how to write a cover letter for work placement

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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

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8 September 2023

Writing a Placement & Work Experience Cover Letter

When you apply for a placement, you’ll need to send a cover letter along with your CV. A placement cover letter supports your application by explaining who you are and why you’re interested in the role.

The aim of your cover letter is to persuade an employer to read your CV, (over the fifty others they received), and eventually invite you for an interview.

Want to write the perfect one? Read on for the how…

• What goes into a work experience cover letter?

How to write a cover letter for a placement

Placement cover letter example.

• Things to remember

What goes into a work experience cover letter

Although you should always tailor your cover letter for each job you apply for, there are a couple of things that all cover letters must include.

On top of the usual letter niceties, these are…

• Your name and contact details
• The role you’re applying for
• Why you’re interested in the role
• Your skills and previous experience
• What you’ll bring to the company
• Your career goals

Step 1: Dear Sir / Madam?

The first three words of your cover letter are crucial. Make no mistake!

Recruiters and employers get itchy eyes when they read a work placement cover letter addressed to [Dear Sir/Madam]. And they really lose their minds when they see [To whom it may concern]. It’s best to address your letter to the reader directly. So…

Dear Full Name , e.g. Dear David Attenborough – this is ideal as it’s gender-inclusive and doesn’t rely on the use of ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’

Dear Mr Surname , e.g. Dear Mr Attenborough

Dear Ms Surname , e.g. Dear Ms Attenborough – never presume marital status. Write Ms instead of Miss / Mrs.

Don’t know who to address your cover letter to? There’s a few things you can do.

1. Browse LinkedIn – Lots of companies have a profile that lists their employees

2. Contact the employer – Ask for the name of the person who is tasked with reading placement cover letters. You can do this by phone or email

3. Address your cover letter to the department manager

4. If you can’t locate the person who handles recruitment, address your placement cover letter to someone who works in HR .

Step 2:  Swift intro

Next, you need to disclose what placement you’re applying for. 

A company might be hiring placement students in a number of different departments. Be specific to make sure you’re being considered for the right role.

Write something like this –

“ I am writing regarding the vacancy for the marketing placement with IBM, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my attached CV. “

Let the recruiter know where you found the vacancy for the placement. Employers are always keen to know what channels students use to find jobs. It makes a good impression.

Step 3:  Why are you interested?

Now you’ve introduced yourself, it’s time to explain why you’re interested in the chosen placement or work experience scheme.

It’s important to do some research about the company you’re applying to and the content of the programme. Use it to give convincing reasons for your interest in the placement.

Step 4: What can YOU bring?

In this section, you want to explain what you’ll bring to the company as a placement student. There’s no need to mention everything.

Be specific and keep it relevant to the role. What unique skills will you bring to the organisation?

It’s also a chance to talk a little bit about your hobbies and interests – keeping them relevant to the role you’ve applied to.

“ I am halfway through a Marketing degree, and on course to achieve a 2:1. So far, I have focussed on digital marketing modules, which have imparted strong analytical and problem-solving skills. I am also now proficient in basic coding. My three years at Mecca Bingo have provided experience with customer service practices and other useful soft skills. “

Step 5: Final flourish

Aptly named the final flourish, you will end your placement cover letter in this section. Thank the recruiter for considering your application, and register your interest in attending an interview.

“Thank you for considering my application, I’m looking forward to the prospect of discussing the placement in greater detail in an interview. “

Step 6: Farewell

If you found the name of the recruiter/employer, end your placement cover letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’. If you rebelled and wrote “to whom it may concern”, put ‘ Yours Faithfully’.

Want to set yourself up for success with your work experience application? Sign up to our FREE Career Coaching Course, a four-day virtual programme in October, to upskill yourself on CVs, applications and interviews.

Here is an example of a placement cover letter. This is the structure and general length you should be aiming for (approx 250 words) …

Dear Mr Attenborough,

I am writing regarding the vacancy for the marketing placement with IBM, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my attached CV.

I am particularly interested in this placement at IBM because of the focus on different areas of digital marketing. IBM is at the forefront of the digital marketing industry, and I am fascinated by the cloud-based software IBM provides for companies on email, web and social media. 

I have been reading about IBM’s most recent project, which aimed to improve customer experience across the buyer journey. It links closely to a project I completed in the first year of my Marketing degree, which centred around optimising the user experience for online retail.

I am halfway through a Marketing degree, and on course to achieve a 2:1. So far, I have focussed on digital marketing modules, which have imparted strong analytical and problem-solving skills. I am also now proficient in basic coding. My three years at Mecca Bingo have provided experience with customer service practices and other useful soft skills.

Thank you for considering my application, I’m looking forward to the prospect of discussing the placement in greater detail in an interview.

Yours Sincerely,

Kevin McCloud.

Things to remember…

Now you have the tools needed to craft a superb piece of career prose, there are a few things to keep in mind…

Online Placement Applications

1 . If you’re applying for a placement online, you’ll need to write your cover letter in a text box. Write it in Microsoft Word or Pages first, then copy and paste it into the text box. That way you can check your grammar and spelling beforehand.

2. If you’re sending your cover letter via email or attaching it to an online application, save it as a .pdf rather than a Word/Pages file. All computers can read PDFs, so there’ll be no problem when an employer opens the file.

3 . Always save your cover letter as ‘[Your Name] Cover Letter ‘. It looks clean, and employers will be able to find you easier.

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Written by Conor

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Placement cover letter examples

Placements are a great way to gain valuable experience, but this is also the reason these roles are so competitive.

Your cover letter gives you a chance to expand on your CV and persuade the employer to invite you for an interview over the other 50 applicants. So it needs to be good!

Find out how to write an attention-grabbing application with our detailed guide and placement cover letter examples below.

CV templates 

Placement cover letter example 1

Placement cover letter example 2

Placement cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Placement cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write a Placement cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

You should write your cover letter in the body of the email (or messaging system if sending via a job board) and never attach it as a document.

The reason for this?

You want your cover letter to start connecting with the recruiter from the moment they open your application.

If they have to open a document to read it, it will slow things down and they may not even bother to open it.

Start with a friendly greeting

To kick your cover letter off, start with a friendly greeting to build rapport with the recruiter instantly.

Your greeting should be personable but professional. Not too casual, but not too formal either

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *Placement position* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To round of your cover letter, add a professional signature to the bottom, giving recruiters your vital contact information.

This not only gives various means of contacting you, it also looks really professional and shows that you know how to communicate in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Gerald Baker Senior Accountant 07887500404 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application email, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Placement cover letter

Your Placement cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.

To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.

• Your professional experience – Employers will be keen to know if your experience is suitable for the job you are applying to, so provide a good summary of it in your cover letter.
• Your qualifications and education – Highlight your most relevant and high-level of qualification, especially if they are essential to the job.
• The positive impact you have made – Employers love to hear about the benefits you can bring to them, so shout about anything impressive you have done, such as saving money or improving processes.
• Your reasons for leaving – Use a few words of your cover letter to explain why you are leaving your current job and ensure you avoid any negative reasons.
• Your availability – Let recruiters know when you can start a new job . Are you immediately available, or do you have a month notice period?

Placement cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Placement cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

I hope you are well. I would like to apply for the Health and Social Care academic placement at Lifetime UK. With a heartfelt commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals who require support, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute towards delivering success to organisation.

I am in my final year of my BSc in Social Psychology at the University of London, where have gained fundamental knowledge of how psychological principles apply to behavioural problems. In my current role as a volunteer at Ellesmere House Care Home, I treat each individual with dignity, respect, and kindness, as well as believe in tailoring care to people’s unique needs, preferences, and routines to promote comfort and well-being.

I maintain a safe environment and have played a role in helped conduct exercise sessions that increased residents’ physical health and mobility by 20% as measured by physicians. Additionally, I was pivotal in preparing nutritious meals which lowered obese lowered obese residents’ weight by 10%.

Enclosed is my CV, which provides further details about my skills and additional achievements. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience to schedule an interview.

Kind regards

James Goldstein

Good day Mark

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Accounting Placement opportunity at Jameson Stone LLP, as advertised on the company’s website. As a current BSc Finance student, I am excited about the opportunity to expand my knowledge by learning from my experienced team members.

During my academic tenure I have developed a solid understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and taxation. Alongside my studies I work part-time as a Retail Assistant at McColl’s Retail Group, where I have exceeded snack sales targets by 10% and helped boost CSAT score by 25% through offering outstanding customer service. Moreover, I played a key role in revamping the store’s visual merchandising layout, resulting in a 30% increase in the visibility of featured food products.

My bookkeeping and ledger management knowledge, commitment to professional growth, career aspirations, as well as attention to detail makes me the perfect candidate for the placement opportunity.

I welcome the opportunity of discussing my other achievements and competencies in an interview, at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Neil Stapleton

Good afternoon, Shannon

I would like to write to express my interest in the culinary placement opportunity at Accor Hotel. As a culinary arts student with a strong desire to learn/grow within a professional kitchen environment, I am excited about the opportunity to develop my competencies under your mentorship.

