how to write a job resume letter

How to Write a Resume

How to Write a Resume | Complete Guide | Resume.com

A strong resume can make all the difference when you’re applying for your dream job. It highlights your most relevant accomplishments, captures the attention of the hiring manager and can give you an immediate advantage over other candidates. Crafting a powerful resume that will accomplish these things, though, takes time. Review this step-by-step guide to learn how to write a resume that will earn you an interview and, ultimately, your dream job.

What is a resume?

A resume is a one- or two-page document that presents your experience, special skills and educational background. Oftentimes, your resume is the first impression of yourself that you share with a hiring manager, which is why it’s one of the most important components of any job application. A resume highlights your most relevant skills and accomplishments in order to present you as the most qualified candidate for a position. Your resume should be treated like a marketing document, one that is selling you as the perfect candidate for a job.

What to include in a resume

Your resume should include these five key elements:

Contact information

You should include your name, phone number, address and email address in a prominent location so it’s easy to find. You should also add the links to certain social media sites, such as your LinkedIn profile, as well as any other relevant websites, like your blog, online portfolio or personal website.

Summary statement or objective

A summary statement is a brief paragraph that highlights your skills as well as your most noteworthy accomplishments. For example, ‘Dynamic and motivated sales professional with a proven track record of generating and building relationships and coaching new sales representatives for success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams and demonstrating exceptional communication and customer service abilities.’

Instead of a summary, you could also put an objective, which simply states your objective in finding a job. Objectives have evolved in recent years to include the candidate’s broader goals or additional context. For example, ‘Digital marketing professional with five years of experience looking to transfer my skills in SEO and PPC advertising.’

It’s also important to include skills that are most relevant to the job. You can evaluate the job description, identify the key skills that the client is looking for and include those throughout your resume.

Professional experience

This is the work history section of your resume and should focus on your accomplishments over your daily responsibilities. The best way to highlight your accomplishments is to talk about what you achieved in terms of numbers, percentages and dollars.

Additional accolades

If you have any additional accomplishments, such as awards you’ve received or publications your work has appeared in, you should include a section with additional achievements. However, only include this section if the accomplishment is relevant to the position that you are applying for.

What is a resume headline?

A resume headline is a brief phrase at the top of your resume that summarizes your skills and experiences, allowing employers to quickly assess whether you’re a good fit for a job. A well-written headline can ensure the employer sees your most important information first and encourages them to read further to learn more.

How to write a resume headline

Here are the steps you can take to craft a powerful resume headline:

1. First, identify relevant keywords

Review the job description to find the keywords that are most relevant for the position. Reflect on your own experience and skills and identify the ones that are best for your headline.

2. Second, use keywords from your most relevant experiences

Highlight your most relevant experiences by using keywords related to that experience in your headline. When selecting the best keywords, evaluate whether they are a primary or secondary function for the position, whether you received any awards or had any wins related to the function and whether you developed any special skills in the role.

3. Third, select keywords that show confidence

To show that the hiring manager that you are confident in your abilities, select words that communicate your confidence. Some examples of this are ‘experienced’ and ‘ambitious.’

4. Next, create a short and concise statement

Create a brief statement that communicates your most relevant qualifications for a position. Use specific details within the statement, such as your years of experience, awards and quantifiable results you’ve achieved.

5. Finally, update the headline for every job

You should always personalize your resume for every position, which should also include your resume headline. Use the headline to target your resume for the specific role, as it will increase the likelihood that they stop and give your resume a closer look.

Examples of resume headlines

Here are some examples of resume headlines to give you ideas as you craft your own:

• ‘Goal-oriented sales manager with 10 years of experience in technology’
• ‘Ambitious project manager who consistently beats budgets and deadlines by 25%’
• ‘Dedicated customer service representative with 7+ years of experience with high-volume call centers’
• ‘Bilingual nurse with 5+ years of experience in critical care’
• ‘Enthusiastic retail professional with 3+ years experience in sports apparel’
• ‘Growth marketing manager with 10 years of experience in online advertising’

By taking the time to craft an impactful headline for the top of your resume, you can rapidly make a strong case for yourself as a candidate and stand out from other candidates applying for the role.

Objective vs. summary statement

Whether you should use an objective or a summary statement depends on the type of career you’re applying for. A summary statement is best for candidates who are planning to move into a role that’s similar to the one they currently hold or previously held. For example, if you are working as a project manager in one industry and plan to apply for a project management position in a different industry.

A resume objective is ideal for students, recent graduates, those looking to change careers or those who want to take a different, more advanced position. An objective allows candidates to highlight their most relevant skills to demonstrate their aptitude for a position, even if they don’t have any prior experience in the position.

Types of resume formats

There are three standard types of resume formats:

Chronological

This is the most frequently used format and lists work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent and ending with the earliest. In general, this is the format most preferred by employers, as it provides a quick look at a candidate’s entire work history.

Functional resumes focus on a candidate’s skills and specific experiences and accomplishments. Less importance is placed on the dates they work and the employment history is listed under the skills.

Combination

A combination resume allows you to highlight both your skills and experience, including a chronological list of your work history.

The majority of candidates will choose a chronological resume and as long as you have some work history and don’t have any significant gaps on your resume, it’s generally a good choice. It is the style of resume that most hiring managers are familiar with and tends to be the easiest to read and scan. That said, it’s important to take the time to choose the format that best fits your specific experience and situation.

How to choose a resume format

Here are the steps you can take to choose a resume format:

1. First, assess your experience level

If you are just starting out in the workforce, chronological resumes may not be the best format. Functional resumes, however, allow you to highlight your abilities rather than your work history. While you do include your work history, it’s at the bottom of your resume. If you are highly experienced, a chronological resume and a combination resume format can both work well.

2. Second, evaluate the position

After taking an assessment of your own experience levels, you will next need to evaluate the position you’re applying for. For example, if it’s similar to a position you currently hold or a step up from what you’re currently doing, a chronological resume that emphasizes your relevant work experience is appropriate. In this situation, a combination resume could also work well. If you are changing your career, a combination format is ideal, as it emphasizes your transferrable skills and the accomplishments you achieved in prior roles.

3. Finally, evaluate your work history

This is an important step because if you are someone who has gaps in their employment history, functional or combination resumes are the best choices. Choosing a resume format is an important decision, as certain formats may allow you to better highlight your skills and most relevant experiences. It’s especially important for people who are new to the workforce, going through career changes or who have gaps in their employment history.

Best practices for formatting your resume

Here are a few best practices you should be aware of as you begin writing your resume:

Keep it to one page

In most cases, your resume should only be one page in length. The exception to this is if you are an extremely experienced candidate whose work history is highly relevant to the position. If you’ve removed all non-relevant experiences and skills from your resume and you still aren’t able to fit it on one page, use two. That said, if it is under one-and-a-half pages, look for ways to shorten it to one.

Use one-inch margins

It’s important to use one-inch margins on your resume. White space makes your resume more readable and increases the likelihood that the hiring manager will read it until the end. Use ample white space, especially around the margins.

Create clear section headings

Choose a heading style for each separate section—work history, skills and education—and stay with that throughout your entire resume.

Select an easy-to-read font

There are a number of different fonts that are appropriate for resumes, including Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Roboto and Overpass. The important part is that it is easy to read and stands out clearly on the page.

Choose the right font size

You want to choose a font size that is easy to read. As a general rule, it’s best to use a font that’s 10 or 12 points in size for the normal text. For your headings, use a 14- to 16-point font.

Save as a PDF

Because the formatting for resumes saved in Word can change from one computer to the next, you should always save your resume as a PDF.

Name the PDF file appropriately

Because you’ll likely be sending your resume file as an attachment, it’s important to name the document appropriately so that it’s easily apparent what it is before the hiring manager opens the file. For example, you may want to name it amy-ryan-resume.pdf. It’s best to name the file using both your first and last name to avoid the possibility that it could become confused with someone else’s resume. Naming the file in this way also decreases the likelihood that it will be last or confused with someone else’s application.

Top skills to list on your resume

Here are some of the most important skills you should include on your resume:

Industry-specific skills

There are certain skills that you need to be successful in your industry. For example, if you are an accountant, financial reporting is likely a key skill that employers look for. If you’re a teacher, strong communication skills are important. List them prominently on your resume so they pass the initial screening test and get beyond filters from any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that the company may be using.

Hard skills

These are skills that people learn through education and training and are often tied to past work experiences, degrees or certifications you’ve earned. These skills can usually either be proven or measured. For example, foreign language skills or understanding how to use specific computer programming languages are all hard skills.

Tool proficiencies

This refers to your ability to use certain programs or machinery. For example, if you are a graphic artist, tool proficiencies could include Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. If you’re a radiologist, tool proficiencies would include being skilled with x-ray equipment.

Soft skills

These are important skills that you should include on your resume, particularly within the work history section, where you can demonstrate how you actively used them in past positions. These skills are often transferrable from one role to the next and employers often assess a candidate’s soft skills to better understand their personalities.

