How to write a cover letter that will get you hired

October 31, 2023 12:32 PM

Between updating resumes, submitting applications, scheduling rounds of interviews and assessments, and dealing with rejection emails, it's safe to say applying for jobs is not an easy journey. But for many job seekers, nothing is more dreaded (or annoying) than writing a cover letter.

According to Glassdoor, 58% of professionals believe cover letters are redundant — only 10% feel that cover letters are necessary. And yet, ResumeLab found that 83% of recruiters, hiring managers and HR specialists consider the cover letter a vital part of their hiring decisions. It seems job seekers won't be able to avoid writing a cover letter, and ultimately, that's a good thing, says Toni Frana, lead career expert at Flexjobs, a remote jobs search platform.

"Think about our career story, and the narrative we want about our career," says Frana. "A cover letter is an additional tool that allows the job seeker to maintain control over what they share about their experiences."

Frana underlines that the purpose of cover letters is not only to provide details about work experiences and accomplishments but also to emphasize an applicant's passion for the role, company and industry. A cover letter should help the reader imagine what the applicant will be like in the prospective role and team, notes Frana.

To make it just a bit easier on job seekers, Frana answers these four common questions about cover letters that are likely on your mind.

Does anyone actually read your cover letter?

Yes and no, says Frana. She has heard both answers from professionals in the hiring space. However, that doesn't mean job seekers can just refuse to write a cover letter on the chance someone won't read it.

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"The issue for a job seeker is when you apply to a job, you don't know if the people at the company you're applying for look at cover letters or not," says Frana. "But it's important to maintain control over what is shared about us and a cover letter is a tool to do that. So the answer for [job seekers] is just yes."

How long should your cover letter be?

According to Frana, job seekers should aim for a cover letter length of 250 to 500 words, taking up no more than a page. The ideal cover letter is concise, offering three to five examples of experience that will come in handy for the new job, as well as an answer to why the job seeker is applying for this role at this company, underlines Frana.

How should a cover letter start?

Frana notes that while a majority of hiring professionals look at cover letters, a survey from ResumeGenius found that most spend less than two minutes reading it. In fact, 36% spend less than 30 seconds on the cover letter portion of the application.

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This means the first few sentences are crucial. Frana advises job seekers to briefly reference the positions they are applying for and why they are attracted to the role.

"This is where you will grab the reader's attention so they continue reading about you," says Frana. "Tie in some key skills or experiences, and be enthusiastic about your qualifications and the company."

How can you stand out?

Job seekers should not regurgitate their resumes into paragraph form for their cover letters, warns Frana. The cover letter should be treated like an actual letter to the hiring manager, where the job seeker's personality and passion are clear to the reader.

"Connect yourself to the mission, vision or values of the company," says Frana. "Yes, you're qualified for the job and yes, you're excited about the job, but why are you looking forward to working at that company?"

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For example, if a company is very cause-driven and offers a lot of volunteer opportunities, the job seeker may want to mention why that's something that really speaks to them and ties into their career and personal goals.

"A cover letter really amplifies a job seeker's candidacy," says Frana. "It gives some much-needed context to the hiring team."