What to Include in a Cover Letter
Last updated: June 2, 2026
A great cover letter is not a mystery. It follows a clear structure, and once you know the parts, writing one gets a lot less stressful. Whether you write it from scratch or start from a generated draft, make sure each of these elements is present and pulling its weight.
The anatomy of a cover letter
Think of your letter as five working parts, each with a job to do. Miss one and the whole thing feels incomplete.
1. A professional greeting
Address a specific person whenever you can find a name. It instantly feels more personal. When you cannot, “Dear Hiring Manager” is the safe, modern choice. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern,” which feels like a form letter.
2. An opening that earns attention
Your first two sentences should give the reader a reason to keep going. Name the role and lead with a specific reason you are a strong fit, rather than simply stating that you are applying.
Instead of this
“I would like to be considered for the open developer role.”
Write this
“I have spent three years building fast, accessible web apps, and your focus on performance is exactly the kind of work I want to do next.”
3. A focused, evidence-backed body
The middle of your letter does the heavy lifting. It should cover:
- The skills and experience most relevant to this specific role
- Concrete, quantified achievements that prove your impact
- A clear link between your background and what the company needs
Resist the urge to include everything. Two or three strong, relevant points beat a long list of weak ones.
Pro tip
4. A reason you want this company
One or two genuine sentences about why this employer, tied to something real about what they do, make your letter feel intentional. This is the line that proves you did not send the same thing to fifty companies.
5. A confident closing
Finish with a polite call to action and a thank you, then sign off with your name. If you are sending the letter as an attachment or PDF, add a simple header at the top with your name, email, phone, and location so the reader can reach you easily.
Get the length and tone right
Keep the whole thing under one page, usually three or four short paragraphs. Aim for a tone that is professional but still warm and human. You are writing to a person, not filing a form, so it is fine to sound like yourself. Just avoid slang and tired clichés like “team player” or “think outside the box.”
Key takeaways
- ✓Greeting, opening, body, company fit, and closing.
- ✓Open with a specific hook, not a statement of intent.
- ✓Back up the body with quantified, relevant proof.
- ✓Add one honest reason you want this employer.
- ✓Keep it under a page, warm, and human.
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