How to list skills on your resume

Here are the steps you can take to include skills on your resume:

1. First, review the job description and identify keywords

Review the job description for the position you’re applying for and write down the specific skills they would like to see in the ideal candidate.

2. Second, make a list of all your skills

Make a list of all of the skills you have, including hard and soft skills as well as proficiencies with specific tools. You may want to review your current resume and work history to give yourself ideas.

3. Third, include a section for relevant skills

Evaluate how your skills align with those that were included in the job description. Make note of the ones that will be more relevant to the position and most desirable for the hiring manager. Add that list to a skills section on your resume.

4. Finally, highlight skills in your work history

Finally, highlight your skills within the bullets in your work history section. This will help demonstrate to the hiring manager how you successfully used those skills in other positions. For example, if you are a customer sales representative, you could write on your resume, ‘Collaborated with a team of 20 sales reps to solve unexpected problems like customer service complaints.’ This bullet emphasizes that the candidate has collaboration as well as problem-solving skills, both of which employers want to see in a candidate.

By emphasizing the skills you have that are relevant to the position, you can help the hiring manager immediately identify whether you’re qualified for a role and increase the likelihood of an interview.

How to list work experience in a resume

Here are the steps you should take to successfully list your work experience on your resume:

1. First, list your job title

Your job title should go at the very top of each entry within your work experience section. Make it bold and one or two points larger than the rest of the font to ensure it can be scanned easily.

2. Second, list the company, city and state

On the second line, under your title, list the name of the company you worked for as well as the city and state the company is located in.

3. Third, add the dates of employment

Next, add the dates you were employed there. You have the choice between putting the month and year of just the year. If you went through brief periods of unemployment, you may want to add just the year to make it less apparent that there are gaps in your employment history.

4. Fourth, add your key responsibilities

Before creating the bullet points, think about the responsibilities you held in each position. Only add the tasks that are relevant to the role for which you’re applying.

5. Next, add your key achievements

Next, think about your greatest accomplishments while you were in those roles. If possible, use numbers, percentages and dollar amounts to show to the hiring manager the impact you had on the organization. For example, instead of writing, ‘Exceeded my monthly and quarterly sales quotas regularly,’ you could write, ‘Regularly exceeded my sales quotas by 25% or more, driving $100k in additional revenue.’

6. Finally, add keywords

When you’re done creating all of the bullets for each of your relevant work experiences, refer back to your list of relevant skills and add keywords throughout the experiences section. It’s important, as you do this, to be careful not to add too many keywords, which could make it sound unnatural and reflect poorly on you as a candidate.

By taking the time to craft a work history section that is tailored for your specific job, shows quantifiable results and emphasizes the most relevant keywords for the role, you will substantially increase the likelihood of an interview. Your work history is, arguably, the most important part of your resume, as it emphasizes not only the skills you have developed through your work, but also your accomplishments and key experiences. For this reason, it’s essential to position your work history in a way that highlights your greatest wins in order to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

Tips for creating a powerful work history section

Here are some additional tips you can use to create an impactful work history section:

Place your greatest accomplishments first

Always place your most impressive accomplishments at the top so they’re most likely to catch the hiring manager’s attention and compel them to keep reading.

Focus on PAR

PAR stands for Problem, Action and Results. This is a good way to think about your responsibilities in terms of accomplishments. First, consider the challenges that you faced in your position or challenges that the company was facing. Next, think about the specific actions you took to overcome the problem. Finally, identify the results of those efforts. Use this technique to write down a list of all of your accomplishments and incorporate your most impressive ones into your resume.

Lead with the outcome

When you’re creating a bullet, write the result before listing the problem and action. This allows you to lead with the part that will most get the hiring manager’s attention. For example, instead of saying, ‘Streamlined process and built a great sales team to reverse an annual $1 million decline in market share,’ you could say, ‘Reversed an annual $1 million decline in profit share by streamlining processes and building a great sales team.’

Use action words

Select the words in your work history carefully. When describing your responsibilities and accomplishments, use action words.

Examples of action words:

How to include resume keywords

Here are some steps you can take to include keywords on your resume:

1. First, review the job description for the required skills and experience

Resume keywords are the words or phrases shown in job postings and job descriptions that relate to the job requirements, and they are critical for helping your resume catch the attention of a hiring manager. They include not only skills but also credentials, qualities and key experiences that the hiring manager may be looking for. Keywords are especially important if the company is using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen for the best candidates. By reviewing the job description and adding keywords to your resume, you can increase the likelihood of getting the hiring manager’s attention and earning yourself an interview.

2. Second, be specific

Use keywords that are as closely related to the specific role as possible. The more specific you are to the language they’re using, the greater the likelihood you’ll get past the ATS filter. For example, if the job description says they’re looking for a candidate with a background in project management and you use the words ‘project manager’ on your resume, rather than ‘project management,’ you may not get past the filter. Pay particular attention to the form and tense the keyword is in and use that same exact wording on your resume.

3. Next, mix up your keywords

You should include a wide variety of keywords throughout your resume, including hard and soft skills, industry buzzwords, certifications and degrees. Try using variations of the same word as well. For example, if you are a copywriter, you should use word copywriter, but also consider using other variations of it, such as content creator or writer.

3. Finally, include them throughout your resume

Include your resume keywords throughout our resume, including in your summary statement, skills section, job description and anywhere else that seems appropriate.

How to include education on your resume

Here are some steps for including your education on your resume to help emphasize that you have the knowledge and expertise to fill a role:

1. First, format your resume consistently

The first step when creating the education section of your resume is to make sure you’re using the same formatting you’ve used throughout the rest of your resume. For example, if you have bolded the names of your employers in the work history section, you should also bold the names of the colleges you attended in the education section. Use the same font sizes and styles as well.

2. Second, list the degree, school and school location

After you’ve formatted the section correctly, list your degree, the college or university you attended and the location of the school. You can choose to write out the degree—Bachelor of Science—or use the acronym, such as B.S. or B.A. if you’re limited on space.

3. Finally, consider adding other information

There are a few situations where you may want to add other information. For example, if you have obtained your degree in the last 15 years, it’s appropriate to list the date you graduated. If you completed your degree more than 15 years ago, it’s best to leave it off. If you will be graduating soon but have not yet completed your degree, write, ‘Expected graduation [date].’

By being strategic in the way you format and list your educational background on your resume, you will make it easier for the hiring manager to scan and quickly assess whether you meet the educational qualifications for a position. In fact, recent graduates who have little work experience may even want to consider switching their work history and education sections, placing their educational qualifications at the top of the resume. If you do have professional experience, however, it’s most appropriate to place the education section after your work history.

Tips for listing your educational background

Here are some additional tips to help you create the education section for your resume:

List your most recent degree first

If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse chronological order with your most recent degree first. In situations where you had a double major, you can list both degrees in the same section.

List your high school diploma if it’s your highest degree

If your high school diploma or GED is your highest degree, include it on your resume. You could also leave it off entirely if you have significant work experience.

Note how the employer described education

Review the job description and make note of how the employer described education requirements. For example, did they write B.S. or bachelor’s degree? Unless you’re limited on space and must write B.S., it’s best to write your degree in the same way that the employer did. This will help you get past any ATS filters.

List minors after your major

While it’s important to include any minors or concentrations—especially if they are relevant to the job for which you’re applying—you should list them after you’ve listed your major.

Example of how to list a minor on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts, Marketing, Minor Journalism

St. Paul University | Chicago, IL | December 2019

Include a GPA if it’s 3.4 or above

If you are a recent graduate and had a high GPA, you may want to include your GPA in the education section as well.

Example of how to include GPA on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts in English (GPA: 3.8)

Kansas City University | Kansas City, MO | May 2019

Include college education, even if you didn’t graduate

If you went to college but didn’t graduate, it’s still appropriate to include your college education on your resume, especially if it’s relevant to the position for which you’re applying.

Example of how to indicate level of college education:

Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Bachelor of Arts, English, 65 credit hours obtained

Include study abroad programs

Adding study abroad experiences to your resume can show an employer that you’re hardworking and not afraid to take risks. Because this information generally doesn’t take up much room on your resume, you should include it. You would format this information in the same way you format the other college education on your resume.

Example of how to include study abroad experience:

Oxford University, Oxford, England (Study Abroad) January 2018-July 2018

Best practices for writing a resume

Here are some best practices to keep in mind as you create a resume:

Keep it organized and visually appealing

Keep in mind that hiring managers will usually spend only 10 seconds scanning your resume to decide if they want to look more closely. Help them make the most of that time by making sure that your resume is clear and easy to read. You should bold and possibly even capitalize the headings of each section and use an easy-to-read font.

