How To Write a Cover Letter (With Steps, Examples and Tips)

 While cover letters are not always required, many hiring managers still rely on them to gauge an applicant's skills, experience and background concerning the position. Submitting a cover letter is also a great way to go above and beyond to show the employer you are genuinely interested in the job. The key to writing effective cover letters is to succinctly communicate how your professional experience fits the needs of the role and culture of the company.

In this article, we explain how to write a cover letter that makes a great first impression on potential employers.

To see example cover letters for your job and industry, browse our free Cover Letter Samples. 

Related: Do Employers Care About Cover Letters?

Key takeaways:

A cover letter lets you explain why you're a good fit for the role and company.

Format cover letters like a standard business letter.

Customize each cover letter for the specific job you're seeking.

 

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What is a cover letter?

A cover letter, also known as an application letter, is a three- to four-paragraph memo to employers explaining your interest in the job and company and your fitness for the role. It's typically submitted along with your resume in a job application. This letter should highlight your skills, experience and achievements concerning the position you seek. Unlike your resume, cover letters allow you to go into more detail about your professional career and explain why you're a good fit for the role and company.

A well-written cover letter has the potential to impress employers and set you apart from other applicants. To avoid a generic cover letter, you should conduct in-depth research on the company and role for which you're applying to in-depth before writing your cover letter.

What to consider before you write

Before you craft your cover letter, gather all the information you may need. Here are some things to consider before you write a cover letter:

Think about your experiences and how you would like to relate these experiences to a hiring employer. What talents, skills or accomplishments would you like the company to know? 

Think about how you heard about the job opportunity. If it's a personal contact, jot down the person's name and title. If it was an ad or job board, write down where and when you saw it and list any specific instructions noted in the job description.

Think about the company you're writing to and what drew you to it. Do you admire its culture or brand? Are its reviews positive or negative? Research the company to see if you agree with its mission statement and vision.

Think about who you are writing to. If it's a specific person, address them by name and title. If not, consider addressing the cover letter to "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Human Resources."

Cover letter format

A cover letter should be formatted like a business letter with these sections:

Header with date and contact information

Salutation or greeting

Opening paragraph

Middle paragraph(s)

Closing paragraph

Letter ending and signature

Your cover letter should be one page long and use a simple, professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, 10 to 12 points in size. Your letter should be left-aligned with single spacing and one-inch margins.

Related: How to Format a Cover Letter

Cover Letter Format

Image description

How to write a cover letter in 6 steps

Here are six simple steps to writing a great cover letter. In the sections below, we'll offer detailed information about what to include in each area with examples.

1. Start with your header

As with any standard business letter header, you should include a few pieces of personal and role-specific information at the top of your cover letter to make it easier for a hiring manager or recruiter to follow up with you. If you'd like, you can center your name and address at the top of the page, mirroring how it looks on your resume. 

Header template:

Your name 

Your city and ZIP code 

Your phone number 

Your email address

Date

Name of recipient 

Title of recipient

Company name 

Company address

Header example:

Ali Lang

ali.lang@email.com

555 Orchard Lane, Las Vegas, NV(555) 888-4000

May 5, 20XX

Terry Washington

Revolve Inc.

123 Vineyard Drive,  Las Vegas, NV

Related:Q&A: Should You Put Your Address on Your Resume?

2. Include a greeting

In your research, try to find the name of the person reviewing applications for the job. Address your letter to this person with a common business greeting, such as "Dear [first and last name]" or "Dear [position title]." Avoid using "To whom it may concern."

Greetings example:

Dear Hiring Manager,

Dear Tyler Wallace,

Related: How To Address a Cover Letter

3. Write an opening paragraph

In the first paragraph, mention the job title you're applying for and where you saw the position posting. Explain your interest in the role and company to show you've done your research. The first section of your cover letter is also the first impression the reader will have of you, so it's important to appeal to that person quickly and succinctly.

Opening paragraph example:

"I'm excited to apply for the Graphic Designer position at Cloud Clearwater I found on Indeed. I understand you're currently adding several new product lines, and I believe my skills in video and animation provide a significant advantage for creating a successful launch. As a longtime fan of your products, I'm thrilled at the opportunity to bring my unique style and passion for beachwear to the company."

4. Add a second paragraph

Your second paragraph should be a brief overview of your background as it relates to the position. Include key achievements, skills and specialties that make you particularly suited to the position. Focus on one or two and provide specific details about your success, including measurable impacts you made.

Pay close attention to keywords listed in the job description and include those you identify with in the body of your cover letter. You should only include information about your most recent professional experiences.

Second paragraph example: 

"As the Director of Human Resources at Wes Morgan Philips, I was a key senior leader in the organization and was responsible for improving the efficiency and performance of the company's 540 employees. Before that, I worked in human resources, equal employment opportunity and diversity for Jenkins Technology Solutions, Inc. At Jenkins Technology, I developed an employee retention plan involving a wellness program, an internal training program and a promotions selection process. This led to a 50% reduction in the overall employee turnover rate."

5. Finish with a closing paragraph

The closing paragraph should focus on another key achievement or skill relevant to the position. Instead of repeating details from your resume, summarize a specific story or anecdote that displays you're right for the role. If you're changing careers, this is a good opportunity to talk about transferable skills or relatable experiences from your career.

Closing paragraph example: 

"Achieving ambitious marketing goals is always a top priority, and I am always looking out for the company's best interests. I enjoy delivering marketing presentations to potential clients and focusing on an organization's strengths. My marketing skills at River Tech helped the company experience new levels of success and a 45% increase in customer engagement. I'm never satisfied with the status quo, and I believe that a company should continually look for ways to improve and reach new clients through innovative campaigns."

