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Security Officer Cover Letter

A security officer cover letter should help employers see why it would benefit their business to hire you. It should highlight your skills and experience, reference the requirements mentioned in the job posting, and provide information about your training.

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Security Officer — Free Cover Letter Template

Download our free security officer cover letter template in MS Word format.

Security Officer Cover Letter Sample:

[Full Name]

[Physical Address]

[Telephone Number]

[Email Address]

Re: Application for the position of security officer.

Dear [Recipient’s title and last name] ,

I am writing to apply for the position of security officer as advertised [on/in where you saw the advertisement] . My experience as a [the relevant field] and ability to [#1 skill] and [#2 skill] perfectly fit the advertised position's requirements. I would appreciate it if you would give serious consideration to my application for the position of security officer at [business's name] .

I have [the name of the required license / training / certificate] and/or [number] years of experience as a security officer. As per the requirements for the position at [business] , you will notice in my resume that I [mention skills, competencies, or experiences that answer directly to the requirements listed in the job posting] .

In my previous role as a security officer at [business] , I [discuss your core responsibilities] . In [year] , I [talk about a major accomplishment] . Experience has taught me to [what have you learned] .

I am thrilled to be applying to [business] because I admire your [name two or three things you know about the business in general that you like] . I believe that my commitment to the highest standards of service and accountability as a security officer will be of the greatest benefit to [business] .

Please find my resume attached. Feel free to contact me via email or phone call if I can be of any further assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Your Name]

How to Write a Security Officer Cover Letter:

A step-by-step guide to writing the perfect security officer cover letter.

Address your letter.

Address the reader by name..

Address your letter directly to the hiring manager, recruiter, employee, or whoever the person is that put out the job posting.

Avoid generic greetings.

If a contact name is supplied or if it is possible to find out a name, avoid using a general greeting such as "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam." Use the relevant title before the person's last name — for example, "Mr. Miller" or "Ms. Anderson."

Start with an introduction.

Keep your introduction brief..

In no more than three sentences , tell the person why you are writing and what position you are applying to.

Indicate that you meet the job requirements.

Your writing should reflect the exact job title and you should briefly highlight key job advertisement requirements that you meet, for example, three year's experience as a security officer.

Mention that you feel you are the best person for the job.

Use one sentence to clearly state why you feel that you are the best fit for the security officer position.

Highlight your training and experience.

Briefly discuss your training..

Be sure to refer back to the job advertisement and directly address the stated requirements. Write a few sentences on licenses you may hold, such as a license issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), or any formal security officer training you've received, including specialty training. Alternatively, explain the nature of your related in-job training.

Highlight your experience.

State how many years you've worked as a security officer. Don't neglect to mention where you've worked. Limit this to a single sentence as you will be discussing your exact duties and work experience further on.

Match your core skills to those mentioned in the job ad.

Directly match prominently featured duties and responsibilities mentioned in the job ad with core skills and competencies from your resume. For example, if the job ad requires experience in a security specialty, such as private, airport, armored car, or armed escort security, mention the extent of your experience in that particular regard.

Describe your most recent job.

Discuss your most recent role and duties..

In a few sentences , talk about your responsibilities at your current or previous job as a security officer. Include details about how your contribution positively impacted a place of employment.

Briefly discuss what your experience has taught you about your role as a security officer.

Showcase your biggest accomplishments in your previous job.

Mention one or two of your proudest career moments, for example, for example, significantly reducing trespassing and theft, training new security officers in effective patrolling and the use of surveillance equipment, and being commended by managers for your dedication.

Celebrate the organization.

Mention two or three things you know about the business, individual, or institution you're applying to. Do a bit of research and find out about the products or services that they offer, their success stories, or their public image.

State the reasons why you want to work there.

Mention why joining them as a security officer appeals to you. This could include mention of the business's reputation as an employer, their competitive employee benefits, their investment in state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, and that their security requirements coincide with your expertise. State how you will add value.

End with a call to action.

Indicate that you would like to hear from them..

Say that you've attached your resume for their consideration and invite the reader to contact you via email or phone call.

Close your letter.

Thank the reader for their time. Add "sincerely" or an acceptable synonym and sign off with your full name.

Similar Jobs:

• Security Guard .
• Armed Security Officer .
• Mall Security Guard .
• Security Manager .
• Unarmed Security Guard .

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

How do I write a cover letter for a security officer position?

• Address your letter .
• Start with an introduction .
• Highlight your training and experience .
• Describe your most recent job .
• Celebrate the organization .
• End with a call to action .

What must go into a security officer cover letter?

• Your contact information.
• The addressee's name.
• A few paragraphs on your training, experience, and skills.
• One paragraph on the responsibilities you had in your previous role.
• A call to action.

How long should a security officer cover letter be?

A cover letter should ideally be no longer than a page. The letter should make a brief, strong case for why the applicant is the best fit for the advertised position.

Related Articles:

Security officer job description, how to address a cover letter, the 12 best cover letter tips for 2024, best cover letter generators, how to write a resume.

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5 Security Guard Cover Letter Examples Working in 2024

• Security Guard Cover Letter
• Security Guard Cover Letters by Experience
• Security Guard Cover Letters by Role
• Write Your Security Guard Cover Letter

Your detailed surveillance abilities stand out. You conduct patrols, implement risk management protocols, and execute emergency procedures with high levels of proficiency.

Are your cover letter and complementary security guard resume ready to help you lock down your next job?

If a security firm is going to entrust its systems with your watch, they’ll take extra precautions when reviewing your application. If you’re wondering how to optimize for success, our security guard cover letter examples will give you a top-notch template, or try our AI cover letter generator to help you stand out in the hiring process.

Security Guard Cover Letter Example

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Why this cover letter works

• For instance, highlighting how you utilized your First Aid training to save lives would endear you to recruiters.

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Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Security Guard No Experience Cover Letter Example

• Include how you ensured safety and success of sports events in your security guard no experience cover letter, and you’re a step closer to the job.

Experienced Security Guard Cover Letter Example

• For example, do you have hobbies that perhaps hone your mental and physical resilience (think biking)? Or, can you recount a personal story that sparked your interest in the security field? Don’t keep such anecdotes in the shadows.

