How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read

Not every recruiter reads cover letters. But the ones who do (often hiring managers at smaller companies, or recruiters choosing between similar candidates) read them to answer one question: why you, for this job? A generic letter doesn't answer it. A short, specific one does.

When a cover letter matters

• The posting asks for one (always send it then)
• You're changing careers and need to explain the move
• You're applying to a small company or startup, where a person reads every application
• You have a referral or a specific reason for applying to that company
• There's something your resume can't explain: a gap, a relocation, a visa situation

The 3-paragraph structure

Keep it under 300 words. Three paragraphs is enough.

Paragraph 1: the hook

Say which role you're applying for and give one specific reason you're a strong fit, ideally a result that matches the job's biggest need. Skip "I am writing to express my interest in…".

Paragraph 2: the proof

Pick two or three requirements from the job description and show, with brief examples and numbers, that you've done them before. This is where you connect your resume to their problem.

Paragraph 3: why them, and the close

One or two sentences on why this company specifically (a product you use, a market they're entering, a value they've written about), then a confident close: "I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I could help with…".

Better openings than "Dear Hiring Manager"

Address a person when you can. Check the job post, the company's LinkedIn page or the team page for the hiring manager's name. If you can't find one, "Dear [Team name] team" (for example, "Dear Payments Engineering team") is more personal than "To whom it may concern".

First lines that work:

• "When I rebuilt our checkout flow last year, conversion rose 11%. Your Senior Product Designer role is focused on exactly that kind of problem."
• "I've used [Product] to run my team's sprint planning for two years, so the Customer Success Manager opening caught my attention immediately."
• "[Referrer's name] on your data team suggested I apply for the Analytics Engineer role, after we worked together on [project]."

A short cover letter template

Mistakes that get cover letters skipped

1. Repeating your resume line by line
2. Talking only about what you want ("this role will help me grow") instead of what you offer
3. The wrong company name. Always check before sending.
4. Over one page. Recruiters won't read it.
5. Generic praise ("your esteemed organisation") that could apply to any company

Using AI to draft cover letters

AI is good at turning your resume and a job description into a first draft. The danger is generic phrasing and invented claims. Use AI for the draft, then make sure every sentence is true and specific to this job.

RURU Write drafts a letter from your resume and the job description you paste, in a formal, warm or concise tone, and doesn't invent experience. You edit it before sending.

Changing careers? Read cover letter openings for career changers. And make sure the resume behind your letter is tailored too: see how to tailor your resume to a job description.