- Key Takeaways
- The Resume Was the Easy Part
- No Getting Around It
- What is a
Cover Letter ? - So, How Long Should a
Cover Letter Be? - Dear "Generic Thing Here"
- Don’t Talk Like a Robot Butler
- Formatting Your
Cover Letter - What Should Be Included
- Honestly is the Best Policy
- Don’t Make Them Guess
- Double, Triple, Quadruple Check
- Sexy Kitty 4 You
- First Impressions Matter
- Next Steps
- Final Words
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Last Updated on April 16, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Tailor Every
Cover Letter : Customize your message for eachjob application to reflect the specific company, role, andhiring manager’s expectations. - Keep It Concise: Aim for 250–400 words with short, impactful paragraphs highlighting your value without repeating
your resume . - Use a Professional Tone: Write clearly and respectfully without sounding robotic or overly formal—avoid clichés and buzzwords.
- Focus on Formatting: Use a clean block layout with consistent spacing and basic fonts to ensure readability across all devices.
- Proofread Thoroughly: Spelling, grammar, and formatting errors can eliminate you from consideration—review everything carefully before submitting.
While most job seekers understand the basics of writing a good resume, cover letters often feel more mysterious. A cover letter may seem like a formality, but it carries as much weight as your resume in today’s competitive job market. A compelling cover letter can help you get your foot in the door and stand out from the crowd.
But what makes a great cover letter? How long should it be? Who should it be addressed to? These are common questions job seekers face. Looking at sample printable templates can inspire, but understanding what employers expect is key.
Having an impressive resume is no longer enough. Hiring managers typically spend just 7 seconds reviewing a job application. That means your cover letter needs to be precise, personalized, and persuasive—every sentence should serve a purpose and drive interest in your candidacy.
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The Resume Was the Easy Part
Writing an effective cover letter is often more challenging than compiling a strong resume. While your resume typically remains consistent across applications, a cover letter must be customized for every job you pursue. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach if you want to stand out.
Many job seekers make the mistake of devoting all their energy to crafting the “perfect resume,” only to treat the cover letter as an afterthought. It ends up being a generic message that adds no value, like, “Here is my job application.” That kind of letter does nothing to build interest or differentiate you from the competition.
The reality is that recruiters expect cover letters to show effort, relevance, and personality. If you don’t tailor your letter to the specific job and company, you’re wasting a prime opportunity to make a memorable impression.
No Getting Around It
There’s no way around it—a strong cover letter is essential in today’s job market. It’s often your best chance to catch the attention of a recruiter, headhunter, or hiring manager before they even glance at
Think of your cover letter as your first impression. It’s your opportunity to introduce yourself, highlight your qualifications, and explain why you’re an excellent fit for the role—all in a concise, well-formatted message. If written well, it sets the stage for the
Ultimately, your goal is to make a compelling case for yourself, without repeating everything already listed on
See how your resume stacks up! Our resume review will include three sections: (a) strengths of your resume, (b) areas to improve, and (c) the results of an ATS scan.
What is a Cover Letter ?
A cover letter is a brief, personalized introduction accompanying your
However, a cover letter isn’t a summary of your resume. It must stand on its own and communicate value beyond the bullet points. The best letters strike a balance: they’re persuasive but professional, specific but concise. How long should it be? What tone should you use? Should it match the style of the company? This guide is here to answer these kinds of questions—so you’re never left guessing.
So, How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
A cover letter should be long enough to make an impact, but short enough to keep the reader’s attention. According to most recruiters, brevity is critical. 70% of hiring managers say the shorter the better. Depending on formatting and spacing, a strong range is between 250 and 400 words, or roughly half a page to one full page.
Rather than obsessing over word count, focus on clarity and value. Every paragraph should serve a purpose—introducing yourself, explaining your fit for the role, and encouraging further contact. Avoid long blocks of text. Keep paragraphs to three or four sentences max and leave white space between them for better readability.
Too often, job seekers put 99% of their effort into their resume and just 1% into the cover letter. That’s a missed opportunity. Your letter should demonstrate attention to detail and genuine interest, because a generic, one-size-fits-all approach won’t get noticed.
Dear “Generic Thing Here”
A generic greeting like “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” is one of the fastest ways to lose a recruiter’s attention. It signals that you didn’t take the time to research who will be reading your cover letter, and that lack of effort reflects poorly on your candidacy.
It’s worth the extra effort to find the hiring manager’s or department lead’s name. Check the company’s website, look up the job poster on LinkedIn, or even call the company and ask. Personalizing your salutation with a real name—like “Dear Ms. Johnson” or “Dear
Customizing your cover letter to reflect the company’s culture and specific job posting demonstrates that you’re not just blasting the same letter to dozens of employers. A targeted, well-researched letter is far more likely to stand out in a competitive job market.
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Don’t Talk Like a Robot Butler
Your cover letter should strike a tone that’s professional yet conversational. It’s not a casual text message, but it shouldn’t sound like it was written in the 1800s. Avoid overly formal language like “I most earnestly desire to secure a position at your esteemed establishment.” It comes off as insincere—and frankly, robotic.
