cover letter that stands out

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Research, expert insights, and resources to develop courageous leaders within your organization.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

How to write a great cover letter in 2024: tips and structure

A cover letter is a personalized letter that introduces you to a potential employer, highlights your qualifications, and explains why you're a strong fit for a specific job.

Hate or love them, these brief documents allow job seekers to make an impression and stand out from the pile of other applications. Penning a thoughtful cover letter shows the hiring team you care about earning the position.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to write a cover letter — and a great one, at that.

What is a cover letter and why does it matter?

A professional cover letter is a one-page document you submit alongside your CV or resume as part of a job application. Typically, they’re about half a page or around 150–300 words.

An effective cover letter doesn’t just rehash your CV; it’s your chance to highlight your proudest moments, explain why you want the job, and state plainly what you bring to the table.

Show the reviewer you’re likable, talented, and will add to the company’s culture . You can refer to previous jobs and other information from your CV, but only if it helps tell a story about you and your career choices .

What 3 things should you include in a cover letter?

A well-crafted cover letter can help you stand out to potential employers. To make your cover letter shine, here are three key elements to include:

1. Personalization

Address the hiring manager or recruiter by name whenever possible. If the job posting doesn't include a name, research to find out who will be reviewing applications. Personalizing your cover letter shows that you've taken the time to tailor your application to the specific company and role.

2. Highlight relevant achievements and skills

Emphasize your most relevant skills , experiences, and accomplishments that directly relate to the job you're applying for. Provide specific examples of how your skills have benefited previous employers and how they can contribute to the prospective employer's success. Use quantifiable achievements , such as improved efficiency, cost savings, or project success, to demonstrate your impact.

3. Show enthusiasm and fit

Express your enthusiasm for the company and the position you're applying for. Explain why you are interested in this role and believe you are a good fit for the organization. Mention how your values, goals, and skills align with the company's mission and culture. Demonstrating that you've done your research can make a significant impression.

What do hiring managers look for in a cover letter?

Employers look for several key elements in a cover letter. These include:

Employers want to see that your cover letter is specifically tailored to the position you are applying for. It should demonstrate how your skills, experiences, and qualifications align with the job requirements.

Clear and concise writing

A well-written cover letter is concise, easy to read, and error-free. Employers appreciate clear and effective communication skills , so make sure your cover letter showcases your ability to express yourself effectively.

Demonstrated knowledge of the company

Employers want to see that you are genuinely interested in their organization. Mention specific details about the company, such as recent achievements or projects, to show that you are enthusiastic about joining their team.

Achievements and accomplishments

Highlight your relevant achievements and accomplishments that demonstrate your qualifications for the position. Use specific examples to showcase your skills and show how they can benefit the employer.

Enthusiasm and motivation

Employers want to hire candidates who are excited about the opportunity and motivated to contribute to the company's success. Express your enthusiasm and passion for the role and explain why you are interested in working for the company.

Professionalism

A cover letter should be professional in tone and presentation. Use formal language, address the hiring manager appropriately, and follow standard business letter formatting.

How do you structure a cover letter?

A well-structured cover letter follows a specific format that makes it easy for the reader to understand your qualifications and enthusiasm for the position. Here's a typical structure for a cover letter:

Contact information

Include your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the letter. Place your contact information at the beginning so that it's easy for the employer to reach you.

Employer's contact information

Opening paragraph, middle paragraph(s), closing paragraph, complimentary close, additional contact information.

Repeat your contact information (name, phone number, and email) at the end of the letter, just in case the employer needs it for quick reference.

Remember to keep your cover letter concise and focused. It should typically be no more than one page in length. Proofread your letter carefully to ensure it is free from spelling and grammatical errors. Tailor each cover letter to the specific job application to make it as relevant and impactful as possible.

How to write a good cover letter (with examples)

The best letters are unique, tailored to the job description, and written in your voice — but that doesn’t mean you can’t use a job cover letter template.

Great cover letters contain the same basic elements and flow a certain way. Take a look at this cover letter structure for ref erence while you construct your own.

1. Add a header and contact information

While reading your cover letter, the recruiter shouldn’t have to look far to find who wrote it. Your document should include a basic heading with the following information:

• Pronouns (optional)
• Location (optional)
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Relevant links, such as your LinkedIn profile , portfolio, or personal website (optional)

You can pull this information directly from your CV. Put it together, and it will look something like this:

Christopher Pike

San Francisco, California

[email protected]

Alternatively, if the posting asks you to submit your cover letter in the body of an email, you can include this information in your signature. For example:

Warm regards,

Catherine Janeway

Bloomington, Indiana

[email protected]

(555) 999 - 2222

2. Include a personal greeting

Always begin your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager — preferably by name. You can use the person’s first and last name. Make sure to include a relevant title, like Dr., Mr., or Ms. For example, “Dear Mr. John Doe.”

Avoid generic openings like “To whom it may concern,” “Dear sir or madam,” or “Dear hiring manager.” These introductions sound impersonal — like you’re copy-pasting cover letters — and can work against you in the hiring process.

Be careful, though. When using someone’s name, you don’t want to use the wrong title or accidentally misgender someone. If in doubt, using only their name is enough. You could also opt for a gender-neutral title, like Mx.

Make sure you’re addressing the right person in your letter — ideally, the person who’s making the final hiring decision. This isn’t always specified in the job posting, so you may have to do some research to learn the name of the hiring manager.

3. Draw them in with an opening story

The opening paragraph of your cover letter should hook the reader. You want it to be memorable, conversational, and extremely relevant to the job you’re pursuing. 

There’s no need for a personal introduction — you’ve already included your name in the heading. But you should make reference to the job you’re applying for. A simple “Thank you for considering my application for the role of [job title] at [company],” will suffice.

Then you can get into the “Why” of your job application. Drive home what makes this specific job and this company so appealing to you. Perhaps you’re a fan of their products, you’re passionate about their mission, or you love their brand voice. Whatever the case, this section is where you share your enthusiasm for the role.

Here’s an example opening paragraph. In this scenario, you’re applying for a digital marketing role at a bicycle company:

“Dear Mr. John Doe,

Thank you for considering my application for the role of Marketing Coordinator at Bits n’ Bikes.

My parents bought my first bike at one of your stores. I’ll never forget the freedom I felt when I learned to ride it. My father removed my training wheels, and my mom sent me barrelling down the street. You provide joy to families across the country — and I want to be part of that.”

4. Emphasize why you’re best for the job

Your next paragraphs should be focused on the role you’re applying to. Highlight your skill set and why you’re a good fit for the needs and expectations associated with the position. Hiring managers want to know what you’ll bring to the job, not just any role.

Start by studying the job description for hints. What problem are they trying to solve with this hire? What skills and qualifications do they mention first or more than once? These are indicators of what’s important to the hiring manager.

Search for details that match your experience and interests. For example, if you’re excited about a fast-paced job in public relations, you might look for these elements in a posting:

• They want someone who can write social media posts and blog content on tight deadlines
• They value collaboration and input from every team member
• They need a planner who can come up with strong PR strategies

Highlight how you fulfill these requirements:

“I’ve always been a strong writer. From blog posts to social media, my content pulls in readers and drives traffic to product pages. For example, when I worked at Bits n’ Bikes, I developed a strategic blog series about bike maintenance that increased our sales of spare parts and tools by 50% — we could see it in our web metrics.

Thanks to the input of all of our team members, including our bike mechanics, my content delivered results.”

5. End with a strong closing paragraph and sign off gracefully

Your closing paragraph is your final chance to hammer home your enthusiasm about the role and your unique ability to fill it. Reiterate the main points you explained in the body paragraphs and remind the reader of what you bring to the table.

You can also use the end of your letter to relay other important details, like whether you’re willing to relocate for the job.

When choosing a sign-off, opt for a phrase that sounds professional and genuine. Reliable options include “Sincerely” and “Kind regards.”

Here’s a strong closing statement for you to consider:

“I believe my enthusiasm, skills, and work experience as a PR professional will serve Bits n’ Bikes very well. I would love to meet to further discuss my value-add as your next Director of Public Relations. Thank you for your consideration. I hope we speak soon.

Tips to write a great cover letter that compliments your resume

When writing your own letter, try not to copy the example excerpts word-for-word. Instead, use this cover letter structure as a baseline to organize your ideas. Then, as you’re writing, use these extra cover letter tips to add your personal touch:

• Keep your cover letter different from your resume : Your cover letter should not duplicate the information on your resume. Instead, it should provide context and explanations for key points in your resume, emphasizing how your qualifications match the specific job you're applying for.
• Customize your cover letter . Tailor your cover letter for each job application. Address the specific needs of the company and the job posting, demonstrating that you've done your homework and understand their requirements.
• Show enthusiasm and fit . Express your enthusiasm for the company and position in the cover letter. Explain why you are interested in working for this company and how your values, goals, and skills align with their mission and culture.
• Use keywords . Incorporate keywords from the job description and industry terms in your cover letter. This can help your application pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and demonstrate that you're well-versed in the field.
• Keep it concise . Your cover letter should be succinct and to the point, typically no more than one page. Focus on the most compelling qualifications and experiences that directly support your application.
• Be professional . Maintain a professional tone and structure in your cover letter. Proofread it carefully to ensure there are no errors.
• Address any gaps or concerns . If there are gaps or concerns in your resume, such as employment gaps or a change in career direction, briefly address them in your cover letter. Explain any relevant circumstances and how they have shaped your qualifications and determination.
• Provide a call to action . Conclude your cover letter with a call to action, inviting the employer to contact you for further discussion. Mention that you've attached your resume for their reference.
• Follow the correct format . Use a standard cover letter format like the one above, including your contact information, a formal salutation, introductory and closing paragraphs, and your signature. Ensure that it complements your resume without redundancy.
• Pick the right voice and tone . Try to write like yourself, but adapt to the tone and voice of the company. Look at the job listing, company website, and social media posts. Do they sound fun and quirky, stoic and professional, or somewhere in-between? This guides your writing style.
• Tell your story . You’re an individual with unique expertise, motivators, and years of experience. Tie the pieces together with a great story. Introduce how you arrived at this point in your career, where you hope to go , and how this prospective company fits in your journey. You can also explain any career changes in your resume.
• Show, don’t tell . Anyone can say they’re a problem solver. Why should a recruiter take their word for it if they don’t back it up with examples? Instead of naming your skills, show them in action. Describe situations where you rose to the task, and quantify your success when you can.
• Be honest . Avoid highlighting skills you don’t have. This will backfire if they ask you about them in an interview. Instead, shift focus to the ways in which you stand out.
• Avoid clichés and bullet points . These are signs of lazy writing. Do your best to be original from the first paragraph to the final one. This highlights your individuality and demonstrates the care you put into the letter.
• Proofread . Always spellcheck your cover letter. Look for typos, grammatical errors, and proper flow. We suggest reading it out loud. If it sounds natural rolling off the tongue, it will read naturally as well.

Common cover letter writing FAQs

How long should a cover letter be.

A cover letter should generally be concise and to the point. It is recommended to keep it to one page or less, focusing on the most relevant information that highlights your qualifications and fits the job requirements.

Should I include personal information in a cover letter?

While it's important to introduce yourself and provide your contact information, avoid including personal details such as your age, marital status, or unrelated hobbies. Instead, focus on presenting your professional qualifications and aligning them with the job requirements.

Can I use the same cover letter for multiple job applications?

While it may be tempting to reuse a cover letter, it is best to tailor each cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. This allows you to highlight why you are a good fit for that particular role and show genuine interest in the company.

Do I need to address my cover letter to a specific person?

Whenever possible, it is advisable to address your cover letter to a specific person, such as the hiring manager or recruiter. If the job posting does not provide this information, try to research and find the appropriate contact. If all else fails, you can use a generic salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager."

