how to write killer cover letter

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How To Write A Killer Cover Letter + Example + Free Template

We all know how important is it to have a top-class resume to deliver to your prospective employer or company recruitment officer, but many job seekers tend to forget how crucial it is to back up your resume with a solid cover letter .

A killer cover letter will also help you stand out from the crowd when employers are sorting through their list of prospectives. Many people also make the huge mistake of keeping a generic cover letter on file and sending it to multiple employers without a second thought. Big mistake!

It would come as no surprise to find most people have sent out the same cover letter to prospective employers at one point or another. This is especially true if you have been looking for work or trying to change career for some time. We all tend to get a bit weary of the constant application process over time.

Harsh as it may sound, the reality is that neglecting your cover letter can lose you that job , no matter how good your resume is. Many people think that your resume showing your skills, qualifications and work experience should be enough. Sadly this isn’t true.

Make sure you have an exceptional cover letter to back up your resume and you will be sure to stand out from all the other candidates. Employers have to wade through hundreds of applications to sort out their shortlist. Take your chance to show how perfect you are for the role and make it impossible for them to ignore you.

Watch our short video guide explaining how to write a cover letter that gets results

How to make writing your cover letter easier

If you are not a natural born writer, or even if you are, crafting a killer cover letter can seem hellishly difficult to achieve. Many people make the job more complicated than it actually is, so let’s take a look at how to simplify your cover letter writing.

Basically, a good cover letter needs to get across three important things:

You have the necessary skills to fit the job at hand
You have strong communication skills
You will seamlessly fit in with their team

So how exactly do you convey these three points in your one page cover letter?

Start out strong and to the point. You need to grab the readers attention, so anything wishy-washy or too vague will be very boring to read and will see your letter consigned to the bin in the first 15 seconds of reading. The first sentences of your letter are the most valuable . Don’t beat around the bush here – launch straight into why you are perfect for the job.

Here is an example of an attention grabbing introduction:

“You are looking for a person who can communicate extremely well on all levels, someone who is self-assured and confident, and can be trusted to work independently or cooperatively within a team. I believe I am the person you need.”

Once you have your reader hooked, you can then move on to convincing them that your skills and experience are a perfect fit for the role.

Put the above advice into practice by using our free cover letter generator – a quick tool for creating an attractive cover letter in PDF.

Mirror the language of the job description

Most businesses will have their own company language and this is usually reflected in the chosen wording of their job advertisements. You can use this to your advantage by mirroring the language used in the advertisement as much as possible to show how your skills match perfectly with with their needs. For example, if you previously worked as a ‘content writer’ for a company, but this firm calls it ‘copywriting’, then you should also call it copywriting. You are more likely to get noticed if you already speak the same language as the company does!

Remember to inject some personality

Your killer cover letter serves the purpose of demonstrating why you are a good fit for the job in hand, but you don’t want to come across as some sort of unfeeling robot. Employers hire people on a combination of both their skills and their personality. They like to hire people that they can get along with and be able to work well with others. By making your letter conversational in tone and not overly formal, you can demonstrate that you are friendly and approachable. This will add a good feeling to your cover letter that will make it shine.

Never use a generic “To Whom it May Concern” salutation. If you know the hiring manager’s name, you may use Mr or Ms first and last name. If you are unsure, you can address it to the department hiring manager or the job title hiring manager.

Debi Douma-Herren HR Consultant & Career Strategist LinkedIn

The key to a killer cover letter is making the employer want to meet you. Steer-clear of those classically overused catchphrases that recruiters see over again in generic cover letters and you should easily stand out from the crowd. Try to avoid phrases like: “I am passionate about…”, “I am a team-player”, and “I am a fast learner.” Believe me, these phrases litter most cover letters and are so overused that employers can go cold at the sight of them.

If you see a job that is worth applying for, always thoughtfully tailor your cover letter to suit the language being used. Avoid boring the reader to death, and inject a bit of your personality to get yourself noticed in a sea of cover letter mediocrity. You can do it!

