Introduction and hook

Your header and introduction should include your full name and contact information. This means your phone number, email address, and perhaps professional social media details. If you have LinkedIn, you can include that information in this section.

First paragraph: summary of major achievements

Your opening paragraph should be a summary of you as a job seeker and present your most relevant achievements. For example, if you were applying for a new job as a high school teacher you might write:

“I am a highly motivated and passionate teacher who takes a flexible learning approach. In my last position I implemented a hands-on learning segment to lessons that resulted in the grade average in my class rising by x in one year.”

Second paragraph: your suitability for the company

When discussing why you are applying, you should mention the company name and the specific job title you are applying for as well as stating why you want to work with them. Once you have done this you should present reasons why you think you will fit in with the company culture. An example of this would be:

“I have long admired the student-first approach that [XYZ School] takes to education, and believe that my flexible approach to learning styles will enable students to reach their full potential.”

Third paragraph: call to action

A cover letter is a very short document and should be no more than one page long in most cases. This means that you have a limited time frame in which to impress hiring managers. End your cover letter with a call to action that invites follow up contact in order to grab their attention. Sign off with a formal statement such as “Sincerely Yours”.

When you place your information into this structure, you will have a functional and complete cover letter. The quality and persuasiveness of the cover letter depends on the content and your writing. Use active language and tailor what you say to the job description to make a good first impression. Do not repeat information from your resume, however.