Should I include references in my cover letter?

It is generally not necessary to include references in your cover letter. Save this information for when the employer explicitly requests it. Instead, focus on showcasing your qualifications and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the position.

It’s time to start writing your stand-out cover letter

The hardest part of writing is getting started. 

Hopefully, our tips gave you some jumping-off points and confidence . But if you’re really stuck, looking at cover letter examples and resume templates will help you decide where to get started. 

There are numerous sample cover letters available online. Just remember that you’re a unique, well-rounded person, and your cover letter should reflect that. Using our structure, you can tell your story while highlighting your passion for the role. 

Doing your research, including strong examples of your skills, and being courteous is how to write a strong cover letter. Take a breath , flex your fingers, and get typing. Before you know it, your job search will lead to a job interview.

If you want more personalized guidance, a specialized career coach can help review, edit, and guide you through creating a great cover letter that sticks.

Ace your job search

Explore effective job search techniques, interview strategies, and ways to overcome job-related challenges. Our coaches specialize in helping you land your dream job.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

3 cover letter examples to help you catch a hiring manager’s attention

Chatgpt cover letters: how to use this tool the right way, how to write an impactful cover letter for a career change, write thank you letters after interviews to stand out as job applicant, send a thank you email after an internship to boost your career, character references: 4 tips for a successful recommendation letter, use professional reference templates to make hiring smoother, what is a letter of intent examples on how to write one, tips and tricks for writing a letter of interest (with examples), similar articles, 24 action verbs for your resume that will get you the job, how to ask for a letter of recommendation (with examples), anxious about meetings learn how to run a meeting with these 10 tips, how to write a letter of recommendation (with examples), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care™
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Life Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

• Internships
• Career Advice

3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out

Published: Jan 05, 2021

It’s a myth that high quality job openings are few and far between thanks to Covid. The truth is, despite the economic uncertainty created by the pandemic, there are many great openings out there. And to get them—or, at least, have a chance at getting them—you first need to capture the attention of hiring managers. And the best way to do that is to write compelling cover letters. So here are the three keys to writing cover letters that stand out.

1. Convey your personality, quirks and all.

Showcasing your uniqueness and allowing your personality to shine through in your cover letters can magnetize hiring managers, sending instant messages that you might be the candidate they’re looking for. The secret to achieving this is to use specific details, rather than vague ones.

For example, the following was recently used by an applicant when applying for a Head of Marketing position (shortly after sending this, the candidate was interviewed and then hired):

“I have a passion for data and analytics. I enjoy spending (a little too much time) geeking out in Google analytics, advertising platforms, and BI tools (Tableau and Looker), digging deep into data to identify opportunities that can be leveraged to drive growth and inform testing strategies for campaigns, websites, and products.”

Now compare the above to the below (which has less personality and fewer details, and thus would likely not stand out):

“I am well versed in data analytics, and I am experienced with Google analytics, BI Tools, and other advertising platforms. I have a proven ability to inform testing strategies for campaigns for websites and products.”

Here’s another example of cover letter phrasing that captures the attention of hiring managers:

“I’m rather obsessed with personal organization. I read three organizational blogs on my own time, and I’ve organized my desktop folders into color-coded sub-categories. My friends laugh at me for saying things like, ‘An organized space equals an organized mind,’ but I don’t like wasting time looking for things.” 

Now compare that to this less specific phrasing:

“I have a proven track record of being organized, and I have a passion for it. I have a proven knack for keeping files organized on an ongoing basis, and I have put organizational processes and procedures in place for my department. The bottom line is organization is always my highest priority.” 

2. Prove your level of dedication to your profession.

Another way to stand out is to illustrate specific things about your dedication to your field. In the following example, a candidate showcases her dedication to her profession, proves that she spends a lot of time thinking about driving results in her field, and shows that she takes concrete steps in order to be a high quality contributor in her field. All of which goes a long way when it comes time for hiring managers to decide which candidates to interview. 

“I believe that a good marketing strategy requires seeking out the latest trends and staying one step ahead of the competition. I’ve attended the Traction conference two years in a row and completed the 2018 Reforge Growth Series, a highly credible and exclusive course that only accepts 10 percent of applicants and is built by leaders from Hubspot, Uber, and other firms. Through these professional developments, I’ve opened my mind to uncommon marketing methods, and I pride myself on thinking outside the box to develop strategies that create sustainable, low-cost customer acquisition loops that lead to long-term positive ROI.” 

Now compare the above to the below, which is less detailed and includes less specific phrasing:

“I have the skills and requirements for this position, and I believe I would complete every task asked of me to the highest standard expected. My background and experience make me an excellent fit for this position for many reasons. I am very interested in marketing, and I think I would be a great asset to the team.”

3. Include concrete, quantitative results that show your value.

In any written application, you’ll need to showcase some form of quantitative results to stand out. Note that even if you don’t have a lot of shiny results in your career yet (or even any relevant experience—which is okay!), you can still use words to capture someone’s attention with what you have done. And if you do have a record of achieving quantifiable results, then by all means include them, like in the below:

“I developed several Google ad campaigns that were worth more than $500,000 and that resulted in high-level customers. Also, through testing and optimization, I increased newsletter sign-ups by more than 200 percent.”

Now compare that to this bland sentence:

“I have experience in Google ad campaigns, as well as experience in testing and optimization.”

A final note

When trying to convey your personality, get across your dedication, or communicate your value, there’s a big difference between saying you’re a good fit for the job and actually showing it.

So, when writing your cover letters, try to hold these words in mind: I know you (the hiring managers) don’t know me, so let me show you exactly why I’m completely invested, committed, and passionate about doing this specific type of work. And let me show you the specific reasons why hiring me, over all other candidates, would be beneficial to you.

If you hold all this in mind, the right details and words will flow right out of you—and into your cover letters.

Natalie Fisher is best known for helping professionals land their ideal roles and achieve explosive salary growth (even with little experience). If you want to dive deeper on the topic of your career mindset and become a person who knows exactly how to land their dream job offer, listen to her on the podcast Get a Six Figure Job You Love .

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

How to write a cover letter people will actually read

By Daniel Victor

• Oct. 21, 2016

This article is part of a series aimed at helping you navigate life’s opportunities and challenges. What else should we write about? Contact us: [email protected].

You’re probably not the only one applying for that job.

That might seem obvious, but too many cover letters are written in a robotic style that leave little impression on hiring managers who are sifting through vast piles of applications, according to career counselors. The cover letter is your chance — most likely your only one — to stand out from many other candidates who have similar résumés.

Don’t botch it. Despite the high stakes, a lot of job-seekers treat the cover letter like a formality, putting little thought and few personal flourishes into it.

“A cover letter can make the difference between two equally qualified candidates,” said John O’Neill, the assistant dean of career education for Stanford University.

While every industry and hiring manager is different, here are some tricks to increase your chances of scoring an interview.

Don’t stick to a template

You could easily Google “cover letter template” to get some ideas on how to write it. Don’t.

“You need to think about your audience,” said Kristen Fitzpatrick, the managing director of career and professional development at Harvard Business School. “Who’s reading it? How do you capture their attention enough so they move you from one pile to another?”

This is your time to show your communication skills and your personality. You must make the case that the other 99 percent of applicants don’t have what you have. Following a template, or otherwise putting little effort into making your letter stand out, suggests you’re just another applicant.

Don’t rehash your résumé

Focus on the organization you’re writing to and the job description of the open position. If you nail your cover letter, the hiring manager will end up reading your résumé anyway, so don’t waste precious space duplicating it by going down the list of where you’ve worked.

“It’s to complement your résumé, not repeat it,” Mr. O’Neill said. “Cover letters where you’re just rewriting the content of your résumé aren’t effective.”

Instead, you could list some specific examples of projects you’ve worked on, and explain what you learned from them and how that knowledge would apply to the open position. Or you could offer some new ideas, showing from the start that you understand the company’s goals and would bring creativity.

(Related: Getting past the first cut with a résumé that grabs digital eyes )

Don’t state the obvious

Read your letter again, and zap any clichés or platitudes that don’t say something meaningful about you, the position or the company.

As an example: Don’t say you’re a “hard worker.” Everyone says that, and it would be easy to lie about if you weren’t, making it a meaningless sentiment to include. It merely takes up space that could be better spent on something that actually sets you apart from the other candidates.

“It’s not even worth saying,” Ms. Fitzpatrick said. “You’ll show you’re a hard worker by going above and beyond in writing a letter.”

Do your research

This requires going past the first page of Google results.

You could go to a library to sift through professional databases that might have more information, or get coffee with someone who works at the company you’re applying to. Show a familiarity with recent projects, acquisitions and public statements. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but a few sentences to show you’ve put time into it could go a long way.

If you’re not preparing for something as crucial as a cover letter, why would they trust you would prepare for an important meeting?

Focus on what you can offer them

A lot of applicants spend too much time talking about why they love the company, Ms. Fitzpatrick said.

“How many letters does Apple read that say, ‘I couldn’t live without my iPhone’? Probably a lot,” she said. “So you want to show you are unique and you’ve done your research.”

You do want to make it clear that you respect the company and explain why you’re interested, but the focus should be on what you can do for them.

“You want to avoid too many ‘I’ statements — ‘I know this,’ ‘I did this,’ ‘I can do X, Y or Z’ — because that’s too much about what you’re going to get out of this opportunity,” Mr. O’Neill said.

The company isn’t posting a job for charity, or to improve your life; they’re trying to fill a position they consider essential. Convince them that you’re the one who would most help them, not that you’d benefit most from it.

Want more? You might also like:

• Why it’s fine to job-hop for a few years after college

• The incalculable value of finding a job you love

• Looking for a new job? These free apps can help

Explore Our Business Coverage

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping the world of business..

Ghost Kitchens Are Disappearing: Delivery-only operations boomed  during the pandemic. Now Wendy’s, Kroger’s and mom-and-pop food businesses are rethinking their operations.

Axios Shifts Its Strategy: Jim VandeHei, the chief executive of Axios, is becoming one of the first news executives  to adjust their company’s strategy because of A.I.

The Worst Part of a Wall Street Career: A.I. tools can replace much of Wall Street’s entry-level white-collar work , raising tough questions about the future of finance.

Combining Business and Leisure Travel: As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips , companies are trying to figure out where their duty of care obligations begin and end.

Inside Executive Protection Jobs: Here’s how three women trained to work in jobs protecting prominent families  and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Gen X-ers Inch Toward Retirement: The oldest members of Generation X are several years from stopping work , but some are already seeking homes that will suit their later years.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions
• How To Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out In 12 Easy Steps
• 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
• Cover Letter Examples
• Best Cover Letters
• Cover Letter For Internship
• General Cover Letter Templates
• Career Change Cover Letter
• Promotion Cover Letter
• College Student Cover Letter
• Entry Level Cover Letter
• Legal Cover Letter
• Creative Cover Letter
• Cover Letter For Government Job
• Cover Letter With No Experience
• Short Cover Letter Examples
• How To Send An Email Cover Letter
• How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job With No Experience In That Field
• Cover Letter Format
• Salutation and Greeting
• Who To Address When Unknown
• How To Start A Cover Letter
• How To End A Cover Letter
• Best Cover Letter Font And Size
• Cover Letter Spacing
• Cover Letter Length
• Key Elements Of A Cover Letter
• How To Write An Address
• Official Letter Format
• Cover Letter Opening
• Tips For Addressing Cover Letter
• Dear Hiring Manager
• Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out
• How To Sign A Cover Letter
• Salary Requirements In Cover Letter
• Referral In Cover Letter
• Cover Letter Body
• Use Dear Sir Or Madam?
• Use Mrs. Or Ms.?

