

How to Write a Cover Letter That Cuts Through The Noise

Grace Pinegar
Grace Pinegar  |  August 13, 2019

Cover letters aren't dead, but they are evolving.

When was the last time you wrote a cover letter? For many of us, it's been years since we dusted off our resume, updated our LinkedIn, or wrote a cover letter for a new position.

It wasn’t until I graduated, jobless and floundering, that I really understood the importance of cover letters. But with technology booming and most jobs being screened by applicant tracking systems, I had to wonder whether cover letters even mattered anymore. Cover letters are tricky because there's no standard for how to do them correctly. What might seem fine to one HR manager could annoy another.

My concerns were probably not unlike yours: 

  • If I’m too personal, am I being unprofessional?
  • Am I eliminating myself from consideration if I just don't include a cover letter at all?



Interested in learning more about a specific topic regarding cover letters? Use the links below to jump ahead:

How to write a cover letter

To understand how to write a cover letter, it's best to first understand why you are writing one. The buzz around cover letters recently has declared that they are boring, useless, stupid, and a waste of time. Even the top Google results don't seem to have a nice thing to say about them.

coverletters are dumb

All that aside, the bottom line is that most job applications require or at least have the option to include a cover letter in your submission. If you're not using your cover letter to your advantage then you could be leaving the door open for someone to beat you out for a job.

For this reason alone it's smart to include a cover letter in every job application that asks for one. But what should you include in your cover letter, how should it be ordered, and what are the different formats you can use to stand out? Let's break each of those down.

How should you format your cover letter?

There is a single correct way to format a cover letter because every cover letter should be unique to the job you're applying to. Depending on whether you're making a career change, moving cities, or just looking to take on a new challenge, your cover letter format will change.

Luckily the anatomy of a cover letter stays pretty uniform, even if the contents don't.

1. Formatted header

The first section of your cover letter is the header.You should format the header of your cover letter just as you'd format a formal letter.


Here's what you should include in your cover letter header:

  • Your name
  • The date
  • Your title
  • Your contact information
  • Your current job title
  • Your LinkedIn URL


Tip: If you're applying for a job out of state, simply put "Relocating to XYZ city" in place of your current city. You can explain further in your cover letter.

2. A meaningful introduction

Once a hiring manager has looked over the header, they'll jump to your introduction next. It's important to make a splash in this section and catch the readers attention right away. Think of this the same way you might think of a book synapsis. You have a small window of time to pique their interest with what you say next.

Here's what you should include in your introduction:

  • The hiring manager's name
  • The position you're applying for
  • An introduction of yourself and your experience


Address the hiring manager the right way

Have you ever been called the wrong name at a party? Or maybe you've been talking to someone and you can tell they don't know your name? Hiring mangers deal with this every time they read a cover letter that starts, "Dear Sir and/or Madam..."


If the hiring manager’s name and title aren’t immediately clear, do some research. Go to the company’s LinkedIn profile to see who your manager might be. Look at the company’s teams page to see if they have a directory of staff. If you're working with a recruiter, ask them for the hiring manger's name.I guarantee it will make a difference for someone to see you’ve addressed them by name.

Tip: If you can’t find their name after all of your searching, the company name or a simple "To Whom It May Concern..." will work just fine.

Perfect your elevator pitch

This next section of your introduction is all about how you wrap yourself up in the right package.Begin making an impression this early in the letter by highlighting why you're the right person for the job. The point here is to state your interest and grab hold of their attention.


3. Highlight your experience, skills, and value



Explain your experience in a way that renders you uniquely qualified:

  • Have you solved any problems that might also arise in this position?
  • Have you met goals that would align with your goals in this position?
  • Have you lead projects or worked on teams that align with their business goals?
  • Did you close any major accounts that might draw their attention?


Use the job posting to guide your writing





Show that you've done your research on the company


An easy way to do this is to set up Google News alerts for the company you're targeting to find the latest information about the company. Also, check out their social media accounts and see if they've been posting about any new projects.

Another tip? Find out what they're not doing and highlight your experience with those projects. Companies hire people to fill knowledge gaps and bring new expertise. If you can strike a chord with them about something they struggle with, you'll be sure to catch their eye.

Your experiences aren't limited to your professional career

One big mistake people make is thinking their experiences are limited to their professional life. If you volunteer, have a side-hustle, or a hobby, there's a chance that you have related transferable skills from these experiences that you can mention.

There are a ton of skills you might have picked up in your various walks of life:

Planning Organization Time Management
Adaptability Flexibility Writing
Editing Communication skills Diversity in knowledge
Interpersonal skills Relationship management Customer service
Problem Solving Teamwork Management experience
Analytic / Research skills Data analysis IT / Technical skills
Numeracy Positive attitude Attention to detail


4. A strong closing paragraph with a closing ask







If you want to make your cover letter stand out, use an e-signature software to digitally replicate your signature.

See the best FREE e-signature tools →

Cover letter mistakes to avoid

The professional world has so many unwritten rules and barriers to entry that it’s easy to make a mistake in front of hiring managers without ever knowing you did anything wrong.

