Cover Letter Writing
Cover Letter Writing
Overview
The cover letter is a narrative artifact — a focused, one-page argument for why this human should be in this role at this company. Customization per application is non-negotiable.
Core Concepts
1. The three-part skeleton
- Why this company. Show evidence you’ve done your homework: a product they shipped, a value they’ve published.
- Why this role. Connect the specific responsibilities to specific skills or experiences you have. Reuse 2-3 keywords from the JD.
- Why me. Demonstrate through evidence and stories. Don’t list skills; show outcomes.
2. Opener discipline
Weak openers:
- “I am writing to apply for the X position at Y.”
- “My name is X and I am a [degree/title].”
Stronger openers:
- “I noticed your team published the design for the X system last month — the tradeoffs you made on Y are the same ones I worked through at Z.”
3. Show evidence, don’t list skills
Weak: “I have strong project management skills and am highly organized.”
Stronger: “Last year I shipped the X migration on a six-engineer team. The original estimate was four months; we delivered in five because I caught a dependency that wasn’t in the original scope.”
4. Length conventions
- One page maximum, no exceptions.
- 250-350 words is the standard target.
- 3-4 short paragraphs, block-formatted.
5. Customization per application
At a minimum, customize:
- Company name and the “why this company” paragraph
- 2-3 keywords from the JD
- The job title in the opener
6. Signature and sign-off
- Salutation: “Dear [Name],” when you know the hiring manager’s name.
- Sign-off: “Sincerely,” is the universal safe choice.
- Capitalization: Only the first word of the closing phrase is capitalized.
7. The “I” parade
Count how many sentences open with “I.” If more than half do, the letter reads self-absorbed. Vary openings: lead with the company, the role, the project, the result.
Template: three-paragraph cover letter
Dear [Name],
[Opener — specific reference to the company or role. End with a one-line
thesis: who you are, the role you're applying for, and why you fit.]
[Body paragraph 1 — The strongest evidence story: a specific project,
the role you played, the measurable outcome.]
[Body paragraph 2 — Why this company specifically.]
[Closing — restate the fit. Invite a conversation.]
Sincerely,
[Your name]Anti-Patterns
- The cliché opener. “I am writing to apply…”
- The reused letter. Generic flattery, no company name in the first paragraph.
- The skill list. “Strong communicator, fast learner, team player.”
- The resume rehash. Repeating the resume’s bullets in paragraph form.
- The two-page letter. Always cut to one page.
- The typo in the company name. Auto-disqualifying.