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How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? There Is an Answer (+5 Cover Letter Samples)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated May 31, 2024 12 min read

When you sit down to write a cover letter, one of the first questions that might pop into your mind is: How long should a cover letter be?

Too long, and you risk losing the reader's interest.

Too short, and you might not convey enough about why you're the perfect fit for the role.

So, what's our recommendation? The ideal cover letter is somewhere between half a page and a full-page long.  

If you want to learn how to use this relatively small space to its fullest potential , keep on reading this article and find out:

• What is a cover letter and why you need one;
• How long should a cover letter be;
• What are the key components of an effective cover letter;
• 7 tips that will make your cover letter stand out.

Table of Contents

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What is a cover letter and why you need one

How long should a cover letter be, key components of a great cover letter, more cover letter samples, 7 tips that will make your cover letter stand out, key takeaways: how long should a cover letter be.

You can think of a cover letter as your personal introduction to the employer.

And because recruiters usually read your cover letter before your resume, the responsibility of making a positive first impression lies on this compact document. 

Similarly to a resume , a cover letter gives you the space to explain why you're the best candidate for the job and how you can contribute to the company. 

But since both resume and cover letter are so similar, isn't writing one just a waste of time? 

Well, as research shows, 87% of hiring managers would strongly disagree! In fact, 49% of hiring managers admit to having invited candidates to a job interview even if their resume was weak. And that's just because of the quality of their cover letter!

So, yes, taking your time to craft a compelling cover letter does make a difference. 

But if you're still not convinced, here are 3 more reasons :

• Getting your personality across. While a resume shows the facts and figures of your professional life, a cover letter allows you to add a personal touch to your application. It’s your opportunity to speak directly to the hiring manager and show a bit of your personality.
• Showcasing your knowledge. It’s also a chance to show that you’ve done your research about the company (its needs, values, and challenges) and the role. 
• Explaining career gaps or changes . Additionally, if you have gaps in your employment history or are changing careers , your cover letter is the best place to address these points.

In short, you should always attach a cover letter to your job application. Even if the job posting you're responding to doesn't ask for it. 

Is the writer's block kicking in?

Don't let this stand between you and the perfect cover letter! Let our AI Cover Letter Writer handle it for you.

And now, let's get to the real reason why you're here. 

This is how long the ideal cover letter should actually be:

• Word count: Try to hit the 250 - 400 words range. This should be long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to keep the reader's attention.
• Number of paragraphs: When it comes to structure, your cover letter should consist of 2-4 body paragraphs, framed by an introductory and a closing paragraph. 
• Pages: Overall, your cover letter should be between half a page and a full page in length. 

Anything longer would defeat the purpose of a cover letter, which is to present yourself concisely and straightforwardly.

As you can see, a cover letter is a relatively compressed medium. So how can you make the most of its limited space? 

We’ll show you which elements shouldn't be missing from any cover letter: 

• Contact information 
• Personalized greeting
• Introductory paragraph
• Body paragraphs
• Closing paragraph
• Proper sign-off

And now, let's zoom in on each of these separately!

Contact information

Firstly, you should place your contact information at the very top of your cover letter. Make sure you include: 

• your full name,
• e-mail address,
• phone number,
• and link to your LinkedIn profile/ online portfolio (optional).

For the sake of conventions, you should also include the contact information of the recipient of your cover letter:

• their name,
• the name of the company,
• the company's address. 

The main purpose of this section is to let the recruiters know how to contact you. So, keep in mind that your contact details should always be visually distinct from the rest of the text.

When it comes to cover letters, starting off on the right foot is crucial. So, instead of a generic salutation, you should address the recipient of your cover letter by their name, like so:

• “ Dear [First Name] [Last Name], “
• or “ Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. [Last Name], ”

But how can you figure out the hiring manager's name? Well, ideally you'll see it in the job posting. If not, you can check the company's website, LinkedIn profile, or give them a quick call. 

Greeting the recipient by their name is certainly preferable, because it adds that personal touch. But there are ways to address a cover letter without a name and still make a great impression.

Thirdly, you need to open up your cover letter with a bang! 

Since the purpose of the opening paragraph is to catch the recruiter's attention from the get go, you need to start with a compelling hook.  

But there really isn't just one way of achieving this. For example , your introduction can look something like this: 

Introductory paragraph example #1: Mentioning key achievement

“ In my previous role at DEF Corp, I led a team that developed a customer relationship management system that increased client retention by 30% within the first year. Now, I am excited to bring my experience and skills to your team.”

Introductory paragraph example #2: Showing particular interest in the company

“I was excited to see the Marketing Manager position at XYZ Company posted on your website, and I am eager to bring my five years of digital marketing experience to your dynamic team. I am particularly impressed by XYZ Company’s commitment to sustainability and innovative product development, which aligns perfectly with my values and professional goals.”

Introductory paragraph example #3: Sharing a personal story

“My fascination with architecture began when I was a child, building intricate cities out of LEGO blocks. The sense of creativity and accomplishment I felt then has only grown stronger, leading me to pursue a degree in architecture and design. When I discovered the Architectural Intern position at XYZ Architects, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to combine my lifelong passion with my academic knowledge.”

Of course, the main focus rests on your body paragraphs . And once again, nothing is set in stone. Well, at least regarding the number of the paragraphs (2-4). 

But when it comes to their content , the most successful cover letters address the following: 

• Showcasing your skills and experience. But don't just list your skills and be done with it. Instead, put your skills into a real professional context. Describe a problem you've encountered in your previous job and the skills you utilized to solve it. Don't forget to also mention your results. 
• Presenting your most illustrious achievements. Whether you've obtained a certificate vouching for your skills, or any awards and recognitions, mention it! Because this might be just the thing that sets you apart from the competition.  
• Expressing your motivation for joining the company. For example, you can mention a particular project, company values, or goals that appeal to you. And be specific — recruiters don't like vagueness. 
• Demonstrating your passion for the role. Finally, you need to show that you not only have the necessary skills and experience, but also passion and genuine interest in the profession. 

You can either go for the 4-body paragraph structure, dedicating each paragraph to a different topic, or combine them as you see fit. In either case, the flow of the text has to make sense!

When you’re writing your closing paragraph, keep it short and sweet. Ideally, you'll do these 4 things:

• Reiterate your desire to work for the company. 
• Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.
• Express your desire to discuss further steps in-person (a.k.a. a call to action ).
• (Optionally) remind them how they can get in touch with you .

Don't know how to finish on a high? Let these 8 great cover letter endings be your inspiration!

And finally, you need to wave the hiring manager goodbye professionally. 

There's no need to come up with anything original. On the contrary, a good old “Yours sincerely,” or “ Yours faithfully,” are your best bets.

Cover letter example

Here's an example of what a good cover letter can look like. 

But this isn't just any old sample! It belongs to a real person who got hired with the help of our beautiful cover letter templates . 

So, if you like what you see, don't be shy and go explore!

Quality Control Project Technician Cover Letter Example

This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

But what if you’re currently switching careers or trying to get an internship? Don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you either. 

Here are 4 more samples , two for each of these situations.

And if you happen to fancy any of them, just click on the red button in the bottom right corner and adjust the chosen sample to your liking.

How long should a cover letter be for an internship

The ideal length of your internship cover letter will probably be closer to a full page .

Since you don't have much work experience, if any, you need to dedicate more space to proving that you have what is needed to be successful. Instead of work, you can talk about your:

• academic achievements,
• relevant coursework,
• dissertation project,
• extracurricular activities that add to the internship position,
• volunteering,
• or membership in relevant societies.

Warner Bros. Public Relations Intern Cover Letter Example

University of massachusetts boston intern cover letter example, how long should a cover letter be if you're changing careers.

On the other hand, career change cover letters must focus on any transferable skills you've picked up in the past and that can be useful for your new career position. In this case, your cover letter will also probably be closer to a full page. 

Also, you need to explain the career pivot you're currently undergoing. Your cover letter should answer the following questions: 

• What's the reason for the switch? 
• What useful skills do you have? 
• How can your expertise add value to the company? 

Just to be clear, you'll eventually have to address the career change. And the sooner, the better. So don't be afraid to slide this information straight into your introductory paragraph.

Junior UX Designer Career Change Cover Letter Example

This cover letter was made using Kickresume templates.

Career Change Cover Letter Example

This cover letter was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

Are these samples not enough? In case you'd like to see more, feel free to browse through our cover letter database . Inside, you'll find even more samples submitted by real people and also those created by our professional resume writers.

You know what's even better than a well-written cover letter? An outstanding cover letter, of course! So, what can you do to elevate yours? We've gathered the best writing tips that have stood the test of time:

• Before you start writing, do a bit of research. 
• Make sure your cover letter is visually appealing.
• Use quantifiable data to support your achievements.
• Don't simply repeat your resume. 
• Don't be shy to play the name game.
• Accessorize your cover letter with relevant keywords. 
• Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Let us expand on them a little more!

Tip #1: Before you start writing, do a bit of research

Gathering information about the company's projects, values, goals, initiatives, or even challenges gives you massive advantage. Firstly, it helps you tailor your cover letter so it fits the company's needs like a glove. Secondly, showing that you know about the company's struggles and mission creates the impression that for you it's not just about the money. 

Tip #2: Make sure your cover letter is visually appealing

Because the last thing recruiters want to see is a wall of text that's difficult to read and doesn't even make sense. Instead, work with white space and keep your paragraphs neatly organized. You can also use bullet points to make your cover letter more structured.

Tip #3: Use quantifiable data to support your achievements

Including numbers in your cover letter is an excellent way to communicate your potential — they’re specific, universal, and impactful. For example: “ I led a team that developed a customer relationship management system that increased client retention by 30% within the first year.”

