve stressed the importance of a cover letter, you’ve got a task ahead of you — to write a knock-their-socks-off cover letter that gets you hired. Make sure all of the standard parts of a cover letter are present:

The header. Include all of the contact information for yourself and the employer. Also, include the current date between the two sets of addresses.

Bill Billson 22 Happy Court Marigold, TX, 10987 April 26, 2021 Alice Allison New Company 5225 East Park Ln. Austin, TX , 73301

The greeting. Always do your best to find the hiring manager’s name . Check the job posting, the company website, and the company’s LinkedIn page . If you strike out online, simply call the company and ask who you should address your cover letter to for whatever position you’re applying for.

Never use “Mrs.” as it is difficult to determine the marital status of the hiring manager . Stick with Ms./Mr./Dr. (or any other professional title) followed by the person’s last name. If their name is gender-neutral, play it safe and use their full name.

If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or one of its alternatives . Never use “ Dear Sir or Madam ” or “ To Whom It May Concern ” — it’s not 1921 and the recruiter will assume you’ve copy/pasted the same cover letter all over town.

Dear Ms. Bickerly, Dear Pat Thompson, Dear Software Engineering Hiring Team,

Opening paragraph . Start by indicating the role you’re applying for and then grabbing the reader’s attention with an impressive and relevant accomplishment. You want to come across as enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and competent right off the bat.

When I saw a job posting for a Marketing Manager at ABC Inc., I knew I had to apply. I’ve long been a fan of ABC’s methodology of direct email campaigns alongside social media outreach and organic content marketing, and my 6+ years in Marketing have made me adept at each of these facets of an effective marketing strategy.

The body. Your cover letter’s body paragraph(s) should accomplish two things: explain why you’re a perfect candidate with all the right qualifications and experiences and explain why you’re attracted to this particular company. The first part is all about using the same important keywords from the job description.

The second part might involve a bit of research and creativity to determine the company’s values and show how they align with your own.

I have a special passion for content marketing that achieves big results. By strategizing a 6-month campaign that saw over 400 pieces of high-quality content produced, I got to watch XYZ’s organic traffic skyrocket by 569%. Even better, by streamlining our funnel with the sales and product teams, we were able to drive revenue by 36% YoY. My passion is helping customer’s find answers to questions, which is why your brand statement “Quality Solutions the First Time” really resonates with me.

Closing . Now all you have to do is close your cover letter with a reiteration of your excitement for the role and an invitation for follow-up steps. A call-to-action is the usual way to wrap things up; in practice, this simply looks like:

I look forward to discussing ABC’s marketing goals and helping achieve those goals. Thank you for considering me for the role.

Signature. If you’re sending a physical letter, add 4 spaces between your sign-off and your printed name. Then, put the signature between the two. If you’re emailing your cover letter, you can use an email signature or simply include your contact information after your typed name.

We recommend sticking with a classic like:

Sincerely, Best Regards, Thank you for your consideration,

When writing your cover letter, pay particular attention to the open because that’s where you’re going to get their attention and, hopefully, encourage them to keep reading. Then customize the letter so you really explain why you’re the perfect fit, brag a little if you can.

Finally, create a cover letter close that’s friendly and personal. Try not to concern yourself with wondering if they’ll read it or not, assume they will and do the best job you can.

How important is a cover letter?

A cover letter is very important. Including a cover letter with your resume will give hiring managers a complete picture of what you’d bring to the company than your resume can often provide. It will also often answer questions and alleviate concerns they may have after they read your resume.

If you have a gap in your work history, it’s difficult to communicate the reasons for that gap through your resume alone. In addition, it’s nearly impossible to share your enthusiasm for the job through resume bullet points, and employers want to see your passion for the position.

You can, however, include all of this information and more in your cover letter. Writing one lets you flesh out your resume and let your personality shine through, which can be an advantage when you’re competing for a job opening.

What happens if you don’t include a cover letter?

If you don’t include a cover letter, you risk getting passed up for another candidate who did. If you don’t include a cover letter for a company that specifically asked for one, your application will likely be thrown out immediately. (For the same reason, if the company specifically tells you not to include one, don’t include one.)

If the company doesn’t tell you what to do one way or another and you don’t write a cover letter, you risk losing your competitive edge.

Hiring managers have to narrow down the list of candidates one way or another. Suppose you and another candidate are similarly qualified, but they wrote a cover letter, and you didn’t. You’re generally more likely to be the one who gets eliminated.

This is because writing a cover letter when you weren’t asked shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile to do a job well, it helps hiring managers see that you’re passionate about the position, and it showcases your communication skills.

Not only that, but if hiring managers have a question or hesitation about your resume, your cover letter can often answer this for them, keeping you in the running.

Leaving out this extra communication channel lowers your chances of moving forward in the hiring process, especially if another candidate did write a cover letter that silences hiring managers’ concerns.

Should I include a cover letter if they don’t ask for one?

Yes, you should include a cover letter if they don’t ask for one. A cover letter allows employers to see your personality and passion for the job, and it allows you to truly sell yourself as a candidate.