My culinary journey began as a volunteer at ND Care & Support, where I experimented with different flavours and techniques in the home’s kitchen. I had the privilege of honing my knife skills, and expanding my knowledge of cooking methods and food safety standards to ensure that all residents were served with nutritious meals, which is demonstrated by improving residents’ health outcomes by 15% on average through preparing well-balanced dishes, as well as supporting the implementation of ingredient inventory management processes that resulted in a 30% reduction in food waste.

This passion has only grown stronger over time, leading me to pursue formal culinary education, and I am now seeking a placement opportunity to further hone my skills and experiences.

Thank you for considering my application. I am immediately available for an interview and look forward to discussing the possibility of joining your esteemed hospitality company.

Harry Arnold

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Placement, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship? (+5 Real Internship Cover Letter Examples)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated March 20, 2024 8 min read

Trying to figure out how to write a cover letter for an internship ? Look no further!

POV: After weeks and weeks of searching for the right internship opportunity, you've finally found it. But, at the end of the posting, there's a single short sentence that takes you aback:  “Please, attach a cover letter to your application .”

Although some consider cover letter writing to be a relic of the past, it still holds its rightful place in the professional world. 

Because a well-written and persuasive cover letter can sometimes make up for the lack of work experience on your resume . And if you're trying to apply for an internship , this is probably your case, too. 

So, continue reading this article and learn: 

• What is a cover letter for an internship;
• Whether you need to attach a cover letter to your internship application;
• How to write one in 7 steps;
• 5 real-life internship cover letter examples .

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is a cover letter for an internship?

Do you need a cover letter for an internship, how to write a cover letter for an internship in 7 steps, 5 real-life internship cover letter examples, key takeaways: how to write a cover letter for an internship.

Generally speaking, an internship cover letter is a formal document that accompanies your resume when applying for an internship. 

When it comes to its content, a cover letter for an internship falls somewhere between a traditional cover letter and a motivational letter . 

• A traditional cover letter , used by job applicants with years of experience, is supposed to underline some of the candidate's most relevant and impressive skills, qualifications, and work achievements . 
• A motivational letter , used mostly in academia, aims to communicate one's passion for the subject, their motivation, and personal goals . 

Hence, a cover letter for an internship combines the purpose of the traditional cover letter (convincing the recruiters that you're the right person for the job) with the tone and strategy of the motivational letter (writing about personal motivations and goals).

A truly successful internship cover letter should answer the following questions:

• Who are you? 
• Why are you interested in this particular internship?
• Why are you the best fit for this internship?
• What do you want to gain from this internship?

Absolutely! 

In fact, you should always attach a cover letter to your internship application , even if it isn't explicitly required from you.  

Why, you ask? 

Well, consider this: Internships are crucial stepping stones towards your dream career. And they're also incredibly competitive. A single internship opening can be answered by tens of applicants at a time. 

But how can you stand out from a crowd of equally inexperienced candidates? Certainly not by your non-existent professional accomplishments, right? 

When companies look for interns, they don't expect you to have a ton of real-life experience. They aren't looking for a “finished product,” but for someone with a genuine desire to learn and enthusiasm for the job. 

And these two are your weapons of choice!

How can a cover letter for an internship help you?

Apart from the reasons mentioned above, your internship cover letter is also responsible for: 

• Conveying first impression. Usually, recruiters will read your cover letter before looking at your resume. So, it's the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to them in a memorable way. 
• Showing your efforts. Next, taking the time to craft a thoughtful cover letter shows that you're willing to put in that extra effort to stand out from the rest of the candidates. 
• Highlighting your communication skills. Also, a well-written cover letter demonstrates your ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and professionally. 
• Showing your professionalism. When you walk into a room, it's polite to introduce yourself and shake everybody's hand. This is exactly what a cover letter does! To attach one to your application is a common courtesy.

Now that you're familiar with the whats and whys , let's have a look at how to write a good cover letter for an internship step-by-step. 

For example : Application for [name of the internship] internship – Surname.

Then, place your contact information (your name; professional email address; phone number; link to your website / portfolio / social media accounts if relevant) directly into the header .

If you know the recipient's name, address them by “ Dear [full name] ,” or “ Dear Mrs/Mr [last name] ,”. If you don't know who to address the cover letter to , address it more generally to “Dear Hiring Manager,” .

In the first paragraph of your cover letter , start by stating your name and where you studied (including your current degree and year of study). Proceed by explaining how you came to know about the internship and what are your motivations for applying to it.

Since you don't have much work experience, you can talk about your academic achievements; relevant coursework; dissertation project; extracurricular activities; volunteering; membership in relevant societies, etc.

The closing paragraph of your cover letter should reiterate your desire to get the specific internship, express gratitude to the recipient for their time and consideration, and include a final call for action (i.e. "I look forward to discussing the next steps during an interview." )

Finally, based on how you greeted the recipient of your cover letter, you can sign off with either “ Yours sincerely ,” or “ Yours faithfully ,” . If you addressed the recruiter by their name, sign off with the former; if not, use the latter.

Don't feel like writing your internship cover letter by hand?

Let our AI cover letter writer create the first draft of your internship cover letter!

Undoubtedly, the best way to learn something is to look at specific examples . And that's exactly what we're going to do right now! 

Below, we've prepared 5 internship cover letters written by real people with the help of our cover letter templates .

And, each of them is accompanied by our internship cover letter writing tips that you can implement into your own cover letter! 

FYI, you can use each of these examples as the first draft for your very own internship cover letter – simply click on the red button and start personalising the text (or let AI handle it).

#1 Philips Marketing Intern Cover Letter Sample

Internship cover letter example:.

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

What can you take away?

• Eye-catching header.  Firstly, the header is visually clearly separated from the rest of the text. This makes the recruiters notice it immediately. Plus, the contact information of the company is also featured in the left-hand corner - just like it would be on an actual letter.
• Research the company before applying. Notice sentences like: “ I really like and relate to what Philips stands for … ” and “ Furthermore, it is very appealing that Philips operates on an international level… ”.This shows that the candidate’s done a thorough research of the company's philosophy and structure.

#2 Warner Bros. Public Relations Intern Cover Letter Example

• Share a personal story. This can help you establish a sentimental connection between you and the company. Show them that for you, working for their company means more than any old internship.
• Name-drop a referral. Now, this is a little bit of a cheat code. But, if you happen to know about anyone who has worked/currently works for the company, slip their name into your cover letter.

#3 University of Massachusetts Boston Intern Cover Letter Example

What can you take away  .

• Write about what you want to gain from the internship. It shows that you're not there just to have something to put on your resume; but that you’re motivated by the idea of gaining actual industry knowledge and skills.

#4 Audit/Tax Summer Internship at CohnReznick Cover Letter Sample

• Mention any relevant academic activities. If you're wondering how to write a cover letter for an internship with no experience whatsoever, this is your way to go! For example, notice how this candidate noted all of his relevant courses, skills, association membership, and competition participation.
• Focus on transferrable skills. Especially when your study programme doesn't necessarily fit the internship opening to a T. Instead, focus on any transferable skills you've picked up. 

#5 Intern at NBC Cover Letter Sample

• Keep your opening and closing paragraphs short and sweet. As you can see in this example, it helps keep a certain visual harmony of the overall document. And, despite the length, both paragraphs do exactly what they're supposed to. Besides, recruiters might be discouraged to read the rest of your cover letter if your introductory paragraph is too long.

To sum it all up, an internship cover letter is a formal document that you submit together with your resume when applying for an internship. Its content should be something between a traditional cover letter and a motivational letter.

Its purpose is to introduce yourself to the recruiters in a more personal way than the resume allows. 

The main things you want your internship cover letter to communicate are:

• who you are,
• why you're interested in this opportunity,
• what make you the best fit for the internship, 
• your motivation (your long-term professional goals),
• your desire to learn (what you want to gain from the experience).

To write a truly impactful and persuasive cover letter, we recommend following these 7 key steps: 

• Specify which internship you're applying for in the subject line.
• Include your contact information in a header.
• Address the recipient appropriately.
• Introduce yourself & your motivations in the opening paragraph.
• Elaborate on why you're a good fit and what motivated you in body.
• End your cover letter with a confident closing paragraph.
• Finish off with a polite sign off. 

Finally, if you feel that the examples provided in this article aren't enough, you can always find more in our cover letter database . 

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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Cover letter examples

Work Placement

Finn has opted for the professional Edinburgh cover letter template, hoping to find summer work placement. He's a third-year student with a background in engineering and looking to enter the workforce and gain hands-on experience. His cover letter follows a simple one-page format with clear sections and language. By tailoring and personalising his letter he presents himself as an ideal candidate for the role.

"I am writing to express my sincere interest in securing a summer work placement at EA Engineering Solutions. As an enthusiastic and motivated civil engineering student eager to gain real-world experience, I am impressed by the innovative work undertaken by your organisation and am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team during the upcoming summer months."

