Cover letter guide
How to write a cover letter that gets read
A step-by-step guide to writing a cover letter — how to structure it, open with a strong hook, connect your experience to the job, and close with confidence.
A cover letter is a short, focused message that sits alongside your resume and answers the question a resume can't: why you, for this job? Done well, it connects a few of your achievements to what the employer needs and shows genuine interest in the role. Done badly, it just restates your resume. This guide walks through the structure, the writing process, and the mistakes that get cover letters skimmed and discarded.
What a cover letter is (and when you need one)
A cover letter is a one-page letter addressed to a hiring manager that makes the case for your fit in a way a resume can't — with context, narrative, and motivation. It's your chance to explain why a particular role excites you and to connect the dots between your background and their needs.
Always include one when an application asks for it. Even when it's marked optional, a sharp cover letter helps for competitive roles, career changes, or any time your resume needs a little context — and it almost never counts against you.
The structure of a cover letter
Nearly every effective cover letter follows the same simple structure, in this order:
- Header. Your name and contact details, the date, and the company's details.
- Greeting. Address a specific person by name whenever you can find it.
- Opening. A hook that names the role and immediately signals why you're a strong fit.
- Body. One or two paragraphs connecting your achievements to what the job needs.
- Company fit. A specific reason you want to work for this employer in particular.
- Closing. A confident sign-off with a thank-you and a clear call to action.
How to write a cover letter, step by step
Work through these seven steps and you'll have a focused, personalized cover letter that earns a read.
Research the company and role
Read the job description and the company's site. Note what they actually need and one specific thing you genuinely connect with.
Set up a proper header and greeting
Add your contact details and the date, then address a named person — "Dear Alex Rivera" beats "To whom it may concern."
Open with a strong hook
Skip "I am writing to apply for…" Lead with a relevant result or a reason you're a strong fit for this specific role.
Make your case in the body
Connect two or three of your achievements to the job's priorities. Add context the resume can't — don't just repeat the bullets.
Show why you fit the company
Reference something specific about the team, product, or mission so it's clear the letter was written for them, not mass-sent.
Close with a confident call to action
Reaffirm your interest, thank the reader, and invite the next step — an interview or conversation.
Proofread, format, and export
Keep it to one page, double-check the company and contact names, and export as PDF or DOCX unless another format is requested.
Weak vs strong: a cover letter opening
Your opening line is the one most likely to be read — and most likely to be wasted. Compare these two openers for the same Marketing Manager role:
“I am writing to apply for the Marketing Manager position I saw advertised on your website.”
“Last year I doubled qualified leads at a 12-person startup — exactly the demand generation your Marketing Manager role calls for.”
The strong opener leads with a relevant, quantified result and ties it directly to the role — so the reader has a reason to keep going instead of a sentence they could predict.
How long should a cover letter be?
Aim for half a page to a full page — roughly 250 to 400 words in three or four short paragraphs. A cover letter should be quick to read; if it fills a whole page edge to edge, tighten it.
Match the tone of the company, keep the formatting clean and professional, and send it as a PDF or DOCX unless the application asks for something else. If you're pasting into an online form or email, lead with the opening hook — there's no room for a slow start.
Common cover letter mistakes to avoid
- Repeating your resume instead of adding context and motivation.
- Opening with "I am writing to apply for the position of…"
- Generic greetings like "To whom it may concern" with zero personalization.
- Making it all about you instead of what you can do for them.
- Leaving the wrong company name in from a previous application.
- Clichés like "hard worker" or "team player" with no evidence.
- Running past one page or ending with no call to action.
Write your cover letter faster with Behired
A blank page is the hardest part. Behired's cover letter generator uses your real profile and the specific job description to draft a personalized cover letter in your tone — with a genuine hook, your achievements mapped to the role, and a confident close. It's built for job applications, not generic writing.
You choose the tone and length, edit every line, and export to PDF or DOCX. Your data stays private and is never used to train AI models — so you get a tailored letter in minutes without starting from scratch.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a cover letter?
When an application asks for one, always include it. Even when it's optional, a strong cover letter helps for competitive roles, career changes, or anytime your resume needs context — and it rarely hurts.
How long should a cover letter be?
Half a page to one page — about 250 to 400 words across three or four short paragraphs. Recruiters skim, so make every line earn its place.
How do I start a cover letter?
Open with a specific hook tied to the role or company — a relevant achievement or a genuine reason you're a strong fit. Avoid "I am writing to apply for…", which wastes your most valuable line.
What should a cover letter include?
A header with your contact details, a personalized greeting, a hook opening, a body that connects your achievements to the job, a line on why you fit the company, and a confident closing with a call to action.
How is a cover letter different from a resume?
Your resume is the what — the facts of your experience. Your cover letter is the why — a short narrative that connects your background to this specific role and shows motivation a bullet list can't.
Can AI write my cover letter?
Yes. Behired generates a personalized cover letter from your real profile and the specific job description, in your tone — not a generic template. You review and edit every line before you send it.
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