Why do we need a cover letter?

While you think that adding a cover letter to your resume is an extra time-consuming task, you may wonder if you can get away with just sending your resume without one. However, in most cases, especially when you are applying for a job in a competitive industry, a good cover letter will greatly help to boost your chances of getting through to the interview stage.

Done correctly, your cover letter will help to highlight your most valuable skills and experience for the job in hand, and can make all the difference between making it to the ‘yes’ pile for short-listing for interview, or being rejected.

Your cover letter is a great opportunity to deliver key information to the employer without them having to search your resume for it.

What should I include?

What you should make sure to include in your cover letter is your previous experience that directly relates to the job that you are applying for. This instantly shows the employer that they have a candidate that can hit the ground running.

Remember to keep your cover letter short and sweet. You don’t want to overload the employer with too much information, especially if it repeats what they will find in your resume. Three to five paragraphs is sufficient, but make sure each paragraph is targeted to a different aspect of your application.

Go through the job description and search for key words and phrases. This is what the employer is looking for in a candidate, so you should make your cover letter answer their requests. If they want a candidate with sales experience, tell them in your cover letter that you have sales experience.

What to avoid with your cover letter

A well written cover letter can have a very positive influence on an employer – but don’t forget that the opposite is also true! A poorly constructed cover letter isn’t going to win you any friends, so keep it on point and relevant.

Avoid making your cover letter too long. An employer can be very put off when they see a very lengthy cover letter with huge blocks of text for them to wade through.

Cut any unnecessary waffle. Your cover letter is not the place to tell an employer that you are the president of the narrow-gage model railway society, or captain of you basketball team. Keep everything you include in your letter relevant for the job on offer.

An Example of a Cover Letter

Here we have prepared an example of a cover to give you an idea about how to write your letter. You can use this example to guide your writing, or you could choose to use the free cover letter template that is all ready for you to edit with your own information ( see below ).

Cover letter applying for the post of a Magazine Subscriptions Manager.

Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I am applying for the role of Magazine Subscriptions Manager as advertised by your company. My resume is attached for your review. With my previous related experience as a Subscriptions Administrator for XYZ Magazine, and my exemplary work ethic, I would appreciate your consideration for this management role. My skills are an ideal match for this position.

My related experience:

Responsible for managing the subscriptions database, solving customer payment and delivery issues, dealing with customer queries directly via telephone and email, following customer care procedures in accordance with departmental and company policies. Assisting with hiring, training, and management of junior staff and interns. Coordinating and collating statistics and sales reports. Experience in the supervision of staff as an active line manager.

I also possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills and work well as part of a team.

I appreciate your taking the time to review my resume and experience. Thank you for your consideration.

Your Signature

Cover Letter Template

To save you a lot of time with your cover letter preparation, we have created a well-balanced Cover Letter Template for you to use. This template has been created in MS Word and is completely customizable. Simply download and edit our professionally designed Cover Letter Template with your own personal information.

Download template (.docx)

Remember to tailor the text in your template to reflect why you should be selected for this job interview.

Need a matching resume design? Get the free Champagne & Wine resume template here .

Proofreading your Cover Letter

On a final note, take extra care to thoroughly proofread and edit your cover letter. Look for easy to miss typos and grammatical errors that can make your letter look sloppy. Wherever possible, get at least two other friends or family members to look over your cover letter for any minor mistakes that you may have missed.

If you don’t have anyone free that can look over your cover letter for you, then check out Grammarly.

Grammarly can be your second pair of eyes when you need to make sure your cover letter is absolutely perfect. It scans your text for common and complex grammatical mistakes, then offers accurate, context-specific suggestions to further help improve your text where necessary.

This post has been originally published on Oct 26, 2016 and has been extensively revised and updated on April 23, 2018.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 400 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Thanks for this resource, it’s been helpful.

Glad it helped, thank you for your feedback ; )

Very exhaustive, informative and precise narration. After reading this article, the thinking of the applicant will be streamlined and focused. It will be more helpful to fresh graduates and nonetheless the experienced! Thanks.

