Should I Use Bullet Points On My Cover Letter? (Guide + Examples)

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Table of contents

Pros and Cons of Using Bullet Points in a Cover Letter
How to Use Bullet Points on a Cover Letter
So When Should You Use Bullet Points on a Cover Letter?
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help Prepare for Your Interview

Once you've written a strong resume and found the perfect role to submit it to, you're almost ready to apply! Now, all you need is a cover letter that shows off your best points. At this stage, you might start wondering whether you should use bullet points in your cover letter or not.

There's no one answer to the question: "Should I use bullet points on my cover letter?" That's because the answer depends on you.

Our guide will help you make the right decision by outlining:

The pros and cons of using bullet points in a cover letter.
An example of how to write a cover letter using bullet points.
When to use bullet points on a cover letter.
Key takeaways to remember as you build your letter.

Tired of staring at a black page? Break through that initial writer's block with the help of our Cover Letter Generator. This tool provides formatting help, templates and custom content suggestions to help you build a letter that shines.

Pros and Cons of Using Bullet Points in a Cover Letter

Should I use bullet points on my cover letter? The answer depends on what you're trying to accomplish. To decide if cover letter bullet points are right for you, consider the following pros and cons:

Pros of using bullet points in a cover letter:

They help you organize your thoughts and maintain a neat flow. This can be especially helpful if you struggle with formatting. Use bullet points to make sure you're on track and covering the important information that you want to cover.
They add visual interest to your document. It's easy to zone out while reading a big wall of text. This goes for recruiters and hiring managers too! Keep their interest by breaking up your document and drawing the eye to the important stuff.
They help you highlight critical keywords. A great cover letter uses keywords from the job listing to demonstrate how you align with the role and to give your letter a fighting chance against applicant tracking systems (ATS). Bullet points can help you showcase the most important keywords and structure your document around highlighting the specific ways that you match the role.

Cons of using bullet points on your cover letter:

Bullet points must be focused. If you're going to use bullet points on your cover letter, they need to be laser-focused on communicating your point. Lengthy bullet points can be an information overload that gums up the body of your letter.
Bullet points interrupt the traditional "letter" format. This doesn't matter for most roles, but if formal writing is a major part of the responsibilities for the role you're applying to, you may be better off focusing on showing off your traditional writing skills. A journalist's cover letter should look different from a cover letter for a receptionist.

Pro Tip

Bullet points are generally helpful, but it's important to make sure your letter is still a letter. Don't turn it into a second resume. One way to do this is to be mindful of how specific and targeted it is. Instead of rehashing general qualifications from your resume, hone in on the qualifications that make you a strong match for the position.

How to Use Bullet Points on a Cover Letter

Now that you've decided that bullet points are the right strategic move for you, let's look at how to build a cover letter using bullet points to maximize their potential.

First, take a look a this example cover letter using bullet points:

Patricia Witt
789 Maple Street
Riverton, CA 90210
example@email.com
(555) 123-4567

Aug. 12, 2024

Lawrence Freund
Freund & Carter Law Firm
123 Oak Avenue
Brookville, CA 90211

Dear Mr. Freund,

I am writing to express my interest in the legal assistant position at Reynolds & Carter Law Firm, as advertised. With over three years of experience providing administrative support in legal settings, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your team. I am particularly drawn to this role due to your firm's reputation for handling complex civil litigation cases with precision and care.

In my previous roles, I have developed a strong foundation in legal procedures and documentation. Below are some of the key skills and experiences that I believe make me a strong candidate for this position:

Managed over 200 legal case files annually, ensuring all documentation was prepared, filed and organized accurately and in compliance with firm standards.
Assisted a team of five attorneys in drafting, proofreading and editing over 150 legal documents each month to ensure they met stringent legal and procedural standards.
Conducted legal research for 20+ cases per year, providing attorneys with relevant case law, statutes and regulations that were critical to case preparation.

I am eager to bring my skills in organization, communication and legal support to your team. I am confident that my proactive approach and attention to detail will allow me to contribute positively to Freund & Carter Law Firm. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience aligns with your needs in more detail.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your firm and would be excited to further discuss my qualifications in an interview.

Sincerely,

Patricia Witt

This legal assistant cover letter used bullet points to stand out by:

Keeping it brief. Each bullet point is just one sentence long and she doesn't overuse them. A bulleted list with three entries is the perfect length to capture attention without the information overload.
Using action words. Every bullet point on this cover letter begins with an active verb that describes the candidate's skills in terms of the actions she's taken. This is immediately followed by concrete numerical results that reinforce her active role on previous teams.
Focusing on what matters. For a legal assistant, organization, proper document handling, writing skills and legal research are critical proficiencies. This letter uses bullet points to address and demonstrate the most important skills the candidate has, ensuring that the reader quickly sees and understands what she has to offer.

So When Should You Use Bullet Points on a Cover Letter?

Should I use bullet points on my cover letter? Use them when you feel confident they'll contribute to the overall impact of your letter. For most candidates, this is true when:

You want to guide the reader through your most relevant qualifications.
You want to break up your letter so that it catches the eye and isn't a fatiguing wall of text.
You want to highlight active roles you've had alongside specific and measurable outcomes.

Pro Tip

If writing a cover letter using bullet points is easier for you than writing a traditional letter, you can always use bullet points to outline your letter and decide later whether you want to keep them or restructure your text into paragraphs.

Key Takeaways

Make sure that bullet points serve your cover letter. Determine whether you'll use bullet points to guide the reader through your specific achievements or keep your information brief, memorable and organized.

Keep your bullet points focused. The purpose of bullet points is to make your content more digestible. Don't overload your document with long wordy bullet points.

Differentiate your letter from your resume. Resumes usually use bullet points, but that doesn't mean your cover letter and resume can reuse the same bullet points. Use your cover letter to expand on details from your resume, not rehash them.

Use active language and measurable outcomes. Begin each bullet point with an action word that conveys your energy and initiative. Back up this active tone with specific numbers that illustrate your contributions.

Experiment. There's no rule saying that you have to send in your first draft. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't! Play around with the structure of your cover letter and try a multitude of different options before you make that final decision.