Okay, Writing a cover letter kinda feels like getting asked to write a love letter to someone you don’t even know yet. Like, “Hey, explain why you’re perfect for me in 400 words or less.” Uh… excuse me? What is this, a dating app for jobs? Swipe right for accounting?
But yeah, cover letters are still a thing (annoying, I know). And even though they’re often overlooked, they can actually make or break your application. Think of it like the intro track on an album—you want people to keep listening. Or like when you’re trying to get hired: your cover letter is the hype piece that makes the recruiter say, “Hmm, this person’s interesting. Let me see what else they got.”
So if you’ve ever stared at a blank Google Doc, typing and deleting “Dear Hiring Manager” 27 times in a row, this one’s for you. Let’s break down the cover letter essentials in a way that doesn’t sound like a boring career services pamphlet.
And yeah, we’ll sneak in some talk about How to Get Hired, because ultimately, that’s the point.
Why Cover Letters Still Matter (Even if You Think They Don’t)
I know, I know. We live in a world of TikTok résumés and recruiters who sometimes don’t even glance at your stuff for more than 10 seconds. So you might be wondering: Do people even read cover letters anymore?
Here’s the thing: not everyone reads them. But the people who do? They really care. And if you’re up against someone with the same experience as you, your cover letter could be the tiebreaker.
It’s your chance to show a little personality, connect the dots between your experience and their job description, and basically make it obvious why they’d be kinda silly not to at least call you back.
Think of your resume as the “what” (what you’ve done, where you’ve been), and your cover letter as the “why” (why you care, why you’re applying, why you fit). Without the why, you’re just another list of bullet points.
The Big Question: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
Short answer? One page. Always.
Long answer? Imagine you’re texting someone you just started seeing. You wouldn’t send them a 7-paragraph novel about how your day went (I mean… unless you want them to ghost you). Same deal here.
Recruiters don’t have time to read your entire life story. Keep it tight—like 3 to 4 paragraphs, max. That’s just enough space to intro yourself, explain why you vibe with the company, highlight a couple wins, and close strong. Boom.
Essential Ingredients of a Killer Cover Letter
Alright, let’s get into the recipe. If a cover letter was a cocktail, here’s what you need in the shaker:
1. A Strong Opening (Skip the Snooze-Fest)
“Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the position of…” — stop. Delete. Please. Nobody talks like that anymore.
Instead, grab attention. Mention something specific about the company, or start with a quick line that makes the recruiter think, “Okay, this isn’t just another copy-paste letter.” Example:
“I first heard about [Company] when a friend wouldn’t shut up about how much they loved your app. After finally trying it myself, I get it—and now I’d love to be part of the team that makes it happen.”
See? That’s already way more engaging than “To whom it may concern.” (And btw, never use “to whom it may concern.” That phrase should have died in 1998.)
2. The Why You (aka Your Flex Moment)
Here’s where you slide in the receipts. Talk about your skills, your past wins, and how they connect to what the company’s looking for. But don’t just rehash your resume—tell a quick story or give an example.
Like instead of saying:
“I have strong project management skills.”
You could say:
“At my last job, I led a cross-team project that cut onboarding time by 30%. It taught me how to balance deadlines with, you know, herding cats (aka getting different departments to actually talk to each other).”
Recruiters love numbers, results, and little glimpses of how you actually work.
3. The Why Them (aka Prove You’re Not Just Shotgunning Apps)
This is where you show you actually know the company. Mention their mission, their product, or something in the news that caught your eye. It proves you care more than just “needing a paycheck.”
Think:
“What excites me most about [Company] is your focus on sustainability. I’ve been volunteering with local green initiatives for years, so the idea of working somewhere that’s serious about climate action is honestly kind of a dream.”
It’s like dating again—you wanna show you’re genuinely into them, not just anyone who’ll say yes.
4. A Strong Close (Not Awkward, Not Cringe)
End with confidence. Thank them for their time, say you’re excited to chat more, and sign off like a normal human. Avoid stuffy lines like “I await your reply at your earliest convenience.” Ew.
Try:
“Thanks so much for considering me—I’d love to chat more about how I can bring value to your team.”
Simple. Polite. Not desperate. Done.
Common Cover Letter Mistakes That Make Recruiters Cringe
Let’s talk red flags real quick, because some stuff just screams “nope.”
- Being way too generic. If your cover letter could apply to any company, it’s useless.
- Copy-pasting from ChatGPT without editing. (Yeah, I see you 👀. Make it sound like you.)
- Typos. Spellcheck is free, my friend. Use it.
- Bragging too hard. Confidence = good. Arrogance = nope.
- Making it about you only. Remember: it’s not just about what you want. It’s about what they need and how you can help.
How to Get Hired with a Cover Letter That Actually Works
So, how does this all tie back to How to Get Hired? Easy:
- Your resume gets you noticed.
- Your cover letter gets you remembered.
The people reading your stuff are trying to picture you in the role. Your letter helps them do that by adding context, personality, and a little spark that your resume alone can’t pull off.
Think of it like watching a movie trailer. Your resume is the action shots, but your cover letter is the emotional hook that makes people say, “Yep, I wanna see the whole thing.”
A Few Extra Tips (Because Why Not)
- Match the vibe. If the company is super formal, keep it professional. If it’s a startup with dog pics on their careers page, you can be a little more chill.
- Format cleanly. One-inch margins, easy-to-read font, no wild colors. Save the creativity for your portfolio.
- Use keywords. Not like spammy SEO keywords, but the actual phrases from the job description. It helps if the company uses scanning software.
- Save as PDF. Unless they specifically ask otherwise. This way, your formatting won’t explode when opened on someone else’s computer.
Cover Letters Are Annoying, But Worth It
I won’t lie—writing a cover letter can feel like doing homework for a class you didn’t even sign up for. But here’s the thing: putting in the effort can literally be the difference between landing an interview and getting ghosted.
And honestly? Once you’ve got a solid template (with your intro, skills, and closing), you can reuse it and just tweak the details for each application. Think of it like your favorite Spotify playlist—you can shuffle the songs a little, but the vibe stays the same.
Final Takeaway
At the end of the day, cover letters aren’t about being perfect. They’re about being real. Show the company who you are, why you care, and what you bring to the table. Keep it short, keep it specific, and keep it human.
So next time you’re staring at that blinking cursor, just remember: it’s not rocket science, it’s storytelling. And you’ve been telling stories your whole life—whether it’s hyping up your favorite show, explaining your situationship to friends, or convincing your roommate to finally take out the trash.
You know how to do this.
Now go write that letter, land that interview, and figure out your own version of How to Get Hired.
Rooting for you—seriously. You got this. 🚀