Table of contents

How to Write a Work Placement Cover Letter in 2024 (Template & Examples)

If you're seeking work placement, you need a well-written cover letter to showcase your CV strengths and personality. Searching for a new work placement or experience may seem intimidating at first. If you're unfamiliar illiar with it, it refers to a work placement at an accredited organisation, usually lasting between 6 to 12 months. It is a part of your degree program, requiring you to apply your learning from your studies to the work placement, and vice versa.

Whether you are a student or a graduate , our step-by-step guide provides a complete breakdown of how to write a cover letter, what to include, and the best format for work placement. See our tips, examples, and templates to sharpen your writing skills.

For more information, check out our diverse collection of cover letter templates to guide you further.

Work placement cover letter example

This cover letter example features Finn Turner, a civil engineering student applying for a summer work placement at EA Engineering Solutions. As evidenced by his strong educational background, he is a quick learner with a strong foundation in the field. This cover letter follows a professional format with easy-to-read language and good structure. It explicitly shows his contact details, position applied, and reasons for applying.

For more inspiration, check out our related blog article on how to add work experience to a CV .

How to write a work placement cover letter with no experience

Whether you're writing with zero experience or already had a couple of positions, clarity is key. By ensuring you're specific about your career goals and qualifications you can assist the company in preparing for your placement period.

If you're interested in an internship or apprenticeship at a company that doesn't have a job opening at the moment, it is best to write an open cover letter or letter of interest . In it, you can briefly outline how qualifications align with the company's needs.

Try to shorten your cover letter and keep it to a maximum of one page of A4. Once it is written, ask a close acquaintance, or family member to proofread your letter.

If you’re looking for a summer work placement, ensure to check the core information, such as the duration, salary, full-time or part-time, industry type, company culture, and job criteria. Following this advice can help you tailor your cover letter efficiently.

To learn more, refer to our related blog article on how to write a CV with no experience .

What to include in a work placement cover letter?

Much like a good CV , a strong cover letter needs to be brief and specific to the job you're applying for. Apart from a job requirement, the work placement cover letter (also referred to as 'year in industry') aims to elaborate on details missing in your CV, providing a deeper insight into your relevant experience, skills, and achievements. Ensure to follow this simple structure:

Personal details

Introduction

Conclusion.

Before jumping into writing, consider the following details and questions that you need to answer for yourself first. Some of them you can find in your job description. Doing this will get you started and help direct your focus to the right keywords and topics to address. So, consider making an overview for yourself in which you answer the following questions:

What course are you following, and what year are you in?

How long is your work placement period?

Is there a required word limit set by an employer?

What relevant skills and qualities do you possess?

What would you like to learn during your placement?

Where do you see yourself working in five years?

With this information, you have sufficient means to write a strong cover letter for your work placement. 

For more examples and valuable tips, refer to our related blog article on how to structure your cover letter .

To match your qualifications with the company’s needs, ensure that your cover letter is simple and, most importantly, applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly. It refers to software used by recruiters to organise and track candidates for the recruitment process. It filters out your application by criteria such as years of experience and relevant technical or language skills.

For more details, check out our related blog post on how to make an ATS-friendly CV .

1. How to start a work placement cover letter

Your cover letter's introduction acts as a brief yet impactful overview of your relevant qualifications, tying back to your personal profile, also known as a personal statement, on your CV. Choose a captivating opening statement that grabs the recruiter's attention, ensuring you make a strong initial impression.

Contact information: Provide your name, address, date of application, phone number, and email at the top of your cover letter.

Salutation : Address the hiring manager or recruiter by name if available. Otherwise, use a general greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager."

Introduction : Begin with a strong opening that briefly outlines your qualifications and demonstrates your interest in the position.

For additional guidance, refer to our blog article on how to start a cover letter.

Cover letter introduction example for health and social care work placement

I am excited to apply for the summer work placement at NHS, as recommended by Katie Sinclair. I am a Health and Social Care student at the University of Manchester and am eager to apply my medical knowledge in a practical setting. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Let us work together to support the well-being of our community.

For more inspiration, check out our related guide for a medical CV .

Cover letter introduction example for student work placement

I am thrilled to apply for the summer work placement at InspireTech Ltd, as advertised on Indeed. I am a second-year Computer Science student at the University of Manchester. I am eager to bring my passion for technology to your team. I am excited to collaborate on innovative projects that align with your culture of teamwork.

For more details, read our guide for an undergraduate CV .

Cover letter introduction example for community service work placement

I am applying for the summer work placement at InspireTech Ltd to merge my love for community service and technology. Anthony Smith recommended me for the role. I am keen to contribute to your meaningful projects. Hope to work together to make a difference for both your company and the community.

For more information, consult our related article for a civil service CV .

2. How to write the body of a work placement cover letter

In the body of your cover letter, show your enthusiasm for the placement by mentioning specific skills and achievements from your academic or extracurricular activities. Clearly state why you are the ideal candidate, aligning your abilities and goals with the company's values and objectives. See the following tips to ensure your cover letter is top quality.

Be clear, precise, and to the point

Tailor your cover letter to each job you are applying

Focus on relevant achievements and work experience

Clearly express your career goals 

Show what you can bring to the company instead of vice versa

Read it aloud and proofread it before publishing

Use the same generic cover letter for every application

Include irrelevant or generic information such as your hobbies or academic knowledge

Include personal pronouns

Use slang or colloquial language

Use an unfitting layout format (e.g too many visuals)

Highlight your key skills and eagerness to hone them during your work placement. Convince your company that you can be of value to the company's needs. Show that you're ready to help with various tasks and projects, and you gain experience for your future career in return.

Cover letter body for an IT work placement

During my studies, I developed a mobile application for a local charity, streamlining volunteer coordination and boosting community engagement by 25%. Additionally, my internship at Praxis Solutions allowed me to contribute to the development of a new feature, improving user experience and decreasing customer complaints by 30%. These experiences have honed my problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and passion for innovation, making me an ideal fit for the work placement as a software developer at Praxis Solutions.

Cover letter body example for an internship work placement

During my studies, I led a marketing campaign for a student club, resulting in a 30% increase in event attendance. Additionally, my part-time role at a local startup allowed me to assist with market research and develop social media strategies, leading to a 20% growth in online engagement. These experiences have honed my analytical skills, creativity, and attention to detail, making me well-suited for the Marketing Internship work placement at Russel Innovations.

To learn more, see our related blog articles on how to list achievements and skills in your CV .

3. How to end a work placement cover letter

Close off your cover letter with a simple call to action, reiterating your enthusiasm for the position and showing your eagerness to discuss your application in the next interview. Show gratitude for the reader's time and consideration, and provide your contact information for any follow-up inquiries.

Appreciation : Show gratitude for their time and attention, thanking them for considering your application.

Positive note : End on an optimistic note, reinforcing your eagerness for the role and leaving a memorable impression.

Call to action : Consider a subtle call to action, such as reiterating your phone number and signalling your openness to schedule a follow-up interview.

Sign off: Conclude with a professional sign-off, choosing phrases like 'Best regards' or 'Yours faithfully' to maintain a courteous tone.

Cover letter conclusion for a social work placement

Thank you for considering my application for the social work placement opportunity at Elderbridge Ltd. I am excited to help grow your team and explore how my skills align with your goals. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in greater detail.

Cover letter conclusion for work placement experience programme

Thank you for considering my application for the work placement experience programme at HSBC. I am excited about the chance to contribute to your team and gain valuable hands-on experience. I eagerly await the chance to discuss how my skills can benefit your organisation.

Thank you for reviewing my application for the business student work placement at Baker Hughes. I hope my background and skillset would be a valuable asset to your team and learning from industry professionals would be a great opportunity for my career growth. I am eager to discuss how my academic background and passion for business can meet the goals.

For more information, check out our blog article on how to end a cover letter .

Key takeaways

This article has covered the essentials of writing a cover letter and explained how to get work experience that you can eventually add to your career documents. Ensure that you carefully proofread your cover letter to eliminate mistakes and iron out the inconsistencies. Remember, brevity is key and could help you get noticed in this competitive market.

Research the job position and company culture.

Choose the cover letter format that aligns with the brand personality.

Include essential information such as contact details and an introduction to your current situation.

Write a strong opening statement.

Write in concise and clear language, preferably without personal pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘me’, and ‘us’.

Explain how you can contribute to the company by showcasing your career goals.

Focus on accomplishments, relevant experiences, and skills.

Add a call to action, such as asking about the next steps in the recruitment process or asking them to schedule an interview.

Next steps?

Using our easy-to-use cover letter builder you can create one in just a few minutes! You can create and download unlimited cover letters using one of our professional templates, which you can easily customise to your needs. If you have difficulties deciding which information to include, consider using our CV Writing Service to help you tailor and personalise your cover letter to a specific job.

