Cover Letters

Cover letter

Recruiters are struggling with an overwhelming number of applications. In many cases, their answer is to rely MORE on cover letters than ever before.

Another important audience for your cover letter? Hiring managers who may be deciding among several well-qualified candidates. 

It can be time-consuming, and is often worth the effort, but not always. Read on for how to decide when to write one and what to include. 

 

Include a Cover Letter When...

  • It's requested/required.
  • It's a local, in-person job (not remote).
  • It’s a specialized job where there are likely to be fewer applicants.
  • The company is a small or medium-sized firm, a government entity, or a nonprofit.
  • You need to convey information that's not in your resume (e.g., why you are relocating).
  • You want to elaborate on the impact of the projects or initiatives.
  • You want to address the requirements you don’t meet.
  • You want to elaborate on personal qualities or soft skills.
  • Writing skills are essential to the job.

That's most of the time, so understanding how to write an effective cover letter is essential. 


 

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What to Include

  • Your contact information (copy/paste from your resume).
  • Today's date (if editing an older cover letter don't forget to change this!)
  • Company name
  • Job Title and Req# if it's in the job posting (very helpful for the hiring team)
  • "Dear Hiring Team:" or "Dear Nike Recruiting Team:"
    • Don't waste precious time finding the hiring manager's name, but if you have it, use it.
  • Short (1-2 sentence) opening paragraph showing motivation and fit:
    • "I'm excited to apply for your Logistics Manager role and contribute to the innovations [company] is famous for."
  • Body copy with optional bold text/bullet points to briefly add additional information that's NOT a rehash of your resume.
    • Mirror the company's brand/culture here: professional for a law firm, more edgy for a marketing agency. 

  • A closing expressing your strong interest in how excited you are to have the opportunity to discuss your qualification (a Call to Action). 

     

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What Not to Include

  • AI-generated text without significant re-writes.
  • A fancy template: use the same format as your resume.
  • Anything generic that anyone could have written.
  • Lots of jargon or buzzwords: be human.
  • Typos or poor grammar: use Grammarly, LanguageTool extension, or a friend to proofread.
  • The wrong company name: it's happened more than you think.
  • The wrong salutation. Jo Smith could be any gender; address as "Dear Jo Smith:"

  • More than one page. 

     

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Tools and Resources to Help