Armed Security Guard Cover Letter Example

• Ava draws attention right off the bat by acknowledging the hiring company’s mission and then demonstrating how she can fortify the mission through the lens of past experiences. But don’t stop there: show you’re committed to progress in the role by attaching or mentioning an industry-relevant certification or two.

Unarmed Security Guard Cover Letter Example

• While still there, highlight your ability to merge both conventional and the latest security technologies to ensure a secure environment and safe place for people.

Related cover letter examples

• Security Guard Resume
• Police Officer
• Firefighter
• Cyber Security
• Legal Assistant

How to Write a Top-Notch Security Guard Cover Letter

Just like you’d customize your patrol schedules and emergency response procedures to specific company needs, you’ll want to apply that same thought process to your cover letter. 

The job description will be your guide to success here. Each company will emphasize key qualifications they’re looking for, so all you have to do is stay alert to the indicators that something is essential. For example, a company may reference using security cameras, and you could stand out by referencing your proficiency in commercial CCTV camera systems.

Start strong with a well-planned opening for your security guard cover letter

Whether you’re working with customers or patrol team members, you’d want to learn their names to provide a personable touch while on the job. You should do the same with your cover letter by greeting a hiring manager by name. So, try to use your vigilant abilities to see if you can locate a contact person in the job description or on the company’s website. 

The next part of optimizing your opener will be getting specific to each job’s security responsibilities and mission. For example, you could explain how you’ll use your safety management skills to ensure a comfortable shopping experience at a retail store. 

The opener below doesn’t make enough impact since the applicant doesn’t address a specific person or mention anything related to the company’s mission or security needs.

Lacking a personal connection here!

Your security guard job opening caught my attention. This looks like a great company to work for, and I’d be eager to join your surveillance team.

The following opener does a much better job of relating to the blend of traditional and innovative vigilance protocols that’ll make the applicant successful as a security guard at G4S Secure Solutions.

An opener connecting to the company’s security practices!

Dear Mr. Martinez,

In today’s ever-evolving security landscape, it is paramount that security officers embrace both the traditional principles of vigilance and the latest technological advancements. I take pride in my ability to seamlessly blend these elements to create a holistic security strategy that is effective and efficient. With deep-seated commitment and passion, I would like to be part of the G4S Secure Solutions team as an unarmed security guard.

Present the right information in the body of your security guard cover letter

The work of a security guard is always performance-driven. The best way to optimize the body of your cover letter for success is by sharing examples of previous work achievements that are backed by numbers, like how you improved response times or reduced security incidents.

If you don’t have much experience, you could also reference job skills gained through a security management degree or transferable skills like providing excellent customer service in previous jobs.

A body paragraph showcasing great security achievements!

As a junior security guard at Star Protection Agency, I was commended for my adaptability and knack for quickly learning new tools and techniques. Here, I increased the effectiveness of nighttime patrols by 27% through the strategic use of infrared equipment and motion-sensor technologies.

Secure the interview with an optimal closing to your cover letter

The best way to start your closing paragraph is to restate your connection to the company’s mission and how your top security skills fit in. For example, you could write about how you’ll use your knowledge in strategic threat intelligence practices to ensure a safe working environment where all premises are monitored.

Lastly, it’s good practice to thank the hiring manager for their time and use a call to action, such as “I look forward to discussing this security guard role with you further.”

The closer below doesn’t make enough impact since it lacks information about specific security skills or company needs.

Lacking specific security skills or needs!

I believe my skills and experiences align perfectly with what your team is looking for. I’m eager to discuss my qualifications as a security guard with you further.

Ramon Yusef

The following closer does a better job of presenting how the applicant will help G4S in their mission to provide unwavering client safety as a security guard.

An impactful closer related to the company’s mission!

I’m inspired by G4S’ reputation for excellence in security solutions and unwavering dedication to client safety. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to your mission and vision. Thank you for considering my application.

Mateo Hernandez

One page is the optimal length for security guard cover letters. Just like recording surveillance data, you’ll want to keep your cover letter concise and relevant to a company’s primary needs, such as checkpoint patrol strategies and using two-way radios.

You should make your cover letter custom for each job to ensure the specific security skills you write about are relevant and stand out to each company. For example, one company may use an active patrol system, whereas another performs random patrols. A custom cover letter helps you stand out for each one. 

When you can’t find a contact person’s name, you can simply address your security cover letter to “[name of company] hiring team.” Then, ensure the rest of your cover letter is highly specific to surveillance systems and tactical planning needs based on the job description to ensure the details still stand out.

Security Officer cover letter examples

If you’re applying for roles as a security officer, it’s a safe bet that you’re going to need a cover letter. After all, the employer needs to know that you’re the best person for the job.

But if you’re not sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.

Below, we share our top tips on how to write an application that will secure you an interview.

We’ve also put together a few security officer cover letter examples to guide you.

CV templates 

Security Officer cover letter example 1

Security Officer cover letter example 2

Security Officer cover letter example 3

The Security Officer cover letter examples above should give you a good idea of the type of content you need to include in your own cover letter, and how it should be structured.

But if you’re really looking to wow recruiters and get your CV in front of the very best employers, then check out our guidance on how to write your own effective cover letter below.

How to write a Security Officer cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

You should write your cover letter in the body of the email (or messaging system if sending via a job board) and never attach it as a document.

The reason for this?

You want your cover letter to start connecting with the recruiter from the moment they open your application.

If they have to open a document to read it, it will slow things down and they may not even bother to open it.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Now that you have warmed the recruiter up with a friendly greeting, firstly you need to let them know which role you are applying for.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant will be juggling 10 or 10 vacancies, so it’s important to specify which one you are applying to.

Give us much detail as possible (team/department, role title etc.) and paste in the reference number if you have one.

Here are some examples you can use.

• I am interested in applying for the role of Security Officer with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Security Officer cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your Security Officer cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

Security Officer cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Security Officer cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Dear Michael,

I hope this email finds you well. As a recent school leaver with a Level 3 BTEC in Public Services I am thrilled to apply for the position of Entry-Level Security Officer at Phoenix Security.