Related: Career Change Cover Letter Guide (With Examples)

6. End with a professional signoff

You should end your cover letter with a paragraph summarizing why you are applying for the role and why you would be a great fit. Keep the cover letter conclusion brief and explain that you look forward to hearing from the employer about the next steps. End with your signature at the bottom.

Signoff example:

"Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to learning more about the sales position and TradeLot. Growth is essential to my continued success, and I'm excited for the chance to be a part of TradeLot's industry-leading team. My proven track record and TradeLot's quality products are a winning combination for increasing the company's market share.

Sincerely,

Malik Rabb

Cover letter examples

Here are two examples of cover letters, a traditional version and a less traditional version. Review the job description, then read the cover letter. In the first example, you'll see how specific phrases from the job description are used in the letter. The second example takes a more creative approach, telling a personal story and appealing more abstractly to the attributes called for in the job posting. Both are less than 300 words long.

Example 1: Administrative assistant

Job description

In this role, you will support managers and other senior-level personnel by managing their calendars, arranging travel, filing expense reports, and performing other administrative tasks. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills will be critical to success.

Qualifications:

5+ years of experience providing high-level admin support to diverse teams in a fast-paced environment

High school diploma or equivalent work experience

Excellent Microsoft Office Skills with an emphasis on Outlook and Excel

Self-motivated and highly organized

Team players who work well with minimal supervision

Cover letter

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the opening for an administrative assistant at [name of company].

I'm drawn to this opportunity for several reasons. First, I have a proven track record of success in administrative roles, most recently in my current job as an administrative coordinator. A highlight from my time here was when I proactively stepped in to coordinate a summit for our senior leaders last year. I arranged travel and accommodation for a group of 15 executives from across the company, organized meals and activities, collaborated with our internal events team and ensured that everything ran according to schedule over the two-day summit. Due to the positive feedback I received, I'm now tasked with doubling attendance for the event this year and leading an internal team to get the job done.

I am attracted to this role because of the growth opportunities that [name of company] provides. The research that I've done on your company culture has shown me that there are ample opportunities for self-motivated individuals like me. A high level of organization and attention to detail is second nature to me, and I'm eager to apply these skills in new and challenging environments.

I look forward to sharing more details of my experience and motivations with you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Example 2: Brand copywriter

Job description

We are looking for an experienced copywriter to join our team. If you have a great eye for balance, a quick wit and can adapt a brand voice for any medium, this role is right for you.

Responsibilities:

Write for branded communications, including ads, emails, events, landing pages, videos, product marketing and more

Maintain and develop the voice of our brand in collaboration with others

Develop copy for internal communications that generates excitement about our company culture

Work independently and manage your time well

Strong copy-editing skills for your own work and others

Requirements:

A portfolio of your work

Minimum 5 years of copywriting, ideally within an agency

Strong attention to detail

Cover letter

Hello,

There are at least two less-than-obvious ways to improve your vocabulary (and by extension, your copywriting skills): studying for the GRE and becoming a crossword puzzle enthusiast. I've done both, but for this job application, I'd like to focus on the latter.

My grandmother was the best writer I've ever known. She wasn't a professional writer, but a love of writing was something we shared. It wasn't until last year that I also took up her passion for crossword puzzles and immediately saw how the two went hand in hand. Before long, I was solving Monday-Wednesday puzzles in the New York Times, needing to look up words less and less frequently as time passed. Soon, I was able to complete Thursday-Saturday, too. Throughout this process, I could feel my stock of quips, rejoinders and turns of phrase steadily growing. Eventually, I worked up the courage to attempt the Sunday puzzles.

It was this courage that was the real turning point for me. In my current agency, I'm known as a hard worker and creative spirit; my peer and manager evaluations have made this clear. But while I felt confident in my abilities, I had never seen myself as particularly daring. Considering new challenges and mastering each one along the way gave me a renewed sense of myself and clarity about my chosen profession.

I began a career as a copywriter because I was skilled at finding combinations of words to fit a thought or feeling. I'm continuing down that path as I've realized how I can shape and hone that skill to reach new heights. I want copywriting at [name of company] to be the next step in my journey.

All the best,

[Your name]

Related: Free Cover Letter Templates

Tips for an effective cover letter

Here are guidelines to keep in mind when writing a cover letter:

Customize your header based on your application format

If you're writing your cover letter directly within an online job application, there's no need to include your address or other contact information. You've probably already typed that into other areas of the application form. If you include your cover letter as an attachment, you can use the same heading as your resume.

Avoid generic references to your abilities

When possible, tell meaningful anecdotes that tie your skills to concrete problem-solving activities or tangible business results you've worked on in your career. Any candidate can say they possess a desirable skill. To make an impact, you need to show hiring managers examples of your skills in action.

For example, "my skills would be a great fit for your organization" is vague. A more specific approach would be, "As a sales associate, I'm frequently required to provide exceptional customer service on short notice. Exceeding customers' expectations is a point of personal and professional pride for me, and this is a skill I'm eager to continue developing."

Keep it short and to the point

Unless specified in the job description, there is no required length for a cover letter. When determining how long a cover letter should be, focus on the most important details of the job. Read the job description closely to identify the best opportunities to illustrate your qualifications.

What professional achievements are you the proudest of? Choose one or two and map them directly to the desired experience or qualifications the hiring manager is looking for, using just a few detailed but concise sentences. What attributes is the job description calling for in a candidate? Consider using the cover letter itself as a way of demonstrating those traits.

Related: 15 Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Proofread before you submit

Reread your cover letter several times before submitting it and keep an eye out for spelling, grammar or punctuation errors. Reading it aloud can help you pick out awkward phrasing or too-long sentences. We all tend to gloss over errors, so do a slow, deliberate reading that examines each word. If your salutation includes the hiring manager's name, triple-check the spelling.