Find a Job You Really Want In

There’s a lot that goes into writing a cover letter . If you’re new on the job scene, you’ve got to scrounge up some experience to include, learn how to make your writing readable to someone other than yourself, and you have to find out which mistakes to avoid so you don’t end up looking like a job-hunting rookie. Ugh, when does it end?

Here’s the deal:

Writing a cover letter can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, there are many tips and tricks of the trade that can make your cover letter better than you ever thought possible. Lucky for you, we’ve got them all right here. You’re welcome.

Here’s everything you need to make your cover letter stand out in 12 easy steps:

1 Address Your Cover Letter to a Specific Person

Do what you can to find the exact name of the person who’s going to be reading your letter. This will make your cover letter more personalized, and they’ll appreciate that you took the steps to learn about who you’re writing to.

If the person’s name isn’t available directly anywhere in the job listing or on the company website, call the company and ask who the HR representative or hiring manager is for the position.

Never use outdated salutations like “Dear Sir or Madam” or “ To Whom It May Concern .” Using phrases like these shows that you didn’t do your homework and that you’re probably 100 years old.

If you’ve tried your best but haven’t been able to find the recipient’s name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or one of its better-sounding alternatives .

2 Keep It Simple and Concise

Yes, it can be a challenge to describe how awesome you are within one page , but try not to go overboard. Cover letters should be a page or less, and the longer your cover letter is, the more you risk losing the employer’s attention.

Most hiring managers and recruiters agree that the ideal cover letter length is closer to half a page — these are busy people, after all. If you can say everything you need to say in 200 words, that’s great; don’t feel pressured to add more just to fill up space. 400 words is an absolute maximum, but sub-300 is the sweet spot.

If your cover letter is too lengthy, cut out unnecessary information and just leave in only the most important information.

3 Leave Plenty of White Space

You don’t want your cover letter to look cramped or overcrowded with information — this makes you appear to be sloppy and unprofessional. Include spaces between your greeting, the body of your letter, and your signature, and make sure to have appropriate margins (the standard 1-inch margins are fine).

A cover letter that’s tidy and concise is much easier to read than one that’s overloaded with unnecessary details. The hiring manager will thank you for not wasting their time.

4 Use the Same Font as Your Resume

Using a cohesive font with your application materials will make it look like you really have your life together. Using a clean, readable font like Times New Roman or Arial for your cover letter and resume will look neat and professional.

Font sizes should generally be 12-point, and you should avoid busy or distracting visual elements like underlined, highlighted, colored, or capitalized text.

Bold or italics can be used to emphasize key information or separate bullet point entries, but choose one or the other; don’t include both bold and italic text in your cover letter.

5 Don’t Just Rehash Your Resume

Your cover letter should complement your resume and specifically tell the employer how you meet their qualifications and what you can do for their company.

Regurgitating all of the information the hiring manager has already read on your resume is a huge waste of everyone’s time — including yours. Use your cover letter to focus on the specific skills that will benefit the company and provide a fuller picture of you as an employee.

Think of your resume as answering the “who, what, where, when” and your cover letter answering the “how” and “why.” That means your personality, work style , and unique perspective on how to get your job done should come through alongside your passion for the profession. That’s the kind of stuff you can’t find in a resume.

6 Open Strong

What better way to show off your candidacy than to highlight your most impressive skills from the very beginning? Describe your previous leadership positions, relevant achievements, and advanced skills in your first paragraph — this will ensure that you grab their attention as soon as they start reading.

If you’re not sure which of your many amazing experiences or skills to include , refer to the qualifications included in the job listing. When you show that you meet the employer’s top requirements, you’ll make them want to keep reading the rest of your cover letter.

7 Use Numbers and Statistics

Employers love to see numbers, and using statistics to illustrate the achievements you’ve earned with a company is a great way to show them that you’re focused on making an impact and getting results.

If you’ve improved employee participation in company fundraisers, include the percent increase. If you earned more money for your division than your predecessor, share the monetary difference. Using numbers will add value to your past work experiences, and make you seem more credible.

Numbers are your friend, even if you failed math repeatedly in college — we’ll just keep that our little secret.

8 Give Examples of Your Skills

Employers love stories — it helps them visualize you putting to use the skills you claim to have, and it makes you seem like you’re not just talking out of your ass.

Use a descriptive statement to show off a skill, like “I’m an expert maintenance technician with experience working on utility-scale solar fields,” and follow them up with a short anecdote:

“I have personally performed operations and maintenance on utility-scale, high voltage solar farms across the state, repairing and maintaining solar inverters and installing panels as needed.”

And just like that, you’ve made your cover letter more compelling. Way to go.

9 Customize Your Cover letter for Every Application

You should never use a generic, one-size-fits-all cover letter for every job you apply for. Employers can tell, and it basically just says “I literally could not care less about your company or the position.” Ouch.

Customize your letter for the specific job you’re applying for. Mention the company name, the title of the position, and directly address any of your qualifications that match the job requirements.

Your cover letter is your sales pitch to get an interview, so you’ll want to show what you can do for their company specifically.

A good way to make sure you hit all of the employer’s needs is by reviewing the job description and highlighting action verbs in one color and skills or adjectives in a different color. Then, look for ways to naturally incorporate that same language into your cover letter.

10 Leave Out Unnecessary Information

If a sentence doesn’t directly show off your candidacy for the job at hand, it’s not worth including in your cover letter. Never include personal information, and leave out your salary requirements unless the employer specifically asks for them.

Leave out details about leaving your last job , particularly if you were fired, and never badmouth any of your former bosses. Keep your cover letter focused on your credentials and make sure it stays professional.

11 Proofread, Proofread, and Proofread Again

There’s nothing worse than sending in a cover letter and realizing five minutes later that you spelled the company name (or your own name) wrong. Yikes, that would just be embarrassing.

Carefully proofread your letter, and even read it out loud to pick up any mistakes in grammar or syntax. You could even ask a friend or relative to look over it for you. If you can’t find a helper , we recommend reading your cover letter backwards — seeing each sentence in a different order does wonders for recognizing awkward phrases.

Whatever you do, just make sure to proofread your cover letter to avoid any embarrassing spelling or grammar mistakes. You probably won’t get the job of your dreams if your letter is addressed to Walt Fisney World.

12 Include an Email Signature

When you send in your cover letter, include a signature with your name, email address, and phone number. It shows that you’re interested in following up and makes it easier for the employer to get in contact with you. Simple as that.

You can also include a hyperlink to an online portfolio , personal website, or LinkedIn profile . That way, the hiring manager has a ready way to find out more information about you if they’re interested. Just make sure that any extra info you include directs them to a page you’re proud of, not a LinkedIn page with nothing but a headshot and 2 connections.

Final Thoughts

Cover letters can be tricky. You have to learn how to sell yourself the specific wants and needs a particular company is looking for, and you have to do so in a way that’s believable and compelling.

It sounds tough, but it’s not as hard as it seems! Follow these 12 steps and you’re sure to impress employers and land an interview.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.

Recent Job Searches

• Registered Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Truck Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Call Center Representative Jobs Resume Location
• Customer Service Representative Jobs Resume
• Delivery Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Warehouse Worker Jobs Resume Location
• Account Executive Jobs Resume Location
• Sales Associate Jobs Resume Location
• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Company Driver Jobs Resume

Related posts

15 Job Search Tips Guaranteed To Get You Hired

Questions Not To Ask In An Interview (As An Interviewee)

11 Tips For A Successful Onsite Interview

Nurse Vs. Nurse Practitioner

• Career Advice >
• Cover Letter >

3 Examples of Cover Letters That Stand Out (with Tips)

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 15, 2024 — 12 minutes to read

Crafting a Memorable Introduction

When you’re writing a cover letter, you want to grab the hiring manager’s attention immediately. Your introduction is your first chance to show off your personality and give them a reason to keep reading. Start with a greeting that is polite yet shows you’ve done your homework—use the hiring manager’s name if you can find it.

Dive straight into why you’re excited about the company. Maybe you’re inspired by their mission statement or impressed by their rapid growth in the industry. Then, tie this enthusiasm back to your skills. For example:

“Having followed (…) Company’s evolution as a leader in sustainable practices, I am thrilled at the possibility of bringing my decade of experience in green technologies to your dynamic team.”

It’s important to tell a brief story that highlights your relevant achievements. Pick an accomplishment that aligns with the job requirements and show, don’t tell. Use numbers or outcomes to illustrate your impact. It could look something like this:

“After spearheading a successful social media campaign that increased online engagement by 30%, I am eager to apply my digital marketing expertise to elevate (…) Inc.’s brand presence.”

Close your introduction with a sentence that underscores your enthusiasm and readiness to discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success.

Try to personalize your introduction for each job application. Generic intros are easy to spot and often don’t make it past the first read. Taking the time to craft a unique opening will help your cover letter stand out.

Showcasing Relevant Skills

When crafting your cover letter, highlighting your relevant skills is a key way to grab an employer’s attention. Make sure to tailor these skills to the job you are applying for by matching keywords and demonstrating transferable skills.

Matching Job Description Keywords

Review the job posting carefully and identify the keywords related to the skills and qualifications required .

Use these keywords in your cover letter to show that your experience and abilities align with what the employer is seeking.

This approach not only shows that you’ve paid attention to the details of the job description but also helps your application pass through applicant tracking systems that screen for these specific terms.

• “Experienced in social media management and content creation, as specified in the job description.”
• “Proficient in graphic design software including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, aligning with your need for a creative professional.”

Highlighting Transferable Skills

Even if you’re changing industries or don’t have direct experience, showcase your transferable skills. These are abilities that can be applied across various jobs and sectors, such as leadership, communication, or problem-solving. Explain how these skills have contributed to your success in past roles and how they can be beneficial in the position you’re applying for.

• “Utilized exceptional organizational abilities to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring all deadlines were met.”
• “Employed problem-solving skills to resolve customer complaints quickly, increasing customer satisfaction by 35%.”

Incorporating Success Stories

When crafting your cover letter, including success stories can make a significant impact. Highlight your past achievements to show how you can bring value to the position you’re applying for.

Using Quantifiable Achievements

By using numbers and data, you make your contributions concrete. This gives hiring managers a clear picture of your potential impact on their company. For example, if you increased sales, specify by how much, such as “Boosted regional sales by 25% within one financial quarter.”

• Increased team productivity by 30% through strategic workflow redesign.
• Cut customer service response times by 50%, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Narrating Career Milestones

Connect the dots in your career by sharing key milestones. Tell the story of how you solved a difficult problem or took on new responsibilities. This paints a dynamic picture of your growth. Example: “Successfully managed a project that resulted in a patented product, becoming a top-seller for my company.”

• Led the development of a new tracking system that decreased shipping errors by 15%.
• Spearheaded a fundraiser event that raised $20,000 for local charities.

Cover letters that stand out contain specific components that highlight your suitability for a position.

Concluding with a Strong Call to Action

The closing of your cover letter is where you need to reel in the hiring manager with a compelling call to action (CTA). This means directly inviting them to contact you for an interview or further discussion. Here’s how you can effectively do this:

• First, express genuine enthusiasm about the position. You want to communicate your eagerness to take the next step. For example, “I am very excited about the prospect of joining your team and am eager to discuss how I can contribute to the success of your organization.”
• Next, clearly state what you want to happen next. It’s important that there’s no ambiguity about your intentions. A straightforward request, like “I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about how my skills and experience align with your needs,” can convey your confidence and desire for an interview.
• Make it easy for them to reach out. Include your contact information in the closing paragraph and invite them to call or email you. Phrases like “Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience,” followed by a phone number or email address, demonstrate your openness and readiness for communication.
• End on a polite note. Thanking the reader for their time and consideration showcases your politeness and respect. A simple “Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your esteemed company,” can leave a positive final impression.
• “Please contact me at [your phone number] to discuss how I can bring value to your team.”
• “I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and can be reached at [your email address].”
• “I look forward to the opportunity to share how I can make a difference in your company.”
• “I’m keen to discuss my fit for the role in greater detail.”
• “I am hopeful for the chance to further discuss my potential impact on your team.”
• “Eager to explore this opportunity with you, please reach out to me via [contact method].”