Having previously worked as a receptionist at the Radisson Hotel, I have honed my observation skills and learnt to remain vigilant in identifying potential security threats. Throughout my three years with the company, I efficiently handled emergency situations, demonstrating my ability to stay calm and respond effectively under pressure including successfully performing first aid in five separate instances. My strong communication skills, developed through interacting with a diverse range of visitors and my Drama A Level studies, have equipped me to work collaboratively with the security team and uphold the highest safety standards. I am adept at using surveillance systems including ADT and PPF and my physical fitness from playing rugby and badminton is excellent.

I am eager to bring my enthusiasm for security and dedication to maintaining a safe environment to the team at Phoenix Security and I would love the opportunity to discuss how my skills and commitment align with your company’s vision.

Kind regards,

Laura Walton

I am writing to submit my application for the Security Officer vacancy at Bax Security, as advertised on LinkedIn. With my experience as a Security Officer at First Direct Arena in Leeds, where I diligently conducted regular patrols, maintained accurate security logs, and ensured a safe environment for events of all sizes, I am well-prepared to contribute to your team’s success.

In my current role at the arena, I have successfully implemented an efficient shift handover process, reduced communication errors and enhancing operational effectiveness. Moreover, I introduced a new online incident reporting system, leading to a 30% improvement in the accuracy and timeliness of incident documentation in 2021. Furthermore, my certifications in Advanced First Aid, CPR, AED, and as a Certified Security Professional (CSP) from the Institute of Security Management demonstrate my commitment to safety and security practices.

I am eager to bring my expertise to the team at Bax Security and would like to discuss how my skills align with your security needs in an interview at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for considering my application.

Phoebe Smith

Good morning, Jonathan

I trust you are well. I am writing to apply for the Senior Security Officer role at Venus Security Solutions. With over 15 years of experience in security management, I am confident in my ability to supervise and mentor a team of officers for high-security and large events and contracts.

In my current role at Green Flag, I successfully led the training program for the implementation of an advanced access control system on site at the Giles Road Arena, reducing unauthorised entries by 40%. I also hold a Level 4 First Aid certificate and led emergency response training last year that resulted in a 50% decrease in incident response time. Additionally, I contribute to regular comprehensive security audits, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices which has resulted in three gold standard external audits for the company.

I am eager to apply my expertise in risk assessment and crisis management to enhance security protocols at Venus Security Solutions alongside my duties during events.

I am available for an interview at your convenience to discuss how my achievements and leadership skills align with your company’s security objectives. Thank you for considering my application.

Best wishes,

Jess Walton

Writing a strong attention-grabbing cover letter is a vital step in landing a good Security Officer job.

Use the tips, strategies and examples above to get more responses from you job applications and start lining job interview up.

Good luck with your job search!

Professional Security Officer Cover Letter Example for 2024

Read for inspiration or use it as a base to improve your own Security Officer cover letter. Just replace personal information, company application data and achievements with your own.

Cover Letter Guide

Easy-to-follow cover letter writing tips for security officer.

According to 83% of hiring managers, cover letters are an important part of every recruiter’s decision-making process.

What’s more, 72% of them will expect you to hand in a great cover letter, even if this part is listed as ‘optional’ on the job advert.

And if you ask our experts, cover letters are an amazing opportunity to tell a personal story and make the right first impression.

But what exactly is a cover letter and how to write a good one? Let’s see…

At first, you may think that the cover letter should repeat all information from your resume but in a story-like form. However, that’s not true.

Instead of re-writing your resume, you need to focus on making the right impression.

You can do that by talking about the skills that help you overcome challenges, your excitement when it comes to the industry, your past achievements, and your knowledge of the company.

Now let’s look at some other things that will make your cover letter stand out.

We've made an in-depth guide on what should your cover letter include that you can check out!

Stand out with a strong introduction and an appropriate salutation

Address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager, whenever possible. This has proven to be a good approach for two reasons.

First, it shows your attention to detail.

Second, it proves that you’re willing to do some research and go the extra mile for the sake of success.

But if finding the recruiter’s name is too difficult, you can go for a traditional gender-neutral phrase.

Here’s our selection of strong salutations. Feel free to borrow any of them:

• Dear Human Resources Manager,
• Dear Mr. Johnson,
• Dear Head of [team you're applying for],
• Dear Nathan Lovelace

We’ve all heard it – introductions are a big deal.

A good cover letter introduction can help you land an interview, while a bad introduction can ruin all your chances of getting your dream job as Security Officer.

So what are the things that can make your cover letter stand out? Honesty, excitement, and motivation.

Show your motivation and excitement to join the company in an honest way. And if you think that’d suit the company – share your vision with the recruiter. Tell them how you think being part of the team can help both parties grow.

Combine your soft and hard skills for an unbeatable match!

When it comes to listing skills on a cover letter, there’s only one thing that could be said about it – do it in a well thought out way!

We mean, don’t just plainly list all your skills on your cover letter. Instead, link them to achievements and goals. Share how your expertise can add value to the team. Maybe even tell a personal story. It’s up to you.

Just make sure to include both soft and hard skills – especially the ones listed in the requirements section of the job advert. This will help you pass applicant tracking systems that screen documents for certain keywords.

Show that you did your research before applying

Proving that you’re familiar with the company is a great way to win the recruiter’s heart. It shows that you’ve taken some time for research and that you’re attentive to detail.

What’s more, it will also help you find out the issues at hand. This way, you can link your own skills and qualifications to some potential challenges the company might have to deal with in the future.

end in an actionable way

The last paragraph of your cover letter should briefly sum up the whole text. This is the time to express your motivation to get to the next step of the hiring process, but also your gratitude for the reader’s time and consideration.

You can be creative or use traditional closing lines here – it all depends on your preference and the company culture.

Cover letter examples by industry

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6 Cybersecurity Cover Letter Examples

Cybersecurity experts are the digital guardians, meticulously safeguarding information by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing robust defenses. Similarly, your cover letter serves as a protective shield for your career, highlighting your skills, experiences, and dedication to secure your professional future. In this guide, we'll decrypt the best cover letter examples for Cybersecurity, ensuring your application is as impervious to rejection as a well-secured network is to threats.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a Cybersecurity cover letter is by addressing the hiring manager directly, if their name is known. Then, introduce yourself and briefly mention your current role or relevant experience. Make sure to express your interest in the cybersecurity position and the company. For example, "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], As a cybersecurity professional with [number of years of experience], I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique skill set and proactive approach to [Company's Name]." This shows that you've done your research and are genuinely interested in the role.

