How to Write a Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (12+ Examples)

How to Write a Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (12+ Examples) It took weeks to find *this* job. It took hours to get your resume right.Almost there. You just need a cover letter.The problem?You only get one shot.You cant just write a cover letter. It has to be perfect.But How do you write the perfect cover letter?You knowthe kind of letter that will make the employer call you up in the middle of the night?Give us 10 minutes and youll know how to write a cover letter like that.This guide will show you:How to write a cover letter better than 9 out of 10 others.A sample cover letter that will get you more interviews (and why).Cover letter writing tips and hacks to boost your chances of landing a job.Actionable ideas on how to start and end a cover letter, plus how to address it.Ready? Take a look at this basic cover letter sample. What do you think makes it so special?An example of a cover letter format for every job made with our resume and cover letter builder.Read on! Well break down the formula in 8 simple steps.The Secret Behind Every Success ful Cover Letter?See, all great cover letters have something in common: theyre based on a proven, effective template. Heres what I mean:Meet Jane, the candidate who wrote the cover letter above. Shes applying for a digital marketing manager position with a pharmaceutical company, XYZ Corp. The company is planning to launch a new flagship website.Janes experience and knowledge make her a perfect candidate for this role. The purpose of her cover letter is to prove that shell be able to replicate her past success in the new position.Right, so youve seen a perfect example of a cover letter for a job.Now, let me explain what makes this sample cover letter great and how you can use this cover letter outline to make the most of each section.1Use a Professional Cover Letter HeaderYup, the basics first. The header of every professional cover letter for a job application should include the following:Your nameYour phone numberYour email addressThe dateThe name of the hiring manager and their p rofessional titleThe name and address of the company to which youre applyingOptionally, you can add:Your professional titleYour home addressLinks to your professional websitesYour social media accounts (applicable only for LinkedIn and Twitter)Your city of residence (its not mandatory but adds a professional touchinclude it if your cover letter is highly official)Just remember to keep it professional:Use an email address from a respected providerthat means either Gmail or your personal domain (if you have one.)Your email address should only include your first and last namesexyvanessa@gmail.com or johnlikesgoats@hotmail.com will be deal-breakers.Dont use your current work email. Its impolite to both your current and potential future employer.Make sure your contact information is consistent across your resume, cover letter, and social media profiles.Pro Tip: Writing a cover letter with no name of the hiring manager available? In the addressee section include only the name of the depar tment: for example, XYZ Sales Department.Want to save time and have your professional job application ready in minutes? Here are a sample cover letter and a matching resume made with our resume and cover letter builder. Write your cover letter and resume here.Resume and a sample cover letter for a job application. See +15 resume and cover letter templates and create your job application here.2Open Your Cover Letter with a Proper GreetingWho do you address a cover letter to?Directly to the hiring manager wholl read it.The greeting of your cover letter (i.e., the salutation) might be the very first thing the hiring manager sees. Theres one great, foolproof strategy to make your greeting catch her attention:Dear Katherine,Thats right. Her name.If we hear or see our name, we react. Focus on what comes next. Theres a lot of science behind this:Once the hiring manager sees her name in the greeting of your cover letter, shes going to feel like shes found something tailored specifically for her. It will feel personal, shell know whatever comes next might just be the exact information shes been looking for.All of the following are good examples of professional cover letter greetings.Sample cover letter greetings:Dear Katherine,Dear Miss Jones,Dear Ms. Smith,Dear Mrs. Ford,Dear Mr. McConnor,Pro Tip: Wondering whether you should use the hiring managers first or last name? That depends on the company culture. If youre applying for a position with a relaxed, casual company, use the first name. For corporate cover letters, its safer to go with the addressee's last name.How do you find out the hiring managers name?Do some research!There are multiple ways to find out who your hiring manager is. You can learn about them in our dedicated guide: How to Address a Cover Letter: Sample Guide [20+ Examples]If youre unable to find the name by any means possible, youll need to write a cover letter to whom it may concern.Who to address a cover letter to if theres no name of the hiring manager provided?Have a look at those sample cover letter to whom it may concern greetings:Dear Sales Team Hiring Manager,Dear Hiring Manager,Dear [XYZ Company] Team,To Whom It May ConcernPro Tip: If youre not living in Victorian England, dont start a cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam.Done with