Tailor your resume and cover letter for each job

Customize both your resume and cover letter for every job you apply for. Research the company and review the job description carefully. Identify the skills, experiences and qualifies that the organization is looking for and then reflect those qualifications in your resume. While this process is time-consuming, it will have a big impact on how well your resume stands out from the other applications. Consider keeping a master list of all your experiences that you can refer back to as you’re customizing your resume. Then select the ones that are most relevant to the specific role for which you’re applying.

Leave off your references

If you get to the point in the hiring process that the employer wants to speak with your references, they’ll request them. Reserve the valuable space on your resume for talking about your abilities and qualifications.

Use your judgment when it comes to creativity

Some industries and professionals are more creative than others. Keep this in mind as you decide whether to use images or color on your resume. If you’re working in creative industries like digital media or design, being more creative with your resume can be appropriate and help you stand out as a candidate. If you’re applying for a position in a more traditional industry, such as finance, or a corporate position, it’s best to leave your resume black and white.

Proofread and edit carefully

Read your resume carefully, looking for typos and grammatical errors. Also, look for information that isn’t directly related to the position for which you’re applying. Remove any experiences or skills that aren’t directly related to the role. It’s also a good idea to give your resume to a friend or family member. This will increase the likelihood that you’ll catch any remaining spelling or grammatical mistakes.

How to match a resume with a cover letter

Here are the steps you should take to match your cover letter to your resume:

1. First, pay attention to layout

Just like on your resume, your cover letter should be clean and polished. Match the layout of your cover letter, including margins and line spacing, to your resume. Ideally, the margins should be one-inch wide and have single spacing. You should also leave a space between paragraphs.

2. Second, use the same color scheme

Follow the same color scheme on your cover letter that you used on your resume. For example, if your resume has gray borders, use that same color in the design on your cover letter. This will help you create a smooth transition from one document to the next. Because hiring managers see a lot of applications, the format and style you use for your cover letter should catch their attention as well. For that reason, it’s important to create a cover letter that complements the rest of your application package.

3. Third, use the same font and font size

It’s also a good idea to use the same font style in both your resume and cover letter. Fonts like Calibri, Helvetica and Arial are simple and easy to read, both electronically and in print. You should also use the same font size in your resume and cover letter. It should be at least 10 points in size and no longer than 12. Text written in this size is easier to read and appears better visually, making your cover letter look more complete.

4. Finally, keep contact information identical

Finally, the contact information in the header of your cover letter should be identical to the contact information in your resume. Check to ensure that the name, email address, phone number and mailing address are identical on both documents. While it is appropriate for one document to have more information than the other, such as adding a website, online portfolio or LinkedIn address to the header of your resume, the specific personal details on both documents should be the same.

While your resume is an outline of your accomplishments, skills and work history, your cover letter should serve as its commentary. A well-written cover letter can sometimes make all the difference when a hiring manager is deciding whether or not to bring a candidate in for an interview. By taking the time to craft one that complements your resume, you are sending the message that you are serious about the job, potentially even helping your application package stand out from the rest.

Frequently asked questions about resumes

Here are some of the most common resume questions:

Should I write my resume in past or present tense?

In general, if you’re writing about a position you currently hold, you will use present tense. If you’re writing about a job you held in the past, you should write in past tense. That said, there is an exception. If you’re writing about something you did in your job, such as an accomplishment you achieved or a project you worked on and it’s no longer something you’re doing, you should write about it in the past tense.

If you’re in doubt, the simplest solution is to put everything in past tense, even your current responsibilities. The most important thing is that you’re consistent throughout your entire resume.

Should you include every job you’ve ever worked?

In general, it’s best not to go back more than 10 or 15 years into your past work history. There are exceptions to this rule, though. For example, if you worked for a company in the past or held a position that’s highly relevant to the role for which you’re applying, it could be worth including. You may also want to include contract work you’ve done—even if only for a few months—if it is relevant to the position.

Should you include your hobbies?

If you have room on your resume—especially if you’re trying to build your resume to a full page—it’s acceptable to include hobbies. However, focus on including hobbies that are relevant to the position. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a digital marketer, it’s a great idea to share that you are on the media committee for your city’s annual black-tie gala.

It’s also okay to list interests that evoke intellect, team building and action. For example, listing marathon training, intramural sports, chess-playing or extensive travel can tell the hiring manager about your personality while demonstrating that you regularly employ your soft skills outside of the workplace.

Resume template for no experience

Here is a template you can use to craft your own resume if you have no professional experience:

[Desired profession]

[Email address]

[Objective]

[Year – year/Present]

[College/university]

[Field of study]

GPA: [include if above 3.4]

Relevant coursework

Extracurricular activities and achievements:

• [List any extracurricular activities], [Year]

[High school], [City, State]

High School Diploma

GPA [include GPA if above 3.4]

Combined SAT score: [score]

Activities:

• Member of [sport/club], Grade [grades you participated]

[Year] – Present

Volunteering

[City, State]

• [List volunteering, internships or freelance opportunities]
• [Language] (Proficiency: Advanced/Conversational)

CERTIFICATIONS

• [Relevant certifications]

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

• [Relevant hobbies or interests]

Example of resume with no experience

Here is an example of a resume where the candidate had no professional experience:

Jessica Harris

Jr. Copywriter

555-555-5555

[email protected]

A motivated and ambitious student seeking to apply my copywriting skills in a local Tampa agency.

2018 – Present

University of Tampa

English Literature

• Marketing 101
• Psychology 101
• Dean’s List, all semesters
• Spanish Club officer, 2018

Tampa High School, Tampa, FL

Combined SAT score: 1450

• Captain of Swim Team, 2010-2012

2017 – Present

• Help local community develop marketing materials to promote garage sale
• Created website copy for a local band
• Write product reviews for a local e-commerce company
• Verbal and written communication
• Creative thinking
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Spanish: conversational
• Copywriting 101 – Udemy Certification
• Maintain and promote a blog on local musicians

Resume template for gaps in work experience

Use this resume template if you have gaps in your work history:

CAREER OBJECTIVE

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Completed [share big accomplishment]
• Improved [share big accomplishment]
• Developed [share big accomplishment]

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

[Core skill]: Description of the experience where you used that skill

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

[Title], [Year – year]

[Company], [City], [State]

[Degree]  [Date]

[College or university], [City, State]

Example of resume with gaps in work experience

Here is an example of a resume where the candidate had gaps in their work history:

Samantha Adams

938 Grand Bayou

Riverscape, OK 93231

[email protected]

To secure a position with an e-commerce company and utilize my skills as a digital marketer.

• Grew website traffic 150% over one year, resulting in $100k additional revenue
• Managed team of web developers and launched a fully re-designed website in six months
• Hired, trained and managed a team of eight marketers to website strategy
• Strategic planning
• Copywriting
• Social media
• Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving: Hired a team of web developers to focus on UX design, which reduced the website bounce rate by 50% and increased mobile sales by 25% in one month.

Management: Oversaw the work of an eight-person marketing team, setting goals, providing support and guidance and performing quality control. Grew the team from three to eight people over two years.

Advertising: Launched a four-week advertising campaign that drove $50k in sales during what was usually a slow season for the company.

Marketing Manager , 2018 – Present

OfficeSupplies4You, Tulsa, OK

Digital Marketer , 2016 – 2018

Digital Marketer , 2008 – 2011

Sports Equipment LLC, Tulsa, OK

Master of Science in Marketing – 2005

University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK

Bachelor of Science in Marketing –  2003

Minor in English

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A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions.

60+ Cover Letter Examples in 2024 [For All Professions]

No matter where you are in your career, or what job you’re applying for, submitting a cover letter with your resume is a must . 

Done right, a cover letter will effectively complement your resume and explain to the hiring manager in more detail why you’re the right person for the job.

Writing a cover letter, however, is easier said than done. 

You have to effectively demonstrate that you’ll be able to perform the responsibilities listed in the job description and that you’d be a better fit for the company compared to other candidates. 

And unless you’re a professional writer, this can be a very hard task.

Fortunately, we created these cover letter examples to inspire you and help you get started with your own cover letter!

Let’s dive in!

21 Cover Letter Examples 

#1. career change cover letter example .

Here’s what this cover letter does right:

• Has an ideal length. This cover letter includes all the relevant information for the hiring manager without getting into too much detail.
• Relevant introduction. The candidate explains that they’re changing careers and why they want to work in this new field from the get-go.
• Explains their related experience. The candidate explains how their previous experience in retail sales can help them succeed in PR.

Check out our guide video guide to learn how to write a Cover Letter that gets you HIRED!

#2. Recent Graduate Cover Letter Example 

• Personally greets the hiring manager. The candidate has taken the time to find the hiring manager’s name and address them by it, which makes the opening of the cover letter much more personal.
• Wraps up with a call to action. The candidate wraps up the cover letter by suggesting a meeting with the hiring manager, which makes them more memorable.
• Explains why the candidate is the right person for the internship. In this cover letter for an internship , the candidate explains how they’ve previously interned in a different firm, which gives them the experience to succeed in this role.