You can do this by explaining why you’re interested in this particular position and how you and your skills would help further the organization.

This is important because if hiring managers are on the fence about offering you an interview based on your qualifications alone, your cover letter might be the piece that pushes your application over the edge to get to move forward to the next step in the hiring process.

There are some exceptions to this rule, however. Don’t include a cover letter if:

You can’t ensure it will be professionally written without typos or grammatical errors.

You’re going to use a template cover letter.

There isn’t a place on the online application to submit a cover letter.

Submitting a badly written or impersonal cover letter can do more harm than good, so if you can’t spend the time required to tailor it to the job or to have someone help you proofread it, it’s usually better to skip it entirely.

Do cover letters really make a difference?

Yes, cover letters really make a difference. When you apply for a job, hiring managers are looking for reasons to either move your application forward in the hiring process or to eliminate you as a candidate, and your resume, answers to application questions, and cover letter provide the only information they have on which to base this decision.

A cover letter can play a variety of roles in your efforts to sell yourself as a candidate, including:

Explaining any gaps in employment.

Highlighting your soft skills if you’re new to the industry and don’t have much relevant experience.

Demonstrating your personality to make a personal connection.

Showing how your skills and experience relate to the position.

Sharing why you want this particular position and what you would add to the company if hired.

It isn’t necessarily a given that you won’t get a job without a cover letter and will get the job with one, but if you don’t include one, you’ll certainly miss out on all of the benefits that a cover letter can give you.

To further understand the difference a cover letter can make, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. You have a stack of similar resumes that needs to shrink.

Wouldn’t you be more likely to keep a candidate in the running if you could get a glimpse of their personality and passion for the job than someone with a similar list of accomplishments who didn’t provide that information?

What do employers look for in a cover letter?

Employers look for conciseness, professionalism, and personality in a cover letter. The technical details will change based on the job and requirements, but these three elements carry through no matter what content you put in your cover letter.

Hiring managers don’t have time to read through multiple pages of fluff about your every accomplishment and professional goal, and some don’t even read one full page. They want you to get to the point about what you’re trying to say, so make sure your letter is lean and to the point.

As you write, there is no need to be overly stuffy, but you should add a little more polish than you would to an email you’d write to a coworker.

Follow formatting guidelines for formal letters by including the recipient’s name and address as well as your own. Maintain a polite tone of voice and proofread your letter, getting someone else to check over it for you if possible.

Within the parameters of professionalism, though, you should let your personality shine through.

Hiring managers want to see what you’re passionate about in your work and why they should choose you for the position, so make sure you share how your values and skills line up with the organization’s and how you’d use them to help further the company.

Columbia University Center for Career Education – How and Why to Write a Great Cover Letter

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Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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How To Write a Cover Letter: The Ultimate Guide

You have crafted a compelling resume, updated your LinkedIn profile, and even short-listed promising open positions. The only thing left to do is write your cover letters. And for many people, this task proves to be unexpectedly challenging. A lot of questions arise. How do I address these letters? How long should they be? What should I write? And do I still need cover letters in 2022? 

We have created this ultimate guide to answer all your questions and give step-by-step instructions on writing a good cover letter. This guide will teach you:

• How to format your cover letter
• What types of cover letters exist
• When do you need a cover letter even if an employer does not explicitly ask for one
• How to address and end a cover letter
• Common mistakes to avoid

We have also added cover letter examples and tips for making your documents even better.  

Let's get started! 

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a document you send with your resume. In this letter, you express your interest in a job opening, provide some context for your skills and experiences, and explain any parts of your resume that may be confusing or concerning for a potential employer. 

Some people believe writing cover letters is a waste of time and that recruiters rarely read them. Others argue that employers still value these documents for insight into a candidate's personality and motivations. And although there is some truth to the first point, studies show that cover letters are still well worth writing. 

For example, ResumeGo surveyed 236 hiring professionals to determine if cover letters impact their decision-making process. Here are some results:

• 87% of recruiters said that they do indeed read cover letters 
• 81% answered that they value letters written for a particular company and position more than generic ones
• 65% stated that cover letters significantly influence their hiring decisions

So, yes, your cover letter probably will be read. And yes, it better be good because it can be the reason you get an interview!

There are only two situations where you can skip cover letter writing. The first is if an employer explicitly states in their job ad that you should not include a cover letter. The second is if you are applying through an online form and there is no option to submit a cover letter. Otherwise, invest some time introducing yourself to a potential employer and showcasing why you will be a valuable asset to their company. 

And again, your cover letter is the best place to add important information that does not belong on your resume. You can use a cover letter to explain employment gaps, mention that you are willing to relocate, describe why you are changing careers, or address any other concerns a hiring manager might have. You can also use a cover letter to ask a company if there is an open position that suits your qualifications, request help in the job search process from people in your network, or mention a person who referred you for a job. 

Now, let's take a closer look at different types of cover letters. 

