Have you ever stare at a job listing so long your eyeballs feel dry and you’re like… is this even worth it? Like okay, I’ve got my resume, cool, it’s got all the right words, dates, bullet points. But then they say: attach a cover letter. And suddenly I’m 14 again, writing a school essay at 2am, just winging it and hoping no one reads past the first sentence.
Honestly, I used to skip cover letters. Every time. I thought they were some outdated formality, like fax machines or flip phones, or wearing ties to interviews. I figured, if they want me, they’ll call me. But guess what? They didn’t.
I learned the hard way that a resume tells them what you did. A cover letter? It tells them why you did it. Or like, why do you even give a damn? It’s where you go from being just another “customer support rep with 3 years of experience” to “ohhh, she really gets our users. She cares about people.”
I remember this one job I applied for—dream gig. Tech + writing. I was so pumped. Sent in my resume without a cover letter because I thought it was solid. Never heard back. Then weeks later, a friend of mine got the same role. She showed me her cover letter. It wasn’t fancy—it was kinda messy actually. But it had this one line about how she used to write product reviews in her diary when she was 10 and how she loves figuring out why people click certain buttons. That line? The hiring manager literally brought it up in the interview.
I’ve read that thing from HBR about personalization—it’s not fluff. Apparently, when you tailor a cover letter to the company’s actual vibe, mission, goals, whatever, they’re way more likely to care. Because you’re not just shouting into the void, you’re whispering to someone who’s actually listening. Kinda beautiful, actually. Weird.
Anyway. I still hate writing them. But now I don’t skip them. Not if I care about the job. Not if I want to be more than a bullet point.
So yeah. Cover letters still matter. I wish they didn’t. But they do.
2. Primary Structure & Format
So.
You open your laptop, stare at the blinking cursor, and just… sit there. Thinking, “What even is the right cover letter format? Is there a rule? A structure? Or am I just winging this like everything else?”
I used to Google “cover letter structure example” like… every single time I applied for a job. I’d scroll past the neat little diagrams and templates and just get more stressed because — I mean — none of them felt like me, you know?
But eventually, after like 19 half-finished drafts and one job I barely got, I figured out a rhythm. It’s not fancy. It’s not even “correct,” maybe. But it works.
And it goes like this:
Header. Intro. Body. Close. That’s it.
Header — like, your name, email, phone number. Make it clean. No need to go wild with fonts or try to look creative unless you’re applying to Pixar or something. Seriously. Just… Arial is fine.
Then the intro. This part used to trip me up the most. I’d write crap like “I’m writing to express my interest…” and hate myself for sounding like a robot. You know what I finally did? I started being human. I literally wrote once:
“Saw your listing and couldn’t stop thinking about it — I’ve been obsessed with community-building since college, and your project hits home for me.”
And yeah. That was the one that got me an interview.
Body — this is where you just pick one or two things you’ve done that match the job. Don’t list your resume again. Like, pick a story.
“I led this campaign that flopped at first, but then we rewired the whole thing and it exploded. Here’s the stat. Here’s what I learned. Boom.”
Close — this is where most people say stuff like “Thank you for your time and consideration.” Honestly? Just sound like you’re signing off a decent email.
Something like:
“Would love to chat more if it’s a fit. Thanks for reading either way.”
It’s enough. You’re enough.
How long should a cover letter be?
Ugh. I used to stress so much about that. Like, should it be 3 paragraphs? 4? Can I just send a tweet? (kidding. mostly.)
Here’s my take now:
Three short paragraphs. Maybe four. Under a page. No walls of text.
If you’re bored reading it, they will be too.
Anyway, idk who needs to hear this, but your cover letter doesn’t have to sound like it was written by your high school English teacher.
It just needs to sound like someone who gives a crap. Someone real.
You.
And if you want a structure to hold onto so it doesn’t all fall apart?
Use this:
[Your Name + Contact Info]
[Today’s Date]
[Their Name or “Hiring Manager” + Company Info]
Hi [Name],
Paragraph 1 – Personal intro. Why this job, why you?
Paragraph 2 – Quick story or two. Something concrete. Make it match the role.