Template of a Strong Cover Letter

Dear [Employer’s Name or Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am interested in the [Job Title] job at [Company Name] that I saw [where you found the job posting]. I have experience in [Your Field/Industry] and have achieved [specific achievement or skill]. I am looking forward to helping [Company Name] reach its goals.

At my last job at [Previous Employer], I did [describe a relevant achievement or project] which improved my skills in [mention specific skills or areas of expertise] and showed I am good at [mention a quality or achievement that reflects the job requirements, such as problem-solving, innovation, or collaboration].

I like [Company Name] because [mention something specific about the company or its mission that aligns with your values or career goals]. I respect how your company [describe an aspect of the company’s work, culture, or values], and I want to use my [mention a key skill or experience] to help your company succeed.

I am excited to [mention how you would apply your skills in the role, aligning with the job description]. I believe my [mention a personal trait or professional attribute] and [another skill or experience] make me a good fit to help [Company Name] with [mention a goal or project relevant to the position].

I have attached my resume for more information about my qualifications. I would be happy to talk about how I can contribute to [Company Name]. Thank you for looking at my application. I am ready to discuss this job with you and join your team.

Best wishes,

[Your Name]

Dear (…),

I am interested in the Marketing Coordinator position at (…) Solutions that I saw listed on LinkedIn. With a background in marketing and a proven record of increasing customer engagement, I am looking forward to helping (…) Solutions reach its marketing objectives.

At my last job at (…), I led a campaign that increased social media engagement by 40%. This experience improved my skills in social media strategy and analytics and showed I am good at creative problem-solving and effective communication.

What draws me to (…) Solutions is your commitment to leveraging technology for environmental sustainability. I respect how your company integrates eco-friendly practices into its business model, and I want to use my expertise in digital marketing to help your company expand its reach.

I am excited about the chance to use my skills in this role, particularly aligning with your recent initiative to launch an online eco-conscious marketplace. I believe my proactive approach and experience in project management make me a good fit to help (…) Solutions successfully market this new platform.

Enclosed is my resume, which provides more details about my qualifications. I would be thrilled to discuss how I can contribute to the innovative work at (…) Solutions. Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to discuss this opportunity with you and hope to join your dynamic team.

When using this template, customize each cover letter with specific details about the company and the role you are applying for . Personalization is key to making your application stand out.

Examples of Cover Letters That Stand Out

Cover letters that stand out are tailored to the job and company, showcasing the candidate’s relevant achievements and expressing genuine interest in the specific role and organization.

Cover Letter Example for a Graphic Designer Position

Hello [Employer’s Name],

I’m interested in the Graphic Designer job at [Company Name] that I saw [where you found the job posting]. I have a degree in Graphic Design and over five years of experience. I believe I can create great designs for you.

At my current job at [Current Employer], I led a rebranding for a big client that made their online presence grow by 30% in three months. I’m good with Adobe Creative Suite and always keep up with new design trends, so I make modern and attractive designs.

I’m excited about working at [Company Name] because you value creativity and innovation. I really liked your recent campaign for [specific project or client]. It stood out to me as a designer and a shopper.

I’m looking forward to using my skills and creativity at [Company Name]. I’ve attached my resume and a link to my portfolio for you to see. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this exciting opportunity with you. Thank you for considering my application.

Warm regards,

Cover Letter Example for a Marketing Manager Position

I am a marketing professional with over ten years of experience and I’m excited about the Marketing Manager job at [Company Name]. I’ve led campaigns that increased revenue by 20% each year and I’m looking forward to helping [Company Name] grow even more.

At my last job at [Former Employer], I ran a digital marketing campaign that raised online sales by 40% and got more people interacting with us on social media. My hands-on experience with SEO, PPC, and CRM systems, along with my ability to analyze market trends and adjust strategies accordingly, are skills I am eager to bring to your team.

I really admire [Company Name]’s fresh ways of marketing, like your recent [specific campaign or initiative]. I believe my experience with building brands and targeted marketing fits well with what you’re doing.

I’d love to talk about how I can be part of [Company Name]’s success. Please find my resume attached for your consideration. Thank you for your time and I hope to speak with you soon.

Cover Letter Example for an Administrative Assistant

Dear [Employer’s Name],

I am very interested in the Administrative Assistant job at [Company Name] that I found on [where you found the job posting]. I have experience in administrative work and I really enjoy making sure an office runs well. I’m looking forward to the chance to be part of your team.

In my last job at [Previous Employer], I gained skills like managing schedules, preparing documents quickly, and making sure the office works at its best. I work well with different teams and I’m good at using MS Office and CRM software, which has helped make things run more smoothly and helped the business grow.

I once reorganized the filing system at [Previous Employer], which made finding information 30% faster. I would like to do similar work at [Company Name] to help with the quick pace of your work.

I like [Company Name]’s focus on both helping employees grow and working together. I am excited to bring my skills and experience to a place that values hard work and commitment.

I hope we can talk about how I can help with [Company Name]’s administrative tasks. I am available at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email].

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to support the team at [Company Name] and help with your success.

Best regards,

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key elements to include in a standout cover letter.

A standout cover letter includes a personalized greeting, a compelling opening statement, evidence of your achievements, skills relevant to the job, enthusiasm for the role, and a professional closing.

Can you suggest a structure for an effective cover letter?

An effective cover letter typically starts with a header and salutation, followed by an introductory paragraph, 1-2 body paragraphs detailing your qualifications and fit for the role, and concludes with a call to action and formal sign-off. For instance, “I am excited to discuss how my experience as a digital marketer can drive growth for (…) Corp.”

How can I begin my cover letter to immediately grab the employer’s attention?

Begin your cover letter with an intriguing fact about yourself, a question, or a bold statement related to the job. You could start with, “Reducing customer churn by 30% at my last job makes me eager to apply these strategies to the Client Engagement Specialist position at your esteemed company.”

What are some innovative ways to showcase my personality in a cover letter?

You can showcase your personality by sharing a brief story that illustrates your passion for the field, using a conversational tone, or including an interest that aligns with the company’s culture. For example, “My passion for graphic design started when I redesigned a flyer for a local pet shelter and saw the impact it had on adoption rates.”

Could you provide a model of a concise yet impactful cover letter?

For example, “Dear Hiring Manager, your ad for a creative copywriter caught my eye. At (…) Agency, I increased client engagement for major brands through compelling copy—one campaign saw a 50% jump in CTR.”

What strategies can I use to tailor my cover letter for different job applications?

Research the company and position to include specific details in your cover letter. Use keywords from the job description and speak directly to how your skills and experience meet those needs.

• Resume vs. Cover Letter (Thoughtful Tips)
• 3 Inspiring Nonprofit Cover Letter Examples
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Leadership [Examples, Tips]
• 5 Key Parts of an Effective Cover Letter (with Examples)
• Effective Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace (Examples)
• Empathy: Definition, Types, and Tips for Effective Practice

• Online Degree Explore Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees
• MasterTrack™ Earn credit towards a Master’s degree
• University Certificates Advance your career with graduate-level learning
• Top Courses
• Join for Free

Cover Letter Tips: How to Stand Out

Learn how to craft a cover letter that highlights your expertise while aligning with a company’s needs.

When you apply for a job, your application will often go through two stages before a recruiter invites you to interview. The first is the applicant tracking system (ATS) , which scans your resume for specific keywords to identify whether your experience matches the job requirements.

If the ATS determines that you are a match, a human recruiter will likely look at your application materials next. This is the point where including a cover letter—even if it doesn't seem necessary —may help you secure more interviews.

In a ResumeGo experiment, applications with a job-specific cover letter led to an interview offer 16.4 percent of the time, while applications with no cover letter led to an interview offer only 10.7 percent of the time [ 1 ]. That means to get one interview, you’d have to apply for about six jobs with a tailored cover letter, or about nine jobs without a cover letter.

In this article, we'll go over the sections you should include in a cover letter and additional tips to write a compelling one.

Cover letter basics

As you prepare to write your cover letter, here are a few basic tips to get started:

Header: Your cover letter is a formal document, so use a formal header. To streamline your application documents, you can use the same header that tops your resume , including your name, email address, phone number, city and state, and the URL for your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile, if you have one.

Format: Use standard margins for your cover letter—usually one inch on each side—and keep your font size around 11 or 12. Use a common font, like Arial or Times New Roman, to make your letter easier to read.

Length: Your cover letter should be about a half page to one page long , or about 250 to 400 words. The majority of recruiters and hiring managers will only spend one minute or less reading your cover letter [ 1 ]. Help them focus on the details you want to highlight by writing concisely and precisely.

Part 1: Introduction

The first part of your cover letter is your introduction, where you can share a bit about who you are and why you’re reaching out. Similar to a resume objective , you’ll get to define yourself as you’d like a recruiter or hiring manager to see you in this section.

Address the hiring manager.

Open your letter with a personal greeting directed toward the hiring manager. Most job listings won’t include the hiring manager’s name, but there are methods to find the right recipient for your cover letter , using resources such as LinkedIn or the company website.

Addressing the hiring manager by name adds a sense of intention behind your application and shows that you want to start a dialogue with a specific person. Some examples of personal greetings include “Dear” or “Hello,” followed by their name.

Introduce yourself and share your why .

You can show a bit more personality in your cover letter than you’re able to in your resume. In fact, your cover letter should be a different document than your resume —a place where you expand on what you've accomplished.

Introduce yourself in a way that feels true to the type of employee you are and want to be. Write with a voice that feels natural to your communication style and a tone that matches the one you might use when writing work emails or giving a presentation. The introduction is also a prime space to explain why you're interested in this job at this company.

Part 2: Relevant experience

In the next paragraph (or two), go into more detail about your past work experiences and the impact you've had. Generally, hiring managers don't want to know what you did so much as what you were able to achieve.

It’s also worth tailoring this section to the specific role you’re applying for and highlighting how your experience connects to the company’s needs based on the job description. The majority of recruiters and hiring managers surveyed—77 percent—said that it is either “very important” or “absolutely imperative” that applicants tailor their cover letters to the job descriptions [ 1 ].

Demonstrate fit.

As you read the job description, you likely identified several technical , workplace , and transferable skills you can bring to this role. It is not necessary to list all of those skills in your cover letter. (You should, however, list all of those skills on your resume .)

To keep your cover letter concise, use the job description to identify the skills most necessary for success in this role and show how you’ve used those skills in the past to address similar needs.

Share your accomplishments.

Once you’ve connected your skills to their needs, take it one step further by sharing the results you’ve seen when you’ve employed those skills in the past. Results can be either quantitative or qualitative:

Qualifying your experience: This typically pertains to explanations you offer about what you did. For example, "I spent months building a new data set to help us analyze our performance and improve our KPIs based on those findings."

Quantifying your experience: This typically pertains to explanations that draw on numbers to show the impact of what you did. For example, "I built a new data set that provided valuable insights, and in turn helped us lower our bounce rate by 23 percent."

Part 3: Closing

The final part of your letter is your conclusion, where you leave the hiring manager with one last impression of who you are, what you want to achieve, and how that’s relevant to their company.

Ask for what you want.