Types of Cover Letters

There are three main types of cover letters: 

• Application cover letters are the most common type. These are sent together with resumes to apply for a particular job opening. 
• Referral cover letters indicate a mutual contact you share with a recruiter. It might be an industry expert or an employee at the company where you are applying. Such letters are a powerful tool as hiring managers are likely to look closely at referred candidates.    
• Prospecting cover letters or letters of interest, on the other hand, are not written for a specific position. People send these letters to companies where they would like to work. Prospecting cover letters ask if there are any unpublished openings where your qualifications and skills would be helpful. 
• Networking cover letters are not sent to companies but instead to people in your network. These letters inform your former colleagues, alumni, or friends that you are looking for a new job and ask them if they know of any suitable opportunities. 

In this guide, we will be focusing on application cover letters . However, you can also apply most of our recommendations to other types of cover letters. 

Before we dive deeper into what you should include in your cover letters, let's take a moment to discuss how your letters should look.

Cover Letter Format

The right format and proper structure are as important for your cover letter as its content. You need to make sure that your document is concise, clear, and easy to read. Luckily, this goal is not too difficult to achieve. Just follow these simple tips:

• Font: Use a standard font size (11 or 12-point) and stick with basic styles like Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman or Calibri.
• Spacing: Leave space between each section so your document does not look cluttered. 
• Length: Keep it short. Recruiters have no time to read lengthy cover letters. Try to keep your letters around 200–400 words.
• File format: If the job ad includes instructions regarding the file format, follow them. Some companies prefer Word or PDF attachments. Others favor cover letters in the body of your email. 
• File name or email subject line: Choose a straightforward and informative file name. You can use this template: Cover Letter - . You can follow the same format for your email subject line. 

As to structure, you can follow this simple formula:

• Heading 
• Opening paragraph
• Middle paragraph
• Final paragraph

We will look closer at what to include in each of these parts in the next section. 

How To Write a Cover Letter In 6 Steps

Before spending time on the content of your cover letter, take a moment to think about people who will read it. The goal of hiring managers is to close an open job as soon as possible with the most suitable candidate. Regardless of the position, hiring managers need to find a person who meets two main criteria:

• Has the necessary skill to do the job
• Is likely to stay with the organization for several years. 

A perfect cover letter will demonstrate that you are qualified for the job and that you are excited to join the company. 

With this thought in mind, let's see how to craft a cover letter in 6 simple steps. 

Step 1. Start with a professional header

Your header should include your contact information, the date of application, and the recipient's contact information. You can also include links to your personal website, LinkedIn profile, or online portfolio. For example:

Amanda Smith

Sales Engineer

[email protected]

(617) 123-4567

www.linkedin.com/in/amanda_smith

February 25, 2022

Human Resources Manager 

AAA Company Inc.

123 Some Avenue

Make sure you are using a professional-looking email address. It can be a combination of your first and last names. And remember that it is inadvisable to send resumes or cover letters from your work email. 

Step 2. Open your letter with an appropriate salutation 

Ideally, you should address your letter to a specific person to establish a connection and signal that you tailored your letter to this particular role. If you know the hiring manager's name, start with a greeting like "Dear Mr. Brown," if the company is more traditional, or "Dear John," if you know for sure that the company's culture is more casual. If you have trouble determining the hiring manager's gender, the safest option is to use "Dear" followed by the hiring manager's full name. For example, Dear Aryan Patel.    

What should you do if the ad does not include the recruiter's name? First, do some research using the company's website and LinkedIn page. If this still does not tell you who will read your application, choose one of these common ways to address your letter:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear Business Analyst Hiring Team
• Dear Some Company Team 
• Dear QA Team Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Team

It is best to avoid overly formal greetings like "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir and Madam," or very informal greetings such as "Hi, John."

Step 3. Introduce yourself in your opening paragraph

The first paragraph of your cover letter is a good place to mention which job position you are applying for and how you discovered it. This is because hiring managers may work with documents for different job openings simultaneously. It is perfectly valid to start with something simple like, "I am excited to apply for the Systems Engineer position at AAA Company I found on LinkedIn." Then, explain your interest in this particular organization and briefly state what makes you a good fit for the job:

As a longtime fan of your products, I would be thrilled to become part of your team. I firmly believe that my five years of experience in designing and implementing efficient and secure computer systems will be a valuable addition to AAA Company. 

In the first two or three sentences, you need to give recruiters a reason to read further. Show them that your candidacy answers both requirements we discussed earlier: you are qualified for the position and likely to stay with a company for a long time. 

Step 4. Explain why you are a perfect candidate in the middle section

In the second paragraph, describe your most relevant experiences and achievements, and link them to the position you are applying for. Of course, there is no need to repeat the content of your resume. Instead, expand on the points in your work experience section. Give some examples, demonstrate the measurable impacts you made, or mention the professional praises you received. 

For example:

During my previous role at 123 Technologies, I evaluated work processes, developed business requirements, and created use cases and process models. One of my most significant accomplishments was implementing a new contract management system, which reduced the time needed to complete contract-related tasks by 25% and saved the company $350K yearly. Working on large and small projects, I often communicated with people from different departments. My colleagues praised my extraordinary ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical specialists while at the same time being able to discuss technical details with developers easily.