Cybersecurity professionals should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the role and their qualifications. They should reiterate their passion for cybersecurity, how their skills align with the job requirements, and their eagerness to contribute to the company's security initiatives. A strong closing might be: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique blend of skills to your team and help enhance your cybersecurity efforts. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my qualifications further." Always remember to end with a professional closing such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. This ending reaffirms your interest in the role and leaves a positive, professional impression.

A cover letter for a cybersecurity position should ideally be about one page long. This length is sufficient to introduce yourself, explain why you're interested in the cybersecurity field and the specific role, highlight your relevant skills and experiences, and conclude with a strong closing statement. It's important to keep it concise and focused, as hiring managers often have numerous applications to review. Overly lengthy cover letters may not be read in their entirety. Remember, the goal of the cover letter is to entice the reader to look at your resume for more detailed information about your qualifications and experiences in cybersecurity.

Writing a cover letter with no direct experience in cybersecurity can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here's how you can approach it: 1. Research: Understand the role and the company you are applying to. What are the skills and qualifications they are looking for? What is their company culture? This will help you tailor your cover letter to their specific needs. 2. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you don't have direct experience, you may have transferable skills from other roles or your education. For example, if you have a degree in computer science or have taken courses related to cybersecurity, mention these. If you have experience in IT or programming, these skills are also highly relevant. 3. Show Enthusiasm: Show your passion for cybersecurity. This could be through personal projects, self-study, or your reasons for wanting to enter the field. 4. Demonstrate Learning Ability: Cybersecurity is a rapidly changing field. Show that you are someone who can learn quickly and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and threats. 5. Network: If you have any connections in the field, mention them. This could be a professor, a professional contact, or even someone you met at a cybersecurity conference. 6. Professionalism: Regardless of experience, make sure your cover letter is professionally written. Proofread for any errors, keep it concise and to the point, and make sure it is formatted correctly. Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Even if you don't have direct experience, your enthusiasm and transferable skills can still make you a strong candidate.

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Fresher cybersecurity cover letter, entry level cybersecurity cover letter, cybersecurity engineer cover letter, cybersecurity consultant cover letter, related resumes for cybersecuritys, cybersecurity resume example.

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Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2024?

Published: April 03, 2024

Writing a cover letter can be daunting.

I’ll never forget my college career coach, who made writing a cover letter look easy. Even with her tips, I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to talk about myself and hype up my accomplishments.

While it acts as a letter of introduction, I’ve wondered if a cover letter is necessary in 2024. To find out, I spoke with two recruiters and gained insights on how to write the best cover letter for any job application.

How important is a cover letter?

Is a cover letter necessary, when to skip a cover letter, when to include a cover letter, tips for writing a cover letter, what if the cover letter is optional.

Cover letters are short letters of introduction that you include with job applications.

Typically, they are your chance to go into deeper details about your accomplishments that you might not have highlighted or had room to mention on your resume.

Tiffany Hall, a professional resume writer and founder of Resume911 , says cover letters are an important part of the job application process.

Hall says, “Cover letters can be very important. It’s supposed to sell why you, of all applicants, should get the job. The issue is that applicants use them to regurgitate what’s on their resume, and that’s not what it’s for. It should speak to what isn’t easily explained with your resume.”

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For example, if your resume says you’re skilled at building web pages, your cover letter is a great place to name-drop companies that you’ve worked for to create their websites.

Matthew Muehleisen, a corporate recruiter , thinks a cover letter is also a great place to show you’ve done your homework and researched a company.

Muehleisen says, “It can be what sets you apart from other candidates and applicants and is a good opportunity to show that you’ve done research on the position and company to further showcase your interest in the role.”

Knowing the importance of a cover letter still begs the question: Is a cover letter necessary in 2024?

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While a cover letter can help demonstrate your knowledge of the company you’re applying to and highlight more of your achievements, both Hall and Muehleisen agree that a cover letter isn’t entirely necessary.

Muehleisen says, “Unless it’s a requirement of the application, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to include a cover letter. There are some roles (usually in content creation and marketing) that will ask for a cover letter as a form of a writing sample. In these instances, make sure your letter is polished and focused.”

If Hall had her way, she would eliminate the cover letter entirely, focus more on the resume, and ask for a link to an applicant’s LinkedIn profile.

According to Hall, “Most cover letters either repeat the resume or they speak to why the applicant isn’t a good fit. Neither is the purpose of a cover letter.”

Nevertheless, 74% of hiring managers still prefer applications to include a cover letter. So, it is definitely worth considering including one — even if the application says it’s optional.

If you’re looking for a new role, writing a cover letter can be time-consuming — especially if you take the time to personalize every letter you send to a hiring manager.

Although a cover letter does serve a legitimate purpose, and 83% of hiring managers read it, there are a few situations where you shouldn’t include a cover letter. Let’s take a look at those scenarios.

If You Only Have a Template of a Cover Letter

I get it. Writing an effective cover letter takes a significant amount of time.

But consider not sending one if you only have time to plug your information into a cover letter template without personalizing it before hitting submit on an application.

Don’t get me wrong. A cover letter template is a great starting point to write your cover letter. Templates often remind you to include pertinent information like the hiring manager’s title, name, and your contact information.

However, if you don’t take the time to edit the body of the cover letter and personalize it with research and your relevant experience, you risk sending the same letter as another candidate.

And considering that 48% of hiring managers spend anywhere from 30 seconds to two full minutes reading each cover letter, the chances are high that your hiring manager can spot a form letter a mile away.

Don’t send it if you don’t have the time to personalize a cover letter.

If Your Cover Letter Is Full of Critique

A cover letter is meant to explain why you’re the best candidate for the open position. However, a cover letter is not a place for you to share your ideas of how the company can improve.

Sure, every company likely has areas of improvement, and the job you’re applying for might be the role that gets a say in that, but a list of improvements might read as a critique.

