A cover letter isn't a summary of your resume in paragraph form — hiring managers already have your resume. Its job is to connect the dots: to show why you specifically want this role at this company, and why you're the person to do it, in a way a bullet list can't.
This guide covers how to write a cover letter that adds something, is quick to read, and makes the case a resume alone can't.
What you need
- ✓The job description and something about the company.
- ✓Your resume and one or two achievements to highlight.
- ✓The hiring manager's name if you can find it.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open with a specific, genuine hook
Skip 'I am writing to apply for…'. Open with why this role or company genuinely interests you, or a relevant achievement. A specific, sincere first line earns the next paragraph; a generic one gets skimmed past.
- 2
Show why you're a fit (with evidence)
Pick the two or three requirements that matter most and prove you meet them with concrete examples and results, not adjectives. 'I led X, which achieved Y' beats 'I am a hardworking team player'.
- 3
Show why this company
Demonstrate you've done a little homework — reference something specific about the company, its product or its mission, and why it appeals to you. This is what separates a tailored letter from a mass-mailed one.
- 4
Keep it short and focused
Aim for three or four short paragraphs on a single page. Hiring managers skim, so a tight letter that makes its point beats a long one that buries it. Cut anything that just repeats the resume.
- 5
Close with a clear, confident ending
Briefly restate your enthusiasm and invite the next step ('I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I can help with…'). Thank them, sign off professionally, and make sure your contact details are easy to find.
- 6
Proofread and tailor every time
Address it to a named person where possible, match the company's name and role exactly, and proofread twice. A cover letter with the wrong company name or a typo undoes all the effort instantly.
Examples
- Weak open: 'I am writing to apply for the marketing role.' Strong open: 'When your team grew organic traffic 3x last year, it was the kind of work I want to be part of — and the kind I did at…'.
- Backing a claim with evidence: 'I cut support response time 40% by rebuilding the help centre' instead of 'I'm a great problem-solver'.
Tips
- →Complement the resume, don't repeat it — add the 'why', not a rerun of the 'what'.
- →Open with something specific and genuine, never a template line.
- →Prove fit with results and examples, not adjectives.
- →Keep it to one page, three or four tight paragraphs.
- →Address a named person and triple-check the company name.
Common mistakes
- Repeating the resume. Add context and motivation the resume can't show, not a summary of it.
- Generic, templated openings. Start with a specific, sincere reason you want this role or company.
- Claims without evidence. Back every strength with a concrete example and result.
- Wrong company name or typos. Tailor and proofread each letter; errors here read as careless.
Conclusion
A cover letter earns its place by adding what a resume can't: a specific reason you want this role, evidence you can do it, and genuine interest in this company — kept to one tight page and tailored every time. Open with a real hook, prove your claims, and close with confidence.