As you end your letter, reiterate your desire to use your qualifications to meet the company’s needs, and explicitly ask for the next step you’re hoping to take with this hiring manager, typically a meeting or phone call. Invite the conversation to continue by letting them know that there’s more you want to share and more you want to learn from them.

Formally sign off.

Maintain the honest tone you set in the introduction all the way through your signature. Include a line expressing gratitude for their time and use a simple sign-off, such as “Thank you,” “Sincerely,” or “Best.”

Following up on an application

After you apply for a job, you can follow up on your application by directly reaching out to a recruiter. This may help you stand out among the pool of applicants and can help you form a direct relationship with the recruiter. Learn more about reaching out to a recruiter .

Create your cover letter template

Recruiters and hiring managers notice when applicants submit a generic cover letter—78 percent of those surveyed said it’s “easy” to distinguish between generic and tailored cover letters. At the same time, 81 percent of the same group said they value tailored cover letters “significantly more” than generic ones, indicating that submitting a tailored cover letter with your resume could distinguish you from other equally qualified candidates [ 1 ].

However, writing a tailored cover letter for each application can quickly become a laborious task for a job seeker. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most job seekers apply for 21 to 80 roles before receiving a job offer [ 2 ].

One way to reconcile these at-odds statistics is to create a personalized cover letter template that enables you to easily tailor your cover letter for each application.

You’ll likely be applying for similar roles at different companies and presenting yourself similarly at each, so your introduction and conclusion probably won’t change too much from one application to the next. Once you write your introduction and conclusion, you can templatize the body of your cover letter. Here’s how:

1. List common responsibilities, skills, and needs. As you read through job descriptions that pique your interest, you’ll likely notice common responsibilities and skills associated with the roles. You also may recognize similar company needs or problems you’re excited to help solve. Compile all of these in a list.

2. Write bullets reflecting your experience with each list point. Connect your experience to each of those common responsibilities, skills, and needs with one sentence for each.

3. Where relevant, add proof. Offer specific evidence of your success with your quantitative and qualitative accomplishments.

4. Insert points into your tailored cover letters. Mix and match your pre-written points as they apply for various positions. Remember to edit the points as needed to better align with specific roles.

Cover letter examples

To help you get started, here are two examples of cover letters, one for a data analyst position and another for a project manager position .

Cover letter example 1: Data analyst

Dear Mr. Harland Sanders,

My name is Cindy Liu, and I’m a tech-savvy manager looking to flex my talents to identify new growth strategies for Corelight as a Junior Data Analyst. I’ve always been fascinated by numbers, and working in data analytics has been a long-term goal of mine. My career in the restaurant business has taught me to think strategically about problems and identify solutions. I believe this experience has prepared me for Corelight’s Junior Data Analyst role.  

Your job posting mentioned that you’re looking for an analyst with experience in SQL, proficiency in a statistical programming language, and strong time management skills. During my previous role as a restaurant manager, I had to multitask to balance the needs of the company (revenue) and the customer (service and quality standard). I’ve also been pursuing my passion for data, both at work and in my spare time. Over the past year, I’ve been able to achieve the following:

Automated repetitive restaurant payroll and accounting tasks with Python, freeing up three hours per week

Completed a case study using point-of-sales data from the restaurant to optimize our menu and pricing, leading to a revenue increase of 10 percent

Completed the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, which included extensive coursework in both SQL and R

I’m thrilled at the opportunity to use these experiences to fuel data-driven decisions at Corelight, and I’m keen to continue developing my skill set on the job. I am available for a Zoom call or in-person meeting to discuss how I can help Corelight with improving market product performance through data.

Thank you for your consideration,

Cindy Liu, Data Analyst

Cover letter example 2: Project manager

My name is George Lee, and I am excited to be applying to the Junior Project Manager position at Animax. I am currently a Project Coordinator at Square Paws, where I have supported several projects successfully to completion. I have long admired Animax’s work to improve animal adoption processes and would be delighted to contribute my skills to the team.

At Square Paws, I oversaw multiple aspects of running numerous projects. I worked closely with the project manager to develop project schedules, ensure team members had the resources they needed to complete their tasks, and coordinated communication with stakeholders on project updates. I am particularly proud of a project to roll out a feature on our app that users could use to book appointments with veterinarians. As a complex project that involved multiple stakeholders, it was important to be mindful of the details and listen continuously to feedback from users. My efforts to coordinate an early feedback system in a trial period led to the discovery of several bugs and pain points that we fixed for the launch. We were able to reduce customer concerns by 80% and ultimately completed the project under budget by $3,000.

I have long been familiar with animal adoption centers and believe wholeheartedly in Animax’s mission. I have volunteered consistently at animal shelters since high school and am familiar with their processes. In college, I took several courses that I believe can be useful to the project manager role, including zoology and business administration. Working as a project manager in this field will allow me to expand my knowledge of the industry, and assist in my ultimate goal to make the world a more livable place for shelter animals.

I believe that my past experience, skill set, and passions make me a strong candidate for Animax’s team. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time.

Get additional guidance as you prepare your resume and cover letter with the Guided Project Create a Resume and Cover Letter with Google Docs on Coursera. Further demonstrate your skills in various areas like data analysis, social media marketing, and UX design with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Google, Meta, and IBM. Sign up for Coursera today and begin a 7-day, full-access free trial to browse more personal development courses.

Article sources

ResumeGo. “ Cover Letters: Just How Important Are They? , https://www.resumego.net/research/cover-letters/.” Accessed January 19, 2023.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ How do jobseekers search for jobs? New data on applications, interviews, and job offers , https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-9/how-do-jobseekers-search-for-jobs.htm.” Accessed January 19, 2023.

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

How to Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out: 3 Steps

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

People have a love-hate relationship with cover letters. Most hate writing them. When it comes to hiring managers, some love them and some loathe them. But if you want to make a good impression, you NEED a cover letter that stands out.

In my experience, cover letters get read about half the time when they are not required and 100% of the time when they are.

So it’s definitely important to spend time writing a cover letter that stands out and gets you noticed.

So in this article, I’m going to walk you through the 3 steps you need to write a cover letter that stands out.

How to Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out and Gets You Interviews

A stand-out cover letter contains 3 essential sections , designed to show the reader you’re ideally suited for the role.

Let’s start with the first section that you need in order to stand out:

Step 1: Verbalize the Pain

Use the cover letter to show the reader that you understand the company’s challenges, struggles, etc., and how you are the perfect candidate to solve these issues. In other words, show them that you understand the pain and can make it better.

Pain takes many shapes and forms, from seamless project execution in order to not disrupt business, to building or growing a team to capture market share, launching a new product or service to elevate the brand, to saving money by introducing process efficiencies and automation.

In order to do this, you’ll need to research the company and put yourself in their shoes. Read the job description and think about what they seem to need help with.

That leads us perfectly into the second step of how to write a stand-out cover letter…

Step 2: Examples that Show Pain Solving

Once you’ve effectively shown the reader you understand the challenge or the pain, the next step is to convince them that you are the person who can mitigate it.

If it says they need someone who can work in a fast-paced environment and handle a high workload, then they probably have too much work coming in and are stressed/overwhelmed. Show them that you can ease this burden.

If they say they need someone who can make a great impression on clients to help them grow their business, the best way to write a stand-out cover letter is talk about how you can do this – or better yet – how you’ve done this in the past for other employers.

This should NOT be accomplished by describing yourself with adjectives, but by sharing career highlights that quickly show how you’ve solved similar problems in past roles.

You need to give them real accomplishments, and the more detail, the better. Give facts, statistics, numbers, and results. This is really important when you get to the interview  too, so don’t forget this.

(If this is your first job search and you have no past accomplishments you can talk about, read this article on writing a cover letter with no experience ).

Step 3: Moving Past the Pain

Part 3 of a stand-out cover letter should recap your skills and how they can contribute to not just solving pain, but to moving forward to achieve a company’s higher mission, vision or goal.

You need to pull the two previous pieces of your argument together and make your conclusion.

Tell them how their company will improve by having you. What will happen when these problems are solved? Get them excited about a future with you as a part of the company… and show them you’re excited to do the work as well!

The “Secret Weapon” to End Your Stand-Out Cover Letter

After you’ve followed the 3 steps above, you have the main body of your cover letter, and you’ve written it in a way that will stand out to employers and get you interviewed.

But there’s one more thing you should do to stand out further…

You want to finish your cover letter by directly asking for the interview! This seems obvious, but more than 50% of job seekers don’t do this!

So give them your contact details and TELL them to contact you to set up a time to talk. Tell them you’re looking forward to sharing more detail and answering any questions they have about your background, and you’d like to schedule an interview with them to talk further.

This is the final essential piece for how to write a cover letter that will stand out.

Formatting Your Cover Letter Before Sending

So let’s walk through how to format your cover letter well for an electronic format like email:

#1 Contact Information

Unlike a printed cover letter where your contact details must appear at the top, on a digital version, this info should be located below your name in the form of an email signature. Make sure at the very least you include your full name, contact number, email, address, and a LinkedIn  URL.

#2 Screen v. Print Reads

Reading online is a whole different ballgame than print reading. In fact, it is much harder. This is in large part due to the fact that our eyes have a tough time digesting dense blocks of text (large paragraphs, long lists of bullets) on a screen.

To ensure smooth online reading of your electronic cover letter, aim for paragraphs that are two to three lines maximum.

Keep this in mind when you format your resume, too, if you expect it to be read in an online format.

A Stand-Out Cover Letter Can be the Difference Between an Interview and a Rejection

Not every hiring manager puts a lot of weight on cover letters, but some do! And when hiring managers require it, then there’s a high probability that they care a lot and use it to decide who to interview.

If you follow the steps above for how to write a cover letter that stands out to employers, you’ll get more interviews and find a job faster.

The following expert contributed to this post:

Virginia Franco is a multi-certified executive resume and LinkedIn writer and founder of Virginia Franco Resumes. She offers customized executive resume and LinkedIn profile writing services for the 21st century job seeker.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Continue Reading

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).

How To Write A Cover Letter Recruiters Will LOVE

True or false? Recruiters don't read cover letters.

Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They're wrong!

Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.

So, what does that tell us? If most people don't hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren't written well and, therefore, don't stand out to them.

That may be hard to hear, but it's the truth.

CRITICAL Cover Letter Mistakes

Often, there's WAY too much "blah, blah, blah" and "brag, brag, brag" going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.

Why? Because it's exactly like all the other cover letters they've read.

Think about it. Why should they think you're incredible when they've read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?

If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn't be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume . That's huge, right?

Getting Personal On Your Cover Letter

Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.

So, how exactly do you do that?

You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.

Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.

Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.

The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at "hello," you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.

Creating That Crucial Connection

The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter . Once you establish that connection, you're not just a piece of paper anymore.

This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter . Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.

The First Step When Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter

The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You're going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.

Step 2: Fill Out A Simple Template

You'll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.

Step 3: Submit That Cover Letter For Review

Once you're done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.

It's always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar , spelling, etc.

So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter ? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you've built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You'll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you're applying to.

Does The Disruptive Cover Letter REALLY Work?

Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We've seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!

So, wouldn't learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?

All of us at Work It Daily personally believe that it's priceless.

Owning your career change or job search process is a powerful thing, and we believe you can take control of that process and do incredible things.

