How to write a covering letter

How to Start a Cover Letter [Introduction & 25+ Opening Lines]

Writer’s block got you staring at your blank screen? It’s not as hard as you think to start a cover letter that will blow the hiring manager away—this guide shows you how.

You’ve got your resume locked down, and you’re ready to turn in your job application. But that damn cover letter. You’ve been staring at your blank screen for what must be weeks now.

How to start a cover letter?

In this guide, we’ll show you how to start a cover letter perfectly and captivate the hiring manager enough to want to immediately call you in for an interview.

We’ll craft a professional cover letter introduction, and we’ll sort out all the header details while we’re at it.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Sample Cover Letter for a Resume—See more cover letter examples here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

Do you like to see more guides and some examples? Check:

Are you looking for an example in your specific field? We’ve covered that also:

A Universal Method for Starting a Cover Letter

Below in this article, you’ll plenty of examples of cover letter opening paragraphs, but let’s start with the basics.

To start a cover letter well, follow these steps:

Here’s a simple-but-powerful cover letter template to use as an example:

Dear [First Name] :

Feel free to copy and paste this one, fill in the placeholders with your information, and use it as your cover letter introduction!

What if you can’t indentify the hiring manger’s name? Do some digging! Check the company’s website or LinkedIn. If those don’t work, you could even call up the receptionist.

All failed? Here’s how to start a cover letter with no name:

If you can’t find the name of the person to whom you’ll address the cover letter, don’t worry; all is not lost.

In that case, try one of these:

Be as specific as possible. You may not know their name, but try to figure out the job title of the person who will handle your employment process. This way, you’ll still show you put in the work.

Alright, you’ve learned the basics. Need some more inspiration? We’ve crafted some sample cover letter openings you can tweak and make yours.

The Most Effective Strategies to Start a Cover Letter

Looking for the single best way to start a cover letter?

It doesn’t exist.

Each cover letter intro should be tailored to that particular job, company, hiring manager, and situation.

Here are the best and most effective examples:

1. Start with an accomplishment

Currently a web developer with more than 3 years of experience in front end development, I recently earned a W3C FEWDC certification. I’m skilled in HTML, JS, CSS, JS libraries, and Agile methodology. I also actualized a new responsive site design which helped to increase returning visitors by 25%. I believe I make a strong candidate for the senior front end developer position, and I eagerly submit my job application.

Starting a cover letter with a brief humblebrag about your past wins is super effective with hiring managers for performance-centric positions. Always use numbers to quantify achievements—it’s way more effective to prove your skills rather than just say you have them.

2. Inform the company what you can offer them

Having just come across your job posting for a senior financial analyst, I believe I have the ideal mix of skills and past experience to be a top candidate. Having worked as a financial analyst with Poole & Sons for over 4 years, my work there has enabled them to cut error rates by 30% while improving efficiency by 15%. If hired as the senior financial analyst at Standard Financial, I’m certain I would be able to bring the same level of commitment and results along with me.

Employers are on a mission—to find a candidate who offers their company the best bang for their buck. By letting them know what you bring to the table straight away, you’ll have a compelling cover letter introduction.

3. Show you love the company

The Boston Consulting Group’s emphasis on employee development is why I’m so excited about this position. My 98% client satisfaction rate at Deloitte owes a lot to my commitment to constant skills improvement. I’m excited to see where I could take your client KPIs within such a well-constructed system.

Customizing a cover letter to match the job requirements is crucial to its success. What better way to tailor your cover letter intro to the company than by showing your love for it or your recognition of their objectives?

4. Name-drop by saying you know someone relevant

Did someone internal refer you to the job? Let them know with this method:

As a web designer for the past decade, I’ve collaborated with many people on various projects, large and small. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with James Ellegaard. After working together for several weeks, he recommended that I apply to join the Product Design team at Osiris Visuals. With my 100% client satisfaction ratings, I believe I am the right candidate to hire as the next graphic designer.

Internal referrals give you a huge advantage over other candidates. The hiring manager was just notified of a colleague’s confidence in your abilities, so they’ll definitely pay closer attention to your job application.

5. Exude enthusiasm, excitement, and passion

After sending off about 10 applications for area jobs in marketing, I came across your job post in search of a social media specialist. I’ve always admired Jensen’s brand of socially-conscious advertisements, and I can’t believe that there’s an opportunity for me to be a part of it! As a marketer with 3+ years of experience posting conversion-optimized Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram posts, I just know I’d be a perfect fit.