Have you just graduated from college? Make sure to check out our guide on writing an entry-level cover letter from start to finish! 

#3. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

• Use of bullet points. The candidate presents the information in a concise and reader-friendly way, making it easy for the hiring manager to find their key achievements. 
• Formal closing. The candidate has used a formal and polite tone to conclude their cover letter, which combined with a call to action makes them look professional and passionate about getting the job. 
• Explains how the company would benefit from hiring them. The candidate outlines exactly what they could do for the company, which not only highlights their skills but also shows they’ve done their research on the company’s needs. 

#4. Business Manager Cover Letter Example

• Detailed header. In addition to the must-have contact details, this candidate has also included their professional Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, making it easy for the hiring manager to look more closely into their career. 
• Concise and to the point. This candidate has used short paragraphs and bullet points to make the cover letter easy to skim through. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. By letting the hiring manager know they’ll be contacting them soon, they’re more likely to make an impression.

Check out this article for a complete writing guide and an inspiring business manager resume sample. 

#5. Ph.D. Cover Letter Example

Here’s what this cover letter does right: 

• Attention-grabbing introduction. In the opening paragraph, this candidate explains why they’re passionate about pursuing a Ph.D. in great detail. 
• Explains the candidate’s qualifications in detail. The candidate builds on their passion by explaining how they’re also qualified for the degree because of their education history and academic achievements. 

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

• Professional and minimalistic template. This senior executive has used a professional but minimalistic template that lets their work experience do the talking. 
• Achievement-oriented opening paragraph. Right from the get-go, this candidate explains what makes them so good at their job, effectively grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.  
• Wraps up with a call to action. By suggesting to have a meeting and discussing how they can help the company meet its goals, the candidate stands more chance to make a positive lasting impression. 

#7. Architect Cover Letter Example 

• Modern resume template. This architect has picked a template that perfectly matches his industry, as it is professional and modern at the same time. 
• A personal greeting to the HR. They address the hiring manager by their first name, which helps make a better first impression. 
• Measurable achievements. By quantifying their achievements, the candidate proves their achievements instead of just claiming them.

Struggling with your architect resume ? Check out our full guide!

#8. Business Analyst Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has listed both their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, providing the HR manager an opportunity to learn more about the candidate.  
• Mentions what the candidate can do for the company. This cover letter doesn’t just explain why the job would be great for the candidate, but also how the candidate would benefit the company. Win-win, right? 
• Error-free and reader-friendly. It’s super important for the cover letter to have no spelling or grammatical errors and be reader-friendly. This candidate made sure they did both.

Need a resume alongside your cover letter? Check out our guide on how to write a business analyst resume . 

#9. Consultant Cover Letter Example 

• Professional cover letter template. Being an experienced consultant, this candidate has picked a professional template that doesn’t steal the spotlight from their achievements. 
• Experience and achievement-oriented. The candidate has effectively elaborated on their top achievements relevant to the job. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. To show they want the job, this candidate has also explained how passionate they are about their profession.

For more advice on landing a job as a consultant, check out our guide to writing a consultant resume .

#10. Digital Marketing Cover Letter Example

• Creative cover letter template. This digital marketer highlights their originality by picking a creative cover letter template. 
• Lists the candidate’s awards. The candidate has taken advantage of the cover letter to list their most noteworthy awards in the industry. 
• Concludes with a call to action. As they used a call to action to conclude their cover letter, the HR manager will be more likely to remember them.

Want to take your digital marketing resume to the next level? Check out our guide!

#11. Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example 

• Detailed contact information. The candidate has included additional contact information such as their website link, as well as their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.  
• Ideal length. This cover letter is concise, which means that the HR manager is more likely to read it from start to finish.  
• Draws attention to the candidate’s strong points. Although this candidate is a recent college graduate, they’ve managed to effectively show that they have enough knowledge and experience to do the job right.

Read this guide to write a graphic designer resume that’s just as good as your cover letter!

#12. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. The candidate picked a well-designed but minimalistic template for their cover letter. 
• Focused on skills and achievements. This cover letter is packed with the candidate’s skills and achievements, proving he can be an excellent employee. 
• Formal closing. Politeness can go a long way and the candidate has used this to their advantage to make an impression. 

Our article on how to write an administrative assistant resume can help you take your job application to the next level.

#13. Front Desk Cover Letter Example

• Modern cover letter template. This template incorporates memorable colors and clear lines, which make the cover letter very visually appealing. 
• Attention-grabbing introduction. Using an attention-grabbing intro, the candidate is more likely to make an impression. 
• Calls the HR to action. By including a call to action, the candidate is reminding the HR of their immediate availability. 

#14. Human Resources Cover Letter Example

• It is concise and to the point. The candidate doesn’t dwell on unimportant details the HR won’t be interested in. 
• Uses a traditional cover letter template. The cover letter design is more on the conventional side, which fits the industry better. 
• Highlights the candidate’s strong points. The candidate has rich work experience and they use the cover letter to elaborate on it. 

This HR resume guide can help you get your resume just right.

#15. Sales Agent Cover Letter Example 

• Attention-grabbing cover letter template. As a salesperson, this candidate knows how important first impressions are, so they’ve picked a catchy cover letter template. 
• Has an ideal length. At the same time, they’ve also made sure to keep their cover letter at just the right length. 
• Lists the candidate’s career highlights. The candidate has made perfect use of the space by mentioning their most impressive professional achievements. 

Check out this sales agent resume guide to create an attention-grabbing sales resume .

#16. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

• Modern but minimalistic cover letter template. The template’s design hints the candidate is creative but professional at the same time. 
• Uses a catchy introduction. The candidate has used an attention-grabbing opening paragraph to catch HR’s attention. 
• Concludes the cover letter formally. The candidate proves that they’re polite and well-spoken, a quality very much important for the role they’re applying for. 

Take your receptionist resume to the next level with this receptionist resume guide .

#17. Information Technology Cover Letter Example

• Mentions measurable achievements. Numbers make an impact, which is why this candidate has included measurable achievements. 
• Lists both soft and hard skills. The candidate has mentioned a great mix of soft and hard skills, showing how well-rounded they are. 
• Contains relevant contact information. The candidate’s GitHub, website name, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles are all great additions to the resume. 

Looking for tips to help you write a great IT resume ? Check out our guide!

#18. Real Estate Cover Letter Example

• Ideal length. Short and to the point, this cover letter is bound to get noticed by the HR manager. 
• Wraps up with a call to action. This candidate reinforces the HR to call them back through a final call to action. 
• Mentions the right skills. On top of their sales accomplishments, the candidate touch upon important soft skills such as customer service and communication . 

This real estate resume guide will help you take your resume from good to great.

#19. Teacher Cover Letter Example

• Mentions relevant contact information details. This candidate has included optional (but relevant) contact information details, such as their LinkedIn, Quora, and Medium profiles. 
• Achievement-oriented. The candidate has elaborated on their achievements in more detail throughout their cover letter. 
• Highlights the candidate’s passion. For some jobs, being passionate is much more important than for others. Teaching is one of these jobs, which is why this candidate explains their passion for the job. 

Our guide on how to write a teacher resume has all the tips you need to land the job.

#20. Project Manager Cover Letter Example

• Leverages a catchy introduction. Through a catchy introductory paragraph, this candidate is sure to grab the HR’s attention and get them to read the rest of their cover letter.
• Lists measurable accomplishments. This candidate explains exactly what they’ve achieved using numbers and hard data. 
• Personally greets the HR. A personal greeting sounds much better than “Dear Sir/Madam,” and the candidate knows this. 

This guide on how to write a project manager resume can help you perfect your appication.

#21. Paralegal Cover Letter Example

• Minimalistic cover letter template. This cover letter design looks good but doesn’t steal the show from the candidate’s abilities.
• Mentions the candidate’s academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Although the candidate is a recent graduate, they’ve used the cover letter to explain they have enough skills and achievements to do the job.
• Lists measurable achievements. The candidate proves they did well in their internship by mentioning quantifiable achievements.

Check out this paralegal resume guide to perfect yours.

40+ More Cover Letter Examples and Guides 

Couldn’t find a cover letter example for your field? Do not worry.

Below you can find a number of other cover letter examples for different fields and industries:

• Acting Cover Letter Examples
• Accounting Cover Letter Examples
• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Architecture Cover Letter Examples
• Attorney Cover Letter Examples
• Barista Cover Letter Examples
• Bartender Cover Letter Examples
• Business Cover Letter Examples
• Business Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• College Student Cover Letter Examples
• Computer Science Cover Letter Examples
• Construction Cover Letter Examples
• Consultant Cover Letter Examples
• Customer Service Cover Letter Examples
• Data Analyst Cover Letter Examples
• Data Entry Cover Letter Examples
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Executive Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Finance Cover Letter Examples
• Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples
• Healthcare Cover Letter Examples
• Human Resources Cover Letter Examples
• IT Cover Letter Examples
• Law Cover Letter Examples
• Management Cover Letter Examples
• Marketing Cover Letter Examples
• Mechanical Engineering Cover Letter Examples
• Medical Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples
• Physician Cover Letter Examples
• Project Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Receptionist Cover Letter Examples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples
• Sales Cover Letter Examples
• Social Work Cover Letter Examples
• Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Examples
• Teacher Assistant Cover Letter Examples
• Team Leader Cover Letter Example

What is a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume . 

