Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on a cover letter before deciding whether to keep reading. Most get discarded — not because the candidate was underqualified, but because the letter said nothing specific.
This guide breaks down exactly how to write a cover letter that works: what to include, how to open it, what to skip, and the mistakes that silently kill applications.
The 4-Part Structure That Works
Every strong cover letter follows a simple shape. You do not need to be creative with the structure — save that for the content.
1. The Opening (1–2 sentences)
Do not start with “I am writing to apply for the position of…” Everyone does that. Instead, open with the one thing that makes you the right fit for this specific role. Think of it as a hook: why you, for this job, right now.
Weak: “I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Manager role at Acme.”
Strong: “I have spent the last four years growing B2B SaaS revenue from €2M to €11M ARR — and your open Marketing Manager role is exactly where I want to apply that playbook next.”
2. The Match (2–3 sentences)
Pick two or three requirements from the job description and connect them directly to your experience. Be specific — mention numbers, outcomes, tools. Hiring managers are pattern-matching your letter against the job post; make it easy for them.
3. The Why (1–2 sentences)
Briefly explain why this company or role, specifically. Not “I am passionate about growth” (everyone is). Something real: a product you use, a mission you believe in, a market shift they are positioned for. One genuine sentence here is worth more than a paragraph of generic enthusiasm.
4. The Close (1 sentence)
A clean call to action. “I would love to talk through how my background fits — feel free to reach out.” That is all. No “thank you for your time and consideration.” No “I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.”
Keep It Short
The ideal cover letter is 200–350 words. If yours is longer, cut it. Recruiters at large companies review hundreds of applications — a concise letter that makes its point fast is a signal of good judgment, not laziness.
The 5 Mistakes That Kill Most Cover Letters
- Summarising your CV. They can read your CV. The cover letter is for what the CV cannot show — your thinking, your angle, your motivation.
- Generic openings. Anything starting with “I am excited to apply” or “I am a passionate…” will be ignored.
- No specifics. “Led a team” is weak. “Led a 6-person team that reduced churn by 18% in two quarters” is strong.
- Wrong length. Over 400 words and you have lost them. Under 150 and it looks lazy.
- Copy-pasting the same letter. Hiring managers can tell. Even small customisations — a specific product mention, a reference to their recent news — make a big difference.
What About ATS?
Many companies run cover letters through Applicant Tracking Systems before a human ever reads them. This means your letter needs to include keywords from the job description — role title, key skills, specific tools mentioned. Do not stuff them in awkwardly; work them into natural sentences.
The Faster Way
Writing a strong, tailored cover letter for every application takes 30–45 minutes if you do it properly. If you are applying to multiple roles, that adds up fast. Using AI for your cover letter cuts that to under two minutes — if you use it correctly.
CoverDraft generates a tailored cover letter from your background and the job description — including a job fit score that tells you exactly how well you match the role and what gaps exist. It is free to try and takes about 60 seconds.
The output is not a generic template. It pulls specific language from the job posting and structures the letter around your actual experience. You still review and adjust — but the hard part is done.