Paragraph 3 – Wrap it up. Casual confidence. Thank them, but don’t beg.
Best,
[Your Name]That’s it. That’s the whole format.
Nothing wild. Just you, showing up.
And that? That’s enough.
3. Customization & Job Matching
Okay, so tailoring a cover letter. Honestly, I used to think it was just… changing the job title and calling it a day. Like, “Dear Whatever Company, I love your values.” Boom. Done. Send.
But wow, that lazy shortcut cost me so many interviews. I didn’t get it. Why does it even matter? Isn’t my resume already saying everything? Turns out, nope. That cover letter is your one chance to be like — yo, I actually paid attention to who you are and what you need.
I remember this one time — I applied to this marketing role at a company that sold eco-friendly cleaning products. Didn’t care much at first; I just needed a job. But I was desperate enough to go through their whole website, like actually read the “About Us” page (which I never do). They had this line about “changing household habits, one spray bottle at a time,” and it weirdly stuck with me. I stole that language and squeezed it into my letter. Something like, “I’ve always been fascinated by how small changes shift habits, and your mission to redefine everyday cleaning really hit me.” Cringe? Maybe. But they called me. That was the first time customizing a cover letter actually worked.
So yeah, tailor your cover letter for each job. I know it’s annoying. I know it feels fake sometimes. But you’re not writing a novel. You’re literally trying to match your words to theirs. Like… mimic the energy in the job description. If they say “fast-paced,” you say “thrived in fast-paced environments.” If they mention “collaboration,” you’d better sneak in a “worked with cross-functional teams.” You’re not lying — you’re translating.
Here’s what I do now (not perfectly, but it helps):
- I copy-paste the job description into a doc.
- Then I highlight all the verbs and phrases — like “build campaigns,” “manage schedules,” “analyze metrics.”
- And then I go: where have I done these? Even a little. Even in school.
- Then I just… plug those into my cover letter. Casually. Not robot-style.
- Oh, and if they mention their mission or values, I echo it back. Not word-for-word, but like… I show I cared enough to look.
That’s the trick. Make them feel seen. Hiring managers get so many bland, generic cover letters. If yours says, he,y I actually read your job post and gave a damn, it just… lands better.
Anyway. I still hate writing them. But now I at least get interviews.
And yeah — if you’re wondering, should I tailor my cover letter for each application? I mean… only if you want the job. If you don’t? Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V away, my friend.
But if you do? Do the work. They’ll notice.
4. Content to Include: Hook + Story + Metrics
Okay so… cover letters.
Yeah, I used to hate writing them. Like, full-body cringe every time someone said “just include a quick cover letter.” What even is a quick cover letter? Either you write one that’s totally lifeless — “Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my interest…” (kill me) — or you spend 2 hours trying to sound like a charming overachiever who definitely didn’t cry in the bathroom that morning.
Anyway.
Let me just say this: the best cover letter examples I’ve ever written or read? They all started with something weirdly human. Not fancy. Not perfect. Just… like a person talking.
So instead of starting with “I’m excited to apply…” (yawn), I said something like:
“Three months ago, I cold-emailed a newsletter with 40K readers because I loved their tone. That email turned into a freelance gig, which turned into a full-time offer. And honestly? That risk taught me more than my degree did.”
Did it sound a little cocky? Maybe.
Was it true? Hell yes.
And that’s what people want. A reason to keep reading. A little story. A little flavor.
I used to think I had to explain everything — every skill, every job, all in this neat little arc. Nope. You just need one moment. One small win, one awkward mistake that turned into something better, one “oh my god I didn’t know what I was doing but I figured it out” situation.
Numbers help, too. Doesn’t have to be a Nobel Prize stat. Just something solid.
“I created a Notion tracker for my college’s events page, promoted it through our Discord, and got 500+ signups in a week. I didn’t mean to — I just hated missing deadlines.”
That’s a real line I helped a friend write. It worked.
And yeah — maybe the hiring manager won’t care that you boosted email open rates by 40%. But if you tell them how you got there? How you were obsessively A/B testing subject lines at 1am, eating cereal straight from the box while doom-scrolling LinkedIn…
That part? That’s what gets remembered.