Tip #4: Don't simply repeat your resume

Sure, some of the information you include in your cover letter is bound to be repeated in your resume. But instead of copy-pasting, try to provide more context. For example, why was this particular result so essential for your former team. Or, what makes you so determined to get this job (apart from the salary, of course).

Tip #5: Don't be shy to play the name game

If you know someone who's already working for the employer, make sure you name-drop them in your cover letter. Having that personal connection always helps. For once, it makes the recruiters trust you more. And it's also a good indicator that you're likely to fit in with the company culture.

Tip #6: Accessorize your cover letter with relevant keywords

This tip is especially valuable if you're submitting your job application through the ATS. Because without the right keywords, your application might not even reach the recruiters’ eyes.

But how to find out which keywords to include? Well, you need to start by reading your job posting carefully. Take note of any words or phrases that describe candidate requirements (for example skills, degrees, responsibilities, industry-specific words, etc.). Then, sprinkle these keywords naturally throughout your cover letter.

Tip #7: Proofread, proofread, proofread

And finally, we recommend you to always go through your text multiple times! Because nothing can ruin the first impression quite like stupid and unnecessary mistakes such as typos, grammatical errors, or misspellings.

The purpose of a good cover letter is to present yourself as the best candidate for the job in a concise and straightforward manner. 

That's why you should always aim for 250-400 words; 2-4 body paragraphs (framed by an introductory and a closing paragraph); and a layout that’s between half a page and a full page in length.

Despite this humble space, you should be able to cover the following sections : 

FAQ: How long should a cover letter be?

A good cover letter should be between 250 to 400 words. This range is long enough to cover all the necessary points but short enough to keep the reader's attention.

Typically, a cover letter should have 2-4 body paragraphs. These should be framed by an introductory and a closing paragraphs. Ideally, each paragraph should serve a specific purpose and be concise.

No, a cover letter should never be longer than one page. Keeping it to one page ensures that you present your qualifications concisely and respect the hiring manager's time.

In that case, you’re running the risk of not providing enough information to make a compelling case for why you're the best fit for the job.

While it's possible, a cover letter less than half a page might not fully showcase your qualifications and interest in the position. Try to write at least half a page to ensure you cover all essential points without overwhelming the reader.

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? (Examples)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you’re wondering how long a cover letter should be, this article has everything you need to know (including exactly how many words to make your cover letter).

I’m going to share why most job seekers are making their cover letters far too long, and why you will likely get more job interviews by writing less in your cover letter.

Let’s get started…

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

Cover letters should be one page long and total 75 to 250 words. This recommendation applies to both printed and email cover letters. It’s okay if your cover letter doesn’t take up an entire page, but it should never exceed one full page.

Job seekers needing to explain gaps in employment , a recent change in career path, etc., may want to utilize more words in their cover letter than someone with a more standard background.

A job seeker who is staying within their current industry and career path (e.g. moving from Software Engineer to Senior Software Engineer) and not needing to explain a lengthy work gap should aim to be on the lower end of the recommended cover letter word count mentioned above — somewhere between 70 and 150 words.

As an example, my favorite cover letter template from Harvard Business Review has only 76 words:

As you customize this cover letter, the word count will likely rise a bit, but it’ll remain much shorter than what most job seekers send. And that’s a good thing!

This type of letter is going to be very different than what most job seekers are sending and what you’ve seen recommended online, and that’s often a plus.

Coming up soon, I’ll explain why a shorter cover letter may improve your odds of hearing back on a job application.

How Many Paragraphs Should a Cover Letter Include?

The typical cover letter should contain three to six paragraphs. Each paragraph should be relatively short, containing two to four sentences. This is especially important in the first paragraph of your cover letter, where you want to entice the reader and encourage them to keep reading by providing a short, punchy opening.

In general, when writing to grab someone’s attention, focus heavily on making the first paragraph compelling, because this is your first impression or “elevator pitch,” for why they should keep reading.

Now that you know how long a cover letter should be, let’s look at some specific benefits of using this length, which is shorter than some people recommend.

Reasons to Consider a Shorter Cover Letter

Now that you know how many words a cover letter should be, let’s talk about why I recommend this as the ideal length, even though some career experts recommend your cover letter be longer.

There are four things that happen when you keep your cover letter relatively short…

1. You Stand Out by Being Different

Here’s an example of a typical full-page cover letter that many job seekers are sending:

If you’ve sent something like that in the past, it’s NOT your fault…

Almost every website with cover letter templates recommends this format, and it’s what you’re constantly told to send.

But that’s the beauty of limiting your cover letter to my ideal cover letter length of 75 to 250 words. It’s different than what everyone else is doing!

From the first glance, you’re showing the hiring manager that your cover letter is unique and worth reading closely . You show that you’re not going to bore them half to sleep with yet another generic letter containing info from a template or info that’s already on your resume.

Whereas, if you send a full-page cover letter like the image/example above, the hiring manager is thinking, “Okay, here’s another huge page of info to read through that’s probably based on a template.”

This happens to them over and over, all day.

That brings me to my next benefit…

2. You Get Your Cover Letter Read (Not Skimmed!)

Most job seekers send cover letters that so long-winded that nobody wants to read them. The hiring manager may read to the second or third paragraph, but they’re unlikely to through to the end.

Beyond that, job hunters send cover letters that repeat information from their resume, which doesn’t provide any value to the hiring manager or recruiter .

But because your cover letter is short, and ideally has small paragraphs, it’s inviting to read. Hiring managers open your email or letter and think, “Great, I can read this no problem.”

So they read your cover letter from start to finish without skipping a word!

This is why you should always send the hiring manager a short cover letter where each line has a purpose and message and does something to sell them on why you deserve the interview.

You don’t have to take my word for it, though. Test it! Send half of your cover letters in the standard, full-page style seen above, but with the other half, test what I’m suggesting here. Greatly reduce the word count, get right to the point, only offer info that’s not on your resume.

We’ve now looked at two reasons why the full-page cover letter is not the ideal length/approach. But I’ve got two more reasons for you…

3. You Draw Attention to Your Strongest Points/Skills

If you’re naming 20 different skills and qualifications in your cover letter, it’s hard for a recruiter or hiring manager to pick out the most important pieces.

Whereas, if you just name your three or four strongest arguments for why you’d be a great fit for their job description, those points will stand out (and get read, as mentioned above).

Sometimes less is more, and with cover letters, it’s often the case!

So this is another factor to consider when deciding how long your cover letter should be.

4. You Get Your “Call to Action” Read So You Win More Interviews

Finally, you should end each cover letter with a “Call to Action,” which I’ll explain in the next section.

This is where you ask for the interview, which is something many job seekers don’t do properly (or don’t do at all) in their cover letter.

And by keeping your letter brief, this closing paragraph comes relatively quickly… sometimes as the third or fourth paragraph… so it’s much more likely to get the reader’s full attention which means you’ll get more interviews.

Recommended Cover Letter Font Size

The best font size for your cover letter is 12 points, whether you’re sending a printed or an email cover letter. Avoid fancy fonts and choose a simple, easy-to-read font like Calibri or Arial. Include plenty of white space and small, punchy paragraphs. It’s better to have multiple, concise paragraphs in your cover letter than one or two very long paragraphs. This helps with readability.

How to End Your Cover Letter: Ask for the Interview

This is one other mistake a lot of job seekers make with their cover letters, along with repeating info on the resume and just being far too long-winded. They don’t ask for the interview in their closing paragraph!

The whole point of the cover letter is to win you job interviews . So after you’ve got the specific word count you want, make sure to finish up by actually asking the hiring manager to call you and set up a time to discuss in more detail!

Here’s an example of how you could conclude an email cover letter:

I’d love to discuss the position over the phone and provide a bit more context for how I can help you in this role. Are you available for a phone call later this week or early next week? My phone number is 555-218-4987.

Or, simply use the cover letter conclusion from the first example in this article, from Harvard Business Review:

I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome the chance to speak with you sometime.

However, I prefer a slightly stronger conclusion to a cover letter that really prompts the hiring manager to reply to a direct question. That should get you more responses from your cover letter, no matter your cover letter length!

Conclusion: How Many Words Should a Cover Letter Be?

To reiterate how long a cover letter should be, I recommend sticking to 250 words or less and never exceeding one page.

It’s beneficial to keep your letter short and concise for both a printed cover letter and a cover letter sent by email.

The shorter format allows you to focus on your strongest points and grab the hiring manager’s attention without overwhelming them with too much text or info. This will help you get more interviews and separate you from other job seekers who send long, generic, cut-and-paste cover letters with their applications.

However, as mentioned earlier, the length of your cover letter will vary depending on the industry (in a very formal, traditional industry, you may want to go for a slightly longer word count).

If you have an unusual scenario to explain, then your ideal cover letter length may be longer, too.

So don’t take the advice above as a hard-and-fast rule, but just a general guideline on how long a typical cover letter should be to win more job interviews.

As a final step, make sure to proofread everything! Sending a cover letter with a typo or mistake can cost you the job interview even if you have great qualifications and writing style.

More cover letter resources:

• Do you need to send a cover letter?
• How to write a cover letter with no experience
• 3 steps to writing a cover letter that stands out

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Continue Reading

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How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in 2023? (+Examples)

Do you want to know what the perfect length of a cover letter is? What is the ideal number of words that a cover letter should have? And how many paragraphs should you include?  If you are looking for answers to these and more cover letter questions, you are in the right place.

The quick answer is that a cover letter should never be longer than a page, 400 words, or six paragraphs.

However, if you want to dive deeper into the cover letter nuances and become a real expert, you are in the right place. So, if you want to learn in detail how to write the perfect cover letter of a perfect length, just keep reading.

For more general information about cover letters , go and have a look at the first article from our series Cover Letter Guide: What is the Cover Letter. There, you will find a definition of what a cover letter is, what makes it different from a letter of motivation, and a short guide on how to write a great cover letter.

