{"id":3885,"date":"2014-04-29T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/?p=3885"},"modified":"2026-03-01T22:33:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T22:33:55","slug":"how-to-write-a-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Cover Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rt-takeaways\">\n<h2 class=\"rt-takeaways__title\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"rt-takeaways__list\">\n<li>Cover letters should demonstrate why you&apos;re interested in the company and role, not restate credentials visible in resumes.<\/li>\n<li>Personalizing cover letters for specific positions signals genuine interest; form letters are immediately recognizable.<\/li>\n<li>A strong cover letter articulates how your unique skills solve specific problems mentioned in the job posting.<\/li>\n<li>Hiring managers read cover letters to differentiate equally qualified candidates; missing letters mean lost opportunity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><b>We all know that making a good first impression is important,<\/b> especially when it comes to applying for a job.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s note:<\/strong> This article has been reviewed and updated for 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why you should spend a lot of time and effort making your resume as good as possible, because that\u2019s the first impression a hiring manager will have of you, right? Well, actually, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/your-real-first-impression-the-cover-letter\/\">it\u2019s your cover letters that makes the introduction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to remember that you\u2019re not advertising yourself to the world. Instead, you\u2019re trying to impress the specific hiring manager for each job application. With that in mind, there are two core principles to adhere to: make it easy to read, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/how-to-write-an-attention-grabbing-cover-letter\/\">make it attention grabbing.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It sounds contradictory, but it essentially boils down to knowing where in your cover letter you can customize it and where you should keep it simple. This article will help walk you through how you can write effective cover letters by focusing on format, design, and content.<\/p>\n<h2>Cover Letter Format and Content<\/h2>\n<p>The format of your cover letter establishes its structure.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to impressing the hiring manager, having a neatly organized cover letter can help you stand out in their eyes as much as what you actually write in it. It speaks to your attention to detail and your professionalism. It also helps make it easy to read, which makes their job easier \u2013 and showing them that you can make their job easier goes a long way to impressing them.<\/p>\n<p>Readability is more important when it comes to the format of your cover letter than standing out, which is why we advise that you keep your cover letter short, simple and concise.<\/p>\n<p>First, the header on your cover letter should match what you use on your resume so that both are formatted with the same structure. The same holds true for whatever font and paper style you use. As far as content, however, avoid repeating any of the same information from your resume verbatim.<\/p>\n<p>Second, you should make sure your cover letter is as concise and easy to read as possible. In total, the word count should be in the 250 to 350 word range, and each paragraph should be no longer than four sentences.<\/p>\n<p>This can be difficult at times, as you\u2019ll really need to keep your points short while still hitting all the important information. One tip to help keep it concise is to use a bulleted list \u2013 when you list previous achievements or relevant skills, for example, put them into a list with 3 to 5 bullet points.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the various sections you will need to fill in your cover letter:<\/p>\n<h3>The header<\/h3>\n<p>Ensure the header of your cover letter matches the one from your resume. Follow the header with the date you are submitting your cover letter, and also include the job posting reference number or title. Avoid starting your cover letter with a signature block with the company\u2019s address; this is an outdated practice because we no longer physically mail cover letters to hiring managers.<\/p>\n<h3>Addressing the reader<\/h3>\n<p>The best method to use is to address it to the hiring manager by name, as you\u2019ll already be showing your dedication and resourcefulness. However, finding out for certain who that is for the job opening in question can be difficult. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to get that name:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check the job ad in case it gives <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/the-5-biggest-cover-letter-mistakes\/\">explicit instructions that you should follow<\/a>, such as to whom you should address your application; it might also list the contact e-mail (e.g., bob.smith@employer.com).<\/li>\n<li>See if you know someone who works at the same company and ask them if they know who the hiring manager for that job opening is, or if they don\u2019t mind finding out for you.<\/li>\n<li>Look for a list of the company\u2019s employees on their website or LinkedIn and see if a hiring manager in the department to which you\u2019re applying is mentioned.<\/li>\n<li>Try calling the company or sending them an email asking to whom your application should be addressed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, assuming you found out what name to use, there are a couple of different ways to address them in your cover letter. Most of the time it\u2019s best to be respectful and address them as Mr. or Ms. However, if the name you found doesn\u2019t have a clear gender and you don\u2019t know for sure (e.g., Alex or Terry), you\u2019ll be better served using their full name.