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how to write a killer cover letter: expert tips and examples.

Over the years, the purpose of the cover letter has undergone significant changes to adapt to the evolving dynamics of the job market and recruitment practices.

Let’s take a look at how the cover letter has changed and what job seekers should include in theirs when applying for a job.

what is a cover letter and why is it important?

Think of a cover letter as a sales pitch for yourself. It is your professional introduction to a potential employer that complements your resume that highlights your key skills, qualifications and experiences explaining why you're the ideal candidate for the job.

In the past, a cover letter’s primary function was to give a more intimate introduction of the candidate behind the resume. It served as a personal introduction that provided a glimpse into their personality, character and motivations, which added a human touch to the otherwise factual resume.

In recent times, the form and content of cover letters have evolved to fit the preferences of employers. Cover letters are now much shorter and concise, focusing on information, achievements and relevant experience to show the value that the applicant can deliver.

The cover letter has also taken the format of an email body or LinkedIn message instead of a separate document.

Through the years, the fundamental purpose of a cover letter remains the same: to get the employer to consider an applicant’s resume. A well-written cover letter can effectively pique the hiring manager’s interest to delve deeper into your profile.

Let’s now go through the steps to writing an effective cover letter that will get you one step closer to your dream job!

are cover letters still necessary?

Even though a cover letter is not a must during the job application process, there is still an expectation to submit it with the resume, especially for employers who receive hundreds of applications in a day.

As a job applicant, you need to understand how a well-crafted cover letter can work in your favour. According to Forbes , cover letters are best used to address potential hurdles such as career gaps, transitions, lack of experience or to gain a competitive edge.

6 key elements of a compelling cover letter

Before we jump into writing one, it is important to first prepare the information you need to include in it.

A strong cover letter should be concise, tailored to the specific job, highlight your most relevant qualifications and include your contact details for further communication.

As a rule of thumb, your cover letter content should be approximately 300 words long to capture the employer’s attention. A concise letter can help you seize the opportunity to highlight your qualifications without losing the reader’s interest.

The most important information and key elements to include in your cover letter are:

introduction about yourself
impactful achievements to show that you can deliver on expectations
relevant skills that would be useful for the employer
how can you bring value to the company
your availability to arrange for a job interview
your contact details

Avoid the temptation to include every detail of your career as your full experience should already be included in your resume. Instead, focus on impactful accomplishments and skills that showcase your suitability for the position.

By strategically tailoring your cover letter to address specific needs mentioned in the job description, you demonstrate your strengths and understanding of the role and position yourself as the ideal candidate.

4 simple steps on how to create a strong cover letter

Writing a good cover letter requires research and a thorough understanding about the job role and company. Familiarise yourself with their goals, objectives and culture to tailor your application effectively. Here are some steps you can take to craft a perfect cover letter for any job:

1. make use of a suitable greeting

First impressions are important, even on paper.

Start off on the right foot by addressing the hiring manager directly by their name. Avoid titles such as “Mr.” and “Mrs.” unless you are certain of how they prefer to be addressed. It reflects a level of sensitivity and respect that you have for individual identities.

If the hiring manager’s name is not known to you, avoid informal language like “Hello” or “Hi” as well as outdated salutations like "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern". Instead, you should use formal greetings such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team”.

Choosing the right and respectful salutation showcases your professionalism and sets the tone for the rest of your correspondence with them.

do's and don’ts of how to start your cover letter:

YES ✔ Dear Hiring Manager,
NO X Hello,
YES ✔ Dear Hiring Team,
NO X Hi there!
YES ✔ Dear [Name of the hiring manager],
NO X Hello Mr. [Surname of Hiring Manager],
YES ✔ Dear Ms. [Last name of the hiring manager],
NO X Dear Sir or Madam,
YES ✔ Dear [Role] of [Department/Team],
NO X To Whom it May Concern,

2. get the hiring manager’s attention

To write an impressive cover letter, start with a punchline. A strong opening statement is very much like an elevator pitch.