The best way to determine what to write in this section is to read the job description carefully and see what the employer wants in an applicant. Then choose two or three points that correlate with your previous experiences and emphasize those in your cover letter. 

Step 5. Wrap up by relating your experience to the company's needs 

In the closing paragraph, you can summarize skills that make you a perfect fit for the role, restate that you are excited about this opportunity, and thank hiring managers for their time. It is also important to politely ask them to invite you to an interview. You do not want to come off as needy, though. The final sentences of your cover letter should sound confident and focus on what you can bring to the table instead of what you want to get from the job. 

I will be honored to bring my ability to notice opportunities where others might see only obstacles and my passion for improving processes until everything works like a well-oiled machine to AAA company. I look forward to sharing more details of my qualifications with you during the interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.   

The last paragraph is also an excellent place to answer any potential concerns proactively. For example, if you currently live in San Francisco but are applying to a company in Atlanta, mention that you are relocating next month. 

Step 6. End with professional signoff

The last thing to do is complete your letter with a formal closing. The most common sign-offs include:

• Sincerely,  

Best regards,

• Respectfully,
• Kind regards,
• With best regards, 

Then just add your full name, and your cover letter is ready to send!

Professional Cover Letter Examples 

Now that you know what each section of your cover letter should include, let's take a look at two examples. The first is a cover letter from an experienced data analyst. The second is a recent graduate applying for an IT technician role. 

Mid-career cover letter sample: 

David Smith

Data Analyst

www.linkedin.com/in/david_smith

AAA Technologies Inc.

Dear Mr. Brown, 

I am excited to apply for the Data Analyst position at AAA Technologies I found on Indeed. As a long-term admirer of AAA products, I will be honored to help the company base decisions on data. I firmly believe that my 7+ years of experience translating complex sets of numbers into meaningful insights and actionable recommendations would be a valuable addition to your team.    

In my previous job at BBB Industries, I supported our marketing and sales teams with market reports and ad hoc data analysis. My most significant achievements include implementing a new approach to revenue forecasting reports that brought 35% higher accuracy and developing reporting dashboards that reduce the time needed to process data by 40%. 

What I like the most about the data analyst job is the opportunity to explore relationships between numbers and turn them into stories that allow businesses to make better decisions. And I will be thrilled to help your teams identify key data patterns and translate them into valuable insights. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter and look forward to learning more about this opportunity. I would be happy to discuss how my experience and skills can help AAA Technologies reach its business goals.

David Smith  

Entry-level career cover letter sample: 

IT Technician

Dear Mr. Davis, 

I am excited to apply for the entry-level IT technician position at AAA Company advertised on Indeed. I am confident that the practical knowledge I gained during my internships and my excellent university results make me a good candidate for the job.

During my time at Northwestern University, I completed two internships at 123 Industries. In my role, I was responsible for documenting help desk tickets, installing equipment and peripherals, creating accounts for new employees, and troubleshooting various technical issues. I am proud to have helped our department improve ticket response time by 14%.

I won the Dean's Award for achieving exceptional academic results at the university. The trainings I completed have given me a solid foundation in the tools and methodologies involved in managing IT systems. I would be thrilled to bring my knowledge and skills to the IT technician role at AAA Company. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to learning more about the position and discussing my qualifications during the interview. 

Final Cover Letter Tips 

By now, you should be confident about writing a compelling cover letter. However, let's add a few more tips to keep in mind.

Do not repeat what is in your resume

Remember that the goal of your cover letter is to highlight how your qualifications are relevant to the target company. Do not simply repeat bullet points from your resume. Pick a couple of skills and provide specific examples of how you demonstrated them. Did you make a business process more efficient? Did you train junior team members in using a certain tool? Did you lead a particularly complex project to successful completion? Write about it! And do not forget to add numbers and percentages to boost the credibility of your statements.   

Tailor your letter to a specific job

There is nothing wrong with preparing a template and recycling a few strong sentences from one letter to another. However, using the exact same document for different jobs is not the best idea. Recruiters can quickly identify when candidates use generic letters to apply for a position. To make a better first impression, take the time to customize your cover letter so that it reflects your interest in a specific company and showcases the most relevant experiences for a particular role. 

Do not focus on weaknesses 

Although your cover letter is a good place to briefly explain a career gap or mention reasons for changing careers, do so in a way that does not draw attention to your weaknesses. Avoid sentences like, "Despite my limited experience…" or "While I lack experience…." Do not focus on the skills or experience you are lacking. Instead, highlight what you bring to the table. Describe transferable skills and include examples of responsibilities relevant to a new role. 

Show your personality 

Of course, a cover letter should be professional. However, this does not mean that you must use overly formal language. Using sentences like "I wish to convey my sincere interest in..." can make you sound insincere. You should also avoid overused phrases such as "self-motivated go-getter" or "thinking outside of the box." Instead, be honest and straightforward, provide unique examples of your skills, or tell a story about how effective you were in a previous job.    

