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So, you’ve done it — you found the job you want to get and made a tailored resume that shows why they need you for the role. Now, you need to drive the message home with a cover letter to ensure you get that callback.
Learning how to make a cover letter for a job is simple but it can make a huge difference in your job search.
A great cover letter for a job application doesn’t rehash your resume — it expands upon it, showing the employer how your skills, professional achievements and work experience make you the best candidate for the role.
Even when an employer doesn’t ask for a cover letter, you should consider writing one. After all, the candidate who has learned how to write a cover letter for a job application is more likely to have the upper hand over other candidates.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a one-page business document that is submitted with a resume or a CV during the job application process. The purpose of a cover letter is to:
- Provide more details about your professional successes.
- Explain to potential employers why you want to work for them.
- Explain circumstances like resume gaps due to a layoff.
When used as a companion to a resume, a cover letter, also known as an employment application letter, is a valuable tool for job seekers to introduce themselves to an employer and illustrate their skills, experience, and professional achievements.
Eighty-three percent of HR professionals say a great cover letter can help you get an interview — even if your resume is subpar. A well-written cover letter significantly improves the chances of your resume being reviewed by employers and landing an interview.
How to make a cover letter in 7 simple steps
Making a good cover letter is simple. Follow the steps in this guide and increase your chances of landing a job interview. Let’s get started.
STEP 1
Pick a template.
Cover letters look best on a professional template. That’s why our designs are:
- Preformatted so that you can concentrate on your content.
- Designed to compliment our library of resume templates to help you create a standout job application.
Browse our cover letter templates or jump directly into our Cover Letter Builder to find a style that suits you.
If you aren’t ready to think about the design, that’s okay. You can write your cover letter in a separate doc before you pick a template.
Pro tip:Match your cover letter template to your resume template for consistency.
STEP 2
Add your contact information to the header.
The cover letter header can be at the top left, top right or in the top center of the page, depending on which template you choose. It should include your:
- Name
- City
- State
- Phone number
- Email address
- Your LinkedIn profile or professional website if you have one
Your header will also contain the date and the name and address of the person you are writing to.
Here’s how your header should look:
Pro tip:The contact information in your cover letter heading should be identical to the contact information you use for your resume. If you add a link to your portfolio on your resume, then add it to your cover letter, too.
STEP 3
Greet the hiring manager by name.
YES
- Dear Mr. Jones
- Dear Jennifer Jones
- Dear Hiring Manager
- Dear Operations Manager
- Dear HR Team
NO
- Hey there!
- To Whom It May Concern
- Dear Patrick
- Dear Madam
You should always address the hiring manager or recruiter by name whenever possible. Sometimes a job ad will include the name and email address of the person who placed the ad.
If you don’t have a name, search for it. Comb through the company’s website, dig deep online, call the company or use LinkedIn to learn the hiring manager’s name and greet them like so:
“Dear Sam Smith,” “Dear Dr. Kenney,” “Dear Professor Liu.” Never use informal greetings like “Hi,” “Hello,” or “Good morning.”
Pro tip:If you can’t find a name to address, then write a greeting like “Dear Sales Hiring Manager or “Dear Sales Team.”
STEP 4
Introduce yourself in the first paragraph of your cover letter.
Learning how to start a cover letter is critical to holding a recruiter’s interest. Start your cover letter with a cover letter introduction that shows your interest and enthusiasm for the role. Tell the employer who you are and why you’re writing.
Here are two positive and enthusiastic cover letter opening lines:
Opening paragraph for a social media role:
“I am greatly interested in being considered for the social media associate position with [Company Name]. I have admired [Company Name]’s excellence in consumer product marketing and its dedication to social causes for many years. As a social media coordinator with three years of experience in the nonprofit sector and a lifelong human rights advocate, I think I’m just the person to fill the role.”
Opening paragraph for a technical writer role:
“I’m very interested in your job posting for a technical writer with [Company Name]. I am a methodical and detail-oriented professional with more than five years of experience as a technical writer for software companies in Silicon Valley. You will find that I have a track record of exceeding deadlines and improving workflows to ensure that projects run smoothly and efficiently. I’m sure my experience and varied skill set could benefit the position and [Company Name].”
Pro tip:Your cover letter introduction should be brief and get right to the point, leaving the rest of your letter for the details.
STEP 5
Write your body paragraphs.
The body of a cover letter includes up to three paragraphs that describe your qualifications in detail. This section explains why you’re interested in the position, what you hope to accomplish for the company, and which of your past achievements prove you’re perfect for the role.
Here are a few tips for writing an enticing body paragraph:
Demonstrate your personality. Cover letters are meant to give employers a glimpse of the person behind the letter. Show them what makes you unique.
For example:
Describe specific aspects of your related experience. Part of this is calling out your most admirable and relevant achievements and briefly telling the stories behind them.
For example:
Highlight transferable skills. This is especially important for those candidates who are making a career change or who have little to no work experience. Use your cover letter to highlight the skills you possess that would be useful in the role to which you are applying.