the header and greeting? Now its time for the meat and potatoes. The central paragraphs of your cover letter.How to get them right?Go for the three paragraph cover letter format:The first paragraph to grab the hiring managers attentionThe second to show what youve got to offerThe third to prove that youll fit inWant to learn more about best professional cover letter formats? Read our guide: Cover Letter Formats: A Complete How-To Guide [10+ Examples]Now, have a look at a quick breakdown of the cover letter main body.3Write a Catchy Opening ParagraphHeres the brutal truth:These few sentences at the beginning of your cover letter will determine whether the hiring manager will read on.You nee d to make your cover letter introduction attract and hold the hiring managers interest.Have a look at these two sample cover letter opening paragraphs:How To Make a Cover LetterOpening ParagraphwrongIn response to your posting for the Digital Marketing Manager, I would like to express my interest in taking part in the recruitment process. As a digital marketing manager with 8+ years of experience, I am positive that I would be successful at this role.Why is it so bad?Because it provides no value and no details. The bottom line is basically Ive already done this job so I think Id fit in. Thats not what the hiring manager is looking for.Now, see a properly written cover letter opening example:rightAs a lifelong enthusiast of XYZs marketing initiatives, I was thrilled to see your posting for the position of Digital Marketing Manager. I am positive I can help with XYZs upcoming challenges. I have experience with leading successful national online campaigns with budgets over $300,000. Wh at is more, I have succeeded at expanding ABCs client base by 19% since 2011.Wow, Id have to be a lunatic not to hire her!Thats the response this cover letter first paragraph will bring.There are a few different, effective strategies for your cover letter opening. You can highlight your achievements, show how well you know your prospective employers needs, or base the intro on your enthusiasm.Even professional writers struggle to make a perfect intro to their pieces. We know that starting a cover letter can be daunting, thats why weve put together a dedicated guide for you. Give it a read: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [20+ Examples]4Explain Why Youre The Perfect CandidateYou see a job posting from your dream employer. The name of the job is the same as your current position. Youve been a very successful professional so far.This means, to get that job you just have to show off your best assets in your cover letter, right?Wrong!Your cover letter is not a trophy case.SoWhat to write in a cover letters second paragraph?You need to get the hiring manager exactly what shes looking for. You have to show that youre going to satisfy the companys specific needs.Remember Jane, our digital marketing manager candidate? The XYZ company to which shes applying needs:First of all, a savvy digital marketing manager (1).And, on top of that, someone who will supervise the development of their new online portal (2).Lets have a look at how Jane managed to show that shes both (1) and (2).How To Make a Cover LetterSecond ParagraphSample cover letter for a job application in digital marketing:In my current position at ABC, I have supervised all phases of our online marketing initiatives, both technical and creative (1). Last year, my key challenge was to design and optimize nine product websites for ABCs most strategic products and improve our SEO results as well as enhance the UX (2). Here we are a year later:Eight of the nine websites I optimized have achieved and secured their spot in the top 3 results on Google (2). These are organic, non-paid results for 10+ key search terms;The incoming search engine traffic to all nine websites comprises 47% of the total organic traffic (2) for key terms and phrases.See how its done?In the first sentence, show that youre an expert in your field. But dont keep on bragging. The remaining part of your cover letters second paragraph should be all about how your previous experiences will help your future employer press ahead with their plans.Job seekers impress employers by identifying transferable skills related to new positions. People often apply to new positions, so its likely youll not have the exact experience requested. But employers would rather know how your past experiences will inform future decisions. You were a hostess? Relate those management and organizational skills to the Executive Assistant position.Lauren LittleCareer CoachWhat if youre creating a cover letter for an internship and don t have a wealth of professional experience to present? Dont worry, weve got a dedicated guide to show you how to write a good cover letter and land your dream internship: How to Write a Cover Letter For an Internship [+20 Examples]5Tell Them Why Youre Eager to JoinYour future employers have needs. If theyre willing to hire you, its because they think youll satisfy those needs.But what they also want is for you to actually enjoy working with them. They want your future job to feel rewarding to youthat way, they know youre more likely to stay with them for a longer period of time.The key to writing a perfect cover letter third paragraph is showing the hiring manager why you want this job, not just any job.Heres the easiest way to do it:Start with a company fact - for