For more valuable career advice, refer to one of our blog articles below:

Good questions for an interview

Apprenticeship CV

Internship CV.

Customise this work placement cover letter

What do you say when asking for a work placement on a cover letter.

You may not have much relevant work experience yet, which makes it difficult to name your experience and skills at first. However, your advantage is motivation and eagerness to learn new skills. By using the right persuasive techniques, you can move one step closer to landing more job interviews. If you want to gain experience for your future career, it is crucial to make use of all available resources and courses that can help with career development.

How to write a good cover letter for work placement?

Focus on the company culture and describe in your cover letter why you want a work placement at that company. A good cover letter can be divided into three essential parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Having work experience is often mandatory for jobs, but try to think about why you chose a certain education and what you would like to do with it. You can also use this as information for your cover letter. Although describing your motivation may seem difficult highlight your eagerness to learn and

How to write a cover letter for social work field placement?

Target the specific agency and its mission, briefly outlining your reasons for applying. Focus on your strengths and explain how your background aligns with a social work placement. Demonstrate your social work knowledge from specific courses you've taken or previous volunteering or part-time job experience. Showcase your empathy, communication, and problem-solving skills, keeping it concise and easy to read. Remember to express your eagerness to learn and contribute to the success of your clients.

What is a letter of intent for placement?

It refers to a career document that outlines your interest in securing a work placement or internship at a specific organisation or institution. It delves into qualifications, skills, and reasons for seeking the placement opportunity. These letters can help job seekers differentiate themselves from similar CVs and get you noticed. Think of a letter of intent as a form of an elevator pitch in which you have three to four paragraphs to describe why you would be the best fit for an open position.

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How To Write A Internship Cover Letter

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Your cover letter is an important part of securing your dream internship. See how to write an amazing internship cover letter with an example & tips!

How to Write a Cover Letter [Full Guide & Examples for 2024]

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

You’ve perfected your resume.

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

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

But then, before you can send in your application and call it a day, you remember that you need to write a cover letter too.

So now, you’re stuck staring at a blank page, wondering where to start...

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

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

We're going to cover:

What Is a Cover Letter?

• How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter, Step by Step
• 15+ Job-Winning Cover Letter Examples

Let’s get started.

A cover letter is a document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume or CV.

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, it should be around 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter is supposed to impress the hiring manager and convince them you’re worth interviewing as a candidate.

So, how can your cover letter achieve this?

First of all, it should complement your resume, not copy it. Your cover letter is your chance to elaborate on important achievements, skills, or anything else that your resume doesn’t give you the space to cover. 

For example, if you have an employment gap on your resume, the cover letter is a great place to explain why it happened and how it helped you grow as a person. 

If this is your first time writing a cover letter, writing about yourself might seem complicated. But don’t worry—you don’t need to be super creative or even a good writer .

All you have to do is follow this tried and tested cover letter structure:

• Header. Add all the necessary contact information at the top of your cover letter.
• Formal greeting. Choose an appropriate way to greet your target audience.
• Introduction. Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph and explain your interest in the role.
• Body. Elaborate on why you’re the best candidate for the job and a good match for the company. Focus on “selling” your skills, achievements, and relevant professional experiences.
• Conclusion. Summarize your key points and wrap it up professionally.

Now, let’s take a look at an example of a cover letter that follows our structure perfectly:

New to cover letter writing? Give our cover letter video a watch before diving into the article!

When Should You Write a Cover Letter?

You should always include a cover letter in your job application, even if the hiring manager never reads it. Submitting a cover letter is as important as submitting a resume if you want to look like a serious candidate.

If the employer requests a cover letter as part of the screening process, not sending one is a huge red flag and will probably get your application tossed into the “no” pile immediately.

On the other hand, if the job advertisement doesn’t require a cover letter from the candidates, adding one shows you went the extra mile.

Putting in the effort to write a cover letter can set you apart from other candidates with similar professional experience and skills, and it could even sway the hiring manager to call you for an interview if you do it right.

Need to write a letter to help get you into a good school or volunteer program? Check out our guide to learn how to write a motivation letter !

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

Now that you know what a cover letter is, it’s time to learn how to write one!

We’ll go through the process in detail, step by step.

#1. Choose the Right Cover Letter Template

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

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

Just choose one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in no time!

As a bonus, our intuitive AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter as you write it. You’ll have the perfect cover letter done in minutes!

#2. Put Contact Information in the Header

As with a resume, it’s important to 

start your cover letter

 with your contact details at the top. These should be in your cover letter’s header, separated neatly from the bulk of your text.

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

• Full Name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top.
• Job Title. Match the professional title underneath your name to the exact job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Email Address. Always use a professional and easy-to-spell email address. Ideally, it should combine your first and last names.
• Phone Number. Add a number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country, no need for more details.
• Relevant Links (optional). You can add links to websites or social media profiles that are relevant to your field. Examples include a LinkedIn profile , Github, or an online portfolio.

Then it’s time to add the recipient’s contact details, such as:

• Hiring Manager's Name. If you can find the name of the hiring manager, add it.
• Hiring Manager's Title. While there’s no harm in writing “hiring manager,” if they’re the head of the department, we recommend you use that title accordingly.
• Company Name. Make sure to write the name of the company you're applying to.
• Location. The city and state/country are usually enough information here, too.
• Date of Writing (Optional). You can include the date you wrote your cover letter for an extra professional touch.

#3. Address the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed all the contact information, it’s time to start writing the content of the cover letter.

The first thing you need to do here is to address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager.

In fact, you want to address the hiring manager personally .

Forget the old “Dear Sir or Madam” or the impersonal “To Whom It May Concern.” You want to give your future boss a good impression and show them that you did your research before sending in your application.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes something sticks with their generic approach

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager?

First, check the job ad. The hiring manager’s name might be listed somewhere in it.

If that doesn’t work, check the company’s LinkedIn page. You just need to look up the head of the relevant department you’re applying to, and you’re all set.

For example, if you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novorésumé. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Officer.

Here’s what you should look for on LinkedIn:

And there you go! You have your hiring manager.

But let’s say you’re applying for a position as a server . In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager” or “food and beverage manager.”

If the results don’t come up with anything, try checking out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Make sure to address them as Mr. or Ms., followed by their last name. If you’re not sure about their gender or marital status, you can just stick to their full name, like so:

• Dear Mr. Kurtuy,
• Dear Andrei Kurtuy,

But what if you still can’t find the hiring manager’s name, no matter where you look?

No worries. You can direct your cover letter to the company, department, or team as a whole, or just skip the hiring manager’s name.

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear [Department] Team
• Dear [Company Name]

Are you applying for a research position? Learn how to write an academic personal statement .

#4. Write an Eye-Catching Introduction

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

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

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

The biggest problem with most opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Here’s an example:

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

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

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

Instead, you want to start with some of your top achievements to grab the reader’s attention. And to get the point across, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

Your opening paragraph should also show the hiring manager a bit about why you want this specific job. For example, mention how the job relates to your plans for the future or how it can help you grow professionally. This will show the hiring manager that you’re not just applying left and right—you’re actually enthusiastic about getting this particular role.

Now, let’s make our previous example shine:

Dear Mr. Smith,

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

The second candidate starts with what they can do for the company in the future and immediately lists an impressive and relevant achievement. Since they’re experienced in the same industry and interested in finance, the hiring manager can see they’re not just a random applicant.

From this introduction, it’s safe to say that the hiring manager would read the rest of this candidate’s cover letter.

#5. Use the Cover Letter Body for Details

The next part of your cover letter is where you can go into detail about what sets you apart as a qualified candidate for the job.

The main thing you need to remember here is that you shouldn’t make it all about yourself . Your cover letter is supposed to show the hiring manager how you relate to the job and the company you’re applying to.

No matter how cool you make yourself sound in your cover letter, if you don’t tailor it to match what the hiring manager is looking for, you’re not getting an interview.

To get this right, use the job ad as a reference when writing your cover letter. Make sure to highlight skills and achievements that match the job requirements, and you’re good to go.

Since this part of your cover letter is by far the longest, you should split it into at least two paragraphs.

Here’s what each paragraph should cover:

Explain Why You’re the Perfect Candidate for the Role

Before you can show the hiring manager that you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for, you need to know what it is they’re looking for.

Start by doing a bit of research. Learn what the most important skills and responsibilities of the role are according to the job ad, and focus on any relevant experience you have that matches them.

For example, if you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. The top requirements on the job ad are:

• Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
• Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
• Excellent copywriting skills

So, in the body of your cover letter, you need to show how you meet these requirements. Here’s an example of what that can look like:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $40,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. I created the ad copy and images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

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

• Google Search

Our example addresses all the necessary requirements and shows off the candidate’s relevant skills.

Are you a student applying for your first internship? Learn how to write an internship cover letter with our dedicated guide.

Explain Why You’re a Good Fit for the Company

As skilled and experienced as you may be, that’s not all the hiring manager is looking for.