In journalism school, I once emailed a source, only to have them email my editor and the rest of the newspaper department outlining how unprofessional it was to ask questions over email.

You can bet I learned to never do that again. But you can also learn things without embarrassment, which is what I’m hoping to do for you now. Here are a few of the most common cover letter mistakes for you to review and avoid as you go after your dream job.

Making your cover letter too lengthy

Remember that you’re trying to make a good impression with this letter. Respect the hiring manager’s time by cutting out paragraphs and words that don’t serve a purpose. When we’re nervous, we can sometimes be too wordy or do too much. Avoid this habit in a cover letter.

Using the wrong name or no name at all

Addressing a person or company by the wrong name is unacceptable in a cover letter. In fact, it’s a surefire way to have your letter thrown away without further attention.

The least you can do is double check that you’ve addressed the letter correctly. Additionally, it doesn’t take much effort to research and figure out who is the hiring manager for this role.Take the extra ten minutes and address the letter with a specific name. This personalizes the experience and makes a stronger impression.

If you’re having trouble finding the name of a hiring manager and you’ve done all the research you can, feel free to write “Dear COMPANY NAME,” or “Dear TEAM NAME at COMPANY NAME.” This shows you’ve personalized it to the extent in which you are able.

Making it all about yourself

Successful companies are built around teams and collaborators. If you’re using the words “I” or “me” too much in your cover letter, you risk coming off as someone who is seeking to serve their own interests.

Instead, try and change the wording to focus more on the way you can have an impact at the company. The cover letter is partially about your achievements, but mostly it’s about what you can do for this company.

Repeating your resume

This one’s tricky. There’s only so much you can say about your experience, education, etc. Especially if you’re fresh out of school, it can feel like you’re running out of things to say quickly.

Even so, be careful not to write a cover letter that simply repeats your resume or job application. A cover letter is an opportunity to self-advocate in a unique way. Try and use this space to outline experiences you’ve not yet been able to discuss.

Getting too personal

Ideally, the people you’re applying to work with are compassionate and caring individuals who empathize with others. But it’s inappropriate to bring up your recent struggles or how you hated your last job in a cover letter.

For one, it’s unprofessional. And for two, you’ll look like someone who dwells on their issues as opposed to someone who is fully invested in the job at hand. When hiring, managers are asking themselves, “Will I enjoy working with this person?” You want to give them every reason to answer with a resounding yes.

Begging or coming off desperate

While your intention is to land the job, it’s important to remember that hiring managers don’t owe you anything. Don't fall into the trap of begging or obsessing over why this is your dream company and you would be devastated if you didn't get the job. It might come off like you're willing to take any job, which could hurt your in the long run. Stay cool, calm, and confident.

Relying on cliches

Hiring managers read a lot of the same sentiments over and over. The least you can do is try and think of unique ways to discuss your skills and experience. Remember, when it comes to getting a job, you want to put your best foot forward.

Here are some common cover letter cliches to avoid:

  • "I'm the best person for this job..."
  • "This is exactly the type of role I'm looking for..."
  • "I'm a fast learner, team-player, etc..."
  • "Ever since I was a child..."
  • "I'm the perfect fit..."

Advice from career experts and recruiters

It wouldn't be enough to just preach about the best practices for writing a cover letter without asking the experts what they think.

We took to LinkedIn and asked industry experts what their opinions on cover letters are, the best examples they've seen, and how you can optimize your cover letter for success. Here are some of the highlights:


Cover letters are perfect for explaining unusual career paths

Many of our career experts were quick to point out that your cover letter is the perfect chance to explain a non-linear resume, absence in work, or career change.

career advice

how to change careers

Don't include a cover letter just for the sake of it

Another common piece of advice we saw was recruiters and career experts advising against half-baked cover letters.

are cover letters important?

why are cover letters important?

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume

Several of our experts expressed frustration at reading an incredible cover letter, only to be let down by a subpar resume attached to it.

tips for writing a cover letter

resume advice

The success of your cover letter depends on who reads it

As some experts pointed out, most recruiters use applicant tracking systems to resume parse and extract the important information to determine if you're qualified.

That said, a cover letter can have a big impact if you make it far enough in the recruiting process to have it read by a hiring manager.

cover letter tips

job interview advice

What we’ve covered on cover letters

As you can see above, even the experts disagree about the importance of a cover letter. The truth is that sometimes your hard work isn't rewarded. You might work tirelessly to write the perfect cover letter, only to have it tossed to the side.

While there's nothing you can do to control what happens with your cover letter, you can control the amount of effort and time you put into a cover letter.Who knows? The cover letter you spend lovingly crafting might be the thing that sets you apart for your dream job. That's time worth investing.

Ready to put everything you learned today into action? Download our complimentary cover letter template.

Write your cover letter with confidence: Download FREE template


Grace Pinegar

Grace Pinegar

Grace Pinegar is a lifelong storyteller with an extensive background in various forms such as acting, journalism, improv, research, and now content marketing. She was raised in Texas, educated in Missouri, and has come to tolerate, if not enjoy, the opposition of Chicago's seasons. (she/her/hers)