How to Write a Standout Cover Letter 2025

98% of the time, a cover letter should be included with your job application. Although they might not always read it, recruiters anticipate that applicants will submit one. Your chances will improve greatly, and you will stand out from other applicants with comparable qualifications and resumes if you include a cover letter.

• Start by conducting research. Learn more about the business and the position you want before you begin to write. 
• Concentrate on the future. According to Glickman, your cover letter should be more future-oriented than your resume, which should reflect your experience and wherever you’ve been. 
• Make a strong opening. “People frequently include a statement like, “I’m applying for X job that I saw in Y place. ” in their cover letters. Lees argues that it is a waste. Instead, start with a powerful sentence. Glickman advises, “Start with the punch line — why and how this job excites you and what you bring to the table.” 
• Emphasize your value. Managers who are hiring are seeking candidates with problem-solving skills. Show that you are knowledgeable about the business’s operations and some of its difficulties by drawing on your earlier research. 
• Exhibit enthusiasm. Glickman states, “When you don’t get hired, it’s usually not for lack of skills.” It’s because people didn’t believe your account, that you desired the position, or that you were aware of what you were entering. The applicant who has presented themselves as having this position as their dream job will be chosen by hiring managers. 
• Pay attention to the tone. However, be careful not to overdo the flattery or say anything unintentionally. Genuineness is essential. Even if you’ve been jobless for months and would accept any position, Lees advises against coming across as desperate. Be mature and professional to avoid having your tone detract from your message. 
• Make it brief. Much of the advice out there advises keeping it to one page or less. But Glickman and Lees concur that even shorter is preferable. According to Lees, “Most cover letters I see are too long.” “It should be concise enough for someone to read it quickly.
• Get opinions. In fact, according to Lees, it’s a great idea to give a few people a copy of your cover letter. Be specific about the feedback you want rather than sending it out and asking, “What do you think?”

Ideally, your cover letter should be between 250 and 400 words long, or three to six paragraphs.

A cover letter is crucial because 26% of recruiters read them and regard them as essential when hiring.

A letter of introduction attached to or included with another document, such as a resume or curriculum vitae, is known as a cover letter, cover letter, motivational letter, or letter of motivation.

Although they are listed as optional on the application form, 77% of hiring managers still prefer applicants who submit a cover letter because they believe it is important to their hiring decisions.

Use “Dear Mr./Miss Last Name” if you know the hiring manager’s name; otherwise, use their full name if you don’t know their gender, marital status, or preferred pronoun. It is more polite to address the recruiter by their title if they hold a professional or academic one.

You shouldn’t double-space cover letters. In your cover letter, add a blank line between each section.

Half-page to one full page is the recommended length for cover letters. A page is a maximum length for your cover letter.

Use common cover letter fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica, and set the font size to 11–12 points to format a cover letter correctly. The margins should be one inch wide on all sides. The cover letter’s line and paragraph spacing should be 1.15-1.15 inches apart.

Some hiring managers and recruiters will read your cover letter before moving on to your resume. You probably don’t know the strategy that hiring individuals for the position you want will use. As a result, spend some time writing a cover letter whenever you can.

Capitalize proper nouns at all times. A proper noun in a job title should always be capitalized. If a job title is used to describe a job, it should not be capitalized.

A cover letter cannot be longer than two pages. A cover letter over two pages will likely lose the hiring manager’s interest. If your cover letter exceeds one page, it indicates that it is not narrowly focused and that you are beginning to ramble.

Your cover letter should serve as a persuasive essay that explains to the employer why you are a strong candidate for the position.

• Information about you. 
• Date. 
• Contact Person’s Name, Title, Employer, and Address. 
• Salutation. 
• Opening Paragraph.
• Middle Paragraph. 
• Second Middle Paragraph. 
• Contact Information and Closing.

A professional closing salutation, such as “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or “Thank you for your consideration,” should be used after expressing gratitude for their time and consideration. Stay away from overused words and phrases like “Yours,” “Cheers,” and “Take care.”

Instead of just restating what is on a resume, cover letters should elaborate.

They are almost always, yes. Although it’s not strictly required, according to 83% of recruiters, a well-written cover letter gives you a chance to demonstrate why you’d be a great fit for the position you’re applying for.

An address is not required for cover letters. Cover letters used to include both the applicant’s and the recipient’s addresses because they were typically mailed or delivered in person. Physical addresses are no longer required because cover letters are now primarily submitted electronically.

Yes, most of the time. Because a cover letter demonstrates two crucial factors, including that the applicant has gone above and beyond, many employers prefer to see one.

Always use proper titles and left-justified spacing in your cover letter.

You don’t have to disclose any irrelevant details, private information, or anything else that doesn’t relate to the position you’re applying for.