Find out your resume score!

What is the ideal cover letter length for 2023?

When it comes to cover letters,  the longer, the better  does not apply.  Even if you have years of expertise and you worked extremely hard on gathering professional skills and experiences  — and now you want to show it off all in detail on four pages — don’t.

Sometimes, less is more. This is the case for a good cover letter. It is crucial to highlight the experiences that are truly relevant to the advertised position. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to talk about your skills and achievements in more detail once you get the interview.

Rather, think of a cover letter as a tasteful, comprehensive, short advertisement. You want to catch the attention of a hiring manager and make it clear that you are a highly experienced professional fit for the role. Yet, at the same time, you don’t want to bore and overwhelm the person who is making the selection in the first round of the hiring process.

It is important to realize that in large companies, the hiring manager and the HR department have a very short time to go through your application.  On average, per one vacancy, there  are  up to 250 applicants. This means you must make your cover letter stand out from the crowd – but also be easy to read.

What follows are the tips on how to do it!

Read the instructions

Always make sure you read the employers’ instructions properly.  In many vacancy announcements, there is a clear list of what is required from an applicant. Often, these also indicate the expected length and form of a cover letter.

If specific regulations are not included, don’t worry. In this case, you can go for the standardized version of a cover letter.

Junior vs Senior

If you are at the start of your career  and are applying for a junior position   where it is expected to have a lack of practical experience, writing around 200 words is perfectly acceptable. A cover letter for an internship can be equally long. If you don’t have prior experience, you can focus on your inner motivation, education, and extra-curricular activities.

For an experienced candidate , the word count can be doubled. However, it really shouldn’t exceed 400 words in any scenario – unless specifically requested. At the same time,  a cover letter should never exceed 1 page.  If you do so, you completely disobey all the rules of this genre, and it won't work to your advantage.

While this length may sound too short, and you may feel tempted to write more about many of your professional accomplishments, it may eliminate you from the selection process. Being selective and cutting straight to the point makes you a better candidate as opposed to one who writes their whole life story.

Career vs Academic cover letter

The rules listed in the previous paragraph are almost universally true when we speak of a career cover letter.

However, an academic cover letter is conventionally longer. If you are wondering how long an academic cover letter should be, know that  the standard length is one page and a half . On the other hand, it is never longer than two pages.

Cover letter heading length

The same cover letter rules apply here, too. A short, simple, and catchy heading will get you far.

Do not exceed two sentences; one is advisable. Either use your full name or a catchphrase, such as: “ Why am I the best for the role of XY ”. However, do this only when you are sure that the company and the position that you are interested in aren't too formal.

How long should the first paragraph be

This paragraph is to capture the attention of the reader.  It does not have to be longer than two or three sentences.  State who you are, where and how you found the opportunity, and why you are interested in it. Do this in a catchy way, though! If you heard about the position from a person in common, do not hesitate to mention their name.

Remember, the first paragraph is short – do not waste words. Make yourself an attractive candidate right from the beginning, and mention your biggest assets right here – such as the length of experience or quality of your education.

How long should the second paragraph be

Arguably the most important part of your cover letter. Therefore,  you should make the second paragraph the most extensive and longest part of your cover letter.  Write about your accomplishments and past work experiences in detail. Explain why you are the best candidate for the role and what your skills are that no one else has.

On the other hand, remember —  you still must write at least one more paragraph in the body of the cover letter, as well as the closing paragraph. Therefore, don’t go overboard with the length.

The best thing to do is to initially write freely and more. Then, you can cut the number of words down later during later stages of editing. This way, you won’t limit your creativity from the start by being too focused on the correct word count.

How many words/paragraphs should a cover letter be

• As we've already stressed, your cover letter shouldn’t be too long. Keep it under one page. However, sometimes only half a page may not be long enough. Find the right balance.
• When it comes to the number of words, never exceed 400 words. 250-300 words are the ideal length of an average cover letter.
• The perfect number of paragraphs in a cover letter ranges from three to four.  The maximum number of paragraphs that are acceptable is six.

Cover letter examples by length

If you want to see the instructions applied in real life, have a look at the cover letter examples of various lengths examples below. All three of these people managed to land the job by using the kickresume cover letter template ! 

Cover letter example 1: Short version: Half a page

Cover letter example 2: Medium version: Between half a page and a page

Cover letter example 3: Long version: A page

If you liked these  cover letter samples  and you want your cover letter to look the same, use  one of our  cover letter templates!  You can go for the free or the premium version. It is super easy to use, so you’re just a click away from the cover letter of your dreams!

Cover letter formatting

Not only length but also the way you format the cover letter matters. Your goal is to  make it very easy to read.  You will achieve this by keeping your cover letter structured, nicely designed, and well-formatted. Here are the tips on how to achieve this:

• When it comes to the font of a cover letter,  try to imagine being a busy hiring manager. You want to make their job as easy as possible – so go for a font that is easy to read. At the same time, you want to create a professional impression. In other words, the best font for your cover letter would be the classic  Times New Roman, Arial , or  Calibri . However, if you are confident enough to experiment and you want to make your cover letter stand out from the crowd with a more eye-catching design, go for it. But forget to ensure that the text should be easy to navigate and read – that is the priority. 
• The letter size  matters, too. Anything between 10.5 and 12 is good. You don’t want to make the letters too small, so they would be hard to read, or too large, so you don’t exceed one page.
• The margins  of a cover letter are conventionally 1.5 or 1.
• A cover letter should never be   double-spaced. You want to fit all the information on one page — with double spacing, you wouldn’t be able to.

How long should an email cover letter be? 

Today, unless specifically instructed to do otherwise, the cover letter is conventionally sent as an email attachment.

Just like with the cover letter itself, sending a short and precise email is better than a long and overly complicated one.

In your email you must include:

• a relevant subject:  if the subject title is not included in the vacancy instructions, use the name of the position for which you are applying;
• a polite greeting:  address the person by their full name/if not available, Dear Sir/Madam will do
• refer to your attached cover letter and resume;
• express hopes for the future , consider attaching a phone number where they can reach you;
• close with best regards/best wishes and your full name and surname;

Email cover letter length examples

Email cover letter example 1.

Email cover letter example 2

Email cover letter example 3

And that’s about it. There is no need to make it too elaborate – all the important information is in the attachment.

Now hit that send sign and wait for the response. After listening to all the advice, we have no doubts you will receive positive news. The Kickresume team wishes you the best of luck!

Now, when you have that cover letter in your pocket, we are sure you also want an amazing-looking resume. The good news is that you are just a click away from our Kickresume CV templates!  You can even easily  turn your LinkedIn profile into a great resume .

FAQ: How long should a cover letter be in 2023

What is the ideal word length of a cover letter.

Your cover letter should be between 250 to 400 words long.

A cover letter isn't required – should I still send it?

Yes, this is your chance to stand out from the crowd of applicants and make it clear that you’re willing to put in the effort.

Is a 1000-word cover letter too long?

Yes, it is. It's never advised to exceed 400, max. 500 words.

Is it ok to have a cover letter that is two pages long?

No, you should always limit your cover letter to only one page. Recruiters don't have time to read long essays. They also like familiarity and known formats.

Kaja Jurčišinová

Kaja Jurcisinova is a fresh graduate and a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• What is the perfect cover...

What is the perfect cover letter length?

8 min read · Updated on May 08, 2023

Finding the perfect balance between concise and complete can be a challenge

When applying for a job, the cover letter can often be the key factor that sets you apart from other candidates. A cover letter serves as an opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and personality and can give hiring managers a glimpse into what you have to offer. 

However, one of the biggest challenges in creating a cover letter is determining the ideal length. So, what is the perfect length for your cover letter? The answer can depend on the job you're applying for, the company culture, and the expectations of the hiring manager. 

In this article, we'll provide tips on how to create a standout letter and offer guidance on determining the ideal cover letter length that will make the right impression on potential employers.

How long should a cover letter be?

While there's no set rule for how many words your cover letter should be, the length will depend on the amount of information you need to convey and the style you choose to write in. 

However, as a general guideline, it's recommended to keep your cover letter to one page, with each paragraph consisting of 3-4 sentences. This works out to between 300 and 500 words and ensures that your document is concise and easy to read - while still providing enough detail about your qualifications and experience . 

Additionally, it's important to focus on quality over quantity and make sure that each sentence is relevant and impactful to the overall message of your cover letter. On top of that, some employers may have specific guidelines for cover letter length. 

Guidelines on cover letter length

1 page or 300-500 words

One commonly accepted guideline is to keep your letter to one page, with a cover letter word count of approximately 300-500 words. This length allows you to provide enough information to highlight your skills and experience, while remaining on point.

Exceptions to the rule

How long is too long? Many people wonder if it's okay to have a two-page cover letter. There are some instances where you can exceed one page; however, they are few and very far between. If the job posting specifically requests a longer cover letter, you can consider writing a more detailed document that addresses the specific requirements of the position. In some fields, such as academia or research, a longer cover letter may be expected in order to provide a comprehensive overview of your experience and qualifications. But in normal circumstances, one page is plenty. 

Breaking down the cover letter

When determining the length of your cover letter, it can be helpful to think about the different sections of the document and how much space each one should take up. Breaking down a cover letter into its different sections and knowing what to include in each paragraph can help you to create a document that is well-organized, effective, and concise. 

What should a cover letter include, though? Here's a breakdown of what you could cover in each paragraph:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

The first paragraph of your cover letter should introduce you and explain why you're applying for the job. You can start with a sentence that grabs the reader's attention and makes it clear that you're excited about the opportunity. For example, you might say something like, "I am thrilled to apply for the [Position] at [Company Name], as I have a long-term interest in [field or industry]."