Because anyone can list achievements. But telling the story behind them — the messy, late-night, not-sure-this’ll-work part? That’s what makes them yours.
So, if you’re stuck on how to start a cover letter…
Don’t start at all.
Remember something that made you proud, or something that frustrated you into doing better. And tell that.
Doesn’t need to be perfect. Just real.
Let them feel like they met you, not just skimmed your résumé in paragraph form.
And hey, if it sucks?
Just delete it and try again tomorrow.
I promise the best stuff usually sounds a little weird at first.
5. Common Mistakes
Ugh. Okay. So here’s the thing about cover letters — no, wait — here’s what nobody tells you straight up when you sit down and try to write one. You think, cool, I’ll just reword my resume and throw in some polite ‘I’m excited to apply’ line, right?
That was me. Literally me. I used to copy-paste my resume bullet points, mush them into paragraph form, and call it a day. Thought I was clever. Professional. Whatever. But it wasn’t a cover letter — it was just… noise. Corporate-flavored soup. No flavor, no personality. Just “managed this,” “coordinated that.” Not a single human thing in there.
One time I even spelled the hiring manager’s name wrong. Yup. I thought it was “Kelley” — turned out it was “Kelly.” With one “e.” And I guess technically that’s a “minor” cover letter grammar error, but idk, it just felt like a full-on disaster. Imagine reading a letter where someone gets your name wrong in the opening line. Cringe. Gone. Rejected before they even see how good you are at Excel or, y’know, showing up to meetings on time.
And omg — another time, I name-dropped the company’s CEO like three times because I thought it made me sound connected. “As you probably know, Richard spoke on innovation at last year’s conference…” Like, girl, no one cares. It just made it look like I was trying too hard. TeenVogue was right — don’t over-name-drop unless you’re literally besties with them (and even then… maybe don’t).
Oh, and here’s a hot mess moment: I ended one cover letter with “Looking forward to discussing this role in person next week.” Next week??? What made me think they’d already scheduled me?? Delusional confidence much? Hiration had this thing about not over-promising — yeah. That.
Also — idk why, but nobody warns you that repeating your resume is a huge nope. I thought that’s what a cover letter was for. But nah. They’ve seen your resume. They want to know you. The stuff you can’t bullet-point. What actually matters to you. Why you give a damn about that specific job, not just any job.
Anyway. If you’re writing your letter right now and it feels stiff or like something you wouldn’t say out loud — stop. Start over. Think about how you’d explain to a friend why you want this job. That’s your real voice. That’s the one they’ll actually read.
Also… triple-check spelling. I mean it. Grammarly. Spellcheck. Read it out loud. Ask your dog. Whatever works.
Just… avoid the dumb cover letter mistakes I made. You’ll save yourself the late-night spiral after hitting send and realizing you wrote “manger” instead of “manager.” (Yes. That happened. Yes, I screamed into a pillow.)
Good luck. Be human. Please don’t name-drop Richard.
6. Final Touches & Call to Action
Okay. So.
You’re almost done writing this damn cover letter and now you’re sitting there, blinking at the screen, wondering — how the hell do I end this thing without sounding like a robot or a suck-up or someone who thinks they’re better than they are?
Been there. Too many times.
Like, do you say “Thank you for your time and consideration”? Ugh. Yeah, sure, it’s polite, but it also sounds like you just Googled “closing cover letter examples” and picked the first one. I used to do that. And then wondered why no one replied.
The thing is — your last paragraph doesn’t have to be some grand finale. You’re not giving a TED Talk. You’re just… wrapping it up like a normal human. A little reminder of what you bring. A hint of enthusiasm. Maybe a nudge that, hey, you’re up for a chat if they are.
Here’s what I say now, more or less:
“I’d love the chance to bring my skills in [whatever you’re decent at] to your team. If it sounds like a good fit, I’m happy to talk more.”
That’s it. Not “I look forward to the opportunity” — I mean, you can, but only if you actually talk like that in real life. I don’t.
Also, please, don’t end with “Sincerely” unless you’re writing to your grandma. Use “Best,” or “Thanks,” or “Take care.” Something chill.