For example:
Explain gaps in your resume. These may include gaps from being laid off or fired, taking a break to raise children or a string of short-term jobs. Addressing any unique circumstances gives you the chance to explain why those experiences add to your qualifications.
For example:
Pro tip:Always talk about your qualifications as they apply to the company’s needs and not in terms of what you want to get out of the job.
Highlight your key accomplishments and qualifications in a bullet-point list
STEP 6
Write your cover letter closing.
A cover letter closing is where you reiterate your interest, thank the hiring manager for their time, and invite them to contact you or say that you’ll follow up with them.
For example:
Pro tip:There’s a fine line between inviting the hiring manager to connect and being pushy or desperate. Avoid statements like, “I really want this job, please contact me for an interview” and “I will call you tomorrow to discuss my qualifications.”
STEP 7
Sign off.
The signature is where you politely sign your cover letter. Popular signoffs include “Sincerely,” “Thank you” and “Respectfully.”
After your closing paragraph, add a line break, write your signoff, add another line break and sign your full name.
Pro tip:Avoid informal signoffs, such as “Cheers,” “Love,” “Take care” or “Warmly,” even if you know the hiring manager very well.
Let us help you build your cover letter!
Make your cover letter more organized and attractive with our Cover Letter Builder
What your finished cover letter should look like
Before you start writing a cover letter, here is what a perfectly structured document looks like:
4 great cover letter examples
Whether you’re learning how to write a cover letter for an internship or how to write a cover letter with no experience, reviewing a sample cover letter is a great way to learn about writing a cover letter.
Written by career experts and certified resume writers, our cover letter examples demonstrate how to craft a letter that will get you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. And, with hundreds of letters to choose from, you’ll be sure to find the right cover letter in our library. Here are three popular cover letter examples to review for inspiration:
Cover Letter for a Teaching Job
Cover Letter for an Internship
Cover letter for a job with no experience
Cover Letter for a Nursing Job
6 cover letter tips
Before you send your cover letter to a prospective employer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. As you craft your document, review the following tips to ensure you have covered all the critical elements of a cover letter:
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Convey knowledge about the company.
Research is crucial when writing a cover letter. You must learn about the prospective employer so you can speak to how you’re a possible match. Applicants who make an effort to find out more about a company and show this in their cover letter are preferred because they show commitment.
While conducting your research on how to make a cover letter, ask the following questions:
- What product(s) or service(s) does the company provide?
- What is the company culture? Do you feel you’re a good match for their culture?
- What are the company’s values, challenges, mission and goals? Do you feel you could support them in achieving their mission and goals?
- Who are their competitors? If you’re familiar with their competitors, it may be helpful to share this fact in your cover letter.
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Tailor your message to a specific job and employer.
Once you’ve done your research, you’re ready to customize your cover letter for your target company. One way to do this is to tailor your skills to the job requirements and match your achievements to the tasks of the role. Do this by studying the job description and crafting a sentence or two that tells employers how you have utilized the required skills in the past. For example, “I see from the job ad that familiarity with WordPress is required. I have six years of experience using WordPress and have the ability to read and write HTML.”
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Consider your audience.
To make an impact, you’ve got to think about who will be reading your cover letter. Chances are, your will be read by:
Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Many hiring managers and recruiters often use ATS software, which scans and sorts cover letters and resumes to weed out those that don’t match a job’s required skills and experience. To get past them, use keywords in your cover letter that best describe the company, the job description and the position.
Recruiters and hiring managers
Recruiters rate and rank candidates for interviews. They look for the “best of the best,” scanning cover letters for achievements, awards and unique skill sets. When writing your cover letter, be sure to emphasize your most relevant successes and how you can apply them to the job. Busy hiring managers want to see a well-thought-out cover letter that shows you understand the role, took the time to learn about the company and have the qualifications necessary to perform the job.
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Demonstrate your potential value.
Ask yourself the following questions to make sure you have showcased your value:
- How would you help the company meet its goals? For instance, if a retail business or manufacturer wants to expand its sales operations, share examples of your related achievements in this area.
- How would you help to further their mission? If you want to work for a company because you know its purpose is to sell only sustainable products, mention your passion for environmental causes. If you volunteered for a green organization, weave that experience into your narrative.
- How would you help support the company’s ethics, business or values? For example, if you’ve learned that the company wants to expand its charitable outreach to nonprofit organizations and you’ve worked for nonprofits, definitely highlight this experience.
- How can you help them solve a problem? Demonstrate how you can provide a solution to a problem you may have discovered through your research.
-
Include as many specific details as possible.
Employers want to know what you bring to the table. To show them your potential, include facts and figures about past accomplishments.
You must convince prospective employers that you’re a perfect fit for a role by providing related stories and anecdotes throughout your cover letter. For example, how many managers have you supported, and how many sales have you made? Did you create a new process that helped the team or the company be more efficient?
Whatever it is that you’ve accomplished doing that shows you have the experience and skills they’re looking for, include it in detail in your cover letter.
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Show your excitement about the job.
Displaying sincere interest in the opportunity helps employers envision you in the role and creates a connection between you and the hiring manager. Accomplish this by using dynamic language, such as “motivated” and “thrilled,” to emphasize your desire to work for the company. Use this technique early in the letter rather than waiting until the end.
