How to write a cover letter that gets read

Most cover letters are skimmed in 10 seconds

Hiring managers skim for two things: do you understand what this specific job is, and can you point to evidence you can do it. A letter that could be sent to any company fails both tests instantly — the company name in the first paragraph is the minimum, a specific product, launch or challenge is better.

The four-paragraph structure

One: the role you’re applying for and one sentence on why this company specifically. Two: your strongest relevant achievement, with a real number. Three: your second proof point, mapped to a requirement from the posting. Four: a short close asking for the conversation. That’s it — half a page, never more than one.

Open with them, not you

“I am writing to express my interest…” wastes your most-read sentence. Compare: “Your posting asks for someone who has scaled support past 100k tickets a year — at Acme I led exactly that transition.” The reader knows immediately why to keep reading.

Numbers work in letters too

The same rule as resume bullets: “cut onboarding time from 3 weeks to 4 days” beats “significantly improved processes”. Pick your one or two best quantified wins and spend a sentence of context on each — the letter can tell the short story the resume bullet can’t.

What to cut

Cut anything the resume already says without added context, all adjectives about yourself (“passionate”, “results-driven”), salary talk, and apologies for missing requirements. If a paragraph doesn’t answer “why you for this job”, it goes.

Start from your resume, not a blank page

Our builder’s cover letter tool drafts a letter from your actual resume, target role and company — with placeholders where your real facts go, never invented achievements. Edit it to sound like you, then export to PDF or DOCX free.