How to Write a Cover Letter | Tips & Examples
A cover letter is a one-page document that complements your resume by highlighting the particular skills, qualifications, and experience that make you a perfect fit for a role.
Cover letters should always be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for and should do more than just re-list facts from your resume. In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role, share personal anecdotes, and let your personality shine.
What is a cover letter for a job?
A cover letter often serves as your first impression for a hiring manager. It is submitted at the same time as your resume and emphasizes why you are applying for the position and what benefits you would bring to the organization.
A cover letter and resume fulfill different purposes in the job application process. In a resume, you can typically only give basic outlines of your job responsibilities and accomplishments. In a cover letter, you can expand on these experiences, filling in details that show exactly how you have contributed in previous roles.
While not all positions require a cover letter, it’s typically a good idea to submit one as long as you have time to put together a thoughtful letter that is specific to the position you’re applying for.
How to write a good cover letter: A step-by-step guide
1. Pick a cover letter template
While each cover letter you write should be customized for a particular position, the basic cover letter format is standard. Starting with a template can help you write more quickly, a big advantage when you are applying to many different jobs.
Try our cover letter template, which walks you through what to include in each paragraph.
After writing several letters, you may find you have some key phrases that describe some of your skill sets or qualifications well or show off your personality/flair for a certain industry or position type. They might not come easily or quickly, but such tidbits usually come out over time and with practice.
Once you have them together, you can save them into the template to reuse when appropriate!
2. Begin with a header
Cover letters should always include your contact information so that the hiring manager can easily reach out if they like what they see.
Here’s a list of the contact details you should include:
- Your Full Name
- (Optional) Your Role or Title
- Email Address
- Phone Contact
- Location or Address
- (Optional) Website
- (Optional) Portfolio
- (Optional) LinkTree
- (Optional) LinkedIn URL
- (Optional) Other Social Media Link/Handle
It is typically not necessary to include your full street address, but many employers do appreciate seeing a city and state since they may be looking for employees in a certain region.
If you’re applying for jobs in certain industries, links to websites may be expected (e.g., an online portfolio for a graphic design job).
3. Compose a greeting
When addressing a cover letter, start with Mr./Ms./Mx./etc. Next comes their last name, followed by a colon (:) or a comma (,).
If you have to address a cover letter without a name, try to include the name of the supervising position (e.g., “Dear Marketing Manager”) or team (e.g., “Dear Sales Team”). Avoid generic salutations like “Dear Hiring Manager” (or, especially, “To Whom It May Concern“).
Dear Ms. Khan and the Growth Marketing Team:
4. Write an opening paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention right away
How you start your cover letter is very important. Your opening sentences will set the tone for the rest of your letter and determine if the hiring manager will even keep reading.
Give the reader a clear picture of what motivates you, why you’re attracted to the position, and why you’re an ideal fit. Be sure to mention the role you’re applying for (using the exact wording from the job listing).
This first paragraph is also where you should mention any contacts you may have at this company, so the reader knows that you’re in good standing with a current employee.
5. In your body paragraphs, explain why you’re qualified for the job
Your cover letter is used to clarify things on your resume, not to regurgitate it. Instead of listing responsibilities, use each paragraph (2–3 total) to talk about a particular project or problem you solved and how it would relate to the job for which you’re applying.
Give evidence of hard skills and soft skills that you’ve demonstrated in previous jobs or volunteer experiences.
Cover letters should only be about one page, so make sure you’re succinct in your storytelling.
6. Finish strong with a conclusion paragraph and a professional signature
When you end your cover letter, remind the reader that you’re excited about the position, thank them for their time and consideration, and include a call-to-action.
Use a complimentary close like “sincerely,” “thank you,” or “best regards” when signing your name at the end.
Best regards,
Marisol Gutierrez
Cover letter tips
Keep a few broad principles in mind when you’re writing your cover letter:
- Keep it short. The accepted cover letter length is one page. Sure, there are always exceptions to this, but think about how many letters the hiring manager will read for one position━lots! Take the time to hone your language and points to say more with less, since that will make you memorable. Remember, QuillBot’s Paraphraser is your secret weapon for this!
