How Do I Write a Cover Letter?

Most cover letters are bad. They restate the resume, open with "I am writing to express my interest," and close with nothing memorable. Hiring managers skim them or skip them entirely.

But a good cover letter does something a resume cannot: it tells a story. It connects who you are to what the company needs, in your own voice. That is worth doing well.

Do You Even Need One?

Sometimes no. If the application does not ask for one, you can usually skip it. If the posting says "optional," treat it as optional — a weak cover letter is worse than none at all.

Write one when:

• The posting specifically asks for it
• You are making a career change and need to explain the pivot
• You have a connection to the company or role that is not obvious from your resume
• The role is competitive and you want every edge

Skip it when:

• The application has no place to upload one
• You are applying through a quick-apply system that does not support attachments
• You have nothing specific to say beyond what is already on your resume

The Structure That Works

A cover letter is three to four paragraphs. It should fit on one page with generous margins. No one wants to read a full page of dense text from a stranger.

Opening: Why This Role

Skip the generic opener. Instead, lead with something specific about the role or company that caught your attention — and connect it to your experience.

Weak: "I am writing to apply for the Marketing Manager position at Acme Corp."

Strong: "Acme's rebrand last quarter was the sharpest repositioning I have seen in B2B SaaS this year. I have spent the last four years doing exactly that kind of work at two mid-stage startups, and I would like to do it at your scale."

The difference: the strong version shows you have done your homework and immediately establishes relevance.

Middle: Why You

This is where you make your case. Pick one or two accomplishments that are directly relevant to the role and expand on them with context your resume cannot provide.

Do not summarize your entire work history. The resume does that. Instead, go deeper on the things that matter most for this specific job. Explain the situation, what you did, and what happened — in two to three sentences, not a full STAR response.

If you are changing careers, this is where you draw the connection between what you have done and what the role requires. Be explicit about the transferable skills.

Closing: The Ask

End with a clear, confident close. Restate your interest, mention that your resume is attached, and say you would welcome a conversation. Do not grovel or oversell.

Weak: "I believe I would be a great fit and hope you will consider my application."

Strong: "I would welcome the chance to talk about how I could contribute to your growth team. My resume has the details — I am happy to dig into any of them."

What to Avoid

• Do not restate your resume. The cover letter is a companion, not a summary.
• Do not use filler phrases. "I am a highly motivated self-starter with a passion for excellence" says nothing. Cut it.
• Do not write more than one page. If you cannot make your case in four paragraphs, you are not being selective enough about what to include.
• Do not use a template without rewriting it. Hiring managers can spot a form letter instantly.
• Do not apologize for what you lack. "Although I don't have experience in X" draws attention to a gap. Focus on what you bring instead.

One Letter Per Application

This is the part people skip, and it is the part that matters most. A cover letter that could be sent to any company is a cover letter that says nothing.

Mention the company by name. Reference the specific role. Connect your experience to their needs. If you cannot do that, you either need to research the company more or reconsider whether the role is a good fit.