You should also summarise why you're a good fit for the position and why you're interested in working for the company. This is your chance to make a connection with the reader and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job. 

Paragraph 2: What you bring to the table

The second paragraph of your cover letter should provide more detail about your skills and experience and how they align with the requirements of the job. This is where you can explain what you bring to the table and how you can contribute to the company's success.

It's important to be specific and provide examples of your accomplishments , as well as any relevant education or training that you've completed. This is also a good place to mention any soft skills that are important for the position, such as communication, teamwork, or leadership abilities.

Paragraph 3: Career achievements and supporting information

The third paragraph of your cover letter can be formatted into bullet points, if you prefer. This is where you can demonstrate your expertise and show the reader that you have the skills and experience needed to excel in the position.

Be sure to tailor your examples to the requirements of the job posting and focus on achievements that are relevant to the company's goals and mission. This is also a good place to mention any relevant certifications, awards, or publications that you've earned.

Paragraph 4: Closing and call to action

The final paragraph of your cover letter should wrap up your document and provide a call to action. This is where you can thank the reader for considering your application and express your enthusiasm for the position once more.

You should also provide your contact information and encourage the reader to get in touch with you for further discussion or to schedule an interview. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression and show the reader that you're a qualified and keen candidate for the job.

Tips on crafting effective cover letters 

Crafting an effective cover letter within word count limits can be challenging, but it's always possible. Here are some tips that can help you to stay on track and make the most of the space you have:

Focus on the essentials: Be concise and avoid including irrelevant or redundant information

Use the active voice: This helps to convey confidence and clarity and makes your writing more engaging

Use bullet points: When appropriate, bullet points can help you to present information in a more efficient and visually appealing way

Customize your letter: Tailor your letter to the specific job and company you're applying to, highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position

Proofread: Make sure to carefully proofread your letter for errors, typos, and grammar mistakes; consider asking a friend or mentor to review your letter as well

Use a consistent format: Use a consistent format for your letter, with the same font and header that you used on your resume

Be confident and positive: Use confident, positive language to convey your enthusiasm for the position and your ability to excel in it

Example of a successful cover letter

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Your Email Address]

[Today's Date]

[Company Name]

[Company Address]

Dear Mr Carlson, 

Having seen the job posting for a Project Manager, I would like to offer you adaptability, leadership skills, and a willingness to take initiative in this role. As someone who has demonstrated an ability to embrace change and lead others through it, I can also bring a wealth of knowledge surrounding project management to your team. I have earned recognition for bringing innovative and creative approaches to business and for embracing technical solutions. 

I am proud to have successfully transitioned from a QA role to a Project Manager with my current employer, in response to a sudden shift in the business structure. I demonstrated strong leadership by being one of the first employees to embrace the changes and execute the transition. I encouraged and inspired other QA team members to take on the challenge and shone a positive light on making the transition.

Please also consider the following qualities that I could bring to your team:

Emerging technologies: Business and tech changes at the speed of light, or so it seems sometimes. I am adept at keeping up with those changes and assimilating new ways of doing things. I bring fresh perspectives to processes and procedures and strongly feel that transformational change and adaptation are imperative to driving innovation. 

Leadership: I truly enjoy stewarding the career progression of others and have been trusted by management on several occasions to lead projects and to motivate teams to success.

Commitment to improvement: I proactively seek opportunities to expand my skills and knowledge through professional development activities. I'm also not afraid to take on new challenges and can make autonomous decisions despite ambiguity and tight deadlines.

While my resume does go into more detail and provides additional insights into my background, please feel free to contact me on [cell phone number] if you have any questions about my candidacy.  I look forward to discussing further how my professional goals are perfectly aligned with your organization's priorities.  

Thank you for your time and kind consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Remember, the goal of your cover letter is to get your foot in the door and secure an interview, so put in the effort to make it the best it can be. Good luck with your job search!

If you need help, TopResume writers are experts at crafting compelling cover letters that highlight skills, qualifications, and achievements. We'll not only make sure you have the perfect cover letter length, we'll write it in such a way that you won't fail to impress recruiters!

Recommended reading:

What to Say in a Cover Letter: 5 Things You Should Include

Career-Specific Cover Letter Samples & Examples

How to Start a Cover Letter That Grabs Attention  

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in 2024?

Finally, an organization posted your dream job. You crafted a flawless resume and now you’re ready to apply. You land on the cover letter section of the application and see that it is optional. Is it truly optional?

Will not submitting make me less likely to land the job? Where do I even start and how long should the cover letter be?

These are some things that might run through your head. But don’t panic, we are here to help. No matter what your career level is, your cover letter can set you apart from the other applicants. But how much do you have to write?

This can be a complicated question. Too much text? The hiring manager might glance over it. Too short? The recruiter may think that you didn’t put much thought or effort into writing the cover letter . 

Cover letters should range from a half-page to one full page. Your cover letter should never exceed one page in length.

• Page Count: 0.5 to 1
• Word count: 250 to 400
• Paragraph count: 3 to 6

How to Keep Your Cover Letter to One Page

Tip #1: keep it concise.

While the cover letter is a great way to showcase your personality, it is also very important to be concise. Hiring managers are sifting through dozens, and maybe even hundreds, of applications.

They do not have time to read a full two-page article about your daily tasks. Instead, highlight any relevant experiences that show your qualifications for the specific job.

Demonstrate your passion for the industry and end the letter. The decision-maker will appreciate your brevity and may even reward you with an interview . 

Tip #2: Highlight Only Relevant Experiences

Unless the employer requests a specific word count, keep it short. Take only the amount of space required to show that you are an ideal candidate for the job.

Highlight your qualifications and any relevant stories. It’s important to be specific, and not regurgitate the content on your resume. 

It is very important here to showcase how your past achievements can help the company solve their current challenges and how you will use your skills if chosen for the position.

Doing so will show the recruiter or hiring manager the value you can bring to their organization. 

Tip #3: Break Your Cover Letter into Sections

An effective cover letter contains three to four paragraphs. It’s important to keep the sentences short so the reader can quickly navigate your cover letter.  

Paragraph #1: The Intro

The first paragraph should grab the decision-maker’s attention. This is an opportunity to show your interest in the position and knowledge of the company. Make sure you address your cover letter to the correct person or department. Always be sure to research the company and customize each cover letter to the position you are applying for. 

Example: “I am excited to submit my application for the position of [insert position name] with [insert company name]. I have watched your growth for years and really appreciate the devotion to serving your customer’s needs.” 

Paragraph #2: Your Qualifications

The second paragraph should highlight relevant stories or stats that impress your qualifications. For example, “In the previous company, I grew sales by 150% in my first year and 200% in my second year.” It is helpful if you can be specific in how you achieved success or benefited the company in some way. This highlights what you bring to the table and how you can make an impact on the hiring manager’s business. 

Paragraph #3: Your Interest in the Company

The third paragraph, if you choose to include it, can speak to what drew you to apply to the specific company. This can sway the hiring manager's decision by showing passion and loyalty to the company. 

Paragraph #4: The Closing

The final paragraph should reiterate your interest in the position. It is a great time to thank the reader for their consideration and request an in-person meeting. It’s important to have a call-to-action so the reader knows what to do next. Always include detailed contact information. 

Tip #4: Experience Level

Cover letters can vary based on your experience level. If you are applying for jobs right out of college, don’t include metrics measured in school, such as GPA, unless requested. Instead, focus on your experiences, projects and achievements that make you a strong candidate. 

If you are in the middle of your career, pick out relevant accomplishments and state your experience level. For example, “With 12 years of teaching experience, I am writing to express my interest in the open position in your Mathematics Department.” 

If you have more experience, you likely have more relevant qualifications and stories. This may entice you to make your cover letter longer. Do not fall into the trap.

Longer does not mean better . Select a few key successes and leave others for the interview process. 

Tip #5: Formatting

The format is just as important as the length of your cover letter. Pay attention to the amount of white space on the page. More white space keeps the content easier to read for the recruiter or hiring manager.

You want to make sure that you use a font that is legible (as the ones handpicked by our team together with recruiters). Keep standard margins and align your text to the left. 

Writing a cover letter can be intimidating. If you remember to keep your writing concise and highlight only your relevant experiences, you will be on your way to snagging an interview in no time.

Suggested Reading:

• How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024
• Resume Formats Guide: How to Pick the Best in 2024
• Cover Letter Examples

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How Long Should Should A Cover Letter Be? (With Examples)

• Cover Letter Format
• Salutation and Greeting
• Who To Address When Unknown
• How To Start A Cover Letter
• How To End A Cover Letter
• Best Cover Letter Font And Size
• Cover Letter Spacing
• Cover Letter Length
• Key Elements Of A Cover Letter
• How To Write An Address
• Official Letter Format
• Cover Letter Opening

Find a Job You Really Want In

Along with your resume , crafting a standout cover letter is one of the most important things you can do to get an interview for your dream job. In almost all cases, you should send a cover letter when applying for a job, unless the job posting explicitly says not to.

Now comes the tricky part: how long should a cover letter be? If you write too little, an employer may think you haven’t put much effort into your application and that you, therefore, aren’t serious about getting the job. But if you write too much, an employer may not bother reading it at all.

We’re here to show you what cover letter length employers find just right, so hiring managers will give your cover letter the attention it deserves.

Key Takeaways:

Your cover letter should be one page with three to six paragraphs and roughly 200-400 words long.

Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, and result) to write your cover letter.

Tailor your cover letter to each job which can help keep it short.

Check Length Requirements

How long should a cover letter be, what to include in your cover letter, how to keep your cover letter concise, cover letter examples, tips for cover letter length.

• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs

Before we get into a bunch of advice on getting your cover letter to the proper length for most jobs, it should be clearly stated that your primary goal when applying for jobs is to show that you can follow instructions.

