How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter — clear, practical, and not too long

A cover letter’s job is simple: quickly show why you’re the right person for the role and what you’ll do first. It shouldn’t repeat your resume — it should connect your strongest, relevant result to the employer’s immediate need.

How to write it (step-by-step, ~3 short paragraphs — 300–450 words)

1. Prep (5–10 minutes)
Scan the job posting and the company site. Note 2–3 keywords or priorities (e.g., “growth,” “cost control,” “React”). Find the hiring manager’s name if possible; otherwise use the team name.

2. Open with a hook (1 sentence)
Start with a short, specific hook: a result, a mutual connection, or a concise statement of fit. Don’t open with “I’m writing to apply…”

Example: “I led a payments redesign that reduced failed transactions by 32% in six months.”

3. Prove it (1 short paragraph — 2–4 sentences)
Use the Problem ? Action ? Result mini-story. Pick one strong example that maps directly to the job. Include numbers or concrete outcomes.

Example: “At [Company], we faced a rising rate of declined payments. I redesigned the checkout flow and implemented server-side retries, cutting failed transactions 32% and increasing monthly revenue by 6%.”

4. Show immediate fit (1 sentence)
Say what you’d do in the first 30–60 days — a short, realistic first step that aligns with the role.

Example: “I’d start by auditing your checkout logs and implementing a targeted retry policy to recover lost conversions.”

5. Close (1 line)
Reiterate interest and invite a conversation. Example: “I’d love to discuss how I can help improve your payments reliability.”

Industry micro-examples (copy + adapt)

  • Tech (Engineer): “I cut API latency 45% by refactoring auth and caching; I’ll first run a profiling pass and propose low-risk fixes.”
  • Finance (Analyst): “I built a forecasting model that identified ?2.4M in annual savings; I’d begin with a variance analysis of your Q3 drivers.”
  • Creative (Designer/Copy): “A campaign I led lifted engagement 210% — portfolio: [URL]. I’d prototype two concepts for your upcoming campaign.”
  • Healthcare/Nonprofit (Program): “I raised 30-day follow-ups from 62% to 84% by redesigning discharge follow-ups; I’d map current patient touchpoints to locate quick wins.”

Quick template

Dear [Name],
[Hook — 1 sentence with result or connection].
[Problem ? Action ? Result — 2–3 sentences].
[Fit + first step — 1 sentence].
Sincerely, [Name | Contact | Link]

Final checklist

  • Addressed to a person/team ?
  • 1 strong, quantified achievement ?
  • One clear first step for 30–60 days ?
  • Tone matches company culture ?