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Well then, what should a cover letter include exactly?
Aside from the 5 essential elements, all cover letters need to highlight one or more of the following:
- Achievements
- Projects
- Personality traits
- Mutual interest
- Enthusiasm
- Transferable skills
Cover letters give a more elaborate description of the details that have been mentioned on a resume. But, there are different ways to talk about each of the above. The general rule of thumb is that the most relevant and important information comes first.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to put on a cover letter. Towards the end, we’ll also show you how to generate a personalized application in as quick as 10 seconds.
What Are You Even Supposed to Say in a Cover Letter?
The aim of a cover letter is to explain how your work history aligns with the job responsibilities and how it makes you the right candidate to hire in terms of skills and experience.
So, talk about all the things that prove you’re qualified for the role. Whether that’s because of your technical expertise or long-term goals and interests, focus on what makes you a good fit for the company’s needs.
5 Elements All Cover Letters Must Include
This is the standard cover letter format:
- The header
- Salutation & greeting
- Opening paragraph
- Main body
- Closing paragraph & sign off
We’ll dive into each section. However, this guide is about what each of these cover letter sections need to include. If you want to learn how to write an effective cover letter step-by-step with proven examples, go to this guide here.
1. The Header Section
All cover letters include a header section. This is where your contact details are such as:
- Full name
- Location
- Phone number
- Email address
- Date
- Company name
Use this format for your cover letter header. If it helps, start with an outline before you start slinging ink.
2. Salutation & Greeting
The first line after writing your contact details is the salutation. Greet the hiring manager by their last name, honorifics, or job title. Here’s a few examples:
- Dear Mr Smith
- Dear Ms Smith
- Dear Sir
- Dear Madam
- Dear Hiring Manager
Ideally, you’d include the hiring manager’s name in your greeting. But if you’re unsure, either greet them by their honorifics or job position.
Here’s another piece of advice for writing cover letters: don’t address the reader through the infamous phrase “to whom it may concern.” It’s impersonal and suggests that you didn’t do your research.
3. The Opening Paragraph
This covers two things:
- The job position you’re applying for
- An introduction to your professional background
After reading the opening paragraph, the reader should know the job vacancy you’re interested in as well as your professional strengths or career highlights.
4. Main Body
The main body is made up of 1-3 paragraphs. Each paragraph of the main body focuses on a few of the following:
- Achievements
- Relevant experience
- Hard skills
- Soft skills
This takes up most space in your cover letter. The purpose here is to prove that you’re a strong candidate by showcasing how your work history aligns with the job responsibilities.
Here’s an example of what each paragraph in the main body can focus on:
• First paragraph: work history and technical skills
• Second paragraph: academic background and qualifications
• Third paragraph: personality traits and communication skills
However, three paragraphs aren’t always necessary. What you write about is more important than how much you write about.
5. Closing Paragraph & Sign Off
The closing paragraph is where you sum up your application, drop a call to action, and include a professional sign off.
Here’s an example:
I believe my strong education and employment experience make me an ideal candidate for this position. I look forward to discussing this position further.
Sincerely,
Charles Bloomberg
To go one step further to help you stand out, feel free to include your digital signature.
4 More Things All Cover Letters Must Include
Now, we’ll zoom in and go through a few more things that are essential for cover letters to include.
Why You’re Interested in the Job
The first sentence of your cover letter should tell the reader the job position you’re applying for, which is often followed up by why you’re interested in the role. This step is crucial for letters of interest.
The opening paragraph can end after stating the job opportunity you’re interested in and why. Or, you can expand by writing a short introduction about your professional background.
Career Objectives
Sharing your career goals is effective for all types of cover letters whether it’s for an internship role or for a manager position. Even for seasoned professionals or seniors, sharing your objectives is good for giving your potential employer confidence that you have a genuine interest in the field.
Job Description Keywords
Without using any of the keywords from the job description, your application may not get past the initial hiring phase because of the applicant tracking system.
However, keywords must be used in the context of your skills, work experience, and achievements. This tailors your application and shows that you have a good understanding of the job requirements.
Reference to the Company’s Core Values
Show that you align with the company culture and mission. For instance, share your own personal values and motivations.
Being qualified for the role in terms of hard skills is one important factor. But another important factor is showing that you have the ideal qualities and personality for the job which enables you to perform better. This can help you stand out, especially when you have no work experience.
Anything Else That a Cover Letter Should Include?
Not all of these will be necessary on a cover letter but here’s a few more things to keep in mind:
- Bullet points
- Numbers, data, statistics
- Hobbies and interests
- Mutual connections
- Side projects
And Here’s What to Avoid Including on a Cover Letter
Avoid these cover letter mistakes:
- Spelling and grammar errors
- Clichés
- Including no examples
- Greeting the wrong person
- Writing in an informal tone of voice
- Showing signs of a negative attitude
- Overexaggerating
3 Examples of What a Good Cover Letter Looks Like
We also have a library of more than 180+ free cover letter templates. So if your job title isn’t listed below, try checking that out.
On the other hand, feel free to check out our cover letter examples guide for key takeaways on some of our best cover letters.
Accountant Cover Letter
Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter
Sales Cover Letter
Generate a Personalized Cover Letter in as Quick as 10 Seconds
At the start of this guide, I mentioned that we’d show you a way to generate a personalized job application in as quick as 10 seconds.
Well, here’s how it works:
- Enter the company name.
- Write the job position/title you’re applying for.
- Select a previous job position/title to highlight.
- Press “AI Writer Ready”.
And that’s a wrap.
Surprised that it’s that quick to create a cover letter? More than 850,000 job seekers were too but after discovering this hack, sending more tailored resumes and cover letters was a piece of cake. Best of all, it led to landing more interviews.
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Sign up here to get started for free.
Or if you’re still curious, feel free to watch the short clip below to see Rezi's AI cover letter generator in action.
One More Piece of Advice
Your cover letter is all good as long as it explains why you’re a good fit and how your work history is a good match for the company’s needs.
Now, here’s one more piece of advice: put emphasis on what the future would look like working with you. Imply the type of positive outcomes that the company would be missing out on by not having you as part of the team.
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