In this context, that means reading the job posting carefully for any details a company provides with regards to your cover letter . If they give you a prompt or questions to answer, then respond to them. If they provide instructions about word count or page length, do what they say and forget everything else you read here vis-a-vis length.

You only get one chance to make a first impression , and ignoring the instructions listed in a job posting is a surefire way to make a bad one.

So you’ve checked the job posting and they’ve requested a cover letter, but haven’t given any guidelines for how long it should be. Or maybe they’ve stated that a cover letter is optional. Should you still send one? Emphatically, yes, you should. As for how long you should make it, follow our guidelines below.

Page count. In all circumstances, your cover letter should never exceed one page . Ideally, you should shoot for between half a page and a page, always aiming for the lower end of that spectrum. About 70% of employers want a half-page cover letter or feel that the shorter the better.

Word count. Considering that preferred page count leaves us with about 200-400 words with 10 or 12-point font, single-spaced, with spaces between paragraphs.

The shorter the better approach continues here; if you can say everything you need to in a 200-word cover letter, great! Stop right there and don’t worry that you’re being lazy or not including enough information.

Paragraph count. The standard advice is to aim for between 3-6 paragraphs. Three is the absolute minimum to do the following: introduce yourself, state your qualifications, and express interest in the specific company. However, it may be a good idea to give yourself four paragraphs, so you have more time to tout your credentials.

We don’t recommend going over 4 paragraphs in most scenarios, because otherwise, each paragraph is going to look super short if you’re working with ~300 words. Additionally, it shouldn’t take multiple paragraphs to introduce yourself , express interest in the company, or thank the reader for their consideration.

No matter what job you’re applying for, cover letters follow a standard format . A pysical cover letter should include the following, in order:

Employer’s Address

Your address

Body paragraphs

Closing lines

For an email cover letter, you can omit the date and addresses. You also don’t need to actually sign it. However, if you can sign it and then scan it, it’s a nice touch.

Make sure to follow the employer’s directions for how you save your cover letter file. PDFs keep their formatting across devices and operating systems, making them a safe choice. However, if the employer specifically prohibits PDFs or requires a particular file type, like DOCX, follow those instructions.

Great, you’re thinking, but how do I fit how awesome I am into such a tight length limit? Fear not; once you’ve broken down a cover letter into sections , it’s easy to say what needs saying efficiently.

First paragraph. This may be the only paragraph a hiring manager will read in full; sad, but true. Make your opener count and get straight to the point: what job are you applying for, what do you know about the company, and how much experience do you have?

Second paragraph. The meat of your cover letter , and your chance to show off. This is probably the part where people have the most trouble keeping things concise.

The trick is to narrow down your greatness; what is the company looking for in a candidate for this position? Read the job posting , underline all verbs and industry-specific nouns.

Then, try to use those same words when talking about your qualifications. Think: what about your work history, your skills, or accomplishments are most fitting for the specific job for which you’re applying.

Whenever possible, include numbers to back up your claims. For instance, saying you provide great customer service is one thing, but showing evidence of that fact by stating you increased customer satisfaction by 17% is quite another.

Third paragraph . This is your chance to express interest in the company. Why do you want to work for them ? Research the company so you know what sort of projects they’ve developed and what their future goals are.

Don’t stop at simply mentioning that you know what the company is up to, though. Tell the hiring manager what you could do to further the company’s goals. It’s also appropriate to call back to your qualifications here: “I know I can be an asset in developing XYZ project successfully, because of my outstanding results with ABC project at [former employer].”

Fourth paragraph. Your closing paragraph should have three things: a reiteration of your interest in the position, a thank-you , and a call-to-action.

Remind the reader why you’re perfect for the position and what you can offer the company, not what the company can offer you (e.g., don’t say you look forward to learning more skills — you should already have those skills!)

Express gratitude for being considered for the position. People like polite people.

More optional paragraphs. Your introduction and conclusion should always be just one paragraph. If you feel you need more than four paragraphs, do so by breaking your second and/or third paragraphs into two paragraphs. However, we strongly recommend keeping your cover letter to four paragraphs.

We’ve been discussing cover letter length in abstract terms so far. Let’s look at a couple of cover letter examples to see all this advice in practice:

Cover Letter Example 1:

Dear Ms. Macnamara, When I saw the NextMark was hiring a Marketing Manager , I knew I had to apply. With over 8 years of experience in the marketing industry, I have a wide breadth of knowledge and am eager to apply my skills to open up new and exciting business opportunities for NextMark. I currently work as a Marketing Manager at MyComp, where I developed a digital marketing campaign that saw revenue increase by 34% YoY. I accomplished this through various SEO efforts built on a backlinking campaign worth $2M and a content marketing strategy that saw organic traffic increase threefold in just under six months. Additionally, I’ve worked side-by-side with the sales and product teams to ensure customer satisfaction never fell below 98%. For the past 3 years, I’ve managed a budget of $5-7M, including brand management, product launches, and promotional materials. I’ve also designed new social media elements targeted at environmentally-conscious consumers that saw our new Green Line reach record profits. My proudest achievement has been turning our social marketing strategy into a few hundred subscribers to over a million, with engagement through the roof. My background of business acumen and marketing know-how is just what NextMark needs to take its new product launch to the next level. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to discussing the next steps. Sincerely, Margaret Tanner

Cover Letter Example 2:

Dear Mr. Brown, As a person who loves selling technology solutions that make consumers’ lives easier, I was excited to see an opening for the Sales Representative position open up at Green Mosely. With over 4 years of experience selling software and customer support solutions, I have all the skills and qualifications you’re looking for. In my current role as Junior Sales Associate with TT Organization, I’ve achieved a number of impressive results: Leveraged negotiation skills to increase up-selling and cross-selling of sister products, resulting in a 44% boost in customer lifetime value Exceeded sales quotas by a minimum of 20% each quarter since 2017 Named “Top Salesperson” in March 2019 for making over $500,000 in sales, setting a new company-wide record for junior sales staff I’m confident that I can accomplish the same results and then some for Green Mosely. Additionally, your mission to provide software solutions for underserved communities in the third world really resonates with me. I volunteer time each weekend to help negotiate better deals for inner-city schools to make sure their technology is competitive. I appreciate you taking the time to read over my application. I look forward to speaking with you more about how we can make sure that Green Mosely is the top name that comes to mind when people think of software solutions at scale. Sincerely, John Tressel

Don’t be afraid of white space. You may think your cover letter looks sort of bare with four short paragraphs taking up just half a page. Don’t sweat it; keep to our formatting tips and your cover letter will be readable and nice to look at.

Don’t be super wordy. People often fall into the trap of thinking that a formal document (like a cover letter) has to be chock full of big words and complicated sentences. The opposite is actually true. Focus on keeping your sentences short and sweet — readers prefer it.

Cut your stories down. It’s great to give examples of when you did something particularly excellent at your previous job. But the hiring manager doesn’t need to know every little detail.

Just like you would in an interview, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) for your cover letter. Set the scene, describe what your job was, what you did, and what the result was. Any other information is superfluous.

Don’t tell too many stories. You may be delighted that you used the STAR method to get your anecdote in at just 60 words and think you have room for another now. Resist the temptation.

Get a second pair of eyes. It’s always good to get a second opinion . You might think you’ve written the most beautifully crafted sentence in the world, but if your friend can’t understand it, then there’s a chance the hiring manager won’t be able to either.

Tailor your cover letter. It’s okay to have a master cover letter, but make sure to customize it to each job. Make sure to include the company or organizations name in the letter, and why you would want to work there.

Employers are able to tell when you use a cover letter for each application, so make sure to customize it so you stand out.

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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Why Include a Cover Letter

Email cover letter length, cover letter word count, use a concise subject line, how to format a cover letter.

Cover letters are an important part of the  job application process . You should  almost always send a cover letter  with a job application unless the hiring manager specifically asks you not to.

However, one thing that is less clear is how long your cover letter should be. If it is too short, employers might think you do not care much about the job. If it is too long, employers might not take the time to read your letter and may not consider you for an interview.

Read below for more advice on how long your cover letter should be, as well as additional advice on writing a strong cover letter.

Should you include a cover letter with your resume? Some employers  require cover letters , and you can find out if they do by reading the job posting. If a cover letter is required, the job advertisement will mention it.

Jobvite's Recruiter Nation Survey reports that only 27% of recruiters said that cover letters are important in their hiring decisions, up from 8% in 2017. A CareerBuilder survey reports that 40% of human resources managers responded that a cover letter would help an applicant get noticed.

Cover letter requirements vary between employers, industries, and the jobs the organization is filling. They also vary depending on whether you're sending an email cover letter, sending a printed letter attachment, or uploading your document.

Even when a cover letter isn't required, it can boost your chances of getting hired if you include one when you apply for a job.

Therefore, only leave out a cover letter when the employer specifically asks you not to send one.

How Long Should Your Cover Letter Be?

Should you keep your cover letter short, or should it be a full page or even longer? Your cover letter should be no longer than one page. If you're sending an email letter, it can be even shorter.

In fact, as far as how long your cover letter should be, shorter is better. The exception would be when an employer requests a letter that's a specific length or number of words.

• Your cover letter should be a maximum of one page, and shorter than that for an email cover letter.
• Some employers want even less. A Saddleback College survey reported that almost 70% of employers wanted a cover letter of a half page or shorter, 20% had no preference, and 12% expected a full page letter.

Your letter should concisely highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job and what you have to offer the employer.

When sending an  email cover letter , it's even more important to be concise. The first paragraph is what readers pay attention to when reading an email. The rest of the message is typically skimmed. Two paragraphs—one that serves as an introduction, and one that explains your qualification for the job—and then a closing is sufficient.

