What Should a Cover Letter Say & What to Avoid

Updated February 28, 20244.4k

The cover letter is an essential part of the job application that most job seekers tend to overlook. Here’s what an effective cover letter should say.

What Should A Cover Letter Say

The cover letter is one of the first parts of a job application that a hiring manager will take a look at. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most neglected aspects of the job search, too. Here are a few cover letter tips on what your next cover letter should say to help land that coveted job interview.

Why is the Cover Letter So Important?

The cover letter is often a hiring manager’s first impression of a candidate. A great cover letter can help you stand out from the dozens of other candidates that apply for the same job posting. Your skills and work experience will say a lot about your unique qualities. The cover letter can also convince a hiring manager why you are the best possible fit for the role.

Key Elements to a Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Professional cover letters tend to follow the same format:

Personalized header
Salutation that hooks the recruiters’ attention
A paragraph detailing your best achievements and qualifications
Why you’re the perfect fit for the job
Listing your availability and a call-to-action statement

Personalized Header

The header is where you need to list all your contact information in an organized format. This includes:

Your full name
Your address
Your phone number
Your professional email address
(If applicable) Link to a portfolio or LinkedIn profile

You also need to include the hiring manager’s information as well, including:

The hiring manager’s name
The company name and address
The company phone number
The hiring manager’s email
Opening Paragraph: Salutation and Hook

The opening paragraph is crucial because it needs to hook the hiring manager’s attention. A great way of doing this is by starting with a personalized salutation. “To whom it may concern”, “Dear hiring manager”, or “Dear sir” are all generic, lazy openings that will show that you have not done your research into the company you are applying to.

Using the hiring manager’s name in the cover letter can establish an immediate connection between you and Human Resources, which can help you stand out from other candidates who used generic openings in their cover letters.

Second Paragraph: Your Best Qualifications and Achievements

Start off by discussing your most relevant experience and any achievements you earned working in your recent positions. Holding specific certifications or awards can also be notable achievements that a hiring manager will take notice of.

If you’re unsure of what skills or qualifications to mention, try scanning the job description for specific keywords to use on both your cover letter and your resume. A resume builder tool can also help you determine which roles to discuss in this section.

Third Paragraph: Why You’re the Perfect Fit for the Role

You can then go into detail about why your particular skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the role. Using a brief work anecdote that elaborates on your work history can also help the hiring manager mentally connect you to the role.

Closing Paragraph: Availability and Call-to-Action

Use the last paragraph to summarize what you just wrote and to invite the recruiter to reach out to you for a job interview during specific times you are available. Using a sign-off such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards” is always a good practice, too. Keep it simple, and follow up if you don’t hear back from your potential employer in seven to ten days.

What to Avoid in a Cover Letter

The cover letter has a lot of different components to it. Here are a few elements you’ll want to avoid in writing your next cover letter.

Spelling or Grammar Errors

The cover letter should be free of any spelling or grammar errors. A cover letter riddled with typos will immediately be tossed out. Always be sure to spell-check and proofread your letter a few times before you send it off.
Walls of Text

The above format follows a specific structure for a reason. It can better help you organize your ideas, and cut your letter into neat sections that the recruiter will have no trouble reading.

Walls of text without any paragraph breaks are hard to read. Your potential employer doesn’t have much time to spend on any one application, so they will more likely toss it out instead of deciphering what your skills and work experience actually are.
Buzzwords or Overly Generic Phrases

If there’s one element of a cover letter that you should never add, it’s catchy business buzzwords or phrases that ultimately don’t mean anything at all. Here are some examples of popular buzzwords to avoid:
- Self-starter
- Forward thinker
- Dynamic
- Problem solver
Similarly, phrases such as “I am a people person” or “I’m a hard worker” don’t necessarily mean anything to a hiring manager unless you have the work experience or a work-related anecdote to back up your claims. Using a cover letter template is fine for helping you shape specific sections, but overall, your cover letter should reflect that you are a unique candidate that just so happens to be the best fit for the job.

FAQs: What Should a Cover Letter Say?

Do I always need to include a cover letter?

Unless the application specifically says not to submit one, then yes, you should always write a cover letter for every job you apply to.

How long should my cover letter be?

Typically, the best cover letter should be around 3/4 of a page, though some can extend to an entire page if you have more years of experience within a certain field.

Where can I find free cover letter templates?

A cover letter builder tool is a great way to find free sample cover letters, cover letter examples, and cover letter templates to use. Many hiring managers will be able to tell if you wrote a generic cover letter ripped straight from a template, so you should take care to customize all your letters before you send them off.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.