Need more help writing a disruptive cover letter recruiters will love?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription ! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

• 3 Easy Steps To A Quick Cover Letter Makeover ›
• 7 Cover Letter Mistakes You Make When Applying Via Email ›
• #1 Thing You MUST Say In Your Cover Letter ›
• 3 Tips On What NOT To Do In Your Cover Letter ›
• How To Write A Cover Letter That Practically Guarantees You An ... ›
• 5 Parts Of A Cover Letter (A.K.A. How To Write A Good One!) - Work ... ›
• 7 Easy Tips For Writing A Stand-Out Cover Letter - Work It Daily | Where Careers Go To Grow ›
• 4 Things To Know About Writing A Cover Letter - Work It Daily | Where Careers Go To Grow ›
• 4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter - Work It Daily ›
• How To End A Cover Letter (With Examples) - Work It Daily ›
• How To Use A 'Connection Story' To Get Hired - Live Event - Work It Daily ›
• Cover Letter Mistakes: 4 Red Flags Employers Watch For - Work It Daily ›
• 3 Sneaky Cover Letter Mistakes - Work It Daily ›
• How to Write a Cover Letter | Indeed.com ›
• How to Write a Cover Letter ›
• How to Write a Successful Cover Letter | Glassdoor ›

Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search

Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.

In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.

For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.

Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach

Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:

• How did I learn about this job?
• How did I apply for the job?
• Did I earn an interview?
• What was the ultimate result?

A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:

Negative Trends

You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.

The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations , and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.

One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.

The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.

This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.

Positive Trends

You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.

The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview . This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.

The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback , and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.

Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.

The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.

Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention

Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.

Let's start with resumes!

Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers . It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.

The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.

Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.

While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.

As for writing a good cover letter , the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter . When you write a disruptive cover letter , you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.

If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.

Build Your Personal Brand

Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand .

Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"

Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.

By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.

You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.

Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search

Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.

There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:

• Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
• Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
• Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle , even better!

Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

The Job Search Tip Introverts Hate (But Desperately Need)

Now hiring: remote sysops engineer, 3 important career lessons learned on and off the field, how ex-nfl player, chris gronkowski, is using social media to change careers.

Cover Letters That Stand Out in 2024 [6+ Examples]

Cover Letter Examples That Helps You Get Hired

Picture this:

You've found the perfect job, hit the "apply" button, and started the writing process with your engines revved and roaring to go.

But wait! Slam the brakes!

They want a cover letter first. Oh no. Have no fear - help is near!

We'll show you some great examples, to overcome you're writing fears, because that's what you are here for, right?

We love examples. It’s so much easier to follow a recipe, build an IKEA bookcase, or even write a cover letter when you know what the end product should look like.

All our cover letter examples are carefully crafted to match real job listings found around the web, and you can even go check out the accompanying resume examples over here as well.

All right, so, what is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one page document, which you attach to your resume . When applying for a job, it is usually required to apply with both a resume and a cover letter. Thus, the cover letter cannot stand alone.

Your cover letter should complement and reflect your resume. In a cover letter you have an opportunity to craft a narrative that aligns you not only with the position you’re applying for but also the company you’re applying to.

It helps you explain your value proposition, stand out from the crowd, and create the connection between you and the company. Basically, why you’re a great fit for each other.

It’s crucial that you tailor each cover letter to every job listing you’re applying to. Do not be generic and just send the same copy over and over again. Each company values different skills , experiences and responsibilities. You’ll want to show exactly how you fit in, and that you are the best candidate around.

Sounds easy eh? Well, for some. But if you need that tiny bit of inspiration to get going, look no further.

What do I include in a cover letter?

Start by dividing your cover letter into a few sections.

The purpose of this is to make it comfortable and easily understable for the reader. The goal is to make them remember what you’re actually trying to tell them and how the company you are applying to can benefit from hiring you.

Imagine you have a piece of paper in front of you, then here's a quick go-to build:

• Name, phone, address, date
• The hiring manager’s name and the company you are applying to
• Ie. Dear Melanie
• Opening lines where you intend to hook the reader
• Why you are a great fit for the company
• Why the company is a great fit for you
• Make yourself available to any further discussions and say thank you for their time

Good, now you are familiar with the overall concept of a cover letter and the format , so let's see it put to use and land you a job interview .

#1 - Internship Cover Letter Example

Eventhough our Intern shows hes got decent experience already, you usually don't need a lot. The most important factor here is motivation.

What are you motivated about, and does that fit the role?

In our Internship cover letter example the motivational emphasis lies on the thrill and excitement of building products at scale. The applying intern describes it as addictive. Who doesn't find that intriguing?

#2 - Marketing Manager Cover Letter Example

Let's be honest, you probably don't need to write a cover letter if you are applying for a job as a marketing manager . This role is often headhuntet or hired through the individuals network. Although, we have seen a few listings around the web, and even had some user's create their resume and cover letter with our templates.

The creative space is always fun, did you notice how this marketing manager connected the dots from the opening paragraph and the closing line?

No matter what industry you're in, attention grapping lines are always a good thing. But don't overdue it!

#3 - Cashier Cover Letter Example

As a cashier , you are the frontline personal of the store. This cashier told the reader right away, that she is a smiling, easy going and an enthusiastic individual. Sounds like the perfect type of person for this role?

Further she provides quantifiable examples of her achievements and experiences, which are all great selling points.

Lastly she even dares the reader to contact her former employers, to build an even greater case for herself. If you emphasize some of your core skills like this, you better be worthwhile.

#4 - Content Marketing Manager Cover Letter Example

A content marketing manager is a word smith. Writing comes naturally to you, and you use it everyday, both on and off your work.

Right out of the gates she hooks the reader and start blending achieved results with the insinuation of improving the companys brand. It oozes of self confidence and makes a strong case for an interview, since a content marketing manager's greatest performance indicators would be; how many reads did my blog post have? how many shares did it get? what's the total reach and how many new engagements?

We would take her in for an interview.

#5 - Sales Associate Cover Letter Example

This sales associate takes a more polite approach. Well, we can't blame her, since being polite and out going are core skills of a sales associate. As most jobs in the sales industry focus on results, it's a good approach to tell about your key quantifiable results, Laura does it wonderfully as she bullets her 3 most key performance indicators and achievements.

#6 - Nursing Cover Letter Example

This clinical nurse is very good at making sure her interpersonal skills and motivation for applying to the position is very clear. She also makes sure that there's no doubt about her professional qualifications. 

Create Your Cover Letter

And check out our blog if you want to know more about utilizing ChatGPT and AI for your cover letters .

Other popular resources

7 Reasons Why You Need a Professional Resume

Stand out from the crowd with a professional resume. An unpolished resume will never get a second look from a hiring manager.

Learn From My Job Search Mistakes

Discover how my mistakes can help you keep your professional documents aligned and land you a job easier.

Customer Service Representative Resume [+Examples]

Which customer service skills and sections should you add in your resume? Learn how to write a customer service resume and see our examples.

Need a Professional CV or Resume?

This feature is not available yet,

Download Your Eye-Catching Resume Now!

To download your resume simply upgrade to Premium Membership. You’ll gain instant full access to all our features.

• Unlimited PDF Downloads
• Unlimited Resumes
• Unlimited Cover Letters
• Access to all templates
• Cancel any time

• Czech Republic
• Hong Kong SAR
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• United States

How to write a cover letter that stands out

10 min read | Jane McNeill | Article | Job searching CV & Cover letters

What should a job application cover letter include? Learn what to include – and what to leave out – with our cover letter basics guide.

Writing a cover letter to accompany your job application can really help you stand out in the mind of a hiring manager or recruiter. Taking the time and effort to write one positions you as a proactive candidate who is genuinely interested in the role you’ve applied for.

Before we begin – let’s go back to basics; what is a cover letter? This is a document that candidates sometimes submit alongside their CVs when applying for a job. It serves as a personal introduction to you as a professional and enables you to briefly summarise why you are the right person for the job. The reader can then find out more about you in your CV.

But not all candidates make the effort to write a tailored and personalised cover letter. So, if you do, it’s more likely that you will catch the attention of the reader. As Jodi Glickman, a communications expert and author of "Great on the Job", has observed: “Not sending a cover letter is a sign of laziness. It’s akin to making spelling and grammar mistakes in your resume. You just don’t do it.”

How to write a cover letter at a glance

Your cover letter needs to communicate that you are genuinely interested in the opportunity – and why. This means the letter needs to be tailored, and not just a standard letter that you’ve edited. 

Here, then, are some of the things you should and shouldn’t do when writing yours.

What should a job application cover letter include?

• Do your research before you start writing. This will help to give you a clue about the appropriate tone to use in the cover letter and the points you should include. Look at such factors as the organisation’s industry, culture and values. Explore sources like the organisation’s official website and social media profiles, its executives’ social media profiles and any online employee reviews.
• Personalise it. This information is easier to find than it has ever been before. There’s no excuse for getting any names wrong or not addressing the cover letter personally to the hiring manager. And certainly, don’t just copy and paste your cover letter for every position you apply for – make it personal and targeted every time. It’ll be obvious to an employer if you’ve just edited a few words of the same cover letter that you send to everyone else, which may suggest you have little real interest in the vacancy.
• Start with a strong intro to hook the reader in . The first sentence of the cover letter will either grab the hiring manager’s attention or lose it. It needs to powerfully demonstrate that you understand what they are looking for and need. Instantly communicate your unique selling points that will help to solve the hiring manager’s problems, such as relevant industry know-how, skills, experience and achievements, instead of the generic “I’m applying for the role of XXX.”
• If you’ve come across this opportunity via a friend or have a previous connection with the organisation, mention it. Maybe you were previously introduced to the hiring manager by this person because they thought you were a good fit for the role. Or perhaps you crossed paths as an intern or an employee at one of the company’s suppliers or competitors?
• Optimise the subject line if you can . Also, check the job description again – the employer might ask applicants to include something specific in the subject line, for example.
• Use keywords mentioned in the job description , but don’t keyword-stuff in the hope that your application will get picked up in any applicant tracking software (ATS) – it is possible to overdo your use of keywords!
• Include your contact information including your name, phone number, email address and LinkedIn URL.
• Sign off professionally . Conclude the main body of the cover letter with a power phrase such as, “I would like to discuss in greater detail the value I could bring to your organisation,” and close with the formal and widely accepted “Best regards” or “Sincerely”.
• Spell check and ensure the formatting is correct . If you’re submitting your cover letter as an attachment online, write it in a Word document so that the program can flag up obvious issues like misspellings. Also, check that any formatting in Word translates properly into the email or online form. In terms of formatting, break any intimidating blocks of text into more readable paragraphs and bullet points.
• If possible, put your cover letter and CV in the same document , which will help to avoid your cover letter being misplaced if the employer uses an automated online applicant tracking system.  

What not to do when writing your cover letter

• Don’t drone on – keep it succinct . The reader is interested in concrete facts rather than quirkiness or clichés.
• Don’t overlook the finer points . Have you taken the time to find out the name of the recipient so that you can address the cover letter to them personally? What about confirming your availability towards the end of the letter, and signing off appropriately? It’s small touches like these that could really help you to stand out from other candidates.
• Don’t just repeat what you’ve said on your CV or LinkedIn profile – a cover letter should be complementary to these other means of marketing yourself professionally, and should therefore support and enhance your story. What is it about your hobbies, interests and background that made you especially interested in this position?
• Don’t go overboard with the flattery , as this could risk you coming across as insecure, insincere or sycophantic. Professionalism, maturity and authenticity are vital qualities to communicate from the beginning of your relationship with the employer.
• Don’t write in the third person . A cover letter is, after all, a letter, addressed directly to the employer. You are using this document to sell yourself. While a cover letter’s tone of voice should be professional, it should also be sufficiently conversational to engage the reader and communicate your personality, values and interest in the role.
• Don’t use WordArt or unusual fonts. Use a standard professional font like Arial, which is readable and clean. This isn’t just about making the right impression on hiring managers and lessening their eye strain, as the automated scanning systems used by applicant tracking systems can also sometimes struggle with more unusual fonts.  

How to write a cover letter

While the purpose of the cover letter has never changed, the way it is presented and submitted has evolved. For example, cover letters can now take the form of a personalised note to add to your LinkedIn application or an email attaching your CV.

