Most cover letters are a waste of everyone's time because they just restate the resume in paragraph form. A good one does something different: it connects the dots between what the employer needs and what you have done, in a voice that sounds like a person. Here is how to write one that earns its place in your application.
Do you even need a cover letter?
If the application has a field for one, yes. Even when it is optional, a sharp, specific letter can tip a close decision in your favor, especially for competitive or senior roles. A generic one adds nothing, so if you cannot make it specific, spend the time tailoring your resume instead.
The structure that works
Keep it to three short parts and under one page.
1. The opening
Skip "I am writing to apply for". Open with why you are a strong fit or something specific you admire about the company and role. One or two sentences that make the reader want to continue.
2. The body
This is the heart of the letter. Pick the two or three requirements that matter most in the job description and, for each, give a concrete example of a time you delivered it. This is the "proof mapped to requirement" move that separates a helpful letter from a filler one. Use real outcomes and numbers where you can.
3. The close
Briefly restate your interest, mention that you would welcome the chance to talk, and thank them. Keep it warm and confident, not desperate.
Match the tone to the company
A startup and a law firm expect different voices. Read the job posting and the company site to gauge how formal to be, then write a notch more professional than their casual and a notch warmer than their formal. Above all, sound like a human, not a template.
Mistakes that sink cover letters
Repeating the resume line by line instead of adding context.
Making it about what you want rather than what you offer.
Generic praise that could apply to any company.
Typos and the wrong company name from a reused draft.
Going over one page.
A quick example of the body move
Instead of "I have strong communication skills", write: "When our launch slipped, I ran the weekly update that kept engineering, sales, and two external partners aligned, and we shipped within the revised timeline." That is a requirement (communication) backed by proof (a specific, successful outcome).
Write yours faster
If a blank page is the hard part, our AI cover letter generator drafts a tailored letter from your resume and a job description, mapping your real achievements to the role's requirements so you can edit rather than start cold. New accounts include free credits to try it.