Showing passion is always in fashion in cover letter introductions. They are looking for a human, after all, not the robots who’ll replace us a decade from now.

6. Refer to their current events

Yesterday, I stumbled across the news that Jedno Corporation has set a strict goal to reduce their carbon footprint to zero by 2025. I applaud your company’s goal, and one thing led to another and I found a perfect specialist position waiting to be filled on your careers page. I would love to be a part of Jedno’s historic reduction in dependence on fossil fuels.

Know something specific about the company that recently happened? Mentioning it shows you’re well informed and interested in the company.

7. Display some creativity & humor

It won’t always work, so be careful! But for less formal job applications, a little joke goes a long way (unless, of course, it falls flat—you’ve been warned).

You posted a job ad for a line cook for the Red Sparrow Restaurant’s kitchen staff. I would love to apply for the position, as I can make a reduction like no one’s business, do crazy utensil-flipping tricks like those chefs at Benihana, and cook a steak people fight over. Also, if you hire me, I’m a size small, so it could save you money when you order chef jackets (compared to hiring some larger candidates).

Disclaimer: I can’t stress it enough—use at your own risk. Creative sentences or hilarious one-liners can make great cover letter openers. But they can also backfire.

8. Be direct

Sometimes beating around the bush turns an employer off. If you think that’s the case on this particular job application, you can just state that you’re applying for the job in your cover letter beginning.

I’d like to officially submit my application for the manager position at Smith’s Wholesale Club. With 5+ years of experience as a supervisor at Costco, I’ve developed a knack for effective, empathetic leadership and easily discernible results. I know that my supervisory experience and sales floor skills make me a perfect prospect to be one of Smith’s management staff.

9. Craft a powerful belief statement

As a web developer, I believe every person should be able to access the internet on any device, unrestricted, and in an efficient manner. I admire Johnson & Gilchrist’s commitment to bringing affordable electronics and unfettered network connectivity to the less fortunate. I would love to be a part of your praiseworthy efforts and submit to you my official application for the back end developer position.

A belief statement directly states a particular idea or value you care deeply about, often reflecting the company’s opinion, as well.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Addressing a Cover Letter & Formatting the Heading Area

Last but not least—

The address on a cover letter.

Since a cover letter is usually a formal document, follow business letter format when writing. This means your details go first, then the date of writing, and then the recipient’s name and address.

Left align everything, unless you choose a particular cover letter template designed otherwise.

Here’s a sample template for how to address a cover letter header:

[Your First & Last Names]

[Your Mailing Address]

[Date of Writing]

[Manager’s Job Title]

[Company’s Street Address]

[City, State and Zip Code]

Just copy and paste that above template to use in your cover letter heading area.

And if you’re looking for general advice on how to write a cover letter, try this guide: How to Write a Cover Letter for a Resume (12+ Job-Winning Examples)

You should always aim to keep your cover letter brief but impactful, learn more here: Short Cover Letter Examples for a Speedy Job Application

Key Takeaway

Starting a cover letter isn’t so hard after all, right?

You don’t have to stick to the same, boring cover letter introduction you learned in high school, as there are plenty of ways to go about it.

Here is how to start a cover letter:

Hey, thanks for reading our guide on how to begin a cover letter! We hope it helped you out. If you have any questions on writing a salutation for cover letters or how to start a cover letter when you don’t have their name, leave a comment below. We’ll get back to you ASAP!

How to Write a Cover Letter [A Complete Guide]

A cover letter is a short document that accompanies your resume or CV when applying for a job. It provides a more detailed account of your experience, skills, and overall suitability for the position. Use our template and guide below to create the perfect cover letter for your next job application.

Send jobs to 100+ job boards with one submission

Cover Letter Template:

Start applying for jobs with our Word formatted cover letter today.

Cover Letter Example:

[Full Name]

[Physical Address]

[Telephone Number]

[Email Address]

[Date]

Application for the position of [insert position name]

Dear [recipient’s title and last name]

I would like to apply for the position of [insert position name] as advertised [mention where you saw the advertisement.] My experience and ability to [#1 skill] and [#2 skill] perfectly fit the advertised position’s requirements. I am confident that my skills combined with my industry knowledge will be invaluable to [insert company name.]

I received my [qualification] from [institution and location,] and have [insert number] of years’ experience in [mention relevant field.] In my attached resume you will notice that I have [mention certifications, skills, and competencies] that answer directly to the requirements of your job posting.

In my [current or previous role] at [insert company name,] I [was/am] responsible for [discuss your core responsibilities.] Most recently, I was [talk about your major accomplishments.]

