So you want to write a great cover letter?
Not just one that checks a box - but that recruiters will actually want to read?
You’ve come to the right place.
As a former leader of LinkedIn’s Education Team and a career coach to both MBAs at the University of Michigan and military veterans at Shift.org, I’ve seen more than my share of cover letters. And most importantly, I’ve seen exactly what it takes to write a great one.
So read on to get all your questions answered… starting with the big one:
What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?
Before I explain how to make a great cover letter, let me explain why recruiters request them in the first place.
Start by imagining what it’s like to be a recruiter. You’re drowning in resumes that all look the same. And yet your challenge is to turn 1,000 resumes into one sterling hire.
Which means that cover letters are the X factor.
If every candidate looks the same on their CV, a great (or terrible) cover letter can be a powerful tiebreaker.
So before you freak out about your cover letter, recognize it for what it really is: A helpful tool for recruiters.
And if you can figure out how to help recruiters, I promise they’ll help you in return. Which brings us to our next big question…
How to Format a Cover Letter
If the purpose of a cover letter is differentiation, you’ll want to make sure that your cover letter stands out from the very beginning.
Which means starting with a format that respects what recruiters need - and eschews everything they don’t.
So recognizing that recruiters are in a massive hurry (the average recruiter is juggling 30–40 roles with 250 applications per role), you cut to the chase.
That means:
- No addresses (who needs to be reminded where they work?)
- No formal salutations (who hires today based on your ability to write letters like it was 1957?)
- No nonsense
Instead, you want to focus on the two things recruiters care about:
- Can you do the job?
- If offered the job, will you accept it?
After all, a recruiter’s job isn’t done until there’s a body in those 30–40 open seats we just referenced. So they need to not only find qualified candidates but candidates who are likely to actually fill the role, if offered.
So that means you really only need a two paragraph letter that nails:
- Why you can do the job
- Why you’re likely to accept an offer
And here’s exactly how to write that letter:
How to Start a Cover Letter + How to Address a Cover Letter
Given what we just mentioned about the recruiter’s need for speed, start your cover letter with the very first paragraph (again, no need for addresses or salutations that have no bearing on the recruiter’s key questions) leveraging a template like the following:
I’m thrilled to apply for X ROLE because of my experience with Y SKILL + Z IMPACT. Here’s EXHIBIT A, B, and C to prove it.
For example:
I’m thrilled to apply for the Mobile Product Manager role at Duolingo given my experience launching world-class mobile apps and driving massive adoption. Having built my first mobile app as a CS grad student, served as a PM for Khan Academy’s millions of mobile users, and launched my very own edtech app last year with over 500K downloads, I know exactly what it takes to deliver learning experiences at scale on phones and tablets.
So now you’ve directly answered question #1: “Can you actually do the job?”
Which means you’re ready to move onto question #2: “Will you accept our offer if we give you the job?”
What to Include in a Cover Letter
To answer this second question, let’s move onto the next paragraph leveraging a template like this:
But it’s not just about my fit with the role - I’m also incredibly drawn to the organization’s mission. My passion for X MISSION has driven me to EXPERIENCES A, B, and C. So I’d like nothing more than to combine my expertise with Y JOB in pushing towards Z OUTCOMES.
To continue with our Duolingo example, here’s what it looks like in practice:
But it’s not just about my fit with the role - I’m also incredibly drawn to the organization’s mission. My passion for education has led me to serve as a classroom teacher in Brooklyn, to mentor with the Boys and Girls Club, and to tutor math in my current community.. So I’d like nothing more than to combine my expertise as a Product Manager in pushing towards education for all.
The beauty of this paragraph is that it answers that second question (“Will you accept our offer if we give you the job?”) implicitly. Because it indicates that your focus isn’t just on finding any role - but this role in particular.
How to Write a Good Cover Letter
So there you have it: Everything to include in a great cover letter - and not a word more.
Because not only are recruiters incredibly busy, but you are too.
So don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. And instead, nail the two big questions that absolutely do!