There is no specific word count you should aim for when writing a cover letter (unless the employer gives you a specific word count). Instead of focusing on the number of words, focus on making your cover letter one page or less, with a readable font and font size, and enough white space between paragraphs and in the margins.

Your goal is to  highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job , not to repeat everything that's on your resume.

However, if you use a 12-point font, a full page letter, not including the heading or signature, would be approximately 250 to 400 words.

You might want to hand a printed out version of your cover letter to a friend or family member and ask them if the letter seems too wordy, or too difficult to read.

You can also make your email cover letter stand out with a clear, concise email  subject line . Typically, you want to include the title of the position that you are applying for and your name. For example: Editorial Assistant-John Smith (try to keep it less than 30 characters).

This is about as much as people can see on their mobile devices, which is often how people check their email.

Just as important as the length of your cover letter is the  format . You will want to choose a  font  that is simple and legible (such as Arial, Calibri, Verdana, or Times New Roman) in a readable font size (typically 12 point).

Your  letter should include the following:

• Heading (hard copy letter)
• Introductory Paragraph
• Your Qualifications (one to three paragraphs or a list of bullet points)
• Signature (include your contact information in your signature when sending an email letter)

Your  margins  should be 1-inch all around, with the text aligned to the left.

You also want to leave space between paragraphs in your cover letter , as well as between your salutation and the text (and between your text and the signature), so that your letter is easy to read.

A good rule of thumb is that you always want a  good amount of white space on the paper . This will prevent your letter from looking too cluttered and difficult to read.

Jobvite. " Recruiter Nation Survey ," page 19. Accessed Jan. 3, 2022.

CareerBuilder. " How to Create a Cover Letter That Gets Attention ." Accessed Jan. 3, 2022.

CareerOneStop. " Write Effective Cover Letters ." Accessed Jan. 3, 2022.

Saddleback College. " Your Resume is Your 1st Interview ." Accessed Jan. 3, 2022.

Ideal Cover Letter Length: How Long Should A Cover Letter Be?

In This Guide:

How long should a cover letter be, example of one-page cover letter, how to achieve the ideal cover letter length, how to make the most of your cover letter word length and arrangement.

At last, you found the job of your dreams!

The hours of scrolling through websites before bed has finally paid off.

It’s right there on the screen of your phone, just one cover letter away.

You immediately start thinking about all the things you can list in your letter.

Past job experiences, internships, soft and hard skills…

At one point, you notice the short cover letter has turned into a 3-page novel.

Is it too much?

How long is a cover letter?

And how long is too long when you’re writing about yourself and your achievements?

Can a cover letter be too short, resulting in everyone collectively laughing at your lack of imagination and experience?

Stop. Take a moment to breathe.

If you’re researching how long should a cover letter be, you’re already on the right path.

We will answer all your questions and more so that you can create a memorable cover letter that will impress the recruiters and land you the job of your dreams.

And if you need some inspiration, take a look at some cover letter examples .

Be a first-hand witness to how people just like you have found the balance between length and structure to build a cover letter that becomes the center of attention.

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The average length of a cover letter is half a page. The content should contain no more than 4 paragraphs . The first one being an introduction about yourself and how you found the position; the second (or second and third) – more about your experience, why you’re a suitable candidate; and the last one an ending with a summary of the info and a call to action.

Here is an example of a successful one-page cover letter with 4 paragraphs.

Now that you know what your end goal should be regarding the length of your cover letter let’s dive into the logistics of reaching that goal.

This includes the structure, the recommended information that should be in it, and some writing and editing tips.

By the end of this article, you will know how to construct a successful cover letter that will increase your chances of getting to your dream position.

And if you’re still wondering why you need one, check out our article on  the purpose of a cover letter in an application.

Focus on your relevant skills and achievements

We know you are probably a very skilled individual with a long list of accomplishments.

However, most companies only care about the ones relevant to the job.

Job recruiters go through so many applications a day that the moment they see pieces of information that are not related to what they are searching for, your resume and cover letter are headed to the bin.

If you’re applying for a chef in a restaurant, there is no need to explain how you won a science fair in high school with a DIY solar system.

Listing unnecessary information shows that you did not care enough to do the proper research about the type of employee this business needs.

Include four or fewer paragraphs in your cover letter body

We already mentioned briefly what those paragraphs should contain, so let’s go a bit more detailed.

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Undoubtedly the most important part – the one you will use to win the recruiters over and invite them to learn more about you.

Start by introducing yourself and how you found out about the position, followed by what motivated you to apply for it. Use this part to showcase your knowledge about the company.

You know exactly what they are looking for and, big surprise, you’re the one that can give it all. If there are any specific things you really like about this business, now is the time to list them.

Paragraph 2 and 3 – Body

Now, this is your time to truly shine. Use this part to list all your achievements, skills, and qualifications that are directly related to the job position.

Use specific examples. “I have many years of experience working with wild cats.” is good, but it can be even more precise. “I have worked as a wild cats rehabilitator in the Oregon Zoo in Portland for 6 years.”

If you’re applying for an HR specialist, pay special attention to your organizational abilities and soft skills. If it’s a more technical and precise position, give examples.

“By transforming business goals into measurable indicators with conversion rate optimization in mind, I can help clients gather and analyze user interactions in a visually appealing way that they can access anytime, anywhere.“

Show the recruiters everything they will gain by hiring you. Cover letters are usually all about how the business will benefit from you, not the other way around.

In case you don’t have enough experience in the field you’re aiming for, highlight your motivations, extra courses you’ve taken, and how you want to develop in the future.

Paragraph 4 – Ending

And now it’s time for the big finale. Thank the hiring managers for their time and undivided attention, provide them with extra contact information and finish up with a call to action.

Let them know when you’re available for a callback, what is the best way to reach you, and that if they have any further questions, you will be at their disposal every day.

You can include one last sentence about how excited you are applying for this position, without sounding too needy, of course.

Write short and direct sentences

The way you express yourself is important. Prolonged and heavy sentences will put anyone off from what they’re reading.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should write the whole cover letter in simple sentences, as they can sound quite robotic.

But there needs to be a pleasant flow to your writing. The reader should not struggle with understanding your cover letter.

So here are a few tips that will help you write short, concise sentences that are straight to the point and don’t sound like they’ve been written by a bot.

• No “fluff words” – These include words such as “really”, “actually”, “totally”, etc. The main rule is – If you can remove it and the sentence doesn’t lose its meaning, then remove it.
• Use active voice – The usage of passive voice prolongs the sentence with unnecessary clunky words that bear no meaning.
• Get rid of redundant words – “In order to” can be just “to”, “in close proximity” can be “close”. No need to overcomplicate your sentences just to appear smarter.

Here is an example of transforming a long sentence into a short one.

“I truly believe that all of my skills will be of great use to your company should you decide to hire me.”

“If I am hired, my skills will prove to be useful for your company.“

Leave some information to be revealed later at the interview

Outline the most important info but don’t go into too much detail. You want to intrigue the recruiters enough that they invite you for an interview.

You don’t want to leave the impression that they’ve learned everything about you in the span of two short paragraphs, right?

Use a professional cover letter format

The content of your cover letter is the second thing HR managers will see. The first ones are the layout and design.

Our years of experience have shown that candidates that use a professional format for their cover letters have a better success rate when applying for interviews.

Use a readable and plain font, for example, Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, or Calibri. The size should be no more than 13 point and no less than 11 point. Make it too small, and it’s illegible, make it too big and it looks like you’re trying to fill up space.

Except for the three paragraphs we already talked about, every cover letter should contain the following elements – a heading, a greeting , and a signature at the end.

Leave space between the paragraphs to make the text easy to read and scan, and align the text to the left.

Make sure it doesn’t look cluttered and messy.

Before you start writing, check if there are any specific requirements posted by the recruiters regarding your cover letter. Some companies will tell you exactly what they want for length and content.

Don’t tell too many stories. Giving examples is great but don’t go overboard.

Can my cover letter be 2 pages?

If you’re wondering about a 2-page resume, ask yourself, why do you need it to be so long?  Most of the information should be on your resume, the cover letter is just an add-on.

You’re not telling your life story, you’re simply listing all the relevant experience and skills you have so you can get invited to an interview. You will have more chances to market yourself once you get there.

Unless it’s for a pretty high-end position, such as a heart surgeon, professor ina university, or a science researcher, you should be able to fit everything in half a page.

How many words should a cover letter be?

Since we already established that the average length for a cover letter is two-thirds of a page, maximum, how many words is that?

Well, if you don’t have any specific instructions from the employer, keep it between 250 and 400, ideally 300. If you’re using a 12 point font and you’ve written your 3 paragraphs, that’s the usual word count at the end.

In any case, the average word count should be a guideline, not your main focus.

What about academic cover letter length?

The cover letter for an academic position is one of those rare cases where you can exceed the one-page maximum. In

It usually needs to include all sorts of important information such as teaching, research, departmental service, published papers, relevant accolades, and anything else that might be required for the position.

How long should my intern cover letter be?

A cover letter for an internship  should follow the same guidelines as the typical cover letter. Between 200 and 400 words is ideal.

It could be shorter, as well. If you’re applying for an internship, chances are you don’t have a lot of experience resulting in fewer things you can include in your cover letter.

• Focus less on how long does a cover letter need to be and more on what is required from the company you’re applying to;
• Always research for specific instructions from the hiring managers regarding cover letter length and other requirements;
• Unless you’re applying for an academic position or another one that demands a longer letter, don’t go over one page;
• The format of the cover letter should be professional and clean. The goal is to make your text easy to scan and understand. You can use Enhancv’s Content Analyzer  to check everything.
• Write simply and use short sentences;
• Tailor your letter to the position you’re applying for. Make it personal and show that you care.

What are your experiences with writing cover letters? Have you ever written a cover letter longer than one page?