As an experienced [your job title,] I am impressed with [mention notable characteristics or milestones you appreciate about the company] and feel that my talent for [mention your strengths] would be of great benefit to your company.

Please find my resume attached. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions you would like to discuss.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

How to write a cover letter

A cover letter is a single-page letter that you include with your job application.

You should always include a cover letter, unless the job advertisement clearly says not to.

The purpose of a cover letter

When writing a cover letter, you should:

How long should a cover letter be?

Keep it short. A cover letter is meant to be a summary of your resume, so don’t write more than one page.

Matching your cover letter to the job

Use a different cover letter for each job you apply for. Your cover letter needs to show that you know what the job involves, and what the employer is looking for.

To do this, be specific about your skills and qualities. You also need to show how they match the needs of the job or the organisation.

Here are three simple ways to make your cover letter as specific as possible:

1. Find out who to address it to

Try not to address your letter ‘To whom it may concern’. Find out the name of the person who will read your application. This might take a little effort, but it’s worth it.

If you found the job in an advertisement, it will probably name a person to send the application to. If it doesn’t, call the employer or advertiser and ask who to send the application to. Telephone is best, but email them if you can’t find a contact phone number.

If you find out the person’s name, don’t use their first name. Use either ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’ and their last name instead.

2. Find out more about the job

When finding out who to address your application to, you could also try to contact that person so you can ask questions. This can help you match your cover letter (and resume) to the job.

Note down the answers to these questions as they can be used in your cover letter

3. Find out more about the company

Find out more about the company so you can tailor your cover letter for the job. Here are some tips:

What to include in your cover letter

Here’s a list of things you should include in your cover letter. For examples of how to include these things, visit our sample resumes and cover letters pages.

Your name and contact details

Put your name and contact details at the top of your cover letter. You don’t have to give your postal address, but you do need to include your email and phone number.

Your email address should create a professional impression. Don’t use an email address like yolozapbangpowdude@xmail.com.

If you don’t have a professional email address, you can make one with a free email provider. Make it simple – something that includes your first name and your last name is a good way to go.

Their name and contact details

Under your own name and contact details, you should include:

If you’re having trouble finding this information, you can call the company to ask who you should address your application to.

You can also use ‘To whom it may concern’, but it’s best to only use this as a last resort.

The name of the job you’re going for

At the start of your cover letter you need to say which job you’re applying for.

You can do this on a line by itself (for example, ‘Regarding: Application for Stock Controller position’).

You can also do this in the opening paragraph (for example, ‘I am writing to apply for the recently advertised Stock Controller position’.)

A list of your relevant skills

Include a brief summary about how your skills and experiences match the job description. A short bullet list is fine.

If you’re answering a job advertisement, there may be a position description that lists essential skills and experiences. It may also have a list of ‘desirable’ skills and experience. Your cover letter needs to respond to all of the items on the ‘essential’ list. You should also respond to as many items as you can on the ‘desirable’ list.

Remember that if you say you have a skill or experience, you need to show how you’ve used it or how you got it (for example, if you say you’ve got child-minding skills, mention some jobs where you’ve used them).

A summary of why you’re right for the job

After listing your skills and experience, you should explain why these mean you’re suited to the job (for example, ‘My ability to get along with anyone and my experience in solving customer problems in a retail setting make me ideally suited for this job.’)

Speak their language

Using the same language as people who do a particular job shows that you understand the industry or field that the employer works in.

Find out what the employer does, and how they talk about themselves. Use this language in your cover letter.

For example, if there’s a tool or software or skill the job requires, like machining tools or cash handling, mention it in your cover letter (but make sure you mention it correctly!).

Read what to research before a job interview page to find more ways to research an employer.

Ask them to contact you

Your cover letter should finish by asking the employer to read your resume. It should also ask them to contact you about an interview.

Try something simple like, ‘I have attached a copy of my resume. I look forward to hearing from you about this job’.

What you shouldn’t include in your cover letter

There are some things that should never be in your cover letter. Here are some things to watch out for.

Typos or mistakes

Always spellcheck your cover letter. It’s even better to get someone else to read it and point out any mistakes or confusing things.

People you could ask to read your cover letter include friends, family members, your careers teacher or a careers counsellor at your university or TAFE.

Double-check everything in your cover letter. If you mention a company’s name, make sure you spell it right. If you mention places you’ve worked before, make sure you spell their names right, too.