Equally important is steering clear of cliché phrases that recruiters have seen hundreds of times. Buzzwords like “team player,” “outside-the-box thinker,” and “detail-oriented” are so overused they’ve lost their meaning. Instead, focus on concrete examples that demonstrate your
Your goal is to sound like a human being who is genuinely excited about the opportunity, not someone copying lines from a corporate playbook. Originality, clarity, and authenticity will always beat generic filler language.
Formatting Your Cover Letter
Treat your cover letter like a professional document—it’s the first thing the hiring manager will see, and it needs to make a strong impression. Use a standard block format with left-aligned text, consistent spacing, and simple fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid flashy fonts or unnecessary styling that can distract from your message.
Keep your letter to one page. It should include a brief introduction, a section explaining your qualifications and fit, and a closing encouraging follow-up. Every part should serve a purpose. Tell the employer who you are, why you’re interested in the role, and why they should review your resume.
If you’re unsure where to start, check out examples of modern cover letters to see formatting best practices in action. Above all, keep it simple, clean, and focused on the job you’re applying for.
When it comes to finding a job, your cover letter can be just as important as your resume. It’s your chance to showcase your personality, highlight your skills and accomplishments, and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
What Should Be Included
A great cover letter includes several essential components that highlight your fit for the role. Think of it as a persuasive mini-pitch that connects your background to the company’s needs. Each part should be tailored to the job you’re applying for and demonstrate why you’re the right candidate.
- Introduction: Start with a strong opening that explains why you’re applying and grabs the reader’s attention.
- Fit: Show why you’re an excellent match for the role by aligning your experience with the job requirements and company culture.
- Skills and Experience: Share your most relevant accomplishments using specific examples or metrics to demonstrate your value.
- Closing: End on a confident note by thanking the reader and expressing interest in the next steps of the
hiring process.
Read the company’s website and recent press releases to identify keywords and language you can mirror in your letter. That level of personalization can go a long way. Be as specific as possible—quantify your achievements where you can. For example: “Increased client retention by 25% in under 12 months through targeted onboarding improvements.”
Your cover letter should be concise yet persuasive. Use it to explain why the employer should read your resume and consider you for an interview.
Honestly is the Best Policy
It may be tempting to exaggerate your experience or qualifications to sound more impressive, but honesty is essential in your cover letter.
Don’t include anything you can’t back up in your letter in an interview or verify through references. If you’re caught stretching the truth, it could not only cost you the job offer but also hurt your reputation with recruiters and employers in the future. In some cases, if discovered later, it could even result in termination from a role you’ve already secured.
Keep your message truthful and focused on your real strengths. It’s better to highlight what you’ve accomplished and show a willingness to learn than to overpromise and fall short later.
This book provides tips on how to stretch the truth on your resume without getting caught.
Don’t Make Them Guess
Hiring managers don’t have time to play detective. If your cover letter doesn’t clearly state which job you’re applying for, your application could be overlooked or misfiled. Always mention the job title listed in the posting to avoid confusion about your intent.
Some companies use automated systems to filter applications, so including the correct job title and relevant keywords can help ensure your materials are seen by the right people. This small detail can make a big difference in the next round.
Also, summarize your qualifications clearly, but don’t rewrite
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Double, Triple, Quadruple Check
Submitting a cover letter with spelling or grammar errors is one of the quickest ways to disqualify yourself from consideration. These mistakes can signal carelessness, even if the rest of your application is strong. Always proofread your letter thoroughly—and then proofread it again. Tools like Grammarly can help, but having a friend or colleague review it with fresh eyes is also smart.
It’s easy to overlook minor errors when staring at the same document for hours. However,
Another commonly missed detail: forgetting your contact information. Whether you’re applying online or by
Work with an AI writing partner that helps you find the words you need—to write that tricky email, to get your point across, to keep your work moving.
Sexy Kitty 4 You
Your email address says more about you than you think. Using an unprofessional address—like “sexykitty4you”—can instantly damage your credibility with a
Stick to a professional
Before submitting your application,
First Impressions Matter
Your cover letter is often your only chance to make a personal connection before an interview is even offered. No matter how impressive your education or work history, a generic or poorly written letter can keep you from moving forward. A strong, tailored message tells the hiring manager you’re serious, thoughtful, and genuinely interested in the role.
Focus on quality over length. Avoid fancy fonts or excessive formatting, and keep your letter specific, honest, and professionally styled. Double-check for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure your tone reflects confidence and humility. The goal isn’t to restate your resume, but to build interest and show why you’re an excellent fit for the company culture and job requirements.
Your cover letter becomes a strategic advantage, not just an add-on, when done right. Keep it clean, compelling, and customized; you’ll give yourself the best chance of landing that all-important interview.
Next Steps
- Review and Revise Your Existing
Cover Letter : Review your latest draft and check for length, tone, formatting, and customization opportunities. - Research the
Hiring Manager: Use LinkedIn or the company’s website to find a name to personalize your greeting and improve your first impression. - Create a Reusable Template: Build a flexible draft with placeholders for company name, role, and highlights to speed up customization.
- Practice Your Follow-Up Strategy: Send a short, professional
email a few days after applying to reinforce interest and initiative. - Test Your Submission Formatting:
Email your application to yourself or a friend to confirm the layout looks clean across devices and platforms.
Final Words
A well-crafted
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Mark Fiebert is a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
