Learning how to write a cover letter that impresses the hiring manager can even tip the scales in your favor and land you that interview. It\u2019s worth taking the time to make it great.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
What Is a Cover Letter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A cover letter is a brief note that you send alongside your resume to a hiring manager. It expresses your interest in the position and articulates why you believe yourself to be the best possible candidate for the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good cover letter is no more than three to four paragraphs long and shouldn\u2019t exceed 400 words maximum. In one survey, 70% of hiring managers<\/a> said they wanted cover letters to be a half page or less. That’s why it’s very important you learn how to write a cover letter that will impress and get you past the initial resume review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brevity isn\u2019t just the soul of wit; it also tells a hiring manager that you\u2019re professional, efficient, and easy to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A cover letter uses business letter format. That means it\u2019s left-justified \u2014 all paragraphs aligned with the left margin \u2014 and it has the following sections in order:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how it looks in practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image credit: Indeed.com<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, this is a template, not an example \u2014 don\u2019t use \u201cDear Hiring Manager\u201d if you can avoid it! Your cover letter should be personalized at every level possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your cover letter has two purposes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t think of it as a hurdle or some kind of test (If I don\u2019t phrase this perfectly, they\u2019ll hire someone else!). <\/em>It\u2019s your chance to introduce yourself and highlight what you\u2019ve accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be genuine. Be human. Have some fun with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing sends your resume to the trash bin like a generic cover letter. After all, if someone can\u2019t be bothered to write an original cover letter, what kind of effort would they put into the job?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, you\u2019re not like any other candidate, and your cover letter should show that. Communicate one-on-one from your very first word, starting with your \u201chello.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always address your cover letter to a specific person. If the job posting doesn\u2019t include it, you\u2019ll have to do some digging. You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what that kind of search will look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image credit: LinkedIn<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Always default to the formal mode of address, unless you\u2019re officially on a first-name basis already. Use \u201cMr.\u201d or \u201cMs.\u201d If you know the person\u2019s gender without a doubt. Otherwise, use their full name, as in \u201cDear Terry Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you absolutely can\u2019t find the name no matter how hard you try, then it\u2019s okay to write to a job title, but be specific. Go with \u201cSocial Media Coordinator Hiring Manager\u201d instead of just \u201cHiring Manager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good writing is good writing, whether you\u2019re crafting a cover letter or writing a best-seller. Your first job is to catch the reader\u2019s attention with your first sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t stress too much \u2014 it\u2019s perfectly fine to open with \u201cI\u2019m writing to apply for the [job] position at [company]. It\u2019s just more interesting to start with something unique, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This kind of snappy opener is attention-getting and fun to write. If you need some inspiration, these 31 examples<\/a> will get you going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In your mission to captivate the hiring manager, don\u2019t forget to name the job and company you\u2019re applying to. Otherwise, they might assume that you use the same line on all your target companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have their attention, it\u2019s time to swoop in and close the sale. In no more than two paragraphs \u2014 one is even better \u2014 show them why you\u2019re the perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t the time to talk about your \u201cexcellent communication skills\u201d or \u201cin-depth knowledge of Python.\u201d You only have a few sentences to work with. Zero in on the skills you have that are a perfect match for the job description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not sure which to focus on, look at what skills appear first or multiple times in the original posting. Then, ask yourself what you\u2019ve done in your career that required those skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re truly a good match for the position, your key skills will already appear on your resume. Don\u2019t just re-list them in your cover letter. Go into more depth and explain how you used a particular skill, and what the results were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if your resume mentions that you oversaw a nine-person team as a project manager, your cover letter could tell the story of the high-budget project you delivered on time, despite X or Y obstacle. If you have some hard numbers you can throw in, all the better:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We delivered ahead of deadline, saving the company $X.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bonus points if you can connect it to the role you\u2019re applying for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With experience like this under my belt, I\u2019ll be able to guide your engineering team to great heights.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve worked in another field and have transferrable skills, your cover letter is where you explain why those skills are relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019ve never worked in that role before. It matters whether you\u2019ve got the skills to succeed and you have evidence to back it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my six years as a product development manager, I learned a thing or two about collaboration. My team delivered 100% of projects on or ahead of deadlines, and the workflow I established shaved 32 hours off our average completion time. As member of your engineering team, I\u2019ll bring the same commitment to results.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiring managers spend all day reading about candidates who are excited about the job, and how the job can help the candidates meet their professional goals. They don\u2019t even know you yet \u2014 their priority is their <\/em>success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus on that. Yes, you\u2019re going to talk mostly about yourself, but keep bringing it back to the role and what you can accomplish for the company in that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You \u201clook forward to hearing from\u201d the hiring manager, but so does everyone else. To give your closing a bit more \u201coomph,\u201d add a reminder of what makes you a great hire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the sign-off, don\u2019t sweat it. A lot of job seekers get so stressed out by a cover letter that they panic when they have to decide between Sincerely <\/em>and Kind regards. <\/em>Either is fine. So is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep it professional, end with your full name, and you\u2019re golden. No one will choose not to hire you because they prefer Sincerely<\/em> to Respectfully<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you have all of the pieces of a captivating cover letter, it\u2019s time to put them together. These examples will help you out \u2014 think of them as the picture on the jigsaw puzzle box, but with more flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has some experience to speak of, whether it\u2019s academic or on the job in a previous industry. Here\u2019s a great example of how to describe transferable skills in a cover letter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image credit: Novoresume.com<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note how Enzo emphasizes the results of previous projects, even though the experience was in a different industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re an experienced professional, you get to cherry pick your most relevant and impressive accomplishments. Use the structure of your letter to make them stand out. For instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image source: Novoresume.com<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a great cover letter because it includes concrete skills as well as the results of the applicant\u2019s accomplishments. Plus, it keeps the focus on the hiring company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Never underestimate the power of a template. The text of your cover letter will be polished and professional by this point, but a visually appealing layout gives it that extra personal touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest method for most people is to use an online builder. One of the best and easiest to use is Resume.io<\/a>. All you have to do is plug in your content and the builder will create a unique downloadable PDF. You can even change the color scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want a different format or you\u2019d just like to explore other options, take a look at what\u2019s available for your word processing software. Most tools, including MS Word and Google Docs, have galleries of templates you can choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are even more scattered across the internet, if you\u2019re up for a search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always follow the job posting\u2019s instructions for how to send your cover letter. Some employers will ask for an attachment, possibly in a specific format. If the employer requests a PDF, send a PDF \u2014 not a Word doc and certainly not something obscure like .odx or system-specific like Pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the post doesn\u2019t specify how to send your cover letter. That\u2019s when a lot of job seekers start tearing their hair out. Should I copy and paste it? Attach it with the resume? If I attach it, what do I write in the email?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a breath. If a hiring manager has a strong preference, they\u2019ll state it. Otherwise, they\u2019ll understand that some people do it one way and some do it the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you end up attaching your cover letter, you will need to include a quick note in the email body. A few sentences is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFormatting Your Cover Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cover](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/resized.jpg?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress&w=1024&h=1024\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat to Include: A Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Make a Great First Impression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use the Hiring Manager\u2019s Name<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/LinkedIN.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOpen with a Hook<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Include the Job Details<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Reel Them In<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be Specific<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Say What Your Resume Doesn\u2019t<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Establish Parallels<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Make It About Them<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
End on a High Note<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Great Cover Letter Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For a Career Changer or New Professional<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/best-cover-letter-samples.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress&w=1024&h=1024\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor a Mid-Career Professional<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/management-cover-letter-example.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress&w=1024&h=1024\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Finishing Touches: Using Templates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sending Your Cover Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n