I used to stress about finalizing my cover letter way too much. Like, it had to be this mic-drop moment. Nah. A cover letter call to action just needs to not be weird. Be confident, not clingy. Honest, not desperate.
And if you mess it up a little? Meh. You made it this far. You’re doing fine.
7. Bonus: Sample Templates & Real‑Life Examples
Okay. So.
Let’s talk cover letters.
Honestly? I used to dread writing them. Like, every single time I saw the words “Please include a cover letter with your application,” I’d sigh, stretch dramatically in my chair, and open up that blank Google Doc… just to stare at it. For 45 minutes.
Because what the hell do you even say that doesn’t sound like you copied and pasted from some free template site?
But you know what helped? Actual real examples. Not those overly polished ones where everyone sounds like a robot HR rep in disguise — I mean, letters that felt like they were written by someone trying to land a job, pay rent, figure stuff out. So that’s what this is. I’m just throwing down a few cover letter templates here that might help you — not perfect, not “approved by experts,” but usable. Editable. Plug‑and‑play if you’re feeling stuck.
🟢 Cover Letter Template #1: The “I’m Switching Careers and Kinda Nervous About It” One
(aka: please don’t judge my weird resume)
Hi [Hiring Manager's Name],
I'm applying for the [Job Title] role because — well — after years in [Previous Industry], I’ve realized I want something different. Something that feels more me. I know my background might not *scream* [New Industry], but I’ve picked up a surprising amount of [transferable skill] doing [old thing]. Like, turns out managing chaos in [old job] is kind of great training for [new job]?
Anyway, I’ve been doing [relevant new experience, even if it’s freelance or self-taught], and the more I dive into it, the more I’m like, “Yeah, this is what I want to wake up for.” If you're open to chatting, I'd love to show you how scrappy, fast-learning, and weirdly enthusiastic I am about this shift.
Thanks for considering a career-changer. I appreciate it.
– [Your Name]🔻 Plug in: JD buzzwords, something honest about your pivot moment, skills that crossover (like “communication” or “project coordination” — people love that).
🟡 Cover Letter Template #2: The “Just Graduated and Have Imposter Syndrome” Vibe
(aka: I’m new but I promise I’m not useless)
Dear [Whoever’s Hiring],
I just finished my degree in [Major], and I’m applying for the [Job Title] role. I might not have years of experience — okay, fine, I definitely don’t — but I’ve done [internship/project/part-time job] where I got to [specific task or skill]. That’s when I realized, hey, I actually *like* this kind of work.
I’m someone who learns fast, takes notes obsessively, and probably overprepares for every meeting. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I’m not afraid to ask questions (even the dumb ones). I’d be super pumped to contribute and grow with your team.
Thanks for giving fresh grads like me a shot.
– [Your Name]🔻 Plug in: Stuff from the job posting, even if you’ve only done it in school. Mention your favorite class, maybe even a weird project you did — makes it feel real.
🔵 Cover Letter Template #3: The “I Work in Tech and Don’t Like Writing” Letter
(aka: I’m better at code than sentences)
Hey [Hiring Manager or Team],
I saw your posting for [Job Title], and just wanted to say: I’m interested. I’ve been doing [specific tech stack or project] at [Previous Company or on my own], and I think what you’re building at [Company Name] is genuinely cool. Especially [something specific from their site/product].
I’m not great at writing these things — I’d rather show you what I’ve built. But here’s the short version: I care about clean code, good documentation, and not breaking stuff on Fridays. If you’re hiring someone who can ship, debug, and not panic under pressure, let’s talk.
Attaching my resume and GitHub. Hope to hear from you.
– [Your Name]🔻 Plug in: Links to actual work. Mention their product features (or bugs, but gently). Don’t overexplain.
Okay, that’s it.
Oh — if you’re the kind of person who likes having a file to tweak, I dropped a link to a [cover letter sample PDF] and [Word template] below (yeah, the SEO demons made me say that). They’re editable. Download and mess them up however you want.
Listen, writing a cover letter doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to sound like you actually want the job. Even if you’re tired. Even if you’re winging it.
I’ve written letters in pajamas, mid-breakdown, on my phone in a grocery store parking lot. You can too.
Just start with “hi” and keep going.