Cover Letter Writing Guide

A cover letter should connect your strongest evidence to the employer’s needs. It is not a longer resume and should not repeat every role or skill. Follow the application instructions if a letter is optional or not requested.

Open with the role and a specific reason for applying. Use one or two short paragraphs to connect relevant experience to the job requirements. Close by expressing interest in discussing the fit and include a professional sign-off.

Name the position and briefly identify the most relevant qualification, achievement or motivation. Avoid generic openings that could be sent unchanged to any employer.

Choose one or two examples that show how you solved a problem, supported a customer, improved a process or delivered relevant work. Explain why that example matters for this vacancy.

Refer to the organization’s product, service, audience or stated priorities only when you have verified the information. Avoid empty praise or claims about company culture that are not supported.

Use concise sentences, active voice and a respectful tone. Do not apologize for applying, overstate enthusiasm or repeat your resume line by line.

Templates are useful for structure, but replace placeholders and remove generic phrases. The final letter should sound like a real candidate explaining a real fit.

Focus on transferable skills, relevant projects, coursework or customer-facing work. Be transparent about your experience level and show how you have prepared for the role.

Check names, spelling, job title, links and formatting. Save the letter in the requested format and ensure it complements rather than duplicates the resume.