Keep it short 

A cover letter should introduce you to a potential employer and get hiring managers interested in you as a candidate. It should not describe your entire professional life in every possible detail. So, there is no need to write several pages. Keep it brief and straight to the point. The perfect length for a cover letter is between half a page and one page using a 12-point font.

Proofread your cover letter carefully  

Whether your target job requires writing skills or not, there should not be any errors or typos in your resume or cover letter. In a CareerBuilder study , 77% of hiring managers named bad grammar as a top reason for not offering job seekers an interview. So, it is crucial to proofread your documents carefully. It is always a good idea to ask a trusted friend or a family member to read over your resume and cover letters before submission. They may notice small mistakes you missed and can check that your letter is clear and easy to read. 

Follow the instructions 

Before sending your cover letter, take a moment to review the job ad again. Employers often provide specific instructions, such as submitting your documents in a particular format or including a job reference number in the email subject line. Make sure your job application fulfills all such requirements. Otherwise, your application might fall short even though your documents are well-written. 

Conclusion 

A cover letter that demonstrates you are both a qualified candidate and excited to join the company will help you stand out among applicants. Taking the time to craft a customized cover letter for each position is well worth your effort. Hopefully, our guide will make this task less challenging and time-consuming!

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In order to provide the most professional image of yourself to potential employers, you want to have polished documents with no mistakes. Here are some final tips to get this professional look:

• Proofread the cover letter after a few hours or days (improve sentences, grammar, typos).
• Give your cover letter to friends, professors, and/or colleagues for proofreading and suggestions.
• Go to the Purdue University On-Campus Writing Lab in the Krach Leadership Center (2nd Floor) for a free cover letter tutorial (if you are affiliated with Purdue).

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The Only Cover Letter Guide You’ll Need in 2024 (+Examples)

• Kaja Jurcisinova , 
• Updated January 16, 2024 13 min read

Oh, the dreaded cover letter. Job seekers hate writing it and nobody knows if anybody even reads cover letters anymore. And yet, not attaching one to your application would be a terrible mistake. This cover letter guide will tell you not only why to write one, but also how to write a really good one.

But first , why does everyone hate writing cover letters so much?   After all, a cover letter gives you a unique opportunity to distinguish yourself from others.

In comparison with a resume, the cover letter allows you to provide details that didn’t fit in on your resume and demonstrate your passion.

All the negativity that surrounds the cover letter probably comes down to the fact that good cover letters require a bit of alchemy. They also take time to write.

This guide will help you avoid any mistakes and write a strong cover letter that will catch the recruiter’s attention. We also include cover letter examples.

Generally speaking, you want to make your cover letter:

• easy to read for the recruiter;
• well-structured;
• max 4 paragraphs/1 page long;
• professional in both tone and greetings;
• tailored for the specific opening.

Let's get to it!

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

Why should you write a cover letter?

How do recruiters read cover letters, how to write a great cover letter in 9 simple steps.

• What if you're told to NOT submit a cover letter? 

Final cover letter tips and hacks

Cover letter examples.

So, how exactly is the cover letter important for your job application? 

Some may argue that the cover letter in 2024 isn't really relevant anymore. In fact, one study stated that only 18 percent of hiring managers think cover letters are a key part of an application.

However, don’t get fooled by these statistics. While your resume may be considered more important during the hiring process, including a well-written cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job. 

For instance, 83% of hiring managers would be convinced by a really good cover letter — even if the resume wasn’t good enough, according to this study .

And there's more to it.

Some of the key advantages of the cover letter are:

• It’s much less structured than the resume and lets you develop a story. 
• It gives you space to get a little more creative. 
• Your personality can shine through thanks to it.
• You can elaborate on key achievements mentioned in your resume.
• It helps explain a lack of experience, career change, or an employment gap.

In other words, the cover letter is a perfect chance to bridge the distance between you and a recruiter even before the actual job interview . 

Pro tip: Before writing a cover letter, make sure that you have a powerful resume that matches the job description. Because if your resume doesn’t fit a desired profile, your cover letter probably won’t get read at all. To learn more, you may want to check out our  Ultimate Resume Guide .

First, they read them to decide if you’re the right fit for a position. For this reason, avoid generic write-ups at all costs. What recruiters love to see is a short persuasive argument of why you fit the role and the company. Something like this: 

“I was happy to hear about this job opening from my former manager, Jane Anne. She and I have worked together on many projects throughout the years and she thought that I would be the perfect match for this position.“

Second, recruiters are looking for inconsistencies . For instance, if your resume shows attention to detail but your cover letter is addressed to the wrong person, wrong company, and is filled with typos, it's inconsistent. You want to ensure the number of inconsistencies is kept to a minimum.

Third, they're trying to get a hint of your personality . Cultural fit is important to many companies.

So, throughout the process of cover letter writing, it's essential to keep in mind the recruiter who's going to be the recipient of your letter. 

Because at the end of a day, a good cover letter shouldn't be solely about you — it's supposed to be written with the hiring manager in mind. 

