Your cover letter doesn't have to be boring!
Can you write a cover letter that really captures a hiring manager's attention? Yes! Is there room for creativity in a cover letter? Yes!
If scouring job boards, reaching out to friends of friends, making coffee dates, cleaning out the “iffy” pictures on your social media, and refining your resume didn’t seem like hard enough work, you might also have to construct a unique cover letter as part of a standard job application.
You know the pain when you see that red asterisk next to the cover letter* indicating that it's 100 percent required—you have some writing to do.
Nobody *really* wants to write a required cover letter, but don’t freak out! In this piece, we will walk through ways to innovate the cover letter so that you land that interview (and you might even have some fun in the process!)
Table of Contents
- Why We Write Cover Letters
- How to Write a Story-Based Cover Letter
- How to Rethink Your Cover Letter
- How to Use Your Cover Letter for Future Planning
- How to (Also) Use the Company’s Voice in Your Cover Letter
Let's dive into writing a cover letter that awakens the senses—or at least doesn't put the recipient to sleep.
Why We Write Cover Letters
While some companies require a cover letter and others do not, my first hot take is this—write it regardless. But, whyyyy?
1. To Show That You're a Serious Candidate
There are a few reasons, but the paramount reason to write a cover letter (especially when it's not "required") is to show that you're invested in the position. Writing the cover letter proves that you're not just another job seeker mass applying to every job on every big job board.
2. To Creatively Stand Out + Add Content to Your Resume
It’s extremely difficult to stand out on your resume alone. Resumes often suffer from the Goldilocks paradox. Is it too long? Is it too short? Is it too informative? Is there too much formatting? Does it need bullet points? Should I include every internship? Should I not have used thirteen different fonts?
Writing an effective cover letter is more open-ended. It is a great way to release yourself from the shackles of the resume and take the opportunity to stand out. Some companies will require an attached document, while others will provide a small text box for you to copy and paste the cover letter.
3. To Tell a Hiring Manager Who You Are
So much of the job application and interview process is answering "what" questions and providing "what" information.
- What you do for a job
- What companies you've worked for
- What your skill set includes
- What your biggest accomplishments are
- What you can bring to the table
Unlike the resume, your cover letter can be the perfect opportunity to add all the "who" to your "whats." a great cover letter provides the who and the why to all those whats.
- Who you are and how you do your job
- Why you worked for certain organizations
- How you acquired your skills
- Who inspired and mentored you through your biggest accomplishments
- How you bring something completely unique because of who you are
If you really want the job, consider writing the perfect cover letter as an opportunity to tell a hiring manager more about yourself—tell your story. Don’t pass it up.
How to Write a Story-Based Cover Letter
Now that you know a cover letter is a "must," let's discuss how to write one. We recommend following four steps that help outline your qualifications, achievements, and why you'd be a good fit for the company.
But arguably as important as introducing your qualifications is introducing your "self" in the cover letter. It's the chance to let the company get a first impression of you through your written tone and voice.
To that end, you'll want to use a tone that shows recruiters and hiring managers that you'd be a strong hire and a great cultural fit for the company (but we'll get into that in a moment). For now, let's tackle the basics.
The difference between a good cover letter and the best cover letter is what you bring to it. It's telling stories about learning your relevant skills. It shows how you've actually used your expertise to solve huge problems. It's looking at the inspiration that led you here.
Instead of stating your obvious interest in the position, explain your passion for the process. Once you reframe the cover letter as a tool to do some storytelling, you might find that it's much easier to write.
Step 1: Introduce Yourself
If you want to stand out (and we know you do), you'll want to avoid the over-used "My name is [X] and I'm interested in [X] position because..." intro. Instead, try to infuse a little energy and personality into your first paragraph.
- Who are you, really?
- What is your mission statement when it comes to your professional life?
- What makes you absolutely unique?
- What would be your Bravo tagline?
- What are some random, funny, or unique fun facts about you?
Here are five opening line ideas for a cover letter that will help grab your reader's attention right off the bat. Let's write that opening paragraph.
Get creative, get weird, and loosen up. You can always edit your cover letter later.
Step 2: Explain Why You're the Right Candidate
Here's where you dive into the "meat" of the cover letter. This is where you'd mention any relevant projects you've worked on, any achievements relevant to the position you're applying for, and any hard or soft skills you have that would be ideal for this role.
It's more than listing your work experience and achievements. It's bringing them to life.
We recommend focusing on specific details here. Use short stories or anecdotes to demonstrate the ways you've been successful in previous positions.
Step 3: Compliment the Company
The third paragraph offers you the chance to brag about your potential employer.
Who doesn't love a little flattery, right? Here's your chance to (a) compliment the company, (b) show you've done your research on them and are legitimately a fan of their services or products, and (c) show the ways in which you could offer a fresh perspective and valuable input as an employee there.
Step 4: Wrap It Up
In the closing paragraph, you'll leave the hiring manager or recruiter with a positive, lasting impression. Use the final paragraph to conclude your thoughts and reiterate why you'd be a great fit for their team. Go big on this one: make it clear that you're interested and have much to offer.
Bonus: For more on the basics of cover letter writing, we have an entire article that breaks down these steps paragraph by paragraph, including cover letter examples to help you get your creativity flowing.