They also want someone who’s a good fit for their company and who actually wants to work there.

Employees who don’t fit in with the company culture are likely to quit sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary , so hiring managers vet candidates very carefully to avoid this scenario.

So, you have to convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about working with them.

Start by doing some research about the company. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company’s product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the company’s culture like?

Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or on job-search websites like Jobscan or Glassdoor.

Then, pick your favorite thing about the company and talk about it in your cover letter.

But don’t just describe the company in its own words just to flatter them. Be super specific—the hiring manager can see through any fluff.

For example, if you’re passionate about their product and you like the company’s culture of innovation and independent work model, you can write something like:

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

I really admire how Company XYZ strives for excellence in all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone who thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I’ll be a great match for your Product Design team.

So, make sure to do your fair share of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying to that specific company.

Is the company you want to work for not hiring at the moment? Check out our guide to writing a letter of interest .

#6. Wrap It Up and Sign It

Finally, it’s time to conclude your cover letter.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't make in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? If there’s any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision, mention it here. If not, just recap your key selling points so far, such as key skills and expertise.
• Express gratitude. Politely thanking the hiring manager for their time is always a good idea.
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. This means you should ask the hiring manager to do something, like call you and discuss your application or arrange an interview.
• Remember to sign your cover letter. Just add a formal closing line and sign your name at the bottom.

Here’s an example of how to end your cover letter :

I hope to help Company X make the most of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your Facebook marketing goals. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided email address or phone number so that we may arrange an interview.

Thank you for your consideration,

Alice Richards

Feel free to use one of these other popular closing lines for your cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

Cover Letter Writing Checklist

Once you’re done with your cover letter, it’s time to check if it meets all industry requirements. 

Give our handy cover letter writing checklist a look to make sure:

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

• Professional Email
• Phone Number
• Relevant Links

Do you address the right person? 

• The hiring manager in the company
• Your future direct supervisor
• The company/department in general

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

• Did you mention some of your top achievements?
• Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?
• Did you convey enthusiasm for the specific role?

Do you show that you’re the right candidate for the job?

• Did you identify the core requirements for the role?
• Did you show how your experiences helped you fit the requirements perfectly?

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

• Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
• Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you conclude your cover letter properly?

• Did you recap your key selling points in the conclusion?
• Did you end your cover letter with a call to action?
• Did you use the right formal closing line and sign your name?

15 Cover Letter Tips

Now you’re all set to write your cover letter! 

Before you start typing, here are some cover letter tips to help take your cover letter to the next level:

• Customize Your Cover Letter for Each Job. Make sure your cover letter is tailored to the job you're applying for. This shows you're not just sending generic applications left and right, and it tells the hiring manager you’re the right person for the job.
• Showcase Your Skills. Talk about how your skills meet the company’s needs. And while your hard skills should be front and center, you shouldn’t underestimate your soft skills in your cover letter either.
• Avoid Fluff. Don’t make any generic statements you can’t back up. The hiring manager can tell when you’re just throwing words around, and it doesn’t make your cover letter look good.
• Use Specific Examples. Instead of saying you're great at something, give an actual example to back up your claim. Any data you can provide makes you sound more credible, so quantify your achievements. For example, give numbers such as percentages related to your performance and the timeframe it took to accomplish certain achievements.
• Research the Company. Always take time to learn about the company you're applying to. Make sure to mention something about them in your cover letter to show the hiring manager that you're interested.
• Follow the Application Instructions. If the job posting asks for something specific in your cover letter or requires a certain format, make sure you include it. Not following instructions can come off as unattentive or signal to the hiring manager that you’re not taking the job seriously.
• Use the Right Template and Format. Choose the right cover letter format and adapt your cover letter’s look to the industry you’re applying for. For example, if you’re aiming for a job in Law or Finance, you should go for a cleaner, more professional look. But if you’re applying for a field that values innovation, like IT or Design, you have more room for creativity.
• Express Your Enthusiasm. Let the hiring manager know why you're excited about the job. Your passion for the specific role or the field in general can be a big selling point, and show them that you’re genuinely interested, not just applying left and right.
• Address Any Gaps. If there are any employment gaps in your resume , your cover letter is a great place to mention why. Your resume doesn’t give you enough space to elaborate on an employment gap, so addressing it here can set hiring managers at ease—life happens, and employers understand.
• Avoid Quirky Emails. Your email address should be presentable. It’s hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is “[email protected].” Just use a [email protected] format.
• Check Your Contact Information. Typos in your email address or phone number can mean a missed opportunity. Double-check these before sending your application.
• Mention if You Want to Relocate. If you’re looking for a job that lets you move somewhere else, specify this in your cover letter.
• Keep It Brief. You want to keep your cover letter short and sweet. Hiring managers don’t have time to read a novel, so if you go over one page, they simply won’t read it at all.
• Use a Professional Tone. Even though a conversational tone isn’t a bad thing, remember that it's still a formal document. Show professionalism in your cover letter by keeping slang, jargon, and emojis out of it.
• Proofread Carefully. Typos and grammar mistakes are a huge deal-breaker. Use a tool like Grammarly or QuillBot to double-check your spelling and grammar, or even get a friend to check it for you.

15+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Check out some perfect cover letter examples for different experience levels and various professions.

5+ Cover Letter Examples by Experience

#1. college student cover letter example.

Check out our full guide to writing a college student cover letter here.

#2. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a project manager cover letter here.

#3. Team Leader Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a team leader cover letter here.

#4. Career Change Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to a career change resume and cover letter here.

#5. Management Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a management cover letter here.

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing an executive resume here.

9+ Cover Letter Examples by Profession

#1. it cover letter example.

Check out our full guide to writing an IT cover letter here.

#2. Consultant Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a consultant cover letter here.

#3. Human Resources Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a human resources cover letter here.

#4. Business Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business cover letter here.

#5. Sales Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales cover letter here.

#6. Social Worker Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a social worker cover letter here.

#7. Lawyer Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a lawyer cover letter here.

#8. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing an administrative assistant cover letter here.

#9. Engineering Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineer cover letter here.

#10. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist cover letter here.

Need more inspiration? Check out these cover letter examples to learn what makes them stand out.

Plug & Play Cover Letter Template

Not sure how to start your cover letter? Don’t worry!

Just copy and paste our free cover letter template into the cover letter builder, and swap out the blanks for your details.

[Your Full Name]

[Your Profession]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email Address]

[Your Location]

[Your LinkedIn Profile URL (optional)]

[Your Personal Website URL (optional)]

[Recipient's Name, e.g., Jane Doe],

[Recipient's Position, e.g., Hiring Manager]

[Company Name, e.g., ABC Corporation]

[Company Address]

[City, State/Country]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

As a seasoned [Your Profession] with [Number of Years of Experience] years of industry experience, I am eager to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With my experience in [Your Industry/Sector] and the successes I've achieved throughout my education and career, I believe I can bring unique value and creativity to your team.

In my current role as [Your Current Job Title], I've taken the lead on more than [Number of Projects/Assignments] projects, some valued up to $[Highest Project Value]. I pride myself on consistently exceeding client expectations and have successfully [Mention a Key Achievement] in just a [Amount of Time] through [Skill] and [Skill].

I've collaborated with various professionals, such as [List Roles], ensuring that all [projects/tasks] meet [relevant standards or objectives]. This hands-on experience, coupled with my dedication to understanding each [client's/customer's] vision, has equipped me to navigate and deliver on complex projects.

My key strengths include:

• Improving [Achievement] by [%] over [Amount of Time] which resulted in [Quantified Result].
• Optimizing [Work Process/Responsibility] which saved [Previous Employer] [Amount of Time/Budget/Other Metric] over [Weeks/Months/Years]
• Spearheading team of [Number of People] to [Task] and achieving [Quantified Result].

Alongside this letter, I've attached my resume. My educational background, a [Your Degree] with a concentration in [Your Specialization], complements the practical skills that I'm particularly eager to share with [Company Name].

I'm excited about the possibility of contributing to [Something Notable About the Company or Its Mission]. I'd be grateful for the chance to delve deeper into how my expertise aligns with your needs.

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Heart of Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

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

After all, your cover letter is meant to complement your resume. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression in your cover letter, only for the hiring manager to never read it because your resume was mediocre.

But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered here, too.

Check out our dedicated guide on how to make a resume and learn everything you need to know to land your dream job!

Just pick one of our resume templates and start writing your own job-winning resume.

Key Takeaways

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

• A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that’s meant to convince the hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for the job.
• Your job application should always include a cover letter alongside your resume.
• To grab the hiring manager’s attention, write a strong opening paragraph. Mention who you are, why you’re applying, and a standout achievement to pique their interest.
• Your cover letter should focus on why you’re the perfect candidate for the job and why you’re passionate about working in this specific company.
• Use the body of your cover letter to provide details on your skills, achievements, and qualifications, as well as make sure to convey your enthusiasm throughout your whole cover letter.
• Recap your key selling points towards the end of your cover letter, and end it with a formal closing line and your full name signed underneath.