You don’t want to potentially offend a hiring manager before you even get an interview. A bad cover letter can hurt a strong candidate, according to 33% of hiring managers .

Before you submit your cover letter, read through it several times to make sure it’s not a critique. If it does sound like a critique, throw it out.

If It’s Not Required

There are other instances where you shouldn’t send a cover letter. For example, if the application’s instructions specifically state that you do not need to submit a cover letter for consideration for the job.

In fact, sending a cover letter anyway can signal to the hiring manager that you don’t follow instructions. Not following instructions is also a great way to land your application in the trash bin.

The bottom line is this: If the application specifically states not to send a cover letter, don’t send it.

Of hiring managers, 74% prefer to see job applications with a cover letter apart from the resume. Knowing this, if you have the time to include a cover letter with your job application, don’t skip it.

Here are three instances when you should send a cover letter with your application.

Send a cover letter if you’re very interested in the role.

Think of your cover letter as your time to shine. Use it as a place to highlight your experiences and the qualifications that make you a great fit for the position.

Hall says, “If you can speak to why you’re a good candidate without copying your resume in paragraph form, include a cover letter.”

In other words, don’t use bullet points in your cover letter to describe your previous employment history.

Instead, talk about what you learned on the job and how your skills will help you excel in the role you’re applying for.

Send a cover letter when there’s a gap in your resume or you’re transitioning industries.

If you’re looking to transition to another industry, you should definitely include a cover letter with your application.

Speaking from personal experience, if I had only submitted a resume to my school district when I applied to be a Spanish teacher, the hiring manager would have just seen my experience in Public Health and would not have known about my skills and success in tutoring students in Spanish.

Muehleisen puts it this way, “If you’re looking to transition to a new industry or if there is a position and company you’re really excited about pursuing as an opportunity, these are the best instances to include a cover letter so that you can possibly give yourself an advantage.”

A cover letter can also help explain any gaps in your resume — especially if the gap in your employment history is beneficial to the role you’re applying for.

For example, maybe you volunteered in South America, and the role you’re applying for is for a position in Global Operations.

It never hurts to include positive, pertinent information in your cover letter.

Send a cover letter when it’s required.

The most obvious time to include a cover letter with your application is when it is required. Just like not including a cover letter when it’s not required, it shows you can follow directions.

Include a cover letter when the application asks you to submit one, which shows you can follow directions.

Plus, if the application asks for a cover letter, you can bet the hiring manager will look for it. If no cover letter is included, well, you’re sabotaging your chances of getting an interview.

Only 13% of hiring managers will consider giving a candidate an interview if they don’t attach a required cover letter to an application.

Writing a cover letter is not as painful as it sounds. There are great templates you can use as a starting point for your cover letter.

The trick with a template, though, is to make sure you always personalize the letter to your own experiences and qualifications.

Here are five expert tips to write a winning cover letter.

1. Tailor your cover letter to the job description.

When writing a cover letter, especially if you use a cover letter template, you should tailor the letter to match the job description and meet the requirements of the application.

For example, if the application asks you to attach a short cover letter, keep it brief. Your best bet is one to two short paragraphs detailing why you’re a great fit for the position.

You’ll also want to reference keywords from the job description in your cover letter. Many recruiters use applicant tracking systems that scan application packets for the best fit.

Often, hiring managers review the applications that match the keywords first.

Now, that doesn’t mean to stuff your cover letter with keywords. Instead, use them in a natural way as you discuss your qualifications.

2. Be personable with your greeting.

You might have seen the advice telling you to use “To Whom It May Concern” instead of the hiring manager’s name. This is good advice, but only if you do not know the hiring manager.

Before resorting to a generic greeting to start your cover letter, take the time to look on the company’s website and LinkedIn to find out who makes hiring decisions.

If you have contacts in your network who are familiar with the company, ask them. Taking the time to research the hiring manager and the company shows you care about the details — a quality many hiring managers look for in a candidate!

If you’re still unsure after researching the company, consider using “Dear Sir or Madam” as your greeting.

3. Be yourself.

While a cover letter is a formal introduction of yourself to a potential employer, it doesn’t need to be lacking in personality. Hall suggests sprinkling your personality in your cover letter to spark connections with the hiring manager.

Hall says, “Be your best professional self. I’m a foodie and will include references to food on my LinkedIn, and I’ve done it in a cover letter. I’ve had managers reference them, and we had a chuckle. I am also very clear about aligning myself with companies whose mission and goals I respect and can contribute to. I make sure to speak to that in the cover letter.”

Take Hall’s advice. Showcasing your vibrant personality in your cover letter can help break the ice in your interview!

4. Proofread your cover letter.

Once you’ve written your cover letter and before you hit “send,” double-check that it is free from spelling and grammar errors and that the company you referenced is the company you are applying to.

Muehleisen says skipping proofreading your cover letter is a big mistake — and it could cost you the job!

Muehleisen says, “Make sure that you are proofreading prior to sending. If the cover letter feels like it is a simple cut/paste or if the job title and company name are incorrect, it may do more harm than good. So, be sure that what you’re sending is pertinent.”

5. Be cautious of AI.

AI tools, like ChatGPT or Claude, are great for helping draft content. You might be tempted to ask generative AI to write your cover letter for you. However, both Hall and Muehleisen say to proceed with caution when it comes to AI.

Hall says, “AI is coming along in amazing ways, so it may come as a surprise that my best tip didn’t include AI. I tell my clients when they’re stuck to look to their peers. You can search people by job title on LinkedIn. See how they describe themselves and pull from there. Or, hire a resume writer or career strategist to help you.”

Muehleisen agrees with her. He says, “I would hesitate to use a tool or service for a cover letter as the point should be to show your authenticity. If you are going to use AI for assistance, make sure to put your own words in as well.”

However, when you write your cover letter, whether using a template or generative AI, personalizing it is key to standing out from the competition.

If the job description says a cover letter is optional, should you send one, or can you get by without it?

That can be tricky, considering 72% of recruiters still expect a cover, even if it’s optional.

According to Muehleisen, sending a cover letter is not a bad idea. He says, “I’ve never heard of a cover letter hurting an applicant’s chances; just make sure the one you’re including is specific to the job description and posting.”