Tell us in the comments below and if you found this article useful, make sure to share it with anyone who might need it.

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How Long Should a Resume Be? Expert Insights for 2024

• The Ideal Resume Length
• Tailoring Your Resume
• Resume Length Best Practices
• Real Life Resume Examples

Resume Length FAQs

When you’re in the job market, your resume is one of the first things hiring managers review to learn about you. So, you want to optimize yours to ensure it’s as successful as possible. However, a common question is, how long should your resume be?

If you’ve reviewed resume templates from different sources, you may have realized there’s some debate on this topic. On one end, you have hiring experts recommending multi-page resumes to ensure you include enough relevant skills and experiences. Then, others favor a concise one-page resume to focus on your most essential abilities for fast-paced review processes.

What’s the ideal option? We’ll break down how to select the best resume length in this article.

Determining the Ideal Resume Length

The ideal length for your resume can vary depending on your field and level of experience. In this section, we’ll recommend the best resume length for most people, best practices to ensure yours is impactful, and instances where you might need a longer resume.

Should your resume be one page?

A one-page resume is usually recommended for most people. In the current job market, many job openings receive hundreds of applicants. That’s especially true with remote jobs becoming more common . Employers will have more job seekers reaching out when they’re open to hiring those located across the country or worldwide.

To give yourself the best chance of success in fast-paced hiring processes where you’re going up against hundreds of others vying for the same position, keeping your resume brief while highlighting the most relevant abilities in your resume skills and experiences sections will help you rise to the top.

In addition, when hiring managers review resumes consistently, they get quick at identifying qualified applicants. It’s estimated that hiring managers make a first impression on resumes within six to eight seconds. That’s why using a resume outline that provides a professional structure and optimizes readability is essential to making it through those fast initial reviews.

For example, consider someone who’s applying to a customer service role at a company that emphasizes skills in Zendesk, Microsoft Office, and multi-line phone systems.

The applicant with everything neatly tied together on one page will likely have a better chance of getting the hiring manager’s attention immediately since they’ll clearly see examples like how you used Microsoft Excel for 56% more accurate customer data management.

Compare that to the applicant who has similar relevant experience buried on a second page, which will probably get missed since the hiring manager doesn’t have enough time to review it all.

One-page resumes are also great for entry-level applicants to concisely portray their most relevant education and abilities.

Even if you don’t have much experience, fill out a full page so your resume looks complete. You can add more details about education, projects, hobbies & interests , or non-traditional work like volunteering to provide a well-rounded overview of what you bring to the table.

When to extend beyond one page

While keeping it to one page will create a good standard resume for most people, there are some cases where extending it beyond a single page would be a good idea. The two most likely scenarios would be if you have extensive experience that’s all relevant in the hiring process or when you’re applying to a highly technical position.

Extending your resume beyond one page is best for job seekers with ten or more years of experience in their field. Plus, certain types of high-level jobs may require you to show an extensive amount of experience. That can include:

• Executive roles like CEOs or CFOs often require a long tenure of effectively managing corporate finances or operational procedures.
• Senior finance roles, like senior accountants, where you must showcase long-standing compliance and accuracy.
• Lead scientific roles, like a head medical researcher, that require an accurate and effective history in the lab.
• Senior criminal defense roles, such as senior attorneys, where you may want to display lots of successful litigation and cases managed.
• High-level law enforcement, such as police captains, would want to show a long tenure of safety and accuracy in the field and managing teams.

Highly technical positions like software architects, engineers, or electricians, where you may need tons of skills to be successful on the job, could also benefit from longer resumes. For example, a software engineer may need to know several coding languages, design and data management software, and be able to follow strict industry regulations.

Balancing detail with brevity

While some instances require extending your resume beyond one page, you still want to ensure it’s as concise as possible and includes only the most essential details for fast-paced hiring processes. Some tips to help you achieve the ideal balance are:

• Only include your most relevant experiences: Even if you have ten or more years in your field, consider if all your work history is still relevant. For instance, if you’re applying to a management role, you can probably remove entry-level jobs like internships and apprenticeships to emphasize advanced roles that show leadership abilities.
• Limit work experience bullet points to one sentence: Detailed examples of work achievements are essential. However, you don’t need to go over one sentence in most cases to show your impact. For example, saying you used solution-focused service to maintain 96% customer satisfaction scores is sufficient to show great customer service skills.
• Use a resume checker: When you’re unsure if everything on your resume is necessary to land the job, try using a resume checker to help you review its structure and effectiveness.
• Add a summary: This is a great idea when you have a lot of experience. It’ll help you detail two or three sentences about your most relevant skills and experiences so they immediately stand out to hiring managers.
• Use your cover letter to fill in the gaps: Your cover letter can fill in details you leave off your resume to help you round out professional experience while keeping things brief. Using cover letter examples or cover letter generators as a guide will help you do that successfully.

Tailoring Your Resume by Experience Level

When you’re wondering how many pages a resume should be, you want to consider different levels of experience. After all, the contents of your resume should evolve to provide the best representation of your current abilities as you gain new skills and industry standards shift. Here are some tips to optimize length and effectiveness at different experience levels.

New graduates and entry-level professionals

A concise one-page resume is the best fit for entry-level professionals with 0-3 years of experience in their field. As mentioned earlier, you should still fill out an entire page to showcase enough relevant experience. Here are some tips to do so:

• Put a bigger emphasis on education: Your education has prepared you to join the workforce, so use it to stand out in the hiring process. Did you get an excellent grade on a project while applying relevant skills or maintain a great GPA while balancing extracurricular activities? Include those experiences/achievements on your resume.
• Transferable skills matter too: Experience in other fields can still give you transferable abilities you can discuss. For example, if you worked in retail, it likely helped you build customer service and teamwork abilities that apply to many roles.
• Add non-traditional work: Non-traditional work like volunteering still counts as work experience. For instance, being a volunteer youth baseball coach could show your potential for a teaching job.
• Use a career objective: A resume objective can help you emphasize details about your most essential skills or career goals when you don’t have much experience.

Mid-career professionals

Mid-career professionals (3-9 years of experience) should usually stick to a one-page resume. You’ll want to balance showing growth and relevant experiences without providing too many details that lose a hiring manager’s attention. Here are some quick tips to optimize:

• Keep it to three or four jobs: Three or four jobs should be enough to show relevant skills and experiences for most mid-career roles. Focus on the most recent jobs using a skill set that applies to the position you’re seeking.
• Remove irrelevant details: You can likely remove some details you included on entry-level resumes. For example, many mid-career professionals can remove entry-level jobs and internships. You can also limit your education section to simply list your degree rather than detailing class projects or your GPA.
• Use three to five work experience bullet points for each job: While you may have achieved a lot in each role, limit your work experience bullet points to three to five examples of your most relevant accomplishments.

Once you’ve entered the necessary information and hit save, you’ll be prompted to make a post and share the news with your network.

Senior professionals and executives

As mentioned, some senior or executive professionals with 10+ years of experience may benefit from a resume that is longer than one page. That said, keeping it as concise as possible to present your most relevant experiences and accomplishments is still important. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Focus on leadership for management roles: Many senior or executive positions require overseeing teams or taking on a lead role. Therefore, condensing your resume to focus on previous jobs where you showcased leadership can be a good idea to present your most relevant abilities.
• Eliminate outdated experiences: Some of the previous software and processes you used may have become outdated if you’ve been in your field for a while. For example, if you work in the medical industry, treatments and patient safety standards are always evolving. You’d want to eliminate any experiences using outdated treatment methods in favor of showing your abilities with current standards, equipment, and protocols.
• Get industry-specific: If you’ve worked in multiple industries, try to focus on experiences in the industry you’re applying to. For instance, if you’ve had multiple roles managing medical IT systems and corporate banking IT systems, you could focus on one or the other to make your resume as relevant as possible.

Resume Length Best Practices and Formatting Tips

How you format your resume can have a significant impact on its length and your ability to showcase a well-rounded overview of your knowledge and experiences in a condensed space. Let’s review the essential components of effective resumes and formatting tips to help you get the most out of what you’re working with.

Essential components of an effective resume

When considering resume size, it’s important to understand the essential components to provide a compelling overview of your skills. The most important sections will be:

• Experience: Whether you’re an entry-level applicant detailing projects and transferable skills or more advanced with years of technical work in your field, you must have a solid section with your work experience. Aim to include three to four previous jobs. Then, beneath those have three to five bullet points detailing achievements for each.
• Top skills: Each resume should include a brief section of bullet points with six to nine top skills. Try to tailor the skills listed in each resume to the company’s needs outlined in the job description.
• Education: Many positions have minimum education requirements, so you should list relevant education in the margin or toward the bottom of your resume.
• Your name, contact information, and job title: You should list these details at the top of your resume. Match the job title with the exact title displayed in the job description to ensure you pass ATS systems that look for specific keywords and to make your details appear relevant when a hiring manager first glances at your resume.

Utilizing design to fit more onto less space

Now that you know the essential components, let’s review some strategies for condensing as much information as possible in a short space without sacrificing readability or impactfulness.

• Use the margins: One of the best tips for condensing information on a resume is to use the margins rather than leaving them blank. You can typically put sections like your top skills, education, certifications, and hobbies/interests into the left or right margins. This saves space in the middle to prominently highlight career experiences and achievements.
• Manage font sizes: When you feel low on space, you can reduce font sizes slightly. Typically, the minimum fonts you should use to maintain readability are 11-point font for body text and 12-point font for headings.
• Adjust line and paragraph spacing: You can reduce line spacing slightly to get more information onto one page. Most resume templates use 1.5 line spacing as the standard, but you can get away with lowering it to 1.15 spacing or even single spacing if you’re in a crunch. Just make sure you maintain clearly defined sections throughout your resume to keep it readable.

