How to write a cover letter
A cover letter answers one question for a busy reader: why should I interview this person for this job? Here is how each part does its share, what to write and what to cut.
The six parts of a cover letter
Step through the parts, or tap a block on the page, to see what each one is for.
Opening · 40–60 words
Its job: Earns the next paragraph. Most skimmers decide here.
Do: Name the role and company and give a specific hook: a result, a connection or why this company.
Avoid: "I am writing to apply for…" wastes the most valuable line you have.
Step 1: Read the job ad like a checklist
Before writing a word, underline the three to five requirements the posting repeats or lists first. Those are what the hiring manager will look for, and often what the applicant tracking system is set to search for. Your letter should answer each one you genuinely meet, in the ad's own words. (The generator pulls these terms out for you.)
Step 2: Choose your best proof
Pick one or two results that match those requirements. A good result has a number: how many, how much, how fast. "Cut average support response time from nine hours to two" does more work than a paragraph of adjectives. If you are early in your career, projects, coursework and volunteering count.
Step 3: Write the opening last
Once you know your proof, the opening is easy: name the role and company, then lead with the strongest thing you have: the result, a referral, or a real reason you want to work there. See opening lines that work.
Step 4: Add "why them"
One or two sentences about this employer specifically. Their product, their customers, a recent launch, a conversation you had. This is the part no template or AI can write for you, and the part that makes the letter feel written for them.
Step 5: Close with a next step
Thank them and say you would welcome a conversation. Then a standard sign-off. See how to end a cover letter.
Step 6: Cut, then check
Most first drafts are a third too long. Aim for 250–400 words (why). Remove clichés and filler, read it aloud, and check the company name is spelled right. Then run it through the cover letter checker.
A full example
Dear Ms. Patel,
Your Customer Support Lead opening caught my eye because Northwind's support team is the reason I became a customer two years ago. I have spent four years in support for subscription software, and I would love to help your team keep that standard as you grow.
As senior agent at Brightline, I rebuilt our help-centre articles around the ten most common tickets. Repeat contacts fell by 25% and average first response time dropped from nine hours to two. I also trained six new agents and wrote the macros our team still uses.
Your posting asks for someone who can coach agents and improve processes with data. That is the work I enjoy most, and I would bring the same approach to your team from the first week.
Thank you for your time. I would welcome the chance to talk about what you have planned for the support team.
Sincerely,
Alex Morgan
About 180 words in the body. Short, specific, and every paragraph earns its place.
Mistakes that get cover letters skipped
- The wrong company name left over from the last application.
- Starting with "I am writing to…" or "My name is…".
- Adjectives instead of evidence: "hard-working, passionate team player".
- Retelling the whole résumé instead of choosing the best two points.
- Making it about what you want ("this role would help me grow") more than what you offer.
- Over one page. Nobody reads page two.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5 parts of a cover letter?
Header with contact details, greeting, opening paragraph, one or two body paragraphs of proof, and a closing paragraph with sign-off. Many writers add a short "why this company" paragraph before the close.
What should the first sentence of a cover letter be?
Something only you could write for this job: a relevant result, a referral, or a specific reason you want this role at this company. Avoid "I am writing to apply for…"; the reader already knows.
Should a cover letter repeat my résumé?
No. The résumé lists what you did; the letter picks the one or two things most relevant to this job and explains them with context and results. Think of it as the highlights reel with a narrator.
Is it OK to use AI to write a cover letter?
Yes, as a first draft. Give it your real facts and the job ad, then edit: add one detail only you know, check every claim and make sure it sounds like you. Employers care whether the letter is accurate and specific, not which tool you typed it in.