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve every step of the way! 

Follow our career blog for more valuable advice, or check out some of our top guides, such as:

• How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide
• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 [31+ Examples]
• 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers [Full List]

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• Specialties
• Outplacement
• For Business
• For Coaches

How To Write A Cover Letter

• Introduction

Write top-notch cover letters with a proven process that makes them easy to write and incredibly impactful.

• 📗 When to Read

You’re ready to start applying for jobs. Cover letters are a crucial part of the job application process.

Always write a cover letter when applying for a job, even if it’s not required.

• ⌚ Time Required

Plan to spend about an hour on every cover letter you write. Cover letters are often the most time-consuming part of applying for a job.

• ✅ Done When

You found yourself an excellent job and don’t need to continue writing cover letters! 🙌 

A  cover letter  is a one-page document sent to an employer that accompanies your resume and helps you stand out from other applicants. Candidates often skip writing cover letters because they can be time-consuming to write and confuse what should be included.

This guide will give you everything you need to write great cover letters with ease. We’ll take the mystery out of what to write and how to write it. But first, let’s review why cover letters are so important. 

There are scenarios where you should write a cover letter. A few of those scenarios are:

You’re applying to a role that will get hundreds of qualified candidates, and you need to stand out. Ideally, you’d network your way into the company, but you’re moving fast to ensure you get your application in within the first hour the job is posted. 

The company’s mission truly means something to you - there’s an honest person connection you want to showcase.

You haven’t found a clear path to networking your way into the company. You don’t have second-degree connections on Linkedin nor a strong network in the industry.

It’s a job where writing a cover letter is essential such as a marketing manager, SDR, or Content Strategist.

This is one of your first jobs out of college, and you need to leverage any possible way to show why they should pick you.

You are an uncommonly good writer, and this is an opportunity for you to stand out positively.

You wrote a cover letter for a competitor, so re-using it would be easy and effective. 

If any of the following apply to you, it’s worthwhile to write a cover letter. 

Consider that there might be instances where you won’t have the option to include a cover letter when applying for a job via an online portal. Whenever you’re starting a job application, look through the application to see if a cover letter is required, requested, or emphasized in the application form. Sometimes, there will just be a text box instead. Read the cues and adapt accordingly to help you decide whether it’s worth your precious time.

• Why write a cover letter

Cover letters are one of the most time-efficient ways to stand out when you’re applying. Unlike networking, they’re entirely in your control, so you can use them to stand out within hours of the job posting going live.

In total, cover letters help you:

✅ Stand out from other applicants

✅ Show the hiring team you want this job and didn’t mass apply

✅ Prove you did your research on this opportunity

✅ Convey your personality and tell your story

✅ Include information that didn’t fit in your resume about why you’re a great candidate 

 Let’s start by getting a few common misconceptions out of the way:

❌  Machines are reading your application.  OK, so this is kind of a joke. But many people imagine that their cover letter is sent into a black hole. In reality, it’s sent into a big queue where it’s the job of the recruiting team or hiring manager to review. A real, live, breathing human being is on the other side, and they want to be treated well just like you do.

❌  Take up the whole page with your cover letter.  It’s 2021! This isn’t school. Brevity is best. Most companies are inundated with hundreds of applications so you need to get your value across most concisely and compellingly possible. Focus only on the most relevant information for that specific job.

❌  You can use the same cover letter for multiple jobs.  Cover letters must be customized to the specific company and role you’re applying for or they feel inauthentic. You can upcycle lots of the content, but it has to feel custom-tailored for the position. Using a highly generic template can hurt your chances of getting an interview. If you’re not going to put in the love, don’t even send it.

❌  Cover letters are like your resume in paragraph format.  Nope. That would be boring to read! Your cover letter should be exciting and unique. It should share context about why you’re the right candidate to interview that can’t be found in your resume. 

Considering all of the common misconceptions listed above, you can see many pitfalls to avoid. Good thing you’re reading this guide ;)

To make sure we are all on the same page about what a cover letter should NOT be, let’s take a look at an example of a poorly written cover letter: 

To Whom It May Concern: My name is Jane Doe and I’m writing you to apply for the Sales Team Leader job. As soon as I saw it posted on LinkedIn, I knew this would be the perfect role for me because I’ve always had a strong ability to build relationships with people and persuade them to take action. I’m confident that I’m a qualified candidate for the position. I started my career as a sales associate at a local retailer. In this role, I worked directly with customers to answer their questions about our products and make recommendations based on their needs. I learned that I’m a strong communicator and enjoy working with people. I know my sales experience makes me a great fit to become a team leader.  Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing about next steps. Sincerely, Jane Doe

See how that letter is boring, vague, and generic?

Ok, enough about what not to do! Let’s move on to what you should include in your cover letter 👌

• Anatomy of a Cover Letter

Cover letters should include three main sections, each with a specific purpose. Your cover letter should be ⅔ to ¾ of a page long (we’ll cover formatting later!). We’ll break down what to include in each paragraph and take a look at some examples.

At a high level, your cover letter will include:

Paragraph 1:  Reel them in 🧐

Strong hook that makes them smile

Research to show you know your stuff

Proof that you actively follow the happenings of the company 

Target to the specific role you’re applying for

Introduction of why you’re a great candidate

Paragraph 2: Sell yourself 💁

Align the job description to your experiences and transferable skills

Paragraph 3: Wrap it up 💝

Restate how you’ll add value

Express appreciation for their consideration

Include contact information

• Paragraph 1: Reel Them In 🧐

Start your cover letter with a good hook - something that makes them want to read more. Grab the reader’s attention and make them smile.  Earn  the right to be read. Say something like:

On July 19th, 2011, I became a premium member of Spotify. As someone just starting to explore their music taste, Spotify was a dream come true. Nine years later, music is a large part of what defines me. I’m a frequent concert-goer, my vinyl collection continues to grow, and I’ve even dabbled in making my tunes. I owe much of my interest in music to Spotify.

Show the reader you’re not just throwing in a resume. You’re highly interested in THIS job! Make it clear that you’ve  really  done your research. 

A couple of ways to do that are:

Explain how you learned about this job - and make it original. Writing you found the open position on LinkedIn doesn’t feel special. If you note that a current employee of the company suggested you apply, that’s really compelling. Best, of course, is that said employee talks to the hiring manager about your application! Please read about how to make that happen in our 

Show that you follow the company’s news. Mention you were reading TechCrunch and saw an article about their new beta product. To find articles or press about the company you’re applying for, you can simply Google “[Company Name] News.” Most companies have an “about us” or “press” page on their website. These pages are a gold mine of information to use. For lots more ideas about how to research a company, see our 

Next, include the role you’re applying for. You can hyperlink to the job posting, so there is no confusion, especially if the company has many of them.

Finally, end the paragraph with a segue into why you’re an excellent fit for this role. It’s just like your thesis statement in a grade school essay -- the most critical part of the whole page. Give the person a sneak-peek into why they should be excited you’re applying. Make them want to read more. 

• Paragraph 2: Sell Yourself 💁

The second paragraph is your time to ✨ shine ✨. Pull up the job description in a parallel window and review the key responsibilities again. Pull from your resume the most directly related experiences related to the role and highlight your transferable skills. Be sure to mention any places where you meet the “nice to haves” if those are listed.

It’s helpful to use bullet points in the second paragraph to break up your cover letter visually. Anything longer can look daunting and run the risk of not being read. Keep it short and sweet.

• Paragraph 3: Wrap It Up 💝

Finally, reiterate your excitement about the opportunity and make yourself available to be contacted! 

Summarize and reiterate the value you would add to this role. Emphasize why you absolutely need to be on the interview list. 

Next, thank the recruiting team for their consideration. Be appreciative of the time the team took to read your cover letter. Remember, companies are just people at the end of the day.

Finally, conclude with your contact information. Make it as easy as possible for the recruiting team to get you scheduled for an interview! 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all that goes into crafting a solid cover letter, we’ve got you covered. Check out Placement Plus to see all of the ways we can help you quickly write a top-notch cover letter. We’ve got experts on demand and proven templates that will grab the attention of recruiters. 

• Formatting Your Cover Letter

It’s not just what you say in your cover letter -- presentation matters. Once you’ve written the three short sections of your cover letter, it’s time to put on the finishing touches to make sure it looks professional. We’re talking about font size, spacing, and file format.

If you’re submitting your cover letter as an attachment, whether the attachment is to an email or an online application, include a header that details your contact information.

Don’t put this info in the actual “header” of your document. Just put it at the top of the page.

If you’re going the old-school approach: In the top left of your Word document, provide the following:

Date Your Name City, State Phone Number Email Address

If you’re going REALLY old-school and happen to be sending your cover letter as a printed document via mail, the heading should be formatted as such:

Date Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Address

Hiring Manager’s Name Company Name Company Address Company City, State, ZIP Code

Start with the greeting. Use the person’s name to assume gender or marital status. It’s peculiar to read, “Dear Sir,” when you’re a woman! Instead, you can say “Dear [First Name Last Name].” 

