Cover Letter Writing
Treat the cover letter as an argument for fit, not a biography. Research the role and organization, select evidence that matches the job requirements, show how that evidence would help the employer, and keep the document focused. Traditional heading and letter conventions are common, but employer and industry expectations vary.
A cover letter should connect the employer’s needs to a small number of your strongest, relevant qualifications. Tailor it to the specific role, open with the position and fit, use the body to support two or three claims with concrete evidence, and close professionally. Do not simply repeat the résumé, and follow the employer’s requested format.
Key details
Important caveats
Resume Boundary
The résumé supplies the record of experience; the cover letter should interpret selected evidence and connect it to the employer’s needs instead of restating every bullet.
Further guidance
Body Evidence
Use specific examples to support claims. “Reduced monthly reporting time by automating two reconciliation steps” is stronger than “I am efficient.”
Opening
State the position and establish the fit quickly. Avoid opening with a long autobiography that delays the reason for writing.
Tailor
Identify the two or three requirements that matter most for the role and choose evidence that demonstrates those requirements rather than sending the same generic letter everywhere.
Worked Example
Requirement: coordinate cross-team launches. Cover-letter evidence: describe one launch, your coordinating role, a concrete result, and why that experience maps to the advertised responsibility.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Cover Letter Workshop — Formatting and Organization (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Current job-search guidance treats the cover letter as an audience- and organization-specific application document with heading, introduction, argument/body and closing, while warning that format expectations vary by employer.
- Quick Content Tips for Cover Letters (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Current guidance recommends tailoring to each job, connecting two or three qualifications to evidence, using specific examples and complementing rather than repeating the resume.