Check out these cover letter examples for more inspiration.

Experiment With Your Cover Letters

Writing a cover letter is a breeze once you get the hang of it. With today’s challenging job market, sending a cover letter with your application can make a difference in whether you get called for an interview.

I can’t make promises that your cover letter will dazzle hiring managers each time, but for the right position for you, it will.

Remember Hall and Muehleisen’s advice when you craft your cover letter. Personalization is key to success!

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Joni Mitchell Rewrites ‘I’m Still Standing’ and Metallica Slays ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ Among Standouts in PBS’ Touching Elton John/Bernie Taupin Tribute: TV Review

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Even on a day when much of America was hoping to see the sun go out, there’s still an ongoing need to hear someone sing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” That, among many other things, is what’s offered in tonight’s PBS broadcast of a tribute special for Elton John and Bernie Taupin , two of the worthiest talents ever to be awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize. If you’re a fan — and who isn’t?, as they say — the two-hour show will provide a total eclipse of all your other most pressing entertainment needs.

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Unless it is supplanted by Metallica’s take on “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding,” in which no quarter is taken and at least a little blood is drawn. For better or worse, the opening all-instrumental section isn’t immediately recognizable in Metallica’s transformation, but it certainly is by the time it gets to the main course, at which point you may be thinking: Does it go against the laws of nature for Metallica to be playing in a major key? Anyway, it works, to have Elton’s most hard-rocking song ever go a little harder. The tech team is judicious with the reaction shots, but surely there is a lot of rattling of jewelry going on in the balcony of Washington’s DAR Revolution Hall, where some of the visiting politicos sit, and it’d be nice to think some of them were inspired to deface the bathrooms afterward.

Everything else in these two hours was a little more likely to show up on your bingo card for a John/Taupin tribute. After Joni got the Gershwin Prize last year, the Library of Congress quickly moved on to Carlile’s other well-established hero-BFF, and so it’s little surprise, and not the slightest bit unwelcome, to see her show up repeatedly here. Leaving her old concert cover of “Rocket Man” behind (actually, no one does that here), Carlile’s first selection of the night is “Madman Across the Water,” which is cool enough, all the way down to an extended coda in which the singer doesn’t have anything to do but happily stroll back and forth between Sista Strings on one side of the stage and guitarist Davey Johnstone on the other, as they do their respective things. (Kudos for the frequent use of the two-woman Sista Strings section in general, a nice, minimalist callback to the larger mastery of string arranger Paul Buckmaster’s classic work.)

But the more exquisite of Carlile’s two song choices is “Skyline Pigeon,” and not just because it’s under-covered and great. Context counts for almost everything with this one, as her rendition caps a segment devoted to the long history of John’s AIDS Foundation, and specifically to the HIV-stricken boy that won Elton’s and the world’s heart in the ’80s, Ryan White. White’s sister reads an open letter that John wrote to his late friend 20 years after his 1990 passing, talking about how the death of an “innocent” helped change hearts and minds, even though, in Elton’s words, “You reminded America that all victims of AIDS are innocent.” It’s a valuable history lesson squeezed into a tight space, even for those of us who need reminders, and the dollar figure cited for what the AIDS Foundation has raised — $600 million — is its own testament to John’s legacy, apart from the music. John is weeping through this segment, and it will be Cry Along With Elton night for parts of the audience, too.

Not that you’d ever want to bet against Elton’s tastemaker instincts, but each protege has to prove himself, and Lusk really does it here by doing something original with “Bennie.” That mid-’70s oldie is a great but virtually un-coverable song, which no one could possibly make sound weirder than the original, and which only suffers from any attempt to straighten it out. But Lusk has the voice of an angel — a very loud angel — and the quasi-gospel treatment finally answers the long-simmering question of whether “Bennie” should just be left alone as a cover choice or not. Actually, his contribution here is just as must-see as Mitchell’s and Metallica’s.

The other contributions all fall somewhere the serviceable-to-spectacular spectrum. Charlie Puth is probably one of the few pop stars around qualified to recreate Elton’s piano part on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” even if you might wish a song that emotionally intense had been given to someone with a more anguished-sounding voice. Lennox, who does not lack for vocal edge, shows why the world is still hungering for every crumb she occasionally throws out in the tributes she infrequently appears at these days with her wall-flattening “Border Song.”

Billy Porter, the show’s host, traverses the aisles with exactly the song you know he’s going to do, “The Bitch Is Back.” (It comes with a reminder that “in 2024 I don’t want you to be offended by the word ‘bitch.’ The queer community uses it as a love letter.” Were we really worried about this? Well, it is PBS, so OK.) His fringe-y dress and leggy look is likely an homage to Tina Turner, who used to duet with John on the rocker before they had a falling out. Maren Morris, who has a nice history of covering Elton, turns on the AC with “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues.” Garth Brooks, a Gershwin honoree of a few years back himself, gets double-duty with “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” and “Daniel,” both reminders that, among all the other things we forget to remember about Garth, he can capably sing just about anything from the great Anglo-American songbook that crosses his mind.

But it is ours to celebrate, and it’s a delight to see these two being given their due as a team, whose respect and appreciation for each other has grown over 55 years, by the accounts given. This show is also implicitly a tribute to the Elton John Band, who perform behind a majority of the singers before backing a salmon-coated Elton himself for the final three songs, “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters,” “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and “Your Song.” If we feared we’d seen the last of them as a particular ensemble at Dodger Stadium in November 2022, Johnstone’s appearance on this series as musical director as well as guitarist is a nice assurance that revivals of the old gang can and will occur.

Producer Ken Ehrlich, of decades of Grammy fame, has been characteristically canny with the choices of tribute-payers here. But with two honorees this year instead of one, he also knows that the best tributes that can be paid are the ones that the composer and lyricist are able to pay each other. That comes through in their mutual testimonials about each other, but it really comes through with the closing rendition of “Your Song,” in which we get a sight we’ve probably never seen before, between these two typically long-distance collaborators: Taupin, leaning on John’s red piano, taking it all in as stoic, appreciative glances are exchanged. It’s unexpectedly touching to see these two on stage, alone together, for the length of a piece of music. Gracious is definitely not the hardest word.