Right off the bat, effectively convey who you are and the position that you are applying for. You should also demonstrate your understanding of the company’s hiring needs and your ability to fulfil these requirements by highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

Below are 3 examples of cover letter opening paragraphs and how you can show your interest to the company:

“With a passion for [Industry] and a proven track record in my current position as reflected in my resume, I am confident about the prospect of contributing my professional skills and expertise to [Company X].”
“With my [Number] years of experience in [Industry] and a proven track record of success in [Specific Accomplishments], I am confident that I have the skills and expertise to make a significant contribution to your team.”
“As a highly motivated and results-oriented [Your Job Title] with a deep passion for [Industry], I am eager to apply my skills and experience to the [Job Title] role. I am particularly drawn to your company's reputation for [Company Achievements], and I believe my personal values and professional aspirations align perfectly with your organisation's goals.”

3. emphasise your value on why you deserve the position

Your next step is to lay out a compelling and brief proposition on what makes you qualified for the position that you are applying for and how it makes you the perfect candidate.

Whether it’s a particular expertise or a history of achieving impressive results, be sure to connect these experiences directly to the role’s requirements. Here's a sample way to develop your previous experiences into the body paragraph:

"As the Senior Data Analyst, I've played a pivotal role in orchestrating various aspects of data-driven initiatives when working for my previous employers. My responsibilities encompassed data management, from comprehensive data analysis and interpretation to the development and implementation of effective data strategies.”

Doing extensive research into the organisation such as its ongoing projects or business initiatives shows your potential employer that you’ve done your research about the company and job requirements, as well as your excitement about joining them.

also read: talent career guide: 4 expert tips on how to ace your next job interview

4. create a cover letter closing paragraphs

Wrap up your cover letter by reiterating your interest in the role and offer to continue the conversation in more depth through a job interview. Provide either your email address or mobile number for them to contact you for a discussion.

End your cover letter on a professional note, using a formal closure such as ‘Sincerely’ or ‘Best regards.’ While this may seem like a small gesture, it is an essential part of maintaining the professional tone of the letter and showing respect to the hiring manager’s time.

Here are 3 samples of a cover letter closing paragraphs:

“Thank you for considering my application for the [Job Title] position at [Company X]. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my application further in the interview. Best Regards, [Your Name]”
“Thank you for reviewing my application. I am eager to learn more about this position and how my skills and experience can contribute to [Company X]'s continued growth and innovation. Sincerely, [Your Name]”
“Thank you for your time. I am excited about the prospect of joining [Company X]'s dynamic and innovative team discussing how my qualifications and passion for [Industry] can align with your organisation's strategic goals. Regards, [Your Name]”

example of a cover letter

Bearing the details above in mind, here’s an example of a professional cover letter template when applying for any job:

I am writing to express my interest in applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] as advertised on [where you found the job posting].

I am confident in my skills and proven track record with the requirements outlined in the job description. In my previous roles, I developed my skill sets in [mention specific skills] that have helped me achieve accomplishments such as [mention specific achievements].

I am particularly keen to contribute to [company’s ongoing projects or initiatives].

You can find my resume attached to this email, which provides additional details about my professional background. I would also like to further discuss how my skills and experiences make me a strong fit for this role during a job interview. I can be contacted at [email protected] .

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to speaking to you soon.

Sincerely, [Your full name]

send your cover letters and resumes to randstad recruiters

Your journey towards a rewarding career begins with us at Randstad. Our team of experienced and specialised recruiters are committed to assisting you in crafting a standout cover letter and resume that will leave a lasting impression on your prospective employers.

To kickstart your job search, simply set up your myRandstad account and share your cover letter and updated resume with us. You can also head over to our job portal where you can explore new and diverse job opportunities that are perfect fit for your skills and experience.

With Randstad as your partner, you can confidently navigate the job market towards a fulfilling and rewarding professional journey.