What to include and what to omit

As you progress throughout your career, you must adapt your resume to appropriately present your current skill set. Here are some tips on what to include and omit for different scenarios.

As mentioned, your resume should include relevant education. However, what you should include about your education can evolve.

When applying for entry-level roles as a recent grad or college student, you may want to include more details about educational achievements and skills gained to make your resume applicable to the role you’re seeking. That said, once you gain experience, you can eliminate a lot of those extra details in favor of emphasizing real work achievements.

You might also gain new education that impacts what you should list. For example, if you started with an associate’s degree and later got a bachelor’s degree in the same field, you can get away with just listing your bachelor’s degree since it presents your highest level of education completed rather than taking up space listing both.

Hobbies & interests

When you’re an entry-level applicant, listing hobbies & interests can help show interest in your field or how you’ll fit a company’s culture. However, if you have years of experience with lots of essential education, skills, and certifications you want to pack into your resume, you can safely eliminate this section without impacting your chances of success.

Certifications

A certifications section can be an excellent idea to expand on your skills and knowledge, especially if you’ve gained more advanced or technical skills that will improve your performance on the job.

That said, you can limit this section to two or three prominent certifications you possess. For example, in the finance sector, you can get tons of certifications, like a CPA, CHA, EA, or ChFC. Narrowing it down to just a few that’ll be the most applicable to your current job duties will avoid overwhelming hiring managers with too much information.

Real-Life Resume Examples by Industry

How you structure your resume and the ideal information to include can vary by industry. To provide you with a good template and structure, here’s an overview of real-world resume examples that are getting job seekers hired in today’s job market while managing resume length effectively.

Example 1: IT and Tech Industry

In some tech roles like web or product development, you might work on a freelance or contract basis. The example below does an excellent job showcasing how a freelance front-end developer can showcase top experiences and achievements while condensing several technical skills like semantic HTML5 and jQuery on a single page.

Freelance Front-End Developer Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• In a nutshell, focus more on what you have achieved than your roles in past jobs. You can detail the actual processes of your responsibilities during an actual interview but not on your resume.

The IT industry has no shortage of technical abilities you need to be successful. However, when you’re an entry-level applicant, it can feel more challenging to present your skills while filling out your resume.

Below is a great example of effectively using education, projects, and transferable experiences to fill out entry-level IT support resumes. The applicant portrays how experiences like their time as a cashier equipped them to perform accurately on the job and how completing a project at a seminar helped them build skills in diagnosing MacOS systems to present well-rounded abilities.

Entry-Level IT Support Resume

• While you want this statement to emphasize how your educational background equipped you for the role, don’t let past internships and college projects remain unnoticed. Conclude your career objective with your intention for the role and the hiring company.

Example 2: Sales and Marketing Professionals

When you’re trying to land a high-level management role in sales, a stronger emphasis on leadership can be an excellent way to showcase your ability to plan strategies and oversee teams.

The senior inside sales manager example below does an excellent job of that. The applicant’s work experience has been narrowed down to three managerial positions, from junior inside sales manager to senior management, showing growth in their leadership skills.

Senior Inside Sales Manager Resume

• Perhaps, Smith best grasps the power of this strategy. For his resume, he leverages a reverse chronological format to illustrate his career progression; from a junior inside sales manager at Comcast to an inside sales manager at Dick’s Sports and then a senior inside sales manager at AmeriSource Bergen.

When you reach a mid-career point with three or more years of marketing experience, you’ll typically have a few jobs you can list on your resume that showcase how you’ve used your primary skills effectively.

The example below for an influencer marketing manager does a terrific job of that. It lists three previous influencer and social media marketing jobs that will be highly relevant to their current duties. Plus, it showcases highly relevant achievements, like boosting impressions and engagement on social media content.

Influencer Marketing Resume

• Achievements such as – 44% increase in social media engagement, 7.8K increase in weekly referral traffic, 4% increase in ROI over a quarter, and more – are what potential employers will be excited to see in your influencer marketing resume.

Example 3: Executive Resume

When applying for executive roles, you must showcase a long tenure of experience. The CEO example below highlights how to fit four key job titles on one page while detailing how you worked your way up the ladder.

Experiences like working up from VP of Operations to CEO at Avis Budget Group while effectively managing interns and training new employees show the exact impact this applicant will have while using their hiring and operations management skills.

• Highlights like “Increasing international interns and employees by 48%”, “reducing onsite accidents by 11%”, and “improved by 16% with clearer, measurable objectives” are textbook tricks to flaunt your wins with some serious number game.
• Using punchy action verbs like “directed”, “monitored” and “analyzed” do more than add energy to your resume; they underline your leadership acumen, signaling to recruiters you’re worthy of the open role.
• A tailored CEO resume is a gem that could catapult you right at the top of the shortlisted pile. The “partnering with CFO to lend financial guidance and advice to executives” highlight in Christianne’s resume makes for an excellent example of resume customization.
• And don’t miss a beat in weaving in descriptions of key skills within your resume’s work history. Features like “hiring”, “problem-solving”, and “operations” are certain to snag the recruiter’s attention.

Example 4: Education Resume

While applying to roles in education, you must show high levels of industry knowledge and top teaching skills.

The example below for a college professor is an excellent outline of how to neatly display all of that on a resume. The applicant presents three jobs they held as they worked their way up from assistant professor to full college professor. They also display key education with their Ph.D. in economics and current skills using prominent software like Blackboard in the margins.

College Professor Resume

• And don’t just name-drop the tools, show how they assisted students’ learning and comprehension processes.

Example 5: Healthcare Industry

In healthcare, you need to ensure compliance, use technical skills with medical equipment, and provide excellent patient care throughout your job duties.

Below is a top-notch example of how an experienced EMT can effectively demonstrate those capabilities. The applicant showcases key achievements like conducting trauma assessments in 60 seconds or less to reduce blood loss while also detailing their EMT certificate and patient care abilities on a single page.

Emergency Medical Responder Resume

• Opting for a  resume summary  can lay the groundwork for your emergency medical responder resume, but not every resume needs one. We recommend including one if you’re well-seasoned in the field and have some specializations. You can include a resume summary if you’ve been in the industry for 10+ years—just make sure it’s tailored to the specific job you’re seeking.
• Use our EMT resume examples to give you a personalized look at what great resume summaries look like.

Example 6: Retail Jobs

Not having much work experience while applying to entry-level retail jobs is common. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still showcase relevant abilities on your resume.

Take a look at the food cashier’s resume example below. The applicant does a great job detailing their achievements from their one previous experience as a food cashier. Plus, they included relevant projects in their math club that will help them manage numbers accurately and how their time as a contestant in a cooking challenge will help them perform well in a fast-paced food service environment.

Food Cashier Resume

• If your resume looks so small that you’re thinking about upping the font size to 30-point, please stop. When the font is too large, it will be obvious that you had trouble filling the page. The key here is subtlety. 
• Try including a  resume objective , which both fills in some empty space and gives hiring managers a better sense of who you are.

Example 7: Creative Roles

When you’re applying to creative and production roles, they may have different requirements than your typical job.

You can use the actor resume example below as an overview of adapting a professional resume to unique career requirements while keeping it concise. The applicant does an excellent job with this, providing performances they were in, awards they earned, and technical training they’ve had. Plus, notice how they adapted what’s in the margins, listing their physical attributes and special skills that will be relevant to landing acting roles.

Acting Resume

• For example, this resume highlights a performance in West Side Story , which required the actor to speak in a trained New York City dialect.

Example 8: Engineering Professions

Most engineering roles require several technical specialties and lots of knowledge in the field. To manage length, it can be helpful to focus on specific job titles that are relevant to the position you’re aiming for now.

Review the power electrical engineer example below. The applicant did a great job focusing on recent power electrical engineering roles they’ve held while highlighting top industry skills like high voltage systems and multi-rail operation that will grab a hiring manager’s attention.

Power Electrical Engineer Resume

• For example, if you have knowledge of voltages, currents, or multi-rail operations, include them either in your skills section or work experience bullets. 
• Always  double-check your resume  before submitting it. If you can, get a fellow engineer to check it over to spot any mistakes you might have missed.

Example 9: Maintenance Positions

Working your way up through maintenance careers usually begins with an apprenticeship. Then, you work up to more technical roles, where you take on more responsibility.

The automotive technician example below is an excellent overview of how you can detail that on a concise one-page resume. The applicant displays their experiences in reverse chronological order, with their most recent automotive technician role displayed first to highlight relevant skills. Then, as you look through the rest, you can see how they’ve grown from first taking on an apprenticeship.

Automotive Technician Resume

• Highlighting your impact in reducing repair turnaround time would go a long way to boost your chances of getting hired.

A one-page resume is ideal for most professionals, and you should aim to fill up at least one full page even if you don’t have much experience. However, if you have more than ten years of experience or are in a highly technical field, you could increase your resume’s length to two pages.

In 2024, a one-page resume is still the standard for most industries and levels of experience. It provides a well-rounded overview of your skills while avoiding overloading with too much information that will lose a hiring manager’s attention during quick review processes.

When you have extensive experience, aim to limit your resume to a maximum of five to six previous jobs that are the most recent and relevant to ensure you don’t go over two pages. You can usually eliminate entry-level roles, internships, and projects at this point in your career to keep things concise.

A one to two-page resume will be ideal for someone with 20+ years of experience, as it will give a concise and relevant overview of their abilities. Aim to focus on specific job titles, such as previous management positions when applying for leadership roles, and skills that are current with today’s software and needs.

A resume can be too short. If you aren’t filling up an entire page, it can make you appear underqualified for a position. So, even if you’re applying for an entry-level role or don’t have much work experience , fill in educational achievements, projects, or non-traditional work that still shows your capabilities.

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