- Be the solution to their problems. Don’t focus solely on your past accomplishments. Instead, couple your qualifications with recognizing what the company needs and what their pain points are. Show them you understand their business by coming up with you-based solutions to their problems. This will make the company much more interested in bringing you to the table. Make yourself their missing ingredient; be what they need to succeed.
- Don’t be afraid to be you. Of course, a great cover letter needs to be professional━the whole point of writing one is to land a job. However, hiring managers also like being able to get a sense of who you are as a person. A funny anecdote or using a witty tone throughout your cover letter can set you apart from the competition and show yourself to be a three-dimensional person, rather than just another piece of paper with a list of qualifications. Keep it professional, but don’t forget to strike a balance with being true to your personality.
- Follow through on the follow up. Add a reminder to your calendar to send a follow-up email if you haven’t heard back after a certain period of time (this will depend on the application deadline given in the job posting).
- Polish to perfection. Read your cover letter out loud to check for flow and clarity. Perfect grammar and spelling is essential to making a good first impression, so use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to ensure you catch any mistakes.
- Double check the details. If you’re using a cover letter template, you’ll need to be careful that you’ve changed all the details for the current company you’re applying for. There’s nothing worse than sending off an application, only to realize that you left an old company’s name or position title on your cover letter to a different employer.
Cover letter examples
While the broad principles here apply for nearly every cover letter, there are also more specific tips that apply to certain industries or applicant situations. Check out these other QuillBot articles for even more cover letter tips, examples, and templates:
- Administrative assistant cover letter
- Career change cover letter
- Internship cover letter
- Engineering cover letter
- Nursing cover letter
- Teacher cover letter
Frequently asked questions about how to write a cover letter
- Do cover letters matter?
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Cover letters do matter, as long as they are highly customized and the job posting asks for one.
A cover letter is your chance to show off your personality and highlight relevant experience when applying for a job. Each cover letter should be tailored to a specific job application.
Moreover, some companies use AI to run primary screenings on candidates. Incorporating keywords from the job listing into your resume and cover letter can help you pass these.
Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to catch any spelling and grammar errors before sending. Making sure your cover letter is error-free is one way to ensure it has a positive impact.
- Do I need a cover letter for an internship?
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You usually do need a cover letter for an internship, especially when your resume doesn’t have a detailed work history section, and you need to elaborate on how your skills and education have prepared you to do the internship well.
Another reason why a cover letter is necessary for an internship is because you need to explain why the company appeals to you and what you hope to learn from the experience.
When you write a cover letter for an internship, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you avoid errors and make a great impression.
- How do I sign off a cover letter?
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Sign off a cover letter with a complimentary close (e.g., “Regards” or “Sincerely yours”) on a line after your conclusion. Place a comma after the complimentary close. On the next line, type your full name.
You can also add one blank space between “Sincerely” and your name when you end a cover letter.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker for your cover letter or resume? It will automatically find and fix mistakes so that you can make the best possible impression.
- How do you start a cover letter greeting?
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Start a cover letter greeting with a formal or semi-formal salutation. “Dear” is a good option for starting a cover letter.
To address your cover letter to a specific person, use the person’s full name (e.g., “Dear Diane Smith,”). Avoid gendered titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.”
To address a cover letter without a name, direct it to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear People Team,”), or to a generic position (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Regardless of who you’re sending your letter to, make sure it’s error-free by using QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- How do you use AI to write a cover letter?
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A cover letter is a highly customized document, and AI may not understand your experience and the role you’re applying for well enough to write a good one.
However, AI can help you write your cover letter in other ways, like:
- Help find company contact info so you address your cover letter to the right person
- Assist you in refining your writing to be as succinct as possible
- Proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes
- Compare your letter’s text to the keywords in the job listing
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker is an example of an AI that can help you proofread your cover letter.