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter can give the hiring manager more insight into what makes you a good candidate and help them make up their mind about whether they should invite you for an interview. A bad cover letter, though, will get ignored (at best) and lose you the job (at worst).

So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, it’s essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

The first thing to remember is that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you shouldn’t just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume and call it a day. 

Optimally, you should use your cover letter to shed more light on your skills and qualifications, as well as explain anything you didn’t have space for in your resume (e.g. a career gap or why you’re changing careers).

If you’re writing a cover letter for the first time, though, putting all this together might seem pretty tough. 

Fortunately, you can follow our tried-and-tested format to make the experience much easier:

• Header - Input your contact information.
• Greeting the hiring manager - Open the cover letter with a “Dear Sir or Madam,” or use the hiring manager’s name if you know what that is.
• Opening paragraph - Grab the hiring manager’s attention by getting straight to the point. Mention what your professional experiences are, and what role you’re applying for.
• The second paragraph - Explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Mention your top 2-3 achievements, your top skills, why you want to work in that specific industry, and whatever else is relevant.
• The third paragraph - End your cover letter with a call to action. E.g. “I would love to meet personally and discuss how I can help Company X.”
• Formal closing - Something like this: “Thank you for your consideration. Best, John Doe.”

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

9 Tips to Write a Cover Letter (the Right Way)

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about cover letter tips . Below, we'll give you all the knowledge you need to take your cover letter from "OK" to "great."

#1. Pick the right template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

And what’s a better way to leave a good impression than through a professional, well-formatted, and visual template?

You can simply pick one of our tried-and-tested cover letter templates and you’ll be all set!

#2. Add your contact details on the header

The best way to start your cover letter is through a header. 

Here’s what you want to include there:

• Phone Number
• Name of the hiring manager / their professional title
• Name of the company you’re applying to

Optionally, you can also include the following:

• Social Media Profiles - Any type of profile that’s relevant to your field. Social Profiles on websites like LinkedIn, GitHub (for developers), Medium (for writers), etc.
• Personal Website - If you have a personal website that somehow adds value to your application, you can mention it. Let’s say you’re a professional writer. In that case, you’d want to link to your content portfolio site or blog.

#3. Greet the hiring manager the right way

Once you’ve listed all your relevant contact information, it’s time to address the hiring manager reading your cover letter. 

A good practice here is to find the hiring manager’s name and address them directly instead of using the traditional “dear sir or madam.” This shows that you’re really invested in the company and that you took your time to do some research about the job.

So, how can you find out the hiring manager’s name?

One way to do this is by looking up the head of the company’s relevant department on LinkedIn. Let’s say you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Office.

Or let’s say you’re applying for the position of server at a restaurant. In that case, you’d be looking to find out who the restaurant manager is.

If this doesn’t work, you can also check out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

If you still can’t find out the hiring manager’s name, here are several other greetings you can use:

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• To whom it may concern
• Dear [Department] Team

#4. Create an attention-grabbing introduction

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The problem with most cover letter opening paragraphs, though, is that they’re usually extremely generic, often looking something like this: 

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

As you can probably tell, this opening paragraph doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything other than that you’ve worked the job before - and that’s not really helpful in setting you apart from other candidates. 

What you want to do, instead, is start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader’s attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position. 

For example:

My name’s Michael and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as my excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the role of X at Company Y.

The second example shows how the candidate is a top performer. The first just shows that they’ve worked a sales job before.

Which one are YOU more likely to invite for an interview?

#5. Show you’re the perfect person for the job

One great thing about cover letters is that they allow you to expand more on the top achievements from your resume and really show the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. 

A good way to do that is to first read the job ad and really understand what skills/experiences are required, and then to ensure that your cover letter touches upon the said skills or experiences.

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. This means I created the ad copy and images, as well as picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

#6. Explain why you’re a great company fit

The HR manager doesn’t only look at whether you’ll be good at the job or not. They’re looking for someone that’s also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don’t fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary . 

To convince the hiring manager that you’re a great company fit, do some research on the company and find out what it is you like about them, or about working there. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company's product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

Then, turn your top reasons for liking to work there into text and add them to your cover letter! 

#7. Wrap up with a call to action

To make the end of your cover letter as memorable as possible, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Mention anything you’ve left out that you think could help the hiring manager make up your mind.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time. After all, it never hurts to be polite. 
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. A call to action is a great way to make your cover letter ending as memorable as possible. 

#8. Write a formal closing

Once you’re done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal “goodbye” and you’re good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions in a cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

#9. Proofread your cover letter

Last but not least, make sure to always proofread each and every document that you’ll be including in your job application - cover letter included. 

The last thing you want is to be claiming you’re a great candidate for the job with a cover letter full of typos! 

For an even more comprehensive guide on how to write an impactful cover letter , check out our article ! 

Cover Letter Writing Checklist 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about cover letters? Check out the answers below:

1. How do I write a simple cover letter? 

To write a cover letter that’s simple but also professional, make sure to include a header with your personal information, a formal greeting to the hiring manager, an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a second paragraph explaining why you’re a good candidate for the job, and a formal closing (preferably with a call to action). 

2. What are the 3 parts of a cover letter? 

The three parts of a cover letter are: 

• The introduction , namely the header, the greeting to the hiring manager, and the opening paragraph. 
• The sales pitch is usually the body of the cover letter. 
• The conclusion involves a formal closing and a signature line.

3. What makes a great cover letter?

A great cover letter should be personalized for each job you’re applying for, instead of being overly generic. It’s also preferable to address the hiring manager by their name and not use the overly-used “Dear Sir/Madam.”

To make a great first impression, you should mention 1-2 of your top achievements in your opening paragraph - the more job-specific they are, the better. Also, don’t stop at showing the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for the job. Make sure to also talk about how you’re a good culture fit for the company.

Last but not least, wrap up your closing paragraph with a call to action to give the hiring manager a little extra something to remember you by. 

4. When is a cover letter necessary?

Unless the job ad specifically states otherwise, you should always include a cover letter with your job application .

Even if the hiring manager doesn’t read it, you will look more professional simply by including one.

And that’s a wrap! We hope our cover letter examples and writing tips will inspire you to write a cover letter that will land you your next job.

If you’re looking for more invaluable career advice and articles, make sure to check out our career blog , or any of these related articles: 

• How to Write a Resume
• Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• Cover Letter Format (w/ Examples & Free Templates)

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How to Write a Job Application Letter (With Examples)

What Is a Job Application Letter?

Tips for writing a job application letter, how to get started.

• Writing Guidelines
• What to Include in Each Section

Simple Formatting Using a Template

Tips for writing an effective letter, sample job application letter, sending an email application, review more letter examples.

Do you need to write a letter to apply for a job? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Even when employers don’t require a job application letter , writing one will help you highlight your skills and achievements and get the hiring manager’s attention. The only time not to send one is when the job listing says not to do so. It can help, and it definitely won't hurt to include an application letter with your resume.

A job application letter, also known as a cover letter , should be sent or uploaded with your resume when applying for jobs. While your resume offers a history of your work experience and an outline of your skills and accomplishments, the job application letter you send to an employer explains why you are qualified for the position and should be selected for an interview.

Writing this letter can seem like a challenging task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing application letters to send with your resume.

Melissa Ling / The Balance

Before you begin writing your job application letter, do some groundwork. Consider what information you want to include, and keep in mind that space is limited.

Remember, this letter is making a case for your candidacy for the position. But you should do more than just regurgitate your resume. Instead, highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and abilities.

Analyze the Job Posting

To include the most convincing, relevant details in your letter, you'll need to know what the employer wants.

The biggest clues are within the job advertisement, so spend some time decoding the job listing . Next, match your qualifications with the employer's wants and needs.

Include Your Most Relevant Qualifications

Make a list of your relevant experience and skills. For instance, if the job ad calls for a strong leader, think of examples of when you've successfully led a team. Once you've jotted down some notes and have a sense of what you want to highlight in your letter, you're ready to start writing.

Writing Guidelines for Job Application Letters

Writing a job application letter is very different from a quick email to a friend or a thank-you note to a relative. Hiring managers and potential interviewers have certain expectations when it comes to the letter's presentation and appearance, from length (no more than a page) and font size to style and letter spacing . Keep these general guidelines in mind, but always stick to any explicit instructions in the job listing or application portal.

Length: A letter of application should be no more than one page long. Three to four paragraphs are typical.

Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use 1-inch margins and align your text to the left, which is the standard alignment for most documents.

Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12 points.