Including your whole resume in your cover letter

Don’t cut and paste your resume into your cover letter. Try to re-word the information in your resume, rather than just repeating it. Keep your cover letter short and let your resume tell the whole story.

Using ‘I’ too much

Try not to over use phrases like ‘I believe’, ‘I have’ and ‘I am’. Remember, it’s not about you – it’s about how you can help the employer.

Once you’ve written your letter, read over it, and try to take out or rewrite as many sentences that start with ‘I’ as you can.

Don’t mention your other job applications

You’re probably applying for more than one job at a time. However, it’s best not to mention other job applications. Your letter should aim to convince the employer that you really want this job.

Even though most employers will assume you’re applying for more than one job, you don’t need to mention it.

Different kinds of cover letters

There may be times when you need use different kinds of cover letters. Visit the pages below for examples of these situations:

How to Write a Great Cover Letter

Making First Impressions Count

Your dream job has opened up, at just the right time in your career! You’ve built up the skills and experience to take this next step, whether at your own organization or elsewhere, and you’re fired up with enthusiasm.

But the deadline for applications is approaching fast. So, you update your résumé and, feeling positive about your chances, you even take your interview outfit to the dry cleaners!

Next, you sit down to write your cover letter – and your hands freeze over your keyboard. You’re desperate to make a great first impression on the hiring manager, and to get your application to the top of the pile. Should the letter be formal or quirky? How much and what type of information should it contain?

In this article, we explore tips and techniques for writing a cover letter that can help you to get through to the next round of the recruitment process.

This article gives general tips and guidance for writing a great cover letter, but there is no «one size fits all» template. After reading this article, use your own experience and judgment to decide on the best approach for the role that you are applying for, taking into account the organization’s culture and best practices.

Preparing Your Cover Letter

First, you need to do some homework. Find out as much as you can about the team you are hoping to join. Start with your company’s website and, if possible, the team’s intranet. Then explore industry websites, journals or newsletters for news and information about the company and the industry in general.

This will help to make sure that you are fully up to date with current trends and potential pain points in your sector. You can use this information to gain a better understanding of what the team needs, and how you might be able to help.

Your cover letter needs to find the right tone, one that reflects the culture of your organization. Chances are, you’re already familiar with this. But different teams and departments may have different ways of working. For example, do they have a formal, reserved approach, or a more relaxed and informal feel?

Next, look at your résumé from the hiring manager’s point of view. Does it include anything that might concern them? For example, are there any gaps in your work history? Your cover letter should include brief explanations for these, such as taking a career break to raise your family.

Cover Letter Basics

If you were meeting a potential boss for the first time, chances are you’d take extra care with your appearance. If you pay the same attention to your cover letter, that meeting will more likely take place! So, check and double check the following areas:

Writing a Compelling Cover Letter

Chances are, you’re not the only person who sees the role as a dream opportunity. It may have attracted numerous applications. That means the hiring manager has to sift through a lot of cover letters, so they will want to see at a glance what you have to offer.

Brevity is key. As writer and editor Lily Herman instructs, «Keep it short (like, really short). Your cover letter should be a single page (no more!) and around 300-350 words.»

Consider the following structure as a guide for your cover letter:

1. Introduce Yourself

Grab the reader’s interest with your opening paragraph. In one or two sentences, tell them who you are, and why they should hire you, and express your enthusiasm for the role.

For example, you could say, «As a sales manager with six years’ experience of motivating my team and exceeding my targets each quarter, I was excited to see your advertisement for regional sales director.» This sounds much more appealing than, «I am writing to apply for the role of regional sales director, which was advertised on LinkedIn.»

2. Explain Why You Are the Best Candidate

Next, describe what you can bring to the role. Give examples of skills that you’ve developed or successes that you’ve enjoyed that are relevant to the job description.

Be specific, and quantify your achievements wherever possible. If you’ve exceeded your sales targets, for example, give a percentage or monetary figure. Tell the truth, and don’t be tempted to exaggerate or embellish your accomplishments – it’s unethical, and will backfire if you are caught out.

Free Workbook Offer

Increase your productivity and reduce stress with this FREE workbook when you join the Club before midnight, Aug 21.

How To Write A Cover Letter: Useful Tips, Phrases and Examples

How to write a cover letter? When applying for a job, you will often be asked to send your prospective employer a copy of your resume (or CV) but this is not the only thing that you should forward for your application. It is very important that you also include what is known as a cover letter. This is a correspondence which acts as an introduction to the other documentation which you are including and can go a long way in reflecting your capabilities in communication.