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately there will be times when, for whatever reason, you can\u2019t find or use the hiring manager\u2019s name. There are <a href=\"http:\/\/jobsearch.about.com\/b\/2025\/01\/12\/who-to-address-a-cover-letter-to.htm\">a number of options<\/a> to use when addressing your cover letter to someone you don\u2019t know. The general consensus is that most hiring managers prefer \u201cDear Hiring Manager\u201d, followed by \u201cTo whom it may concern\u201d and \u201cDear Sir or Madam\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3>Introductory paragraph<\/h3>\n<p>The most important part of this section is the opening line, which is where you need to make the best impression to grab the interest of the hiring manager. We recommend that you open up with an anecdote about a highlight in your career that\u2019s relevant to the job you\u2019re applying for. If you can, try and use an anecdote that illustrates the value you can bring to the job <i>and <\/i>the company.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>Examples:\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>During my first job as an IT manager I spearheaded the development of [Software ABC] that increased the efficiency of our online production by X% within 8 months. I am very interested in bringing the same knowledge and expertise to the integration of your company\u2019s new [Software Information system] that your job listing says will be the focus for your job opening.<br \/>\n<\/i><\/p>\n<p>After the opening line, your introductory paragraph should mention the specific job you\u2019re applying for and how you heard about the opening. Did you hear about it from a friend, family member, or someone in your network, or did you find it on a job board or an advertisement?<\/p>\n<p>If you heard about it from someone in your network that also works for the same company, that\u2019s <i>definitely<\/i> something you should play up. Finish off the paragraph by stating why you\u2019re interested in the job and the company, unless you managed to already do so in your opening anecdote.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>Example: <\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>I\u2019ve been an avid user of your software since I tried to teach myself how to program as a teenager, so I was ecstatic to see on Indeed.com that you have an opening as a software developer.<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>I am acquainted with Jane Smith, a financial analyst on your staff, and she has urged me to contact you. She has told me of the exciting new project you are developing, and I would love the opportunity to help you reach and outperform your goals.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Second paragraph<\/h3>\n<p>Doing some research on the job opening and the company will serve you well for this section, so take advantage of anyone in your network \u2013 or even with the company itself \u2013 to give you vital inside information.<\/p>\n<p>Here you can give a more direct list of your skills and accomplishments, preferably in bullet form to maintain readability. What you include in this list should be what you think is most likely to make you appealing to the hiring manager. You can draw from your resume a bit here, but again be sure you only borrow and introduce, not outright copy.<\/p>\n<h3>Closing paragraph<\/h3>\n<p>In the final paragraph you should reinforce a couple of key points, and then establish your initiative. To start this paragraph, state the skills you have that most qualify you for the job, and establish your \u2018call to action\u2019. The latter is where you establish your confidence and initiative, and how you do so depends on your level of confidence.<\/p>\n<p>The safe option is to let them know the methods they can use to contact you that you prefer, such as through LinkedIn, email, or a phone call.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re feeling more self-assured, you can say that you will make a follow-up phone call or email to set up a job interview by a certain point in time \u2013 as long as the job ad does not explicitly tell you not to contact them directly in such a manner. If you do decide to be more assertive, be absolutely sure you do call them within the time frame you gave.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>Examples:<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>My experience and expertise in computer and information systems, specifically with business intelligence and data warehouse systems, aligns well with this job opportunity. I look forward to you contacting me directly to set up an interview through a phone call or email \u2013 whichever is most convenient for you. <\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>My skills as a medical technologist with specialized diagnostic procedures and specimen analysis should be very suitable for your company\u2019s [name of position mentioned in job ad] role. I will make a follow-up phone call with you in the next two weeks to set up an interview.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Finally we come to the closing line, where you should seek to end as strongly as you began.<\/p>\n<p>While the general purpose of your closing statement should be to reaffirm your interest in the job and the company, it should be as open, personable and sincere as you can make it. Here, along with your opening statement, is where you can really add a personal touch that can help you stand out in the eyes of the hiring manager.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>Examples:<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>I love working as a Pharmacy Technician, and after researching your company and the job opening, I have become very excited by the opportunity to work for you. <\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><i>I have heard nothing but great things about your company and its culture, and I would be honored to join your firm as a chemical engineer.