The application cover letter, the prospecting cover letter, and the networking cover letter are the three main varieties of cover letters.

Despite the aforementioned, you should only send a cover letter if you have pertinent information to share your resume doesn’t cover that.

In addition to making the first impression on a potential employer, your resume provides that.

Your cover letter should be customized for each position and business, just like your resume.

Therefore, a cover letter for an internship is crucial and an important component of your application materials.

Yes, a cover letter should be included with your resume.

Recruiters might be more likely to read cover letters for a more important position, but most respondents believe they are no longer necessary.

Keep your cover letter in one space. In the heading, a space should be left between addresses and dates.

Parts of your cover letter can be reused when applying for similar positions at different companies. The company information should be updated for each letter, but failing to do so is a serious offense.

It’s likely that only the human resources staff at the company where you’re looking for work will read your cover letter. If you have previously submitted a cover letter to the business, it is almost certain that you have plagiarized one of their previous submissions.

Applicant tracking systems will scan your submitted resume and cover letter to look for keywords that match the job posting.

Yes, a header is necessary for a cover letter. Your name, email address, and phone number should be listed in the cover letter header.

No, your cover letter does not need to include a date.

No, a cover letter does not require your signature. However, adding a signature to your cover letter demonstrates a higher level of professionalism and attention to detail, which can help you make a good impression on potential employers.

• Research the company and job. 
• Use the hiring manager’s name. 
• Connect your values to the company.
• Share your professional goals.

Notably, sending your cover letter as a PDF has several generally acknowledged benefits over doing so as a Word document: People believe PDFs appear more professional. There won’t be any font or formatting issues with PDFs. Almost any operating system can use PDFs (unlike Word documents)

A cover letter, also called an application letter, is a three- to four-paragraph memo to employers outlining your interest in the position, the company, and your suitability for the position.

• Explain how your accomplishments relate to the position. 
• Emphasize how the employer needs your skills and work experience. 
• Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and delight for the position. 
• List your career’s most noteworthy accomplishments. 
• Describe your qualifications for the position to the recruiter or employer.

Verdana, Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are the most widely used options. It’s preferable to stick with a single typeface and set the font size to 12 pt.

• Beginning with a standard greeting.
• Excessive friendliness.
• Only considering what the business can provide for you. 
• Selling yourself short. 
• Using a template after copying it.

If the job offer specifies that a cover letter is included, if the company, hiring manager, or recruiter wants one, if you are applying directly to a specific individual and are aware of their name, or if you have been recommended for the position, a cover letter is crucial and necessary.

The hiring manager for the position you’re looking for should always be the recipient of a cover letter. Use the recruiting manager’s first and last name unless you are certain the organization has a more relaxed attitude.

Some hiring managers and recruiters will read your cover letter before moving on to your CV. You probably don’t know the strategy that hiring individuals for the position you want will use. As a result, spend some time writing a cover letter whenever you can.

Writing the cover letter normally takes the most time because it’s viewed as the hardest piece of the job application to prepare.

Hiring managers will only view your resume for the first 40 seconds and typically read your cover letter for only the first 30 seconds. Therefore, you must make it simple for the eye to locate the important information.

To present oneself to potential employers and entice them to study your resume is the primary function of a cover letter. It also seeks to peersuade them that you are the best candidate for the job.

Additionally, given workers’ current power in the labor market, cover letters might soon become obsolete. Over 13,000 professionals were polled in a recent Fishbowl by Glassdoor study, and 58% of respondents thought cover letters were unnecessary. Only 10% of professionals believe they are essential when looking for work.

No, according to some recruiters. In the end, your cover letter is “your one opportunity” to stand out and highlight the unique qualities you bring to the job that you can’t adequately express in your resume or online profile. Interestingly enough, cover letters might now be more crucial than ever.

Include a cover letter with your CV since most job postings require one.

You have a bigger chance of being called for an interview with a well-written technical cover letter. You can position yourself as the ideal candidate with the IT abilities and technical knowledge that the tech company is looking for.

Unless they contain proper nouns, all majors should be written in lowercase.

The cover letter should be in a conventional business format and no longer than one page. This means that you are free to indent your paragraphs or not, but leaving them out creates a little extra space.

Compared to a cover letter sent on paper, one sent in the email body is shorter. A mailing address, date, or signature are not required.

If the addressee is truly anonymous, use the form of “Dear Hiring Manager” when addressing a cover letter. Remember that the traditional cover letter salutation is “To Whom It May Concern.”

Choosing the appropriate tone for a cover letter is one of the hardest obstacles. You want to project a professional yet positive attitude. While showcasing your outstanding abilities and accomplishments, you don’t want to come across as arrogant.