How to Write a Cover Letter in 2023

Before You Write a Cover Letter

Before writing your cover letter, do some preparation first. Follow these steps to make the cover letter writing process faster and easier.

• Have your resume on hand.
  A cover letter should complement, not repeat your resume. Keep your resume nearby to ensure that you are not repeating its information in your letter. Use your cover letter to expand skills on your resume, especially those that could use narrative, like how you achieved record-breaking sales.
• Research the company.
  Whether you’ve been interested for a while or just learned about the company through a job posting, always research the company before writing your cover letter. Visit their website, search for any news, and ask around. Beyond what they do, get an idea of their work culture and use that to set the tone of your letter.
• Keep the job posting accessible.
  Don’t close that job ad tab yet. In it, you’ll find keywords of what the company is looking for in a candidate. Enthusiastic, teamwork, communication and data-driven are examples of keywords in a job ad that you could include in your cover letter.
• Compile a list of skills that go hand in hand with the job description.
  Now that you have your resume and the job post, make a list of skills you could bring to this position, whether soft skills, like communication or teamwork, or hard skills, like marketing, writing and sales. If you need ideas on what skills you could add, look at our resume skills guide.
• Get inspired with cover letter examples.
  Check out our cover letter examples to get a better idea of how a cover letter should look and what it should include.

1. How to write a cover letter heading

The heading contains your name, contact information, professional social media presence — LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter — and online portfolio, if applicable. Including your address and current job title is optional.

It follows this format:

Once done with the heading, hit enter twice and add the date. Hit enter once again and add the company’s contact person, their title and company address.

It should follow this format:

In the end, your heading should look like this:

If that takes too much space for your liking, you could also add the heading to the top of the page, similar to some resume templates, like so:

2. How to write a cover letter greeting

Be specific and personal. Search for the person in charge of hiring for the position, often included in the job advertisement. If it is there, you’re in luck. Just confirm their name and job title through the company website.

Remember to check out the company’s bios, or professional social media profiles, for preferred pronouns. When referring to the recipient, always use “Mr.”, “Ms.”, “Mx.” or “Dr.” Never use “Mrs.” or any other title, as it would seem you’re assuming the person’s marital status, which doesn’t come into play in a business letter.

If the job ad does not include a contact, search the company’s website to see if you can find who is in charge of the department and address the letter to that person.

3. How to write cover letter opening paragraph

Have you ever heard of an elevator pitch? It’s where you have to convince someone to buy a product in the time spent on the elevator, meaning not long. The opening paragraph of your cover letter works the same. You have just a few seconds of undivided attention to state your case and keep them reading.

Be direct, confident and concise. In writing a cover letter, make an immediate connection by stating why you want to join the company and why you’re a candidate to consider.

Don’t waste valuable space saying your name or that you’re writing to express interest in a job. Your name is already on the heading and they already know you’re applying for a job. Do tell them why you’re excited about the opportunity, and why you’re a good fit while using keywords from the job post.

Let’s look at these examples:

The bad example is vague and generic. In the good example, we find out when she first learned about the publication, her previous work experience, and who referred her to the job.

4. How to write cover letter body paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, you will expand on your qualifications and provide concrete examples. You can also use a bulleted list if you’re more comfortable writing that way. However, do not repeat what you have on your resume.

• Always tailor your writing to the employer’s needs.
  Whether you have experience in the position or are making a career change, make sure the skills you include in the cover letter align with the position. Let’s say you are a hobby photographer applying to be a social media manager. Talk about how you’ve doubled your audience in three months through short videos and audience engagement.
• Quantify your accomplishments.
  Put a number to your real-life examples. A “photography intern that helped produce eight photoshoots in three months” or “a digital marketer that increased paid subscriptions by 35% for a client through a digital guerilla marketing campaign” makes a bigger impact than an intern with photoshoot experience or a digital marketer knowledgeable in paid subscriptions.
• Show your enthusiasm and company knowledge.
  There’s a reason you want to work for the company, whether it’s their values, their products, or how they’re disrupting an industry. Show you understand what they’re doing by tying it to what you bring to the table. For example, “I’ve followed your broadcast media campaign and seen increased sales of the product. My digital marketing experience and out-of-the box approach to sales could help you reach an even wider audience.”

Let’s look at these examples:

The bad example is vague, giving information already available in the resume and not providing concrete examples of their abilities and skills. In the good example, we see numbers and scenarios of how she used her creativity in a related field. A hiring manager can visualize what the candidate could bring to the company.

Proofread and Format Your Cover Letter

You’re almost done writing your cover letter. Now, it’s time to proofread. Make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors that distract from your skills and experience. Online tools, like your own word processor spell check, and another pair of eyes, can help in this process.

Also, verify that every single name — from the company to the recipient, their title, even your own — is spelled correctly. Your writing will reflect your professionalism and care.

Cover Letter Writing Checklist

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