If possible, figure out the hiring manager’s name so you can put it on the document and figure out how to network your way to that person.

Now we know you’re thinking… what if I don’t know the name of the hiring manager?! Not to worry - we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve.

Sometimes this information is listed in the job description or on the company website. Check there first.

If you still can’t find the right name, try searching LinkedIn. Spend some time looking at the people who work at the company and try to find the recruiter responsible for the division you’re applying to. If after a quick search you can’t find the recruiter’s name, stick with “{Company name} {Division you’re applying to} Team:” (e.g., Snapchat Accounting Team:)

Don’t say the old-fashioned “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” That sounds outdated and awkward. 

After the three paragraphs, at the end of your cover letter, is the closing. Strike a balance of friendly yet professional here. Pick one of these tried-and-true closings:

Respectfully

Then type your name below the closing. Include your last name if you wish.

A cover letter is a professional document just like your resume, so match your font and font size to your resume- a font that reflects that tone. A basic font such as Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Verdana are good options, and the font size should be 10- or 12- point. 

Intentional white space in your resume makes it more easy to read and digestible - both of which are helpful for the hiring manager as they make their way through dozens, if not hundreds, of applications.

Keep your cover letter single-spaced.

Add a space (using Enter on your keyboard) in between each section of your cover letter. There should be a paragraph space between the contact information, salutation, first paragraph, second paragraph, third paragraph, closing, and name.

There is no need to indent any of your paragraphs (this is true anytime you single space a document #learnsomethingeveryday).

Document margins should be 0.5 to 1-inch all the way around. Look to match the margins to your resume so that it feels consistent.

• File Format

Most of the time, you’ll be submitting your cover letter, resume, and job application online. If you’re sending your resume and cover letter to someone via email, both documents should be attachments and in PDF format. 

Check the name of your file before sending it. Aim to have as clear of a document name as possible and incorporate the company’s name into the document title. We recommend the following format: “First Name_Last Name__Company Name_Cover Letter.”

Suppose you’re sending your resume and cover letter via an online application. In that case, there will be specific instructions on if you should attach them in a particular file format or if there’s a text box for you to copy and paste into. 

Read any instructions carefully - you don’t want to disqualify yourself from an opportunity because of a silly file formatting mistake!

• Cover Letter Templates

Alright, now onto the main event! Let’s look at some templates that you can use.

Most people can use one of the following key messages as the basis for their cover letter. These are: 

You have a highly relevant past experience.

You have transferable skills.

You are passionate about the problem they’re solving.

You truly believe in the company’s mission. 

• Highly Relevant Past Experience

This go-to template is focused on clearly conveying that you can help address the key challenges that the team is facing. 

To leverage this template, you’ll need:

Your knowledge about the company

Identify something exciting or innovative that the company has recently done

An explanation of how you learned they were hiring

A statement on why you’re the right candidate

Three relevant skills or experiences to highlight that relate to the role

One skill/experience should include how this will help the company you’re interested in meeting its goals

Another skill experience should consist of what you learned and how that learning will benefit your future employer

The third experience should describe a challenge you know the company is facing and how you’ve handled a similar challenge in the past

A description of the problem the company is solving and why their solution to that problem is meaningful to you

Let’s take a look at the template!

Cover Letter Template: Highly Relevant Past Experience 💡

Dear {Hiring Manager First Name} and Team, 

Congratulations on {milestone you learned about in the press}! It’s clear that {Company Name} is a leader in {industry}. I learned about this role from {how?}, and I am excited to join your team as a {Job Title} potentially. 

It seems that {job function} at {Company Name} implies interesting challenges: {challenge 1, challenge 2, and challenge 3}. My career to date includes experience addressing each of these challenges:

At {previous organization}, I {thing you did} to {how it addressed challenge 1}. We successfully {achievement}. I imagine the approach we took there might work for your team, too.

At {previous organization}, I {thing you did to address challenge 2}. After {doing the thing you did}, we {achievement}. From this experience, I learned {thing you learned about how to address challenge 2}.

Most recently, I addressed {challenge 3} at {previous organization}. I led {thing that you led to address challenge3}. Together, we {did what?} that resulted in {quantifiable result}. 

What’s more, {company mission} is a longtime interest of mine. At {previous employer}, I {learned about the thing they’re working on}. Since then, I have continued to {how are you still involved in this?}. 

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I might leverage these experiences to contribute to {Company Name}’s mission. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

{Your Name}

Example of Highly Relevant Past Experience Template In Action

Dear Alena and Team, 

Congratulations on the fundraiser led by Social Capital! Aclima is a true leader in global air quality. Victor Gustafson, a friend of my former close colleague, told me about this opportunity, and I am excited to join your team as a Senior Product Manager potentially. 

It seems that the product at Aclima has interesting challenges -- the platform is technical and scientific, it is the first bona fide product role, and the development of data products is inherently tricky. My career to date includes experience addressing each of these challenges: 

At DataSmart Academy, I developed offerings to train professionals in the highly technical field of data science. We successfully partnered with industry leaders to help us deeply understand needs and iterated on the course in response to feedback. This resulted in an offering that helped 85% of our students land jobs in data science. I imagine the iterative approach we took there might work for your team, too. 

At DataSmart Academy, I became the first product leader for our core business after years of operation. After taking stock of the diverse processes across seven offices nationwide, I implemented one common approach to streamline development. From this experience, I learned to introduce process changes incrementally to maintain team empowerment.

Most recently, I developed data products at Freightly. I led the first platform team, working alongside incredibly talented engineers to conceptualize data as a product in and of itself. Together, we crafted APIs and plug-ins to improve data accessibility and quality for a broad user base. 

What’s more, global air quality is a longtime interest of mine. While at the University of Minnesota, I majored in Environmental Studies. Early after college, I researched industrial air pollution at an academic research center. I remain curious and passionate about these topics.

I would love the opportunity to discuss in depth how I might leverage these experiences to contribute to your mission. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm Regards,

• Career Changer 🔄

You're really excited about a job and know you can excel in it, but you haven't done that exact work before. The company will hold you to a higher standard here -- you'll have to show that you're potentially better than someone who has done the job before. A tricky needle to thread! It's all about a hyper-clear correlation between your prior experience and the work you want to do, plus finding ways to stand out truly.

The key inputs for this template are:

An articulation of the problem they are trying to solve

An example of something interesting the company is doing, and why you find their work so important

Why you're the right candidate 

An experience that relates to the job you're applying to and makes you a good fit

A responsibility you had in a previous role and what you accomplished

A relevant prior experience and why it would help you succeed in this new job

A skill that's important for success in the position you're interested in, and experience you have related to that skill, and key learnings from your experience

Relate a favorite element of a previous role that relates to this one and what you would be able to help them do if you got the job 

Let's look at an example of a cover letter for someone targeting a career development opportunity or transition.

Cover Letter Template: Career Changer

Dear {Hiring manager first name}, 

{Insert relevant, customized, and interesting hook}. As a {Job Title} fascinated by {relevant functional topics}, I was thrilled to learn of the {Job Title} role at {Company Name}. I'm intrigued by {Company Name} 's approach to {problem they are solving}. {Interesting thing they are doing} seems really impactful because {why?}. 

I would be delighted to bring my experience in {what?} to help {specific problems they're facing}. 

Why should you consider me for the {Job Title} role? 

First, my experience in {relevant experience} enables me to {reason this makes you a good fit}. At {previous role}, I was responsible for {what things you were responsible for?} and I {achievement). This experience would set me up to {do something they want the role to do}. As a {Job Title}, it's vital to {critical for success in the role}. I would love to have the opportunity to contribute these skills as a {Job Title} role at {Company Name}. 

Why am I interested in the {Job Title} role? 

One of my favorite parts of my job at {previous organization} was {favorite element of your last role that relates to this job}. {Specific tasks you like or problems you want to solve} are what keep me up thinking at night and what get me up in the morning. This led me to accomplish {achievement}. {Things you've done before that they want you to do in this role}-- this is the stuff I love. 

I would be thrilled to {do the thing they want this role to do} at {Company Name}. I would love the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this. Thanks for your consideration. 

Example of Career Changer Template In Action

Dear Greg, 

Call me a geek, but technical, logical puzzles about software implementation are what keep me up thinking at night and what get me up in the morning. As a marketer fascinated by marketing automation, I was thrilled to learn about the Marketing Implementation Specialist role at DemandSource. I'm intrigued by your approach to highly targeted B2B marketing. In my experience, tailoring makes emails perform better -- wouldn't the same approach work for ads? 

I would be delighted to bring my online marketing programs and marketing automation implementation experience to help your clients leverage the new ad targeting product. 

Why should you consider me for the marketing implementation specialist role? 