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Familiar Claims in a Familiar Presidential Race

By Lori Robertson , Eugene Kiely , Robert Farley and D'Angelo Gore

Posted on April 11, 2024

Para leer en español, vea esta traducción de El Tiempo Latino.

We’ve fact-checked a lot of claims from the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees — after all, they’re the same two men who faced off in 2020. Some of President Joe Biden’s and former President Donald Trump’s assertions are well-worn talking points they will likely continue to trot out on the campaign trail.

As a primer for the 2024 election, here’s our guide to the top 10 falsehoods and distortions — so far — in terms of Trump’s and Biden’s propensity to repeat them.

No ‘Rigged Election’

At just about every opportunity, Trump makes the false claim that the 2020 election was “ rigged ,” claiming that he and his allies “ found tremendous voter fraud ” in swing states that he lost, such as Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Georgia .

But there is no evidence to support Trump’s claims, and, in fact, there is ample evidence that the 2020 election was — in the words of the Trump administration’s own Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — “the most secure in American history.”

The fact is, Trump and his allies lost more than 60 lawsuits challenging the election results. In Georgia, for example, Trump not only lost 11 post-election lawsuits , but a statewide hand audit and a machine recount . “Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in announcing the results of the audit on Nov. 19, 2020.

William Barr, who served as the U.S. attorney general under Trump, told a House committee in testimony released June 13, 2022 : “In my opinion then, and my opinion now, is that the election was not stolen by fraud, and I haven’t seen anything since the election that changes my mind on that.”

Barr gave that testimony to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Like Barr, other top Justice Department officials in the Trump administration testified that they repeatedly told Trump the department found no evidence of widespread election fraud. For example, Richard Donoghue, who was deputy attorney general under Trump,  told  the Jan. 6 committee that he tried “to put it in very clear terms to the president” that “major allegations” of fraud in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada were “not supported by the evidence.” (For more, see our June story “ Trump Ignored Aides, Repeated False Claims .”)

Yet, Trump has made baseless claims about a stolen election a key part of his 2024 campaign.

Deficit Decline Due to Pandemic Spending

Biden often misleadingly suggests that his administration is responsible for the  federal budget deficit  declining from about $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020 to about $1.7 trillion in fiscal 2023. “Our administration has already cut the deficit by $1 trillion,”  he said  during April 9 remarks from Washington, D.C.

But as  we’ve   written , the large decline in the deficit had more to do with expiring emergency COVID-19 funding than it did with Biden’s policies. Experts  have said  that his push for more pandemic and infrastructure spending early in his presidency increased deficits. The drop that Biden cites would have been larger in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 if not for his policies.

Unsupported Illegal Immigration Claim

Virtually every campaign speech Trump has delivered for more than a year has included  some version  of the unsupported claim that countries around the world are “emptying out their prisons, insane asylums and mental institutions and sending their most heinous criminals to the United States.” As  we have reported , immigration experts say they have not seen evidence to support that.

Trump has offered scant evidence to back up his claim, at various times claiming to have read media reports that support it — but which  journalists , including those at  FactCheck.org , have been unable to locate and the Trump campaign has failed to provide.

More recently, in a speech in Green Bay on April 2, Trump  cited  a drop in violent crime in Venezuela as circumstantial evidence that “they’re taking their gangs and their criminals and depositing them very nicely into the United States.”

The Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, which has access to the country’s crime data,  reported  a 25% decrease in violent deaths between 2022 and 2023. But the group’s founder and director, Roberto Briceño-León, told us via email, “We have no evidence that the Venezuelan government is emptying the prisons or mental hospitals to send them out of the country, whether to the USA or any other country.”

Rather, he said, the drop in crime is due to worsening economic and living conditions in the country, which has led to a massive out-migration of nearly  8 million  people.

“Crime is reduced in Venezuela due to a reduction in crime opportunities: bank robberies disappear because there is no money to steal; kidnappings are reduced because there is no cash to pay ransoms; robberies on public transportation cease because travelers have no money in their pockets and old, worthless cell phones; and assaults on bank money dispensers disappear because the cash they can give to their clients has not exceeded twenty US dollars,” Briceño-León said.

Some criminals have left Venezuela “seeking to continue their criminal life in other places where they find greater opportunities for profit,” he said, but the vast majority of emigrants from Venezuela are “honest workers fleeing the country’s poverty, looking for a job and a better future.”

Misleading Jobs Comparison

In speeches and on social media, Biden continues to misleadingly contrast the jobs gained during his presidency with the job losses under Trump — ignoring that the loss under Trump was because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a chart that has been pushed out by the White House:

The great American comeback continues under President Biden. pic.twitter.com/DVSoLeahQT — The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2024

The economy under Biden has added about  15.2 million jobs  between January 2021 and March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That comes out to about 400,000 jobs a month, as the chart says. And Trump’s number is correct, looking at the entirety of his time in office. But under Trump, jobs  were growing  at an average of about 180,000 per month until the pandemic hit. The U.S. lost 20.5 million jobs in April 2020, as efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus led to business closures and layoffs.

It wasn’t until June 2022, under Biden, that employment numbers reached their pre-pandemic levels.

On the campaign trail, Biden also frequently  boasts  that the 15 million jobs added in his first three years “ is a record in American history .” While that may be true in raw numbers, in terms of the  percentage of job growth , which accounts for population growth, the first three years under Presidents Jimmy Carter (12.5%) and Lyndon Johnson (12.1%) were higher than Biden’s 10.3% so far.

Still ‘Energy Independent’

Trump regularly makes the misleading claim that the U.S. was “energy independent” during his term, suggesting that is no longer the case under Biden. In his Super Tuesday victory speech on March 5,  Trump said , “Three years ago … we were energy independent. We were going to be very shortly energy dominant, and today we’re getting oil from Venezuela.”

But under Trump, the U.S. never stopped  importing  sources of energy,  including crude oil , from other countries. In addition, as the country did when Trump was president, the U.S., during Biden’s presidency, has  exported  more energy,  including petroleum , than it imported, and it has  produced  more energy than it consumed. Those are ways some people  define  “energy independence,” and the U.S. still meets those metrics.

