# How to write a cover letter that actually gets read

Canonical: https://resumark.xyz/blog/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/

Updated 19 October 2026

**Short answer:** Keep it under 250 words and write it for one job. Open with why this role at this company, in one or two sentences. Then give two results from your resume that match what the post asks for most, with numbers where you have them. Close by saying what you would like to happen next. Skip the summary of your whole career, the clichés ("I am writing to apply") and anything you cannot back up in an interview.

## Does anyone still read cover letters?

Some recruiters skip them, many skim them, and a few read every word, usually for smaller teams, career changes and roles with lots of similar applicants. You rarely know which reader you will get, so write a letter that works for all three: short enough to skim in ten seconds, specific enough to be worth reading in full.

A cover letter also does a job your resume cannot. It explains *why this role*, connects your experience to the employer's problem in their own words, and covers things a resume handles badly, such as a career change, a gap or a move to a new city.

## What should a cover letter include?

Three short paragraphs, in this order:

| Part | Length | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Why this role | 1–2 sentences | Shows you read the post and chose this job on purpose |
| Two proof points | 2–4 sentences | Results from your resume that match the post's top must-haves |
| Next step | 1 sentence | Says what you want: a conversation, a call, a portfolio review |

Add a greeting with the hiring manager's name if the post or the company site gives it, and sign with your full name. That is the whole letter.

## How do I pick the two proof points?

Read the job post and find the two things it asks for most. They are usually in the first lines of the requirements, repeated in the summary, or both. Then find the line in your resume that proves each one, ideally with a number.

- The post asks for *experience owning a product area end to end*: "I owned checkout at Paylane, from research to launch, and lifted conversion 12%."
- The post asks for *stakeholder management*: "I ran the weekly roadmap review with sales, support and engineering leads."

If a top requirement is missing from your resume, do not invent it. Either pick the next requirement you can prove, or address the gap directly in one honest sentence ("I have not used Salesforce, but I learned HubSpot in two weeks for my last role").

## A cover letter example

> **Subject:** Senior Product Designer, payments
>
> Hi Maya,
>
> Northstar's move into small-business payments is the problem I most want to work on next: I have spent six years designing checkout and onboarding for fintech teams, and I would love to do it for a product this young.
>
> At Paylane I owned the end-to-end design of checkout in Figma, from user research to launch, and lifted conversion by 12% in the first quarter. Before that I ran 40 user interviews to reshape onboarding, which became the basis for our design system's form patterns.
>
> I would welcome a 20-minute call to hear where the payments product is heading and share the checkout work in more detail.
>
> Ada Park

That is 112 words. Every claim in it is on the resume, and every sentence connects to something the job post asked for.

## What should I leave out?

- **Your whole career story.** The resume already has it.
- **Clichés.** "I am writing to apply for", "I am a hard-working team player", "I believe I would be a great fit". They use words without saying anything.
- **Anything you cannot back up.** If a skill is in the letter, expect an interview question about it.
- **Salary expectations,** unless the post asks for them.
- **Apologies.** "Although I don't have much experience…" undersells you before the reader has formed a view.

## Should every cover letter be different?

The structure can stay the same; the content should change for every job. At minimum, change the opening (why *this* role) and pick the two proof points that match *this* post. A letter that could be sent to any company tells the reader you did.

This is where most of the time goes, which is why it helps to start from the job post rather than a blank page.

## Cover letter checklist

- [ ] Under 250 words, three short paragraphs
- [ ] Addressed to a person if you can find the name
- [ ] Opening says why this role at this company
- [ ] Two results that match the post's top requirements
- [ ] Every claim is on your resume and true
- [ ] A clear next step at the end
- [ ] No clichés, no apologies, no salary unless asked
- [ ] Saved or pasted as plain text if the form asks for it

## How do I start a cover letter?

The first sentence decides whether the rest is read. Skip your name and the job title (both are already on the application) and start with the reason this job, at this company, interests you. Three openings that work:

- **The problem:** "Northstar's move into small-business payments is the problem I most want to work on next."
- **The result:** "I lifted checkout conversion 12% at Paylane, and your post reads like the next version of that job."
- **The connection:** "Priya Shah on your design team suggested I apply; we worked together on Paylane's onboarding."

Pick the one you can say honestly. A referral, if you have one, always goes first.

## Who do I address a cover letter to?

Use the hiring manager's name if the post, the company's careers page or LinkedIn gives it ("Hi Maya" or "Dear Maya Chen", matching the company's tone). If you cannot find a name after a couple of minutes, "Hi [Company] team" or "Dear hiring team" is fine. Avoid "To whom it may concern": it reads like a form letter, which is exactly what you are trying not to send.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long should a cover letter be?

Under 250 words is enough for almost every job, and around 150 is often better. Recruiters skim, so a short letter with two specific results is read more often than a full page.

### Is it OK to use AI to write a cover letter?

Yes, as a first draft, as long as every fact comes from your real experience and you read it before you send it. The risk with general chatbots is invented details. Resumark writes cover letters only from what is already on your resume and the job post, and you can edit the result before you copy it.

### Should I write a cover letter if it is optional?

If you have time, yes: it is your one chance to say why you want this specific job, and an optional letter that is short and specific stands out. If you are short on time, a tailored resume matters more than a generic letter.

### What file format should a cover letter be?

Follow the application form. If it has a text box, paste plain text. If it asks for a file, a PDF keeps your formatting. Name it clearly, for example "Ada Park – Cover letter – Northstar.pdf".

**Write a cover letter from your resume and the job post.** Match your resume to a job in Resumark, then tap *Write a cover letter*: a short letter in your own facts, ready to copy or share. Cover letters are part of Resumark Pro.

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