My technical marketing experience enables me to empathize easily with the client's perspective. As a marketing coordinator at Greenhome, I built out email nurture campaigns in Marketo and optimized landing pages to increase qualified lead generation by 300% in 18 months. My in-house experience would set me up to clearly understand client goals and help clients leverage Marketo to achieve their goals. For a role like this, it's critical to solve a problem and understand what questions to ask. I would love to have the opportunity to build on these skills in a client-facing role at DemandSource. 

Why am I interested in the marketing implementation specialist role?  

One of my favorite parts of my job at GreenHome was marketing automation with Salesforce and Marketo. Improving attribution tracking, solving database sync inconsistencies, and establishing business rules for data cleanliness -- this is the stuff I love. I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to work with problems like this every day for various clients. 

From what I've learned so far, it seems that my background makes me a great fit! I would love the opportunity to meet with you and learn more about the DemandSource team. Thanks for your consideration.

• Passion for Disruption 💪

When you're genuinely pumped up about a company trying to solve a problem you really care about in a cool, differentiated way, use your cover letter to exude enthusiasm.

Your previous experience that ties into their mission

Two to three examples of the work they're currently doing and why you think those things matter

Insight into something you recently read about them and what you learned from reading it

Two relevant skills or experiences that make you a fantastic fit for the open position

One accomplishment with an explanation of how you accomplished it and how this shows you can help them meet their goal

Another achievement with a description of how you achieved it and what you learned from that experience that translates to how you can add value

A challenge they are facing and how you've faced that challenge before 

Cover Letter Template: Passion for Disruption

Dear {Hiring Manager First Name}, 

{Insert relevant, customized, and interesting hook}. Having {reference a thing you've done}, I know the importance of {Company Name} 's mission firsthand, and I love that you are {something you like about what they're doing}. I'm particularly impressed with {Company Name} 's {another cool thing they're doing} -- I've learned that {something that shows them why it matters}. I also really appreciate how {something unique they're doing} differentiates your organization from other players. After reading {something you read }, it's clear that {something you learned about them}. 

I'm very interested in contacting you about the prospect of joining your team as a {Job Title}. My extensive experience in {relevant experience 1, relevant experience 2, and relevant experience 3} seem like an excellent fit for your team. 

At {previous organization}, I {achievement related to experience 1} by {how did you achieve it?. I imagine that {the thing you previously did} would also help {Company Name}{achieve {a specific goal they have}. 

Before {previous organization}, I {relevant experience 2} where I {achievement}. Through this process, I learned {what?} and that's really helped me {way that you've improved or achieved even more}. 

I noticed that {challenge you think the company might be facing} and I'm curious how you're thinking about addressing this challenge. At {previous organization}, we encountered a similar problem -- {describe the challenge related to experience 3}. I approached it by first {first thing you did}, then {second thing you did}, and ultimately, {any last steps you took}. This process helped us {meet a specific goal}, and I wonder if a similar approach might be helpful at {Company Name}. 

I believe {thing you think} and I admire that {Company Name} {thing they do that shows they share this belief or that this belief applies to them}. It would be a joy to bring my skills and experience to an organization that resonates with my values. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I might contribute to {Company Name} 's goals. 

Thank you for your consideration,

Example of Passion for Disruption Template In Action

Dear Olivia, 

Having started a personal finance venture myself, I know the importance of Chime's mission firsthand. I love that you are building products that help consumers make better financial decisions. I'm particularly impressed with how Chime's thoughtful features make it easier to save money -- I've learned that reducing friction is a great way to drive behavior change. I also really appreciate that the product works to protect consumers against fees, which differentiates it from other banking spaces. After reading your reviews on the app store, it's clear that these features help and customers notice. 

I'm very interested in contacting you about the prospect of joining your team as a Sales Team Leader. My extensive experiences in sales for personal finance and B2C applications seem like a great fit for your team.

As a Sales Manager at AutoGenius, I was responsible for an increase in over $4 million within my first year. I developed our talking points for positioning the company's first consumer-facing product, which now serves more than 300 partners and well over 100K consumers. To do this, I worked closely with our product team to really understand the benefits of our product and how it far exceeded the competition. I imagine that these skills would also help Chime better address customer needs. 

Before AutoGenius, I started a personal finance app to help parents and children learn how to save money. I maintained a weekly feedback loop with 50 families to help hone our prototype. Through this process, I learned the importance of showing customers what we mean rather than telling them, and that's helped me position products to solve customers' needs directly. 

I noticed that you're selling into a new market with your B2B offering, and I'm curious how you're thinking about addressing this challenge. At AutoGenius, I faced a similar problem -- getting our partners to adopt our first-ever consumer-facing product. I approached it by first conducting initial interviews to understand our partners' values and concerns better, and then I provided a product demo tailored to what I learned. This process helped us sell the first $350K with an 80% win rate, and I wonder if a similar approach might be helpful at Chime. 

I believe the best products and companies have interests aligned with their customers, and I admire that Chime builds its success on the success of its customers, in contrast with competitors in the financial space who make their money by charging fees. It would be a joy to join an organization that so clearly resonates with my values and background. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I might contribute to Chime's goals.

• Passion For The Mission 💕

Hiring managers love candidates passionate about their company's mission and are excited about the opportunity to contribute. If you're applying to a role because you really, genuinely care about the work the company is doing, then highlight that in your cover letter. 

Describe the company mission and give an example of how they are making a positive difference

Share two relevant experiences- each having an impressive outcome that tie into goals the company has

Include an example of something you did in the past that relates to their mission and the insights you can bring to the table

Cover Letter Template: Passion for the Mission 

Ever since {pivotal life experience}, {topic the company is solving} has been significant to me. That's why {Company Name} 's mission to {summary of company mission} appeals to me so much. I especially appreciate that {thing they are doing to support this mission}. Not only am I thrilled about the chance to contribute to {Company Name} 's mission, but I am also excited about the opportunity to help {Company Name} {do the main thing the role will do} as a {Job Title}. 

As a {previous role} at {previous organization}, I gained experience {experience you gained} that led to {impressive outcome}. I would be delighted to apply this experience to help {Company Name} achieve its goal of {specific related goal you can help meet). 

A little bit more about me:

At {previous organization}, I also {thing you accomplished} by {thing that you did}. I imagine that some of the lessons I learned would help me {tackle related problems the team is facing} as part of {Company Name} 's {job function} team.

Before {previous organization}, my passion for {relevant passion} led me to {relevant thing that you did}. I would welcome the opportunity to bring {insights you would bring} to {Company Name}. 

 It would be a dream come true for me to contribute my {relevant skills or experience} as a {Job Title} at an organization that's so aligned with my values and background. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I might leverage these experiences to contribute to {Company Name} 's mission. Thank you for your consideration! 

Best regards,

Example of Passion for the Mission Template In Action

Dear Jessica, 

Ever since Hurricane Sandy struck NYC and I experienced the power of extreme weather firsthand, addressing climate change has been really important to me. That's why Resciencia's mission to empower communities to adapt to climate change appeals to me so much. I especially appreciate that you coordinate directly with local stakeholders to give voice to communities on the front lines of climate change. Not only am I thrilled about the chance to contribute to Resciencia's mission, but I am also excited about the opportunity to help Resciencia generate awareness about climate change adaptation as a content marketing manager. 

As a content marketing manager at Climadata, I gained experience producing content, managing a content calendar, and scaling a content team that led to a 400% lift in organic web traffic and increased our brand recognition to become the leader in the space. I would be delighted to apply this experience to help Resciencia achieve its goal of becoming a thought leader in climate change adaptation. 

A little bit more about me: 

At Climadata, I also helped the sales team pitch to new audiences by defining our positioning for different personas and developing sales training. I imagine that some of the lessons I learned would help me support the partnerships team as they seek to influence local governments.

Before Climadata, my passion for climate solutions led me to pursue my Master's degree in public policy at Berkeley, where I studied environmental and climate policy. I would welcome the opportunity to bring my knowledge of the latest innovations in climate adaptation and policy to Resciencia. 

It would be a dream come true for me to contribute my storytelling and project-management skills as a content marketing manager at an organization that's so aligned with my values and background. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how I might leverage these experiences to contribute to Resciencia's mission. Thank you for your consideration!

Best Regards,

• The Finishing Touches ✨

Once you have a solid draft of your cover letter complete, it's time to take a break. Seriously, close your computer, go for a walk, go to bed, or do something else for a few hours. Give your brain some time to disconnect from what you wrote.

Once you've gotten some distance from your cover letter draft, you should do a final review. Taking a break from looking at it for a while will help you read through it with a fresh set of eyes. You'll be more likely to identify some awkward sentence structures, develop more creative hooks, and catch any grammatical errors.

Doing a final read-through of your cover letter is so, so important. You put a ton of time into drafting it and applying for a role, so don't lose out on an opportunity because there was a silly typo in your cover letter!

As a reminder, here's the three paragraphs you've drafted so far. Now's the time to make any tweaks after seeing a few templates.

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

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