instance, an upcoming project (1)Say why you find it interesting (2)Reiterate that your experience and knowledge will let you succeed with the project (3)Have a look at this cover letter example:How To Make a Cover Letter Third ParagraphI know that XYZs current plans involve developing a comprehensive online portal focused on healthcare-related issues (1). This project is a perfect match for my personal and professional interests and an exciting opportunity to create a unique online base of knowledge for patients and healthcare professionals (2). I would love to leverage my knowledge of SEO marketing and online growth marketing to achieve groundbreaking results with this initiative (3).Pro Tip: How long should a cover letter be? In general, relevant and short cover letters are best. Three paragraph tops. Your go-to word count shouldnt exceed 300 words.Wondering how to write a good cover letter for a job application when theres no job offer? Want to see some general cover letter writing tips? Read our handy guide, 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips, Advice Guidelines (With Examples), and find out about effective cover letter strategies for different types of cover letters!6Make Your Offer in the Closin g ParagraphSo far so good:Your cover letter shows that you have relevant skills. Youve explained your motivation. What could possibly go wrong?Actually, a lot.You still have a cover letter ending to write. And its the decisive part.It has to amplify the general impression youve made with the previous paragraphs. It has to make the hiring manager excited as she starts reading your resume.How to make the best cover letter ending?Long story short: by providing value.Tell the hiring manager that youre looking forward to meeting in person and discussing how your experience and knowledge can help your future employer in fulfilling their goals.Like in this cover letter example:How To Make a Cover LetterClosing ParagraphI would welcome the chance to discuss your digital marketing objectives and show you how my success at ABC can translate into digital and online marketing growth for XYZ.Two worst cover letter mistakes you can make in the final paragraph are:Coming off needy - focusing on ho w much you want the job, not on what you have to offer.Repeating the cliched phrase Thank you for your consideration and your time.There are some easy tricks you can use to write an effective cover letter closing paragraph. Make sure to read our guide, How to End a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [+20 Examples] and check them out!7Use the Right Formal ClosingOnce youve written the body of your cover letter, you just need to put a formal closing at the very end.Write sincerely and follow it with your full name. Adding your handwritten signature is optional, but its recommended for more formal cover letters.If youre not a fan of the well-worn, sincerely, feel free to use any of the following synonyms:Sample cover letter sign-offs:Thank you,Best regards,Kind regards,Sincerely,With best regards.The ones listed above are going to be your safest bets. Still not what youre looking for?Have a look at some alternative cover letter sample salutations:Thank you for your consideration,Rega rds,Sincerely yours,Yours truly,Respectfully yours.Pro Tip: Its a good idea to repeat your basic contact information, such as your LinkedIn profile, email address and telephone number below your sign-off.8Add the Postscript: A Great Cover Letter Hack Nobody UsesAll of the above sections are must-haves in a good cover letter format.But theres one special trick you can use:The postscript.Why is the P.S. so important?Because its like a magnet for the hiring managers eyes. It screams: you cannot miss this information.Use the postscript to tell the hiring manager about something impressive about your career (1), even if its not strictly related to the job opening.And say that youd be happy to provide them with more details (2) if they find it interesting.Like in our cover letter example:How To Write a Good Cover Letter PostscriptP.S. I would also value the opportunity to show you(2) how my e-detailing solutions grew the combined sales of three ABC flagship products by a record-breaking 13% in one year (1).Dont just send a cover letter in Word. Select the most important bits and paste them into your resume cover email: How to Email Your Resume to Get More Job Offers (Examples). Itll immediately work magic on the recruiter.Worried you might miss something? Dont worry, weve got a checklist guide for you: What to Include in a Cover Letter (15+ Examples A Complete Guide)So, How to Write a Cover Letter?To write a cover letter that gets you the job, follow the 8 steps we covered:Create a professional header with your info.Address the hiring manager by name.Show relevant achievements to introduce yourself in the first paragraph.Target the employers needs and prove you can help in the second paragraph.Explain why you want to join and convince the employer you want to stay in the third paragraph.Reiterate your offer and make a call to action in the final paragraph.Sign off with a proper formal closing and your full name.Include one more achievement in the postscript to sta nd out.And for the final piece of advice:Keep it short.Do you have any questions about how to create a successful cover letter? Want to share an example of a cover letter? Give us a shout in the comments and wed be happy to reply!