Your cover letter needs to communicate that you are genuinely interested in the opportunity that the given role represents and why. This means the letter needs to be tailored, and not just a standard letter that you’ve edited. Here below is an example of how your cover letter should look.  

Example job application cover letter

                                                                                                            45 King Edward Street                                                                                                             Name                                                                                                             Phone Number                                                                                                             Email                                                                                                             LinkedIn URL Organisation Name Address Date

Dear Mr Carl Smith, Subject line : Experienced senior manager for X position

I was previously introduced to your company by your colleague, Susan Bainbridge, at the recent X trade fair, and became particularly intrigued by the work you do and the culture of the business. Subsequently, I was especially excited to see the role of X recently advertised on your website.

I believe my 15 years as a senior manager for one of the biggest names in the X sector, overseeing a 25 per cent rise in revenues over the last half-decade, uniquely equips me to build upon the experience I already have, apply my knowledge and skills to the role of X, and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to your business.  

From reviewing the job description, I believe that I am a great match for this role and could become a key team player in helping your business to attain its ambitions. Pinsent Media is at a similar stage of its development to my present employer when I began my role with them, and I would love nothing more than to be able to help drive similarly incredible growth and success for your business.  

I would like to draw your attention to the following skills and achievements that I would appreciate the opportunity to build on as your brand’s next X:

• Exceptional people, resource and process skills that have helped to drive consistent and measurable improvements in the company’s productivity, performance and sales in my present role – all skills that are well-matched to Pinsent Media’s search for an X with a “proven track record” in these areas
• An influential player in the transformation of my present company from a small business generating £2.2 million in annual revenue with an 18-member staff team, into one of the most thriving and respected firms in its industry, employing 48 staff and recording revenue of £26.2 million last year. I would be delighted to draw upon my skills and contacts to further Pinsent Media’s own ambitious growth objectives
• The conceptualisation and establishment of such strategic initiatives as X, X and X, as reported by Forbes and HuffPost and driving the company to new heights of operational success. These achievements are highly relevant to Pinsent Media’s intention for its next X to assist in significantly expanding its international media profile and reputation for innovation.

Thank you for your consideration. I have attached my CV and look forward to speaking to you further about this opportunity.

Yours sincerely, Simon M. Taylor  

What you need to remember about cover letters

The principle of a successful cover letter is simple: it needs to be sufficiently interesting to an employer to leave them feeling compelled to find out more by reading your CV. Hopefully, they’ll then decide to call you in. By following the above advice, you can help to make yourself a more attractive candidate so that you have a greater likelihood of being shortlisted for an interview.

Updating your CV? Our CV writing tips and advice will help you get started. You can also contact your local Hays recruitment consultant to discuss your career options.

Want to make your cover letter stand out? Here’s how

The era of digital recruitment is here, and employers are receiving more responses to their job postings than ever before. What can you do to help boost your application to the top of the selection list? The answer may lie in the cover letter.

Connecting employers with jobseekers is now easier than ever. In a matter of minutes, you can scope out the positions that interest you online and submit your resume with the click of a button. In this almost automated process, applicants rarely give thought to the ‘old-fashioned’ cover letter, once a standard addition to a CV. However, if you want to improve your chances with a potential employer, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a well-crafted cover letter to make you stand out from the crowd.

Here are some tips on how to create a cover letter that will get you noticed:

Do your research

Employers want to see that you are a good fit, not only for the job, but for their company as well. Before you apply, familiarise yourself with the skills they are looking for, but also with the company's philosophy and values. Make sure this is reflected in your cover letter by showing how your particular assets and personality align with the company’s ethos.

Know your ‘why’ and convey it clearly

Of course, you want the job for many reasons, which may seem self-evident to you. But a potential employer wants to know why you want the specific job within the specific organisation. Be clear about what draws you to that particular company and how your unique skillset will contribute to its success.

Don’t rehash your CV

Your cover letter is where you express your enthusiasm about the role you are applying for and show your suitability for it. This is not the same as your resume; rather it goes one layer deeper, showing exactly how your profile relates to the job description and requested qualifications.

Showcase your achievements

This is your opportunity to promote your accomplishments, so don’t shy away from a little bit of ‘good bragging’. Quantify your achievements, where possible, and bring up specific examples of how your skills contributed to previous employers’ success.

One size doesn’t fit all

Nobody likes to feel they are on the receiving end of a ‘canned’ piece of writing, and this is especially true for recruiters/employers. When applying for a job, you need to tailor your content to the specific position you are targeting. In the same vein, avoid addressing your letter ‘to whom it may concern’; find out who the hiring manager is and address them personally.

Use your own voice

You want to adopt a formal tone when drafting your cover letter; after all, it is a document that has a professional purpose. But you also still want to let your personality shine through and grab your reader’s attention. Consider an unconventional introduction, perhaps by including a personal anecdote or an engaging question that will pique your reader’s interest and make them keen to find out more about you.

Less is more

Three paragraphs is a good length for your cover letter, and enough to get your points across. A clear and concise format is key. Consider structuring your paragraphs as follows:

• Express your enthusiasm for the position and interest in the company.
• Showcase your top skills/accomplishments and state how they relate to the job.
• Mention how your contribution will bring value to the company and encourage a next step from the recipient’s end.

You are now ready to submit your resume along with your cover letter. Make sure you proofread it before sending or have someone else go over it; they might catch a mistake you have overlooked. Good luck!

Want to find out more about how you can improve your employability? Check out our tips on how to make yourself more hireable for employers .

Related links:

How to write an achievements-focused CV

5 tips for streamlining your CV

European Job Days

Find  EURES Advisers

Living and working conditions  in EURES countries

EURES  Jobs Database

EURES services for  employers

EURES  Events Calendar

Upcoming  Online Events

EURES on  Facebook

EURES on  X

EURES on  LinkedIn

EURES on  Instagram

• Hints and tips
• Help and Support
• Hints & tips
• Accomodation and food service activities
• Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
• Activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods- and services
• Administrative and support service activities
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Arts, entertainment and recreation
• Construction
• Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
• Financial and insurance activities
• Human health and social work activities
• Information and communication
• Manufacturing
• Mining and quarrying
• Other service activities
• Professional, scientific and technical activities
• Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
• Real estate activities
• Transportation and storage
• Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
• Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Articles are intended to provide users of the EURES portal with information on current topics and trends and to stimulate discussion and debate. Their content does not necessarily reflect the view of the European Labour Authority (ELA) or the European Commission. Furthermore, EURES and ELA do not endorse third party websites mentioned above.

Share this page

Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2024?

Published: April 03, 2024

Writing a cover letter can be daunting.

I’ll never forget my college career coach, who made writing a cover letter look easy. Even with her tips, I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to talk about myself and hype up my accomplishments.

While it acts as a letter of introduction, I’ve wondered if a cover letter is necessary in 2024. To find out, I spoke with two recruiters and gained insights on how to write the best cover letter for any job application.

How important is a cover letter?

Is a cover letter necessary, when to skip a cover letter, when to include a cover letter, tips for writing a cover letter, what if the cover letter is optional.

Cover letters are short letters of introduction that you include with job applications.

Typically, they are your chance to go into deeper details about your accomplishments that you might not have highlighted or had room to mention on your resume.

Tiffany Hall, a professional resume writer and founder of Resume911 , says cover letters are an important part of the job application process.

Hall says, “Cover letters can be very important. It’s supposed to sell why you, of all applicants, should get the job. The issue is that applicants use them to regurgitate what’s on their resume, and that’s not what it’s for. It should speak to what isn’t easily explained with your resume.”

5 Free Cover Letter Templates

Five fill-in-the-blank cover letter templates to help you impress recruiters.

• Standard Cover Letter Template
• Entry-Level Cover Letter Template
• Data-Driven Cover Letter Template

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

For example, if your resume says you’re skilled at building web pages, your cover letter is a great place to name-drop companies that you’ve worked for to create their websites.

Matthew Muehleisen, a corporate recruiter , thinks a cover letter is also a great place to show you’ve done your homework and researched a company.

Muehleisen says, “It can be what sets you apart from other candidates and applicants and is a good opportunity to show that you’ve done research on the position and company to further showcase your interest in the role.”

Knowing the importance of a cover letter still begs the question: Is a cover letter necessary in 2024?

Image Source

While a cover letter can help demonstrate your knowledge of the company you’re applying to and highlight more of your achievements, both Hall and Muehleisen agree that a cover letter isn’t entirely necessary.

Muehleisen says, “Unless it’s a requirement of the application, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to include a cover letter. There are some roles (usually in content creation and marketing) that will ask for a cover letter as a form of a writing sample. In these instances, make sure your letter is polished and focused.”

If Hall had her way, she would eliminate the cover letter entirely, focus more on the resume, and ask for a link to an applicant’s LinkedIn profile.

According to Hall, “Most cover letters either repeat the resume or they speak to why the applicant isn’t a good fit. Neither is the purpose of a cover letter.”

Nevertheless, 74% of hiring managers still prefer applications to include a cover letter. So, it is definitely worth considering including one — even if the application says it’s optional.

If you’re looking for a new role, writing a cover letter can be time-consuming — especially if you take the time to personalize every letter you send to a hiring manager.

Although a cover letter does serve a legitimate purpose, and 83% of hiring managers read it, there are a few situations where you shouldn’t include a cover letter. Let’s take a look at those scenarios.

If You Only Have a Template of a Cover Letter

I get it. Writing an effective cover letter takes a significant amount of time.

But consider not sending one if you only have time to plug your information into a cover letter template without personalizing it before hitting submit on an application.

Don’t get me wrong. A cover letter template is a great starting point to write your cover letter. Templates often remind you to include pertinent information like the hiring manager’s title, name, and your contact information.

However, if you don’t take the time to edit the body of the cover letter and personalize it with research and your relevant experience, you risk sending the same letter as another candidate.

And considering that 48% of hiring managers spend anywhere from 30 seconds to two full minutes reading each cover letter, the chances are high that your hiring manager can spot a form letter a mile away.

Don’t send it if you don’t have the time to personalize a cover letter.

If Your Cover Letter Is Full of Critique

A cover letter is meant to explain why you’re the best candidate for the open position. However, a cover letter is not a place for you to share your ideas of how the company can improve.

Sure, every company likely has areas of improvement, and the job you’re applying for might be the role that gets a say in that, but a list of improvements might read as a critique.

You don’t want to potentially offend a hiring manager before you even get an interview. A bad cover letter can hurt a strong candidate, according to 33% of hiring managers .

Before you submit your cover letter, read through it several times to make sure it’s not a critique. If it does sound like a critique, throw it out.

If It’s Not Required

There are other instances where you shouldn’t send a cover letter. For example, if the application’s instructions specifically state that you do not need to submit a cover letter for consideration for the job.

In fact, sending a cover letter anyway can signal to the hiring manager that you don’t follow instructions. Not following instructions is also a great way to land your application in the trash bin.

The bottom line is this: If the application specifically states not to send a cover letter, don’t send it.

Of hiring managers, 74% prefer to see job applications with a cover letter apart from the resume. Knowing this, if you have the time to include a cover letter with your job application, don’t skip it.

Here are three instances when you should send a cover letter with your application.

Send a cover letter if you’re very interested in the role.

Think of your cover letter as your time to shine. Use it as a place to highlight your experiences and the qualifications that make you a great fit for the position.

Hall says, “If you can speak to why you’re a good candidate without copying your resume in paragraph form, include a cover letter.”

In other words, don’t use bullet points in your cover letter to describe your previous employment history.

Instead, talk about what you learned on the job and how your skills will help you excel in the role you’re applying for.

Send a cover letter when there’s a gap in your resume or you’re transitioning industries.