What to Include in Each Section of the Letter

There are also set rules for the sections included in the letter, from salutation to sign-off, and how the letter is organized. Here's a quick overview of the main sections included in a job application letter:

Heading: A job application letter should begin with both your and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone number, email), followed by the date. If this is an email rather than an actual letter, include your contact information at the end of the letter, after your signature.

•   Header Examples

Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The most common salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the person's last name. Find out more about appropriate cover letter salutations , including what to do if you don't know the person's name or are unsure of a contact's gender.

Body of the letter: Think of this section as having three distinct parts.

In the first paragraph , you'll want to mention the job you are applying for and where you saw the job listing.

The next paragraph(s) are the most important part of your letter. Remember how you gathered information about what the employer was seeking, and how you could meet their needs? This is where you'll share those relevant details on your experience and accomplishments.

The third and last part of the body of the letter will be your thank you to the employer; you can also offer follow-up information.

Complimentary Close: Sign off your email or letter with a polite close, such as "Best," or "Sincerely," followed by your name.

• Closing Examples

Signature: When you're sending or uploading a printed letter, end with your handwritten signature, followed by your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by your contact information.

• Signature Examples

Overwhelmed by all these formatting and organization requirements? One way to make the process of writing a job application easier is to use a template to create your own personalized letters. Having a template can help save you time if you are sending a lot of application letters.

Be sure that each letter you send is personalized to the company and position; do not send the same letter to different companies.

• Always write one. Unless a job posting explicitly says not to send a letter of application or cover letter, you should always send one. Even if the company does not request a letter of application, it never hurts to include one. If they do ask you to send a letter, make sure to follow the directions exactly (for example, they might ask you to send the letter as an email attachment or type it directly into their online application system).
• Use business letter format. Use a formal business letter format when writing your letter. Include your contact information at the top, the date, and the employer’s contact information. Be sure to provide a salutation at the beginning and your signature at the end.
• Sell yourself. Throughout the letter, focus on how you would benefit the company. Provide specific examples of times when you demonstrated skills or abilities that would be useful for the job, especially those listed in the job posting or description. If possible, include examples of times when you added value to a company.

Numerical values offer concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments.

• Use keywords. Reread the job listing, taking note of any keywords (such as skills or abilities that are emphasized in the listing). Try to include some of those words in your cover letter. This will help the employer see that you are a strong fit for the job.
• Keep it brief. Keep your letter under a page long, with no more than about four paragraphs. An employer is more likely to read a concise letter.
• Proofread and edit. Employers are likely to overlook an application with a lot of errors. Read through your cover letter, and if possible, ask a friend or career counselor to review the letter. Proofread for any grammar or spelling errors.

This is a job application letter sample.  Download the letter template (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online) or read the example below.

Sample Job Application Letter (Text Version)

Elizabeth Johnson 12 Jones Street Portland, Maine 04101 555-555-5555 elizabethjohnson@emailaddress.com

August 11, 2024

Mark Smith Human Resources Manager Veggies to Go 238 Main Street Portland, Maine 04101

Dear Mr. Smith,

I was so excited when my former coworker, Jay Lopez, told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your Portland offices. A long-time Veggies to Go customer and an experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.

I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant at Beauty Corp, I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on canceled shifts. I also learned web design and timesheet coding, and I perfected my Excel skills. 

I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.

Best Regards,

Elizabeth Johnson (signature hard copy letter)

Elizabeth Johnson

When you are sending your letter via email include the reason you are writing in the subject line of your message:

Subject Line Example

Subject: Elizabeth Johnson – Administrative Assistant Position

List your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter:

Email Signature Example

Elizabeth Johnson 555-555-5555 email@emailaddress.com

Review more examples of professionally written cover letters for a variety of circumstances, occupations, and job types.

CareerOneStop. " How Do I Write a Cover Letter? "

University of Maryland Global Campus. " Cover Letters ."

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• Mastering the Structure and Content
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Review and Refine Your Motivation Letter

Motivation letter faqs.

Scholarships, degrees, volunteer roles, internships, and jobs share a key requirement: motivation.

No matter if you’re applying for a research position or hoping to score a scholarship, the person you’re writing to wants to know that you’re motivated, and beyond that, what motivates you. That’s why writing a motivation letter is very different from writing a cover letter —it’s not just about your qualifications but more about what makes you tick, your story, and what brought you to where you are now.

Writing a motivation letter that captures the reader from the get-go might seem tricky, but don’t worry—that’s what we’re here for. Check out our comprehensive guide for all the motivation letter tips, examples, and templates you could wish for.

Motivation letters, also known as—surprise—letters of motivation, are often a requirement for various academic programs, scholarships, volunteering, and more.

But what are they really , and how are they any different from, say, a letter of interest or even a cover letter? Buckle up because that’s what we’ll be discusssing below.

Introduction to motivation letters

A motivation letter is essentially a single-page introduction that you send, often alongside other required documents, to institutions, companies, or individuals that might be interested in them. You’ll mostly see these in academic contexts, be it scholarships or college applications.

Motivation letters are mostly used for:

• College admissions
• Scholarship applications
• Study abroad programs
• Research positions and fellowships
• Internships
• Volunteering
• Specialized workshops and conferences
• Rarely, job applications

More often than not, a motivation letter will be required if you’re applying for any of the above. Even if it’s not, writing one and discussing your background, what’s important to you about that particular program, and a little bit of personal motivations can be the thing that sets you apart from other candidates.

A motivation letter is different from a letter of interest , letter of introduction , letter of intent, or a cover letter, although you will sometimes see these terms used interchangeably. The goal is to discuss why you’re motivated to apply and how the opportunity fits into your long-term goals and plans.

Think of it as a sort of hype letter from you to the position you’re applying for. Sure, you might be sending several of these just in case you don’t get into your first choice, but the recipient doesn’t need to know that.

To them, it should sound like this is your dream field of study, your number one college, or a life-changing internship opportunity. And more importantly, it should explain just why you’re the best pick for the opening.

Knowing when to write a motivation letter

Seeing as people use the term “motivation letter” pretty loosely, you may find them used in the context of getting a job—especially in Europe. However, the most common use cases revolve around academic opportunities.

Below, we’ll explore three of the most popular scenarios and give you handy templates to use when crafting your own.

Applying for a college program

Most universities require a motivation letter as part of the application process. When writing one, your goal should be to go over your academic goals, but also your hobbies and interests .

Colleges are after well-rounded students who have something to bring to the table, so if you can express why this program and this school are both important to you, you’ll have one foot in the door!

Here’s a template you can use to get started on your own motivation letter:

University Motivation Letter

Jessica Alvarez 123 Pretend Ave. Stanford, CA 94305 [email protected] (650) 555-0123

April 18, 2024

Ms. Evelyn Harper Director of Admissions Office of Undergraduate Admission Stanford University 123 Pretend Ave. Stanford, CA 94305

Dear Ms. Harper,

I am writing to express my sincere interest in the master’s in environmental science at Stanford University. I’m a recent graduate, having completed the program at the University of Colorado Boulder. My dream has always been to pursue an environmental science degree at Stanford, and I hope to contribute my drive and passion for environmental issues in the upcoming class of 2025.

Growing up, I became acutely aware of the disastrous impact of climate change on our planet. From glaciers to global temperatures, the whole world is affected by the mistakes that we now have to work hard to fix. My goal has always been to address climate change through innovative research and sustainable practices. I hope to one day put my knowledge and skills to use by becoming a leader in environmental policy reform.

I know that the Environmental Science program at Stanford is one of the best in the country, but the prestige is not what drove me to apply. I feel that your course is comprehensive and aligns with my dream of making a significant impact on global sustainability efforts perfectly.

I have the utmost respect for Stanford University and I am confident that my knowledge of environmental science will be an asset to every project I participate in as well as a life-changing experience for me.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss this with you in further detail at your convenience.

Sincerely, Jessica Alvarez

Applying for a scholarship

If you’re applying for a scholarship, a motivation letter is your golden opportunity—quite literally—to wow the recipient and explain to them why you are the most worthwhile candidate.

Scholarships are often few and far apart, and almost always, there’ll be more applicants than there are spots. This is why your letter needs to outline not just straight-up academic excellence, but also your future goals and what drives you to seek a scholarship. It’s okay (or even recommended) to be candid, but keep it professional.

Here’s a template to inspire you before you write your own letter of motivation:

Scholarship Motivation Letter

Jordan Padalecki 123 Pretend Ave. Atlanta, GA 30301 [email protected] (404) 555-6168

January 19, 2025

Mr. Thomas Griffin Scholarship Committee Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation 123 Pretend Ave. Atlanta, GA 30301

Dear Mr. Griffin,

My name is Jordan Padalecki and I have recently obtained my bachelor’s degree in computational media from the Georgia Institute of Technology. With great enthusiasm mixed with a dash of hope, I am writing to you to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. My dream has always been to utilize technology and media to develop educational programs that enhance learning experiences for underserved communities, and I hope that with your help, I will achieve my goals.