Also, the U.S. is producing record amounts of  oil  and  natural gas  under Biden, contrary to  claims  that his policies “crushed” American energy.

No Plans to Cut Medicare, Social Security

Increasingly, Biden makes the unsupported claim that Trump wants to cut Medicare and Social Security.

As we wrote , Biden in December claimed Trump “is proposing …. cutting Social Security and Medicare,” even though the former president has said he has no plan to cut either program and has publicly warned Republicans not to do so.

More recently, Biden repeatedly points to a single statement that Trump made in March to claim he has proof that Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. “So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, tremendous bad management of entitlements,” Trump said in a March 11 interview on CNBC.

Biden excerpted part of that quote on at least three occasions in March while in North Carolina , Texas and New Hampshire .

But in context, the Trump campaign said, the former president was talking about cutting waste and fraud in those programs – not benefits. And there is evidence to support the Trump campaign.

Trump has consistently stated his opposition to cutting Social Security and Medicare. When he first ran for president in 2015, he said he would “get rid of the waste and fraud” and “save” the programs “without cuts.”

As an aside, experts have told us that Social Security cannot be “saved” by simply cutting waste and fraud.

When House Republicans in early 2023 began to debate among themselves how to reduce government spending, Trump said in a video post on Jan. 20: “Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security to help pay for Joe Biden’s reckless spending spree.”

Some critics  argue  that Trump’s words cannot be trusted because of the budgets he proposed as president. But, as we have written , Trump did not propose cuts to Social Security retirement benefits, and his budgets included only bipartisan ideas to reduce the growth of Medicare spending.

Another aside: Trump, too, has made similar claims about Biden. Earlier this month, he told supporters in Wisconsin, “Unlike Biden and the open borders Democrats, I will always protect Medicare and Social Security for our great seniors.” There is no support for the idea that Biden wants to cut the programs’ benefits, either.

An Abortion Distortion

Trump falsely claims that Democrats support abortion “even after birth,” as he  said  in Iowa in January. More recently, he made the claim in an April 8 video,  saying : “The baby is born, the baby is executed after birth.” That’s  homicide , and it’s  illegal .

“No such procedure exists,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  says  on its website.

The former president  has wrongly said  that this was permitted under Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. It was not.

Under Roe, states could outlaw abortion after fetal viability, but with exceptions for risks to the life or health of the mother. As we’ve explained, many Republicans  have objected  to the health stipulation, saying it would allow abortion for any reason. Democrats say it’s an exception for medical risks for the mother. But Trump’s extreme claim of abortion “after birth” goes well beyond the GOP viewpoint that the health exception is a loophole.

In June 2022, after Trump had appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, the court  overturned  Roe in a 5-4 ruling. Biden  supports  restoring Roe as “the law of the land,” as he said in his State of the Union address.

Billionaires Pay Higher Federal Tax Rates

As part of his proposal for a billionaire minimum tax, Biden  routinely says  that billionaires pay an average federal tax rate of about 8%, “less than a teacher or a firefighter,” as he  said  in February. In the State of the Union address, he  included  “a sanitation worker, or a nurse.” He leaves the misleading impression that billionaires pay that tax rate under the current tax system. Instead, the figure comes from a White House calculation that factors in earnings on unsold stock as income.

When looking only at income, the top-earning taxpayers, on average, pay higher tax rates than those in the income groups below them, as  we’ve explained . Earnings on assets, such as stock, aren’t taxed until that asset is sold, at which point the earnings are subject to capital gains taxes. Biden has proposed that those with wealth over $100 million  pay  a  25% minimum tax , as calculated on both standard income and unsold investment income combined.

The problem with the current system, the White House has said, is that unrealized gains could go untaxed forever if wealthy people hold on to them and pass them on to heirs when they die. At the time of an inheritance, an asset’s value is adjusted to the fair market value, essentially eliminating any taxes on the gains that had accumulated from the time the asset was purchased and when it was passed on to heirs.

Not the ‘Greatest Economy’

Trump repeatedly makes the false claim that under his leadership the U.S. had the “greatest economy in history” — a claim he made throughout his time in office. On his last day in office and in his first speech announcing his 2024 campaign, Trump said he “built the greatest economy in the history of the world.” He repeated that claim recently at a rally in Ohio.

But it’s not true.

Economists generally measure a nation’s health by the growth of its inflation-adjusted gross domestic product . Under Trump, growth was modest. Real GDP in Trump’s four years grew by 2.5% in 2017, 3% in 2018 and 2.5% in 2019 — before the economy went into a tailspin during the pandemic in 2020, when real GDP declined by 2.2%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

So, at best, U.S. real GDP grew annually by 3% under Trump. By contrast, the nation’s economy grew at a faster annual rate 48 times and under every president before and after Trump dating to 1930, except Herbert Hoover. The economy grew at 3% or more six of Ronald Reagan’s eight years, including 7.2% in 1984, and it grew 5% or more 10 times under Franklin D. Roosevelt, including 18.9% in 1942.

Misleading on Preexisting Conditions and the ACA

Just as he did  during the 2020 campaign , Biden continues to tout the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and claims Trump wants to end it. His go-to, and misleading,  talking point : “100 million Americans can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition because of that law,” as he  said  March 9 in Atlanta, adding that Trump “wants to repeal” the ACA.

The ACA greatly expanded protections for those with preexisting conditions: It  barred  insurers in all markets from denying coverage or charging more based on someone’s health status. But those protections were most important for the individual, or nongroup, market, where people buy their own coverage. About 20 million Americans  were in that market  in 2022. Before the ACA, employer plans couldn’t deny a policy to an employee. If a new employee had a lapse in insurance coverage, they could decline coverage for some preexisting conditions for a limited period.

The 100 million figure is  an estimate  of how many Americans not on Medicare or Medicaid have preexisting conditions. But, again, if the ACA were repealed, only those buying their own plans on the individual market would  be at risk  of being “denied health insurance.”

As for Trump, he has said he wants to get rid of the law,  posting  on social media in November that Republicans “should never give up” on terminating the ACA. More recently, in late March, Trump  said  he wanted to make the ACA better and cheaper. But he hasn’t released a health care plan.

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