Table of Contents

How To Write A Cover Letter

Heading

Most letters will start out with a heading, which will display your contact details and sometimes a subject line. The following are examples of what you should include in your heading.

Greeting

The next portion should be used to greet the person to which you are writing, and there are a variety of ways in which you might begin your letter.

Opening Portion Of The Letter

To begin your letter, you are going to want to include a few points which detail what you are writing about and act as an introduction to your letter. Let’s take a look at some of the opening points which should be included.

Introducing Yourself

To start off, you will want to introduce yourself to the reader. Whilst a cover letter does need to be relatively brief, this section should contain as much detail as possible but in a concise manner. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and so some thought should go into what is said here.

Reason For Writing

In this paragraph, you now have the chance to explain, in as interesting and professional manner as possible why you are writing this letter. You should detail what job you are applying for, where you heard about it and why you have decided to apply.

Education And Previous Experience

Now is your chance to show off your skills and experience. This is a great time to detail what qualifications you have that you believe to be a good fit for the position you are applying for and also talk about your previous experience in the field. If you do not have any experience then you can use this section to explain that you are looking to learn new skills and further your career through training and hands on experience, make yourself sound eager and willing to learn.

Letter Body

Now we are getting into the bulk of your cover letter, there are some further points of information that you should include. Let’s take a closer look at what you should detail in this section.

Why Are You Interested In This Position?

You can use this section of the letter to let the employer know why it is that you would like to take this job. This is a chance to use your imagination and come up with a creative reason as to why this is something you would like to do. Many simple options could be;

Why Should They Employ You?

In this part of your cover letter, you are going to tell the reader why you think they should hire you. It is worth using as many positive adjectives as you can in this section without going over the top. Some examples of this might be;

You are essentially using this paragraph to detail why you are better than anyone else who is applying for the same position.

Closing Comments

In this final paragraph of the letter, you have the opportunity to include any last comments or extra information. This can be anything that you feel is relevant to the application as well as some general comments which are often included, such as the following.

Sign Off

At the end of your letter, you should include a signature with a respectful farewell. Most often, the following are commonly used.

After this, you should include your name.

Common Phrases To Include In Cover Letters

There are a variety of phrases which can be used when penning a cover letter, and most of the time, you will find that using a specific template can help greatly. Let’s look at some of the most common ways to express what you want to say in a cover letter.

Introduction

In order to introduce yourself, you may include any of the following phrases.

Reason For Writing

In this section, you will need to explain why you are contacting the reader.

Education And Previous Experience

Your prospective employer is going to be interested to know what qualifications you have, here are some ways to express this information.

What Makes You Ideal For This Position?

You are going to want to convince the reader that you are the best option for this position.

Closing Statement

At the end of your letter, you will need to close off by saying thank you.

Tips For Writing A Great Cover Letter

In order to make the most of the cover letter you are writing, it is important to follow some of the useful tips which will ensure that you produce the most effective cover letter possible.

Cover Letter Samples

Now that we have learned exactly what should be included in a cover letter, let’s take a look at an example. In this case, John Doe is writing a cover letter to go alongside his application for the position of hotel manager.

1234 Main Street

My name is John Doe and I am a newly trained manager within the hospitality sector. I am very excited to have recently completed various courses in this field and am a driven and enthusiastic individual.

I am writing to you in response to your advert for the hotel manager position which was advertised on Facebook and would ask that you look over my enclosed resume and consider me for this position.

As mentioned previously, I have recently completed a variety of management courses including the following;

For both of these courses, I passed with merit and also have qualifications in IT and Telecommunications, as well as a Diploma in Spanish. I previously worked within a 4 star establishment, and worked my way up from cleaner, to assistant manager. At which point, my previous employer put me forward for the training which I have just completed.

I am very interested in joining your hotel and the management role is something that excites me very much. In my previous job, I feel that I have gained all the necessary skills that I will need to excel in my career and am looking forward to employing these skills in a fresh new environment.

I believe that it would be in your best interest to hire me as your new hotel manager because I am extremely hard working and dedicated to everything that I do. As well as this, I am excited to share a fresh and innovative approach to management which I believe will only benefit your establishment. I am keen to learn further skills in order to keep up with the latest information and techniques in the field and am looking forward to meeting new people and sharing ideas.

I would like to take the time to thank you for considering my application and for spending your time reading this letter. It would be a pleasure to speak with you as soon as ever possible and I look forward to your correspondence.

How To Write A Cover Letter Infographic

How To Write A Cover Letter

How to write a cover letter in simple steps