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Cover Letter Design<\/h2>\n<p>Your cover letter layout and design involves things like font, spacing, and paper. The absolute principle involved with good cover letter designs is readability, so every decision you make should be with that in mind.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t want the hiring manager viewing your cover letter to be annoyed because the font is too small or the paper is too glossy. If anything makes the cover letter even slightly difficult to read, you\u2019ve likely lost their interest. Here are the different areas of design you\u2019ll have to consider:<\/p>\n<h3>Font<\/h3>\n<p>Font types can be broken up into two categories: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.webdesignerdepot.com\/2025\/03\/serif-vs-sans-the-final-battle\/\">serif, and sans serif<\/a>. Serif fonts like Times New Roman are easier to read on a printed page, whereas sans serif fonts like Arial are easier to read on screens.<\/p>\n<p>However, bear in mind that a hiring manager might print yours off before reading it, so the safe option in general is a serif font. For size, stay within the 10 to 12 point range. Don\u2019t even try and play around with colours \u2013 stick with black. Whatever style you choose for your cover letter, make sure to use the same on your resume for consistency.<\/p>\n<p>As for font styling, be wary of adding any bold, underlining or italics for added weight. You might be able to get away with using them once or twice, and on no more than three words in a row, to draw notice to something you want to emphasize. Anything more than that looks messy and unprofessional.<\/p>\n<h3>Spacing<\/h3>\n<p>For spacing, each section should be single-spaced with a double-space between separate sections. Depending on how much actual text you have on your cover letter you might be able to get away with more than double-spacing between sections. Again, it\u2019s all about balancing the white space on the page with the text so it\u2019s easier to read.<\/p>\n<h3>Paper<\/h3>\n<p>Just like with selecting your font, you might be tempted to use a more decorative and stylish paper to\u00a0stand out.<\/p>\n<p>However, remember the issue of readability \u2013 some paper might not hold the ink as well as simpler kinds, especially very glossy or coarse textured paper. For paper colour stick with white or off-white, because you\u2019ll just be playing with fire if you use anything else.<\/p>\n<h2>Finishing Touches<\/h2>\n<p>All that\u2019s left to do is to proofread, proofread, proofread.<\/p>\n<p>Try focusing on one element each time you read through the whole thing: first, check the spelling; second, check the punctuation; third, check the layout and white space; last, check the grammar and syntax by reading everything out loud to yourself.<\/p>\n<p>If you find yourself stumbling over any part of it, chances are you need to edit it until it reads smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>This might all seem like a lot of work, but it will do wonders to your chances of getting to the interview phase of the application process. The more you write cover letters, the more you\u2019ll be able to fine tune the process to suit your style and really stand out to hiring managers. Good luck and happy job hunting!<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-8 offset-xl-2 col-lg-10 offset-lg-1 col-md-12 mb-3 mb-sm-0\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-8 offset-xl-2 col-lg-10 offset-lg-1 col-md-12 mb-3 mb-sm-0\">\n<h2 class=\"text-center\">\n     Get job search ready <b>fast<\/b><br \/>\n     <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-center\">Open new career opportunities with our professional resume writing services.<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-center\">\n             <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/packages-and-prices.php\" class=\"btn btn-md\">Get started<br \/>\n             <span class=\"ic-arrow-right-white\"><\/span><br \/>\n             <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Cover letters should demonstrate why you&apos;re interested in the company and role, not restate credentials visible in resumes. Personalizing cover letters for specific positions signals genuine interest; form<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[124],"class_list":["post-3885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-letter-2","tag-cover-letter"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You an Interview<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A strong cover letter opens doors. Learn how to structure, format, and write a cover letter that complements your resume and wins more interviews.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You an Interview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A strong cover letter opens doors. Learn how to structure, format, and write a cover letter that complements your resume and wins more interviews.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Resume Target Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ResumeTarget\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-04-29T08:00:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-01T22:33:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Computer_keyboard.gif\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"198\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/gif\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Amos Tayts\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You an Interview\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"A strong cover letter opens doors. 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