Throughout my education, I always strived to maintain good grades. I was an active student, with participation in coding hackathons and my role as a volunteer tutor for local community centers driving me always to learn more and do more. I’ve had my eyes on the prize from a young age, but now, I am faced with a problem that so many other students have to deal with—my situation doesn’t permit me to keep pursuing these goals and achieve my dream master’s degree in educational technology at the University of California.

Due to my family’s limited financial resources and the high costs associated with advanced education, securing funding through personal means is not feasible. This has driven me to apply for a scholarship, hoping to continue my education without the overwhelming burden of debt.

My family, as well as my past experiences, have instilled in me a profound sense of responsibility and drive for knowledge and success. I know that if I am given the chance, I will make the most out of every second at Berkeley and go on to create and implement innovative educational tools that can significantly improve learning outcomes in regions where access to technology is scarce.

I am eternally grateful for your time and your consideration. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and I hope that we can discuss my application soon.

Sincerely, Jordan Padalecki

Applying for an internship

When applying for an internship, aside from deciding on a fantastic resume template , you should consider sending a motivation letter. In this iteration, the motivation letter is perhaps closest to a cover letter, but it’s not quite the same thing.

Focus this one on your enthusiasm for the field, your approach to learning, and how this internship can be transformative to your career—but don’t forget to throw in a few words on why you’re the best candidate for the role. (Hint: using a cover letter generator can be a good start to give you some ideas.)

Here’s an example template for this type of motivation letter:

Internship Motivation Letter

Daniel Romanescu 123 Pretend Ave. Redmond, WA 98052 [email protected] (425) 555-0147

June 13, 2024

Ms. Jamila Coughlan Internship Coordinator Microsoft Corporation 123 Pretend Ave. Redmond, WA 98052

Dear Ms. Coughlan,

I am reaching out to express my enthusiastic interest in the Software Engineering Internship at Microsoft. As a recent graduate in computer science from the University of Washington and a lifelong programming enthusiast, I am eager to apply the theoretical knowledge and skills I’ve acquired in a real-world setting. I believe that my proficiency in C# and Python, as well as my experience with cloud services, will allow me to make an impact during my time at Microsoft.

I started my education at the University of Washington with a clear goal: becoming a software engineer. Not only do I find programming fascinating, but I am also motivated by the potential to develop software solutions that can improve everyday life for millions of users. My coursework in advanced programming techniques and cloud computing has provided me with a solid foundation in critical software development skills and cloud integration, and I am keen to further develop these skills through hands-on experience.

During a prior internship at a local tech startup, I was able to lead a team project that developed a comment section under every news post, resulting in a 30% increase in user engagement in the application. I am confident that these experiences, alongside my proactive approach and strong work ethic, will allow me to make a meaningful contribution to the software development team at Microsoft.

I am excited about the opportunity to bring my talents and my drive to Microsoft Corporation as an intern and I couldn’t be more eager to learn from your industry-leading experts.

I look forward to discussing this opportunity during an interview. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Sincerely, Daniel Romanescu

Mastering the Structure and Content of Motivation Letters

You may have a bucketful of motivation and an eagerness to work hard and do your best, but the recipient of your letter of motivation won’t know that unless you make it clear from the get-go.

People often get hundreds of letters, meaning that some of them end up in the bin. To prevent that from happening to yours, it’s important to structure it in a compelling way—which is what we’ll talk about below.

Structuring your motivation letter

Although any and all templates should be used as a starting point and not as a fill-in-the-blanks process, you should still stick to a traditional structure in a motivation letter. Surprise the reader with the content and hook them in with a strong intro, all the while making sure that your letter makes sense and flows well.

Right, but how do you structure all of that in a way that makes sense? Here’s our secret recipe for a winning letter of motivation.

Greeting and intro

To ensure that the recipient reads your letter, you need to chuck all generic greetings and intros out of the window. A personalized greeting is where it’s at, and if possible, try to address the recipient by name.

After the greeting, introduce yourself and state the purpose of your letter in the first sentence. Then, quickly dive into what sets you apart from others, be it your admirable drive or relevant skill set. This is just a single paragraph, but every sentence needs to be highly impactful.

Body of the letter

The next two to three paragraphs make up the body of your letter of motivation. This is where you can elaborate on the things you already briefly touched on in the intro.

In most letters, you’ll want to start by discussing your academic background and/or professional experience , and diving into what led you to where you are now. Mention any relevant coursework, group projects, extracurriculars, or volunteer work that aligns well with the opportunity.

In the second paragraph, switch gears to talking about your motivations and aspirations . This is especially important in letters tailored for scholarships, or those applying for jobs at nonprofits or volunteer positions. If you have personal reasons that drove you to reach out to this particular company or institution, shout them from the rooftops right here.

Conclusion and signoff

In the final paragraph, thank the reader for their consideration. Then, throw in a so-called call to action, meaning a sentence that drives them to act; such as “I look forward to discussing this opportunity during an interview.”

Sign off with a simple, “Sincerely, [your name].”

Crafting a compelling narrative

Your job is to tell a story, and this story needs to hit a few beats. You need to drive the point home that you’re interested in this particular opportunity and nothing else.

Next, you need to show what got you to where you are now— why are you interested in this, and what are you hoping to achieve?

Lastly, treat your qualifications as a cherry on top that shows that you’ve put a lot of effort into your field of interest and that you can’t wait to keep doing the same with this new opportunity.

Creating your motivation letter with not just the structure, but also the narrative in mind, will make for a more engaging read, and that’s always a good thing.

Here are some useful tips for this part of the process:

• Look for connections. How do your background and education align with the opportunity you’re applying to? What about your motivations and goals? When writing your letter, look for opportunities to make these little connections. Instead of just saying: “I’m driven,” say: “I was particularly impressed with the success of your track team, and I believe that my drive to keep training and do even better would make me fit right in with the class of 2025.”
• Get a little personal. Chances are that the recipient of your letter is getting many more of them from other people, and if they can all essentially be summed up as “Hi, pick me, thank you,” not a single one will stand out. That’s why getting a little personal is recommended, but make sure to keep your tone professional. Discuss why you, as a person and not just as a student or as an employee, dream of landing this opportunity.
• Drive the point home. When you’re concluding your letter, it’s a good idea to include a sentence that summarizes the contents and compels the reader to get back to you. An example of that can be, “My background in computer science and my love for coding position me as a strong candidate for the software engineering internship program at [company]. I look forward to discussing this with you further in any manner that suits you.”

Enhancing Your Motivation Letter with Advanced Strategies

Getting to the point where you have a draft may take some time, but even if you’re feeling eager, don’t send your letter just yet. Hold your horses! It’s important to polish this letter to perfection.

Check out our tips on some more advanced strategies that will give your letter that little bit of extra charm.

Personalizing your letter

We’ll share a harsh truth with you: a letter of motivation that is not personalized is most likely going to end up in the trash with the rest of the application.

People in charge of admissions, scholarships, and recruiting all receive so much correspondence that even top-notch applicants get overlooked. This is why being generic is a killer, and personalizing your letter is the way to go.

What can you do to make sure your application practically screams, “I’ve done my homework” and gets picked out of a hundred other letters?

• Do lots of research. You can’t create an effective letter without knowing the place you’re applying to in and out. Before you even start writing, learn about the company or organization and take notes on some of the programs and recent achievements. Mention them in your letter if they’re relevant.
• Tap into mission and values. Start with the basics—what is the core mission of the organization, and what values does it uphold? Knowing this allows you to tailor your narrative in a way that echoes the principles they want to see. In your research, go beyond just a simple skim of the About Us page and see if the organization is involved in any charitable work or has made any mission statements.
• Talk about specific programs. Look for specific programs, initiatives, or projects that excite you and relate to your field of interest. Mentioning these not only shows that you’ve done your homework but also that you are genuinely enthusiastic about contributing to these areas.
• Show some personality. Some letters need to be super formal, but while we don’t advise being casual, it’s okay to let go of the reins a little in your motivation letter. Let your personality shine through the words on the page and show how important this is to you.

Avoiding common mistakes

Writing a motivation letter means striking a delicate balance between personal expression and professional appeal. That makes it equally tricky as writing a resume , but it’s made harder by the fact that you won’t have a handy resume checker to look through your work for you at the end of the process.

Some of the pitfalls we discuss below need to be avoided like the plague.

• Don’t be generic. We’ve talked about this, but it warrants repeating in its own little section. Being generic is a surefire way to be ignored. It can be tiring, but avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach and write a new motivation letter from scratch for each position that you truly care about.
• Avoid clichés. Motivation letters kind of lend themselves to clichés, but try to steer clear of them. Saying something like “This is my dream and I’m a hard worker” is both generic and irrelevant. Instead, get specific, delving deeper into what this opportunity means to you. For example: “Ever since my childhood dog developed kidney disease and I helped my parents look after him, I knew that I wanted to become a veterinarian and help other animals through their pain. I know that studying at [college] is not a walk in the park, but that is precisely why I chose it—I want to work hard and become the best vet I can be.”
• Know when to stop. Even if you have a lot to say, it’s important to be concise and to the point. Your letter should always fit a single page and should ideally have no more than four to five paragraphs.

