Guides›How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Read
How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Read
Most cover letters are ignored because they summarize the resume. A cover letter that gets read does something different — it answers the question the hiring manager actually has.
Quick Answer
Open with a specific, relevant statement — not "I am excited to apply." Do not summarize your resume. Use the body to address one or two things the role actually needs and show how your background meets them. Close without clichés. Three paragraphs is enough.
A cover letter is not a summary of your resume. The hiring manager already has your resume. What they are looking for in a cover letter is something the resume cannot show: judgment, voice, and evidence that you understood the role before applying.
Most cover letters fail because they do not do this. They open with "I am excited to apply," restate the resume in paragraph form, and close with "I look forward to hearing from you." A hiring manager who has read fifty of these in a day will not remember yours.
What is a cover letter actually for?
A cover letter answers one implicit question: why this role, at this company, from this person? That question has three parts, and a good cover letter addresses all three — concisely and specifically.
It also gives the hiring manager a signal that is harder to fake than a list of skills: how you think about your work. A cover letter written with actual knowledge of the company and role reads very differently from one that could have been sent anywhere. That difference is noticed.
How do you open a cover letter?
Skip "I am writing to express my interest in" and skip "I am excited to apply for." These openers are so common they have become invisible. Start with something specific.
Options that work:
- A specific observation about the role or company that shows you read the posting carefully
- A concise statement of what you bring to the exact problem the role is trying to solve
- A relevant experience or result, stated directly, that immediately establishes your fit
The first sentence determines whether the rest gets read. It should be earned, not formulaic.
What should the body of a cover letter say?
The body should address one or two things the role actually requires — using specific evidence from your background, not adjectives. "I am a strong communicator" is a claim. "I maintained weekly stakeholder briefings across four concurrent programs, including executive leadership and external vendors" is evidence.
Pick the one or two requirements from the job description that you are most qualified for and most want to speak to. Do not try to cover everything. A cover letter that tries to hit every point in the JD ends up saying nothing memorably.
Do not narrate your resume chronologically. The reviewer has the resume. Use the cover letter to add context that is not visible there: why this role interests you, what makes your particular background relevant, or what you understand about the challenge this team is working on.
How do you close a cover letter?
Close simply. A single sentence expressing genuine interest in the opportunity, followed by your name, is enough. Avoid:
- "I look forward to discussing how my skills can contribute to your team's success" — vague and overused
- Reiterating every qualification one more time
- Overly formal sign-offs that do not match the company's register
Match the tone of the company. A startup cover letter and a financial services cover letter should read differently. The job posting gives you the signal — use it.
How long should a cover letter be?
Three paragraphs is a reliable structure: an opening that earns attention, a body that makes your case, a close that is clean and direct. Four paragraphs is fine if the fourth earns its place. Five is almost always too long.
One page maximum. If it does not fit on one page, cut it.
Generate yours in seconds
Resume Generator App writes a cover letter that addresses what the role actually requires — specific to the job description and grounded in your experience. No generic openers, no adjective stacking, no filler.
Generate your cover letter →Frequently asked questions
Is a cover letter required for every application?
Not always — many online applications make it optional. When it is optional, a strong cover letter is a differentiator. When it is required, a weak one is a liability.
How do I address a cover letter if I do not know who to send it to?
"Dear Hiring Manager" is standard and acceptable. Avoid "To Whom It May Concern" — it reads as effort-free. If the company name is known, you can address the team directly: "Dear [Company] Recruiting Team."
Should I mention salary in a cover letter?
No — not unless the posting specifically asks you to include salary expectations. Bringing it up unprompted shifts the conversation too early.
Can AI write a good cover letter?
Yes, when it reads the actual job description and your actual background. Generic AI cover letters fail for the same reason generic human-written ones do — they could have been sent anywhere. A cover letter grounded in the specific role and your specific experience is what works.
Resume Generator App is an AI-powered tool for generating tailored resumes and cover letters. This article is for informational purposes only.