So ask yourself:  

• Is my cover letter easy to read?
• Have I addressed the right person in the opening?  
• Will it help them decide if I'm the right fit?
• Did I use the right tone of voice that fits their company culture?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, our cover letter guide is exactly for you.

Writing a cover letter may seem like a challenging task at first but if you know a few key cover letter rules, the process can become much easier. 

Before you start writing your cover letter, find out more about the company you're applying for. Look at their website and LinkedIn . The research also includes looking at the job description very closely and identifying any recurring keywords. Also, search for specific cover letter examples for the role online.

Placed at the very beginning of your cover letter, the header is where you include your contact information (i.e. your full name, email address, phone number) and the company's contact information (i.e. the manager’s or recruiter’s name, job title, department, the name of the company, company’s address). 

When in doubt, try to use this formula: Number or Trigger word + Adjective + Keyword + Promise.  The result can look something like this: 5 Ways I Can Help You Improve Your Company’s [insert a position-related keyword]

If the name of the hiring manager isn't written in the job posting, research their name and contact information online. For example, look at the company's page or LinkedIn. Then, greet them by saying "Dear [first name]" . If, however, the company culture is very formal, go for the classic "Dear Hiring Manager" .

The first paragraph is the perfect place to shortly explain why the job seems exciting to you and why you’re the right person for it .  You can also compliment the company or name a mutual acquaintance who referred you.

Try to answer these questions: 1. What did you do at a previous position that gave you relevant experience?  2. How could this experience help the new company grow? 3. Which of the projects you have worked on would benefit their business? 4. Which of your skills make you well-equipped for the position?  5. Do any of these skills give you an edge over other candidates?

The following questions should help you : What excites you about the idea of working at this company? How do the company goals align with your own? What do you hope to gain and learn from working there?

In the cover letter closing paragraph : reiterate that your experience and enthusiasm make you a great candidate, add a confident call to action, express gratitude, and always use a formal sign-off.

You can either attach the cover letter as a separate document in the email when sending your resume , or send it directly in the body of the email (that way they can't ignore it).

In the following chapters we look at each step more closely and include specific examples you can copy and paste.

Step 1: Prepare and do some research 

Knowledge is power. Before you begin writing:

• Find out more about the company and the position you're applying for. Spend some time on the company’s website, its executives’ Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. It will also help you decide on the tone of your cover letter. For example, if it’s a company like Kickresume , you can easily get away with more unusual approaches. But if it’s a conservative institution, like a bank or a lawyer's office, you should probably keep it formal.
• Search for specific cover letter examples for your role online . Pick some examples that fit your role and use these for inspiration. (By the way, that link just now will take you to our database of successful cover letters from real people who got hired. Totally worth checking out.)
• Look at the job descriptions of the roles you’re applying for . Identify major experience and hard skill keywords, so you can insert them in your letter in the relevant sections.

Once you've done this basic research, you can finally start thinking about the structure of your cover letter. 

This short infographic will show you that writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might have thought: 

Step 2: Include a header with basic info rmation

Placed at the very beginning of your cover letter, the header is the place where you should include your contact information and the contact information of the company. 

A cover letter is still a letter, after all. 

At the left side of the page include the information based on which you can be reached by the recruiter. 

Here, make sure to include: 

• your full name
• your email address
• phone number

Optionally, you can also add:

• your professional title
• address (if it vaguely matches the location of the job offer)
• current date
• personal website/LinkedIn

The top right side of the page is reserved for company-related information. Here, you should put: 

• the manager’s or recruiter’s name (if available)
• job title 
• the name of the company
• company’s address

Not a fan of writing?

Our AI writer will write the first draft of your cover letter for you.

Step 3: Write a strong cover letter headline

When you’re browsing the web, what articles usually catch your attention? Those with great headlines, of course! 

The same applies to cover letter headlines.

Start by paying attention to the headlines around you — especially in tabloids and websites like Buzzfeed (Is Buzzfeed still a thing? How very 2010s of me). These are usually designed to stir up your interest and make it impossible to not click through. 

Notice how they use numbers, questions, and interesting adjectives to promise the reader to learn something valuable.

And you can do the same in your cover letter.

When in doubt, try to use this formula: Number or Trigger word + Adjective + Keyword + Promise. 

The result can look something like this: 

• 3 Reasons Why I’m An Excellent Fit For [Job Position]
• Are You Still Looking To Fill The Position Of [Job Position]? This Is Why I Believe I’m Exactly Who You’re Looking For
• 5 Ways I Can Help You Improve Your Company’s [insert a position-related keyword]

Finally, don’t forget to adjust your header to the company’s level of formality and put your headline in the subject of the email.

Step 4: Use the correct form of greeting

In this time and age, there’s no excuse for using “To Whom It May Concern.”  

If the name of the hiring manager isn't written in the job posting, you’re expected to research their name and contact information online. For example, look at the company's page or LinkedIn. 

Once you have their name, feel free to go for a personalized greeting: 

“Dear [first name]” or “Dear Mr./Mrs. [last name]” 

Honorifics (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Ms .) are more appropriate if the company’s culture is formal. 