We’re almost at the finish line. You have your letter, it’s looking fantastic, and you’re itching to send it off so that you can count the days until you get a response.

That’s all well and good, but before you hit that tantalizing “Send” button, make sure to apply these finishing touches for even better effect.

Proofreading and editing

Our number one tip? Proofread your letter and then (figuratively) sleep on it. ****Don’t send this very important letter as soon as you finish it after working on it until 5 in the morning. Instead, proofread it once, get some sleep, edit it again, and then send it off. You don’t want to appear unprofessional.

Your editing process should go beyond a quick check for typos. Start by checking your grammar and punctuation. A good tip to spot mistakes is to read your letter starting with the final paragraph—it’ll appear fresh in your mind and help your brain identify potential problem areas.

Next, check for coherence and flow. Ensure that the story you want to tell is easy to follow; adjust paragraph length; cut unnecessary words and sentences. Your letter needs to be concise and impactful.

Lastly, consider your tone. Motivation letters tend to have a more personal edge than, let’s say, a ChatGPT cover letter —but they’re still addressed to professionals, not friends. Make sure that you’re coming off as candid and respectful.

Seeking feedback

To help you further, here are some common mistakes to avoid in counter offer letters.

Let’s be real—writing a letter of motivation takes time. It’s probably taken you a few hours by this point, if not longer, and with breaks, the whole process can sometimes take days.

After that much time, your brain will become so used to every turn of phrase and every word in the letter that you’ll become far less likely to spot any mistakes.

This is why a fresh pair of eyes can help, but not just to proofread or fix the flow. Asking the right person to give you feedback on your letter is often a crucial part of writing it.

This is especially common in academic settings. When applying for colleges, you’ll ask your teachers for review, and then revise your letter based on their feedback. Similarly, applying for a master’s program or an internship gets a lot easier if you ask a professor or two to give you their opinion.

Turn to your friends, colleagues, mentors, or coaches and gather all feedback you can—it’s often tremendously helpful.

Leveraging Templates and Samples for Success

As you may have gathered, these letters are highly, highly, highly personalized, so you might think that using templates is completely out the window.

Not true—there are ways to streamline the process and make it a little bit easier on you, all the while still maintaining high quality in your writing. Here’s what you can do.

Utilizing resources

Templates are a good way to make the process less tedious. We’ve shared some handy options for you up above. However, you might now be wondering if these are even okay to use, given the personal nature of motivation letters.

Don’t worry—you’re in the clear. Go ahead and use a template. The catch? You should never use it word-for-word.

A motivation letter template or sample is a starting point. It’s meant to show you how to structure your letter and, roughly, what to talk about. Instead of copy-pasting a template and filling in the blanks, use it to plan out your own outline, with an intro, a couple of body paragraphs, and a strong closer.

The same thing applies to writing a resume. You can use resume examples or a resume builder to get the job done in two minutes, but that’s just the beginning. From there, you’ll add and edit everything to make sure it aligns with your background and expertise.

Samples can be useful if you’re short on ideas, too. They can give you some guidance on what to talk about. The rule of thumb here is the more specific, the better—instead of following the sample exactly, do some digging and identify interesting programs or projects to personalize your letter with.

When using examples from templates, make sure to adapt them to your context. For instance, if the template discusses being compassionate and wanting to care for others, this is lovely, but won’t apply to every job or college degree. Think of your own ideas, write them down, and then pick the ones that best apply.

Last but not least, use your own voice. It’s very easy to tell when something was written by someone else or by AI generators. If your personality shines through, your chances for success will be much greater.

Conclusion and encouragement

With the help of your own research and our comprehensive guide, you now know how to write the perfect letter of motivation.

You’re ready to start strong with a compelling intro, discuss your background, experience, and goals in the body paragraphs, and sign off with the perfect closer. You know that your letter needs to be full of your own unique voice and personalized to a fault.

If you’ve done everything you could and you’re still not sure, you might have one final obstacle to defeat: overthinking.

Have you ever heard of analysis paralysis? It’s basically what happens when you overthink something so much that you can’t act on it anymore.

This often affects people who are working on resumes, cover letters, or motivation letters, both due to the high stakes and due to the fact that they’ve been working on them for hours on end.

If this is you, and you’ve spent hours and hours writing the perfect letter, but you’re still not sure, we’re here to tell you to just go for it.

A well-written motivation letter may be all that it takes for you to stand out and secure your dream position, be it a master’s program at the college of your dreams or an internship with a company that you hope to work for in the future. There’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose.

After several rounds of editing and some feedback from others, once your letter is ready, send it in with confidence. You’ve done everything you can at this point, so don’t be afraid to go ahead and just do it!

Start with a personalized greeting, preferably addressing the recipient by name (this takes some research). Next, in the first paragraph, quickly introduce yourself, state the purpose of your letter, and express why you’re interested in this opportunity. Use a couple of paragraphs to discuss your goals, qualifications, and what led you to apply to this particular place. Lastly, sign off with a call to action that inspires the reader to get in touch, and make sure to thank them for their consideration.

A letter of motivation should take up a single page and a maximum of four to five paragraphs, although certain positions only require a short three-paragraph letter. It should be concise and impactful enough to maintain the reader’s interest throughout, but not short enough to fail to accurately describe why you’re an awesome pick for the opportunity.

Avoid being generic and overly fluffy—your letter needs to be to the point. Stay positive, respectful, and grateful, avoiding falling into demanding or too informal tones. Focus on your strengths and motivations, and even if you’re unhappy with something, such as your previous school or job, never mention it in this letter.

While a motivation letter should reflect your personality and enthusiasm, it’s crucial to maintain a professional tone. The level of formality can be adjusted slightly based on the culture of the organization or institution, but it should never be overly casual or stray into informality. The only exception is if the opportunity specifically demands it, but that’s very, very rare.

Yes and no. A motivation letter serves a similar purpose, in that it introduces you, your background, and your goals to an opportunity you’re interested in, be it volunteer work or a scholarship. However, a cover letter is succinct, job-oriented, and focused on your career achievements. Motivation letters dig deeper into who you are and why you’re interested in a particular position; besides, it’s more often used in academic contexts.

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Your Introduction Matters: How To Write A Professional Email When Sending Your Resume And Cover Letter

When applying for jobs, we tend to send our resumes and cover letters through email in the wrong way. Scroll down to learn what to write when sending the same via email. 

• Anukriti Srivastava
• Updated - 2024-04-20, 12:42 IST

Basic Guidelines While Drafting Email

• Keep the subject line clear and concise with the job title and your name mentioned.
• Express your interest in the position and how you found out about the job in the opening line of the email.
• Briefly summarise your qualifications and relevant experience in the body of the email.
• Introduce yourself briefly and elaborate on your interest in the position, skills and experience that make you a suitable fit for the position.
• Attach your resume and cover letter in PDF format and rename it for easy reading.
• Include contact information such as your phone number and email address, so that the recipient can easily get in touch with you.
• Include a closing statement, thanking the recipient for their time and consideration.
• Proofread your email and attachments for grammatical errors before sending.

Sample Email To Send Resume For Job

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

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This reviews steps from choosing a format to what information to include. Learn what employers are looking for so you can make the best impression.

Why You Shouldn't Write A 'One-Size-Fits-All' Resume

Today I am going to debunk a common misconception on effective resume writing: the resume magic that will solve your keyword problems for passing Applicant Tracking Systems (“ATS") once and for all.

Related: Does Your Resume Get Along With Your Personal Brand?

Recently, one of my clients forwarded to me about 15 job postings he was interested in. While this alone might already seem a bit lavish (I generally only request two to three job postings for my writing process), the client asked me to include “all the relevant keywords" from these job postings into his resume. Neither would I have been able to do this, nor did I feel like doing this. Why? Because it would not have served the purpose of my client: getting job interviews.

Individualizing is the key

Think about the fashion industry, just give it a go.

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Spring Cleaning: 4 Ways To Fix Your Job Search

Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.

In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.

For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.

Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach

Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:

• How did I learn about this job?
• How did I apply for the job?
• Did I earn an interview?
• What was the ultimate result?

A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:

Negative Trends

You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.

The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations , and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.

One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.

The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.

This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.

Positive Trends

You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.

The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview . This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.

The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback , and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.

Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.

The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.

Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention

Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.

Let's start with resumes!

Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers . It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.

The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.

Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.

While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.

As for writing a good cover letter , the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter . When you write a disruptive cover letter , you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.

If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.

Build Your Personal Brand

Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand .

Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"

Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.

By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.

You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.

Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search

Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.

There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:

• Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
• Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
• Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle , even better!

Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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