If you’re looking to transition to another industry, you should definitely include a cover letter with your application.

Speaking from personal experience, if I had only submitted a resume to my school district when I applied to be a Spanish teacher, the hiring manager would have just seen my experience in Public Health and would not have known about my skills and success in tutoring students in Spanish.

Muehleisen puts it this way, “If you’re looking to transition to a new industry or if there is a position and company you’re really excited about pursuing as an opportunity, these are the best instances to include a cover letter so that you can possibly give yourself an advantage.”

A cover letter can also help explain any gaps in your resume — especially if the gap in your employment history is beneficial to the role you’re applying for.

For example, maybe you volunteered in South America, and the role you’re applying for is for a position in Global Operations.

It never hurts to include positive, pertinent information in your cover letter.

Send a cover letter when it’s required.

The most obvious time to include a cover letter with your application is when it is required. Just like not including a cover letter when it’s not required, it shows you can follow directions.

Include a cover letter when the application asks you to submit one, which shows you can follow directions.

Plus, if the application asks for a cover letter, you can bet the hiring manager will look for it. If no cover letter is included, well, you’re sabotaging your chances of getting an interview.

Only 13% of hiring managers will consider giving a candidate an interview if they don’t attach a required cover letter to an application.

Writing a cover letter is not as painful as it sounds. There are great templates you can use as a starting point for your cover letter.

The trick with a template, though, is to make sure you always personalize the letter to your own experiences and qualifications.

Here are five expert tips to write a winning cover letter.

1. Tailor your cover letter to the job description.

When writing a cover letter, especially if you use a cover letter template, you should tailor the letter to match the job description and meet the requirements of the application.

For example, if the application asks you to attach a short cover letter, keep it brief. Your best bet is one to two short paragraphs detailing why you’re a great fit for the position.

You’ll also want to reference keywords from the job description in your cover letter. Many recruiters use applicant tracking systems that scan application packets for the best fit.

Often, hiring managers review the applications that match the keywords first.

Now, that doesn’t mean to stuff your cover letter with keywords. Instead, use them in a natural way as you discuss your qualifications.

2. Be personable with your greeting.

You might have seen the advice telling you to use “To Whom It May Concern” instead of the hiring manager’s name. This is good advice, but only if you do not know the hiring manager.

Before resorting to a generic greeting to start your cover letter, take the time to look on the company’s website and LinkedIn to find out who makes hiring decisions.

If you have contacts in your network who are familiar with the company, ask them. Taking the time to research the hiring manager and the company shows you care about the details — a quality many hiring managers look for in a candidate!

If you’re still unsure after researching the company, consider using “Dear Sir or Madam” as your greeting.

3. Be yourself.

While a cover letter is a formal introduction of yourself to a potential employer, it doesn’t need to be lacking in personality. Hall suggests sprinkling your personality in your cover letter to spark connections with the hiring manager.

Hall says, “Be your best professional self. I’m a foodie and will include references to food on my LinkedIn, and I’ve done it in a cover letter. I’ve had managers reference them, and we had a chuckle. I am also very clear about aligning myself with companies whose mission and goals I respect and can contribute to. I make sure to speak to that in the cover letter.”

Take Hall’s advice. Showcasing your vibrant personality in your cover letter can help break the ice in your interview!

4. Proofread your cover letter.

Once you’ve written your cover letter and before you hit “send,” double-check that it is free from spelling and grammar errors and that the company you referenced is the company you are applying to.

Muehleisen says skipping proofreading your cover letter is a big mistake — and it could cost you the job!

Muehleisen says, “Make sure that you are proofreading prior to sending. If the cover letter feels like it is a simple cut/paste or if the job title and company name are incorrect, it may do more harm than good. So, be sure that what you’re sending is pertinent.”

5. Be cautious of AI.

AI tools, like ChatGPT or Claude, are great for helping draft content. You might be tempted to ask generative AI to write your cover letter for you. However, both Hall and Muehleisen say to proceed with caution when it comes to AI.

Hall says, “AI is coming along in amazing ways, so it may come as a surprise that my best tip didn’t include AI. I tell my clients when they’re stuck to look to their peers. You can search people by job title on LinkedIn. See how they describe themselves and pull from there. Or, hire a resume writer or career strategist to help you.”

Muehleisen agrees with her. He says, “I would hesitate to use a tool or service for a cover letter as the point should be to show your authenticity. If you are going to use AI for assistance, make sure to put your own words in as well.”

However, when you write your cover letter, whether using a template or generative AI, personalizing it is key to standing out from the competition.

If the job description says a cover letter is optional, should you send one, or can you get by without it?

That can be tricky, considering 72% of recruiters still expect a cover, even if it’s optional.

According to Muehleisen, sending a cover letter is not a bad idea. He says, “I’ve never heard of a cover letter hurting an applicant’s chances; just make sure the one you’re including is specific to the job description and posting.”

Check out these cover letter examples for more inspiration.

Experiment With Your Cover Letters

Writing a cover letter is a breeze once you get the hang of it. With today’s challenging job market, sending a cover letter with your application can make a difference in whether you get called for an interview.

I can’t make promises that your cover letter will dazzle hiring managers each time, but for the right position for you, it will.

Remember Hall and Muehleisen’s advice when you craft your cover letter. Personalization is key to success!

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

The 23 Best Cover Letter Examples: What They Got Right

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship [Examples & Template]

Letter of Interest Tips, Templates & Examples [A 2023 Guide]

15 Cover Letter Templates to Perfect Your Next Job Application

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Cover Letter

How to Start a Cover Letter to Impress Employers [+ 14 Examples]

Eight Cover Letter Greetings for Every Situation

7 Expert Cover Letter Tips to Get the Job

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

Your free, personal tool for learning and working in Europe

Create your Europass CV

Create Cover Letter

Test your digital skills, work in europe.

Looking for a new job? Europass can help you find the right job:

• Search for jobs across Europe.
• Suggestions for jobs that fit your profile and interests.
• Prepare your CV, cover letter and job applications.
• Articles on planning your career and working abroad.

Create your Europass today and take the next step in your career.

Take this simple test that will help you understand your digital skills level. When you complete the test you will get a detailed report with a description of your average level. 

You can create a CV or many CVs with just a few clicks from your Europass profile or from scratch. You can use it to apply for a job, education or training opportunities as well as volunteering. Watch quick tutorial video.

Europass makes it as simple as possible for you to create a Cover letter that stands out and follows the standard structure. You can create, store and share cover letters in 31 languages, choose from different templates to customise your application and share them easily from your Europass Library. Watch quick tutorial video.

The safe step: All about 2FA

Did you know that two out of three people use the same passwords everywhere? This makes it easy for hackers to get access to personal data. Keep your Europass account safer by adding an extra step for protection with the two-step login. All you need is your smartphone and the EU login app.

5 million registered Europass users

Europass has officially reached 5 million registered users and the platform is continuing to grow in quantity and quality.  Have you explored all the amazing tools Europass has to offer? Significant improvements were made to Europass tools based on your input. Now, we invite you to share your personal Europass story with us for a chance to have it published on our website highlighting the European Year of Skills. Join our community of 5 million users and be a part of the Europass success story!

Europass and You

Previous next  .

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

Our Trump reporting upsets some readers, but there aren’t two sides to facts: Letter from the Editor

• Updated: Apr. 06, 2024, 10:27 a.m. |
• Published: Mar. 30, 2024, 8:16 a.m.

Some readers complain that we have different standards involving Donald Trump and Joe Biden. (AP Photo, File) AP

• Chris Quinn, Editor, cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer

A more-than-occasional arrival in the email these days is a question expressed two ways, one with dripping condescension and the other with courtesy:

Why don’t our opinion platforms treat Donald Trump and other politicians exactly the same way. Some phrase it differently, asking why we demean the former president’s supporters in describing his behavior as monstrous, insurrectionist and authoritarian.

I feel for those who write. They believe in Trump and want their local news source to recognize what they see in him.

The angry writers denounce me for ignoring what they call the Biden family crime syndicate and criminality far beyond that of Trump. They quote news sources of no credibility as proof the mainstream media ignores evidence that Biden, not Trump, is the criminal dictator.

The courteous writers don’t go down that road. They politely ask how we can discount the passions and beliefs of the many people who believe in Trump.

Chris Quinn's recent Letters from the Editor

• An iconic Cleveland eclipse photo seven years in the making: Letter from the editor
• Around the globe and the nation, thousands thank us for telling the truth about Trump: Letter from the Editor
• Voices of hope. Voices of anxiety. Tears of gratitude. A global response to how we tell the truth about Donald Trump

This is a tough column to write, because I don’t want to demean or insult those who write me in good faith. I’ve started it a half dozen times since November but turned to other topics each time because this needle is hard to thread. No matter how I present it, I’ll offend some thoughtful, decent people.

The north star here is truth. We tell the truth, even when it offends some of the people who pay us for information.

The truth is that Donald Trump undermined faith in our elections in his false bid to retain the presidency. He sparked an insurrection intended to overthrow our government and keep himself in power. No president in our history has done worse.

This is not subjective. We all saw it. Plenty of leaders today try to convince the masses we did not see what we saw, but our eyes don’t deceive. (If leaders began a yearslong campaign today to convince us that the Baltimore bridge did not collapse Tuesday morning, would you ever believe them?) Trust your eyes. Trump on Jan. 6 launched the most serious threat to our system of government since the Civil War. You know that. You saw it.

The facts involving Trump are crystal clear, and as news people, we cannot pretend otherwise, as unpopular as that might be with a segment of our readers. There aren’t two sides to facts. People who say the earth is flat don’t get space on our platforms. If that offends them, so be it.

As for those who equate Trump and Joe Biden, that’s false equivalency. Biden has done nothing remotely close to the egregious, anti-American acts of Trump. We can debate the success and mindset of our current president, as we have about most presidents in our lifetimes, but Biden was never a threat to our democracy. Trump is. He is unique among all American presidents for his efforts to keep power at any cost.

Personally, I find it hard to understand how Americans who take pride in our system of government support Trump. All those soldiers who died in World War II were fighting against the kind of regime Trump wants to create on our soil. How do they not see it?

The March 25 edition of the New Yorker magazine offers some insight. It includes a detailed review of a new book about Adolf Hitler, focused on the year 1932. It’s called “Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power” and is by historian Timothy W. Ryback. It explains how German leaders – including some in the media -- thought they could use Hitler as a means to get power for themselves and were willing to look past his obvious deficiencies to get where they wanted. In tolerating and using Hitler as a means to an end, they helped create the monstrous dictator responsible for millions of deaths.

How are those German leaders different from people in Congress saying the election was stolen or that Jan. 6 was not an insurrection aimed at destroying our government? They know the truth, but they deny it. They see Trump as a means to an end – power for themselves and their “team” – even if it means repeatedly telling lies.

Sadly, many believe the lies. They trust people in authority, without questioning the obvious discrepancies or relying on their own eyes. These are the people who take offense to the truths we tell about Trump. No one in our newsroom gets up in the morning wanting to make a segment of readers feel bad. No one seeks to demean anyone. We understand what a privilege it is to be welcomed into the lives of the millions of people who visit our platforms each month for news, sports and entertainment. But our duty is to the truth.

Our nation does seem to be slipping down the same slide that Germany did in the 1930s. Maybe the collapse of government in the hands of a madman is inevitable, given how the media landscape has been corrupted by partisans, as it was in 1930s Germany.

I hope not.

In our newsroom, we’ll do our part. Much as it offends some who read us, we will continue to tell the truth about Trump.

I’m at mailto:[email protected]

Thanks for reading.

( Note: A follow-up column about the overwhelming international response to this piece can be found here , and a sampling of the responses can be found here .)

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.