Cover letter writing: final checklist
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Be sure you’ve included all six critical sections of your cover letter.
These include the header, salutation, introduction, body paragraphs, closing paragraph and signoff.
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Ensure you’ve chosen an appropriate cover letter template for the role.
For conservative industries, choose a conservative templates. If you’re applying for a role in a creative field, it’s acceptable to choose a more design-heavy cover letter template.
-
Reread your header to verify your contact information is correct.
After all, a recruiter can’t contact you for an interview if they can’t reach you!
-
Review your opening paragraph.
It should be catchy and express enthusiasm. Tell the recruiter why this role excites you and what you’ll bring to the table.
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Assess the body paragraphs of your letter to ensure they are highly relevant to the role.
Using bullet points in this section can help make your most impressive professional achievements pop.
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Review the formatting of your cover letter.
Formatting can make or break a cover letter. Here is a quick list of items to review before you send off your cover letter:
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Font
Choose standard business-style fonts like Arial, Calibri, Verdana or Times New Roman and use it throughout. Stick with 11- or 12-point fonts which are easy for most people to read.
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Spacing
When formatting your cover letter, use one space between lines of text and between words, two spaces between paragraphs and two spaces between each section. Make sure spacing is consistent throughout.
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Margins and alignment
Use 1-inch margins with the text aligned to the left of a document.
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How to make a cover letter using our builder
Our award-winning cover letter builder makes it possible to create a well-written, customized cover letter for a resume in a matter of minutes. Our cover letter maker does the work for you so that you can focus on the critical task of your job search: applying for your next great opportunity. Just follow these simple steps in our builder and start your job search today.
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Choose a template.
From conservative to creative, Resume Now’s builder offers dozens of cover letter designs for you to choose from.
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Provide your contact information and desired job title.
Just add your contact information and desired job title to get started.
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Craft your letter.
Writer’s block will never be an issue when you use our cover letter builder. We offer job-specific content suggestions that are auto-generated for every section of your letter. Use the text as-is or customize it to make it your own.
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Proofread your document.
You’ve gone to the effort to craft a great cover letter — don’t let typos or other errors ruin your final product. Proofread your cover letter, or have a trusted friend give it a read. Then, make your final changes and you’re done!
How to write a cover letter: FAQ
Yes. Whether or not they are required, writing a cover letter is important because they allow you to expand on your resume and provide details about your background that aren’t included in a resume. Plus, cover letters allow you to create a strong narrative around why you are the best choice for the position. When you learn how to write a good cover letter, you significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
If an employer specifically requests a cover letter and you don’t provide one, chances are you will be rejected regardless of your credentials. In some cases, hiring managers don’t require a cover letter but take note of which applicants provide one. Often, providing a cover letter can set you apart from other applicants because it shows you are willing to go the extra mile.
Yes. While there are differences between CVs and resumes, when it comes to cover letters, they should be treated the same way. When you make a CV, always write a cover letter both to provide additional information about why you’re a good fit for the role and to show your enthusiasm for the job.
The best opening sentence for a cover letter is one that introduces you to the hiring manager and expresses your enthusiastic interest in the position. In addition to qualifications, recruiters look for applicants who express excitement about the role and what they will bring to the table.
A cover letter should be no more than one full page in length, or about 450 words. Start your cover letter with a strong introduction, follow it with three or four concise paragraphs and finish it with an attention-grabbing closer.
Here’s how to make a cover letter sound great even if you are underqualified for the job you’re applying for: Focus on your transferable skills and enthusiasm for the job. After all, the most vital letters don’t simply list qualifications; They paint a picture of a passionate applicant who will bring value to the team.
A cover letter should mention the job you want and express your sincere interest in the position you’re applying for and the work the company does. The body paragraphs should clearly and concisely explain why you’re the best fit for the job and show real examples of how you can help the company succeed. You can do this by highlighting past achievements and matching them to the job description. Finally, a cover letter closing should express sincere appreciation for the reader’s time and convey enthusiasm and confidence. If you need more specific advice, check out our library of cover letter examples.
Writing a cover letter for a job when you’ve never worked before can feel intimidating. Fortunately, you don’t always need a lot of experience to get hired; passion and determination can go a long way. You can also play up your skill set, class projects and testimonials to build a compelling case for yourself. In short, show your relevant experience, even if it isn’t from previous jobs.
The best place to create a cover letter online is Resume Now’s Cover Letter Builder. Use the powerful editor, its auto-generated content suggestions and beautiful, professional templates to make an effective cover letter in no time.
Every cover letter must include the following:
- A cover letter heading with the applicant’s and the prospective employer’s contact information.
- A salutation to address the cover letter to the reader.
- An introduction or cover letter opening paragraph that captures the reader’s attention.
- Three or four cover letter body paragraphs that show why you’re the best candidate for the role.
- A closing paragraph that reiterates your interest, thanks the reader for their time and invites them to follow up with you for an interview.
- A signoff where you professionally and politely close the letter. “Sincerely” and “Thank you” are great examples of cover letter signoffs.
Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.