How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter — clear, practical, and not too long
<p class="MsoNormal">A cover letter’s job is simple: quickly show <i>why</i> you’re the right person for the role and what you’ll do first. It shouldn’t repeat your resume — it should connect your strongest, relevant result to the employer’s immediate need.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>How to write it (step-by-step, ~3 short paragraphs — 300–450 words)</b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Prep (5–10 minutes)</b><br> Scan the job posting and the company site. Note 2–3 keywords or priorities (e.g., “growth,” “cost control,” “React”). Find the hiring manager’s name if possible; otherwise use the team name.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>2. Open with a hook (1 sentence)</b><br> Start with a short, specific hook: a result, a mutual connection, or a concise statement of fit. Don’t open with “I’m writing to apply…”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Example: “I led a payments redesign that reduced failed transactions by <b>32%</b> in six months.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>3. Prove it (1 short paragraph — 2–4 sentences)</b><br> Use the Problem ? Action ? Result mini-story. Pick <b>one</b> strong example that maps directly to the job. Include numbers or concrete outcomes.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Example: “At [Company], we faced a rising rate of declined payments. I redesigned the checkout flow and implemented server-side retries, cutting failed transactions 32% and increasing monthly revenue by 6%.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>4. Show immediate fit (1 sentence)</b><br> Say what you’d do in the first 30–60 days — a short, realistic first step that aligns with the role.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Example: “I’d start by auditing your checkout logs and implementing a targeted retry policy to recover lost conversions.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>5. Close (1 line)</b><br> Reiterate interest and invite a conversation. Example: “I’d love to discuss how I can help improve your payments reliability.”<o:p></o:p></p> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Industry micro-examples</b> (copy + adapt)<o:p></o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><b>Tech (Engineer):</b> “I cut API latency 45% by refactoring auth and caching; I’ll first run a profiling pass and propose low-risk fixes.”<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><b>Finance (Analyst):</b> “I built a forecasting model that identified ?2.4M in annual savings; I’d begin with a variance analysis of your Q3 drivers.”<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><b>Creative (Designer/Copy):</b> “A campaign I led lifted engagement 210% — portfolio: [URL]. I’d prototype two concepts for your upcoming campaign.”<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><b>Healthcare/Nonprofit (Program):</b> “I raised 30-day follow-ups from 62% to 84% by redesigning discharge follow-ups; I’d map current patient touchpoints to locate quick wins.”<o:p></o:p></li> </ul> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Quick template</b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dear [Name],<br> [Hook — 1 sentence with result or connection].<br> [Problem ? Action ? Result — 2–3 sentences].<br> [Fit + first step — 1 sentence].<br> Sincerely, [Name | Contact | Link]<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Final checklist</b><o:p></o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal">Addressed to a person/team ?<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal">1 strong, quantified achievement ?<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal">One clear first step for 30–60 days ?<o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal">Tone matches company culture ?<o:p></o:p></li> </ul>