How to Rethink Your Cover Letter
I cannot tell you how many times I have begun a cover letter with this sentence,
“My name is [X] and I would love to express my keen interest in [Position].”
I hate that I have written that sentence dozens of times, but I have. It’s so boring and ordinary that I cannot blame any hiring managers who clicked right through to the next cover letter. Instead of considering your cover letter the most serious document you will ever write, consider having a little fun with it.
Your resume is likely very formal and informative. Allow your cover letter to show some of your sparkling personality. Use it to highlight what is unique about you, to expand on certain accomplishments, and to explain what excites you about the job opportunity at hand.
Sometimes, you might even have the opportunity to use your email as the cover letter. When directly emailing the hiring manager or human resources representative, use the body of the email to serve as a cover letter. This will likely put you at ease. Use this body to talk about yourself, refine your accomplishments, and define some of your goals.
When “rethinking” your cover letter, remember where you are applying. If it is a hip new startup, they might be open to something more creative, formal, and straightforward. When applying to a longstanding financial institution, you may want to steer toward a more “formal” cover letter.
Use Your Cover Letter to Plan Your Future
Many prospective employees use the cover letter to showcase their past accomplishments. This can amount to an impressive body of work, but an opportunity exists to take it further. Again, your formal resume already laid out your accomplishments and experience. Use your cover letter to apply your knowledge to the job at hand.
Ask yourself a few questions and use your cover letter to answer them:
- How would you take your past experiences and apply them to the job at hand?
- Are there any great ideas or insights you would like to share?
- What impresses you about the direction of the company?
- What would you like to contribute in the first 30 days? 90 days? The first year?
Take your experience and begin to reimagine it going forward. Think of how you can build on your own successes and adapt them to your next position. This added thoughtfulness shows a hiring manager that you have already done the work to place yourself within the organization.
Use Thoughtful Details in Your Cover Letter
Details matter, especially when it comes to crafting a written first impression. This means you'll want to ensure that your cover letter is thoughtfully composed and thoroughly double (and triple) checked before you press "submit."
A good cover letter is one that hits on the tone of the job posting and copy on the company's website so that it feels in line with the company culture. Here are a few ways to ensure you've managed that:
Think About Cover Letter Format
If you are applying to a role in a formal workplace (let's say an accounting firm or law firm, for example), you're going to want to ensure that you write a professional cover letter that reads more "formal" and less "conversational."
With regard to formatting, this means laying it out like you would a traditional business letter. Traditionally, this means a header that includes your name, address, and phone number, the date, and then the hiring manager's first and last name, and the company name and address.
You'll want to use full, formal names and titles here, as well as a formal greeting. Alternatively, if you're applying for a role in a company or industry that is considered more "casual," you would probably opt to send a cover letter that matches the "vibe" of the company. For example, a position as a designer at a start-up would be better suited for a more creative and less structured approach.
Consider Your Stationery
We realize that most cover letters will be digital these days, but you can still make them stand out from a standard Word doc or PDF file. If you're using personal (digital) letterhead, match your cover letter template to your resume's letterhead for a creative and personal touch.
Get the Names Right
Use the name of the hiring manager—and get it right. This is beneficial because it lets them know you did your research, and it makes the letter feel more personal. It's better than the impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam" or the vague "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Hiring Manager."
Double, Triple, Quadruple Check It Before Hitting Send
This high-stakes situation is not the time for typos, grammatical errors, name misspellings, or other mishaps. Have a friend or family member read through it as well. Sometimes they notice things you don't after you've been staring at it for what seems like forever.
Keep it Concise
Hiring managers aren't looking for a War and Peace-length cover letter here. Longer doesn't always equate to better.
We can almost guarantee that a hiring manager or recruiter won't read a letter that goes on and on...and on (even if it's a great one). To that end, we recommend keeping it all on one page. You can show off how well you can communicate in a short form piece.
Don't Forget Your Contact Information
This may go without saying, but it bears repeating just in case. Include contact details like your full name, your telephone number, your email address, and your address in the letter (and in your resume). Make it as easy as possible for them to contact you!
If you have a professional Twitter or other social media accounts relative to your work, include those!
Use the Company’s Voice in Your Cover Letter
Early in my career, I found myself looking for a new job. While shuffling through job boards on a Friday night in my late twenties (super cool, right?) I saw a job go live. Surely, I was the first person to see it, right? The job description was both descriptive and playful and it seemed like a match made in job heaven.
I decided to go off my regular “My name is Caileen and I would like to express my keen interest…” script. Instead, I decided to adopt their tone and insert a little humor into my cover letter. I started my email cover letter by poking fun at myself for job searching on a Friday night and went on to write the strangest cover letter I had ever written.
I expressed my enthusiasm, demonstrated my value, and spoke about my interest in the company’s trajectory, all while keeping a fun tone.
What set this cover letter apart is that I had fun writing it. The hiring manager recognized this, and I interviewed for the job that following Monday. (Spoiler alert—I got the job!)
If you really want the job, take the time to know your audience. Learn about the company’s pain points, their successes, and their failures. Use this framework to demonstrate your unique value. Communicate this in your cover letter. Incidentally, if you find yourself “having fun” in the process of writing your cover letter, you might have already found the perfect cultural fit.