And if you cannot find the recruiter’s name, it's okay to go for a generic: 

“Dear Hiring Manager”, or “Dear Recruitment Officer”

Alternatively, you can address the letter to the whole company team or the HR department. In this case, your greeting should look like this: 

“Dear [name of the company/department] Team” or “Dear Human Resources”

Step 5: First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a BANG!

The best way to start a cover letter is to open strong. The first impression matters the most and busy recruiters often have a chance to properly dive into only a few selected cover letters. 

So if you make your first paragraph captivating, chances are that your letter will be one of the lucky ones that actually end up being read. 

In fact, the first paragraph is the perfect place to shortly explain why the job seems exciting to you and why you’re the right person for it. 

While most people begin their letters with “I’m applying for the position X I saw in Y place,” it's a waste of space. 

Instead, open with a sentence like this:

“I’m a content marketing professional with more than 5 years of experience and I’d love to bring my ability and passion to your team.”

In the first paragraph, you can also:

• Compliment the company. Show that you know details about the company and you’re approaching it for a reason. For example, demonstrate appreciation for what the company does. Not only will this flatter them, but it will also provide them with insight into who you are.
• Name a mutual acquaintance if you can. This is sometimes called a “magic bullet,” as it’s the one thing that will assure the hiring manager reads your cover letter until the end. 

However, limit the introduction to 1-3 sentences. This isn’t the place to go into detail about what makes you ideal for the role — save that for the second and third paragraphs. 

Step 6: Second paragraph: Explain why you’re a great fit for the company

The second paragraph is the place where you should sell yourself and your experience.  

Here, write a short summary of your career, skills and accomplishments, tailored to fit what the company is looking for. 

You already did your research, so now it's time to ask yourself these questions and try to address them in your cover letter:

• What did you do at a previous position that gave you relevant experience? 
• How could this experience help the new company grow?
• Which of the projects you have worked on would benefit their business?
• Which of your skills make you well-equipped for the position? 
• Do any of these skills give you an edge over other candidates?

After you’ve picked the most relevant accomplishments, put them at the start of your letter. 

However, when talking about them, avoid sounding like you’re bragging. The best way of doing this is to focus on your experiences rather than yourself . Ideally, support your claims with concrete examples.

Also, mention any other additional relevant hard skills or knowledge areas they’re looking for, as well as any qualifications.

Finally, the second paragraph is the perfect place for showing that you’ve done your research. Demonstrate that you’re familiar with some of the challenges that the company faces and present how you can help them.

Pro tip: Don’t simply repeat the same things you’ve already put on your resume. You want to go beyond that (this applies to every other section of your cover letter). 

Step 7: Third paragraph: Explain why the company is a great fit for you 

In this paragraph, you want to show that you’re serious about developing your career at this new company. And good companies want to know why they appeal to you and how will your professional relationship be mutually beneficial. 

Consider addressing the following questions:

• What excites you about the idea of working at this company?
• How do the company goals align with your own?
• What do you hope to gain and learn from working there?

For example, you can say something like this: “I've seen on your website that you heavily focus on cryptocurrency projects. As a cryptocurrency enthusiast, I would love to join your team”.  

However, don’t go overboard with flattery and stay professional. 

Also, don’t say anything that isn't true or you don’t mean it, as it will probably come up again in the later stages of the application process.

Step 8: Closing paragraph: Finish strong and stay in touch

Now that you’ve nailed the main part of your cover letter, you also want to finish strong. This way, the recruiter will remember you in a good light. But how do you achieve that? 

• Reiterate that your experience and enthusiasm make you a great candidate. This is to emphasize the two main points from the previous paragraphs. Do this in one or two sentences, not more. 
• Add a confident call to action. In a sentence or two, you should suggest the next steps. Something like “ I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value I can bring to [company]."
• Express gratitude. Simply thank them for their time and for considering your application.
• Always use a formal sign-off. Something like “ Sincerely , Best wishes , or Respectfully” . Finish by typing out your full name. 

Step 9: How do you send a cover letter?

I can’t stress this enough — unless it's specifically required to attach the cover letter to the body of the email,  consider not sending your cover letter as a document attached to your email. 

Instead, put it inside the body of the email . The email itself is now your cover letter! This way the recruiter won't ignore it.

However, remember that hiring managers receive hundreds of emails a day. So if you want your email to get read, it's the subject line that's likely to play the most important part. 

As we've advised before, if you have a good resume headline, simply put it in the email subject. 

However, if you’re unhappy with the result, you have other options, too. 

For instance, if you have a reference, include it already in your email subject line: 

Referral from Jose Nachos: Pedro Tacos, candidate for a senior software analyst position

If you don't have a reference or a catchy headline, check out more tips on how to write the best subject line for your email .

Finished writing your cover letter?

Make it stand out with an eye-catching design.

What if you're told to NOT submit a cover letter? 

Today, many companies are using online application systems that discourage applicants from attaching a cover letter. 

Instead, they have their own application systems where in different sections you're required to fill in the information you would normally place in your cover letter.  

If this is the case, just work with the format they gave you.

In other words, include the same information that you'd normally have in your cover letter but place it in the correct sections. 

And don’t forget to follow the cover letter principles: 

• explain why you're the right candidate;
• make it clear that you've researched the company well;
• indicate in what way you'd be an asset;
• mention your biggest past achievements.

Because no matter the format, you're still expected to present your skills and convey enthusiasm about the job.

Alternatively, you can also try to find a relevant manager or a recruiter online (either on the company pages or LinkedIn) to whom you can send a brief follow-up email with an attached cover letter. 

Now that we've covered the basics, there are several other tips that you should keep in mind to elevate your cover letter to the next level: 

• Keep it short. Limit your cover letter to three to four paragraphs and a maximum of one page. Hiring managers are busy people who often don't have time for reading long texts.
• Keep it clean and easy on the eye. Take a look at how this article is written. It’s replete with short paragraphs, sentences typed in bold letters, bullet points, and numbers. All of these make reading and searching for specific information easier. So, never send a letter that looks like an unreadable wall of text. The easiest way to achieve a sleek cover letter design is to use a pre-formatted cover letter template . 
• Don’t risk being funny if it ’ s a company with a formal work culture. Poorly executed humor will hurt your chances rather than help. Being direct and dynamic is a much surer way to catch the recruiter’s attention than a number of jokes. On the other, if the company is smaller or known for its creative products, being original may in fact help your chances! 
• Show, don’t tell. Usually, there’s no point in saying you’re “a dependable hard worker” or “a creative thinker.” Why should anyone believe such generic statements? Instead, offer an example of how these qualities helped you achieve something in the past.
• Never write the same letter twice. A cover letter should always be tailored to a specific job application. Remember the previous sections? You’ve made a great effort to research the company and its hiring managers, so you’ve written your cover letter accordingly. This is a process you need to repeat with every application (ugh, I know). 
• Check for typos. This goes without saying but make 100% sure your cover letter is without typos. There’s no reason to believe you're competent if you can't even type without errors. Moreover, typos automatically reveal almost criminal carelessness on your part, since every text editor nowadays has a spellchecking feature. 
• Don't use any buzzwords. Your cover letter needs to be authentic and persuasive — and buzzwords are neither. If anything, they simply give the impression of you being someone who's just trying to fit a skewed idea of what an ideal corporate employee should be. Instead, focus on using relevant keywords from job descriptions.

Now, if you have no experience yet because you're just starting out or you're changing careers, writing a cover letter can be scary. However, a well-written letter can actually be your best friend.

And this is how you write the perfect cover letter with no experience .

In the end, there are many different ways to write a great cover letter. And even if you follow the cover letter guide above, you’ll end up with a cover letter that's invariably your own. 

It all depends on your own personality, the position you’re applying for, and the hiring manager’s preferences. 

And that's good, actually! 

Still, there's a lot to learn from cover letters written by other people. That's why we've selected five cover letter samples that deserve your attention. 

Each of these helped real job seekers find real jobs in real companies. They'll teach you valuable lessons you can use in your own cover letter.

1. Norwegian — Cabin Crew Cover Letter Example

This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

2. Volvo — Machine Learning Intern Cover Letter Example

3. tory burch — account executive cover letter example, 4. lush — sales associate cover letter example, 5. romeo — social media officer cover letter example.

Do you still need some more inspiration? You can find more examples in our cover letter library

FAQ: How to write a cover letter

250 to 400 words is the standard cover letter length range. A cover letter should never exceed one page.

Yes! Show that you can go that extra mile and stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Ideally, use a pre-formatted cover letter template. Then use a simple and professional font, such as Times New Roman. The font size should be between 10-12.

If you have the name of the hiring manager, try to find their contact on the company page or LinkedIn. If you still can't find the right person, you can address it to the whole team or HR.

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Martin Poduska in 201 7.

Kaja Jurcisinova is a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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Sending a Cover Letter and Resume Via Email

Keep in mind several special instructions when you’re sending your cover letter (and resume) via email.

First, make sure you use an appropriate subject line. Review the position application’s instructions to see if it tells you a specific subject line you should use. If it doesn't, use a simple and appropriate phrase like "Experienced Art History Grad for Exhibitions Manager” or “POSITION NAME application - FIRST AND LAST NAME.”

Include a greeting, and keep the body of your email short, unless the application instructions say otherwise. Ideally, you should type no more than one or two brief paragraphs. Introduce yourself and state that your resume and cover letter are attached. Keep the tone somewhat formal, and make sure you adhere to the basics of good written communication (e.g., proper greeting, excellent grammar and spelling, proper salutation).

Review the application instructions to see exactly how the employer would like you to submit your documents. Are they supposed to be attachments, or pasted as text into the body of the email? Does the employer specify what type of documents to send? If nothing is specified, attach your résumé and cover letter to the email, both as PDF documents.

Finally, remember to include a closing sentence (followed by your name) within your email. 

Spell check and proofread everything, then send your email (with attachments if you’re using them) to yourself before sending the final email to the employer. That way you can make sure everything looks normal and that all of your attachments open properly.