The most important thing to remember about writing a cover letter is—it’s about them, not about you.

The point of a cover letter is to:

(a) tie your resume to the job of interest (i.e., the rationale for why submitting a resume at all and how you got here; and
(b) to explain why you chose them.

Most people write a cover letter all about themselves—I did this, I did that, I came from here, etc. In reality, it needs to be much more about them—why you are coming to them, why you think they are great, what you can do to help them.

The 3 Most Common Cover Letter Problems:

The cover letter is not specific: Cover letters must be written to a specific job and company—no general letters!
The cover is an attachment: Cover letters should be in the body of the email itself and only the resume should be attached as a PDF!
Robot writing: Write how you speak!

Examples of Real Cover Letters That Have Actually Worked to Land a Job!

General Anatomy of a Cover Letter (solicited, for a specific job)

Dear [name] ,

Try to find the name of the head of the department / hiring person for the job you are applying to—you can usually find it by doing a little bit of research on the company website, Google, or LinkedIn. It shows you are detail-oriented and did your research. If you cannot find a name, you could write something like:

To [Company Name] [Department Name] Search Committee:

Overall you want to avoid a very general “To Whom It May Concern” because that reads as very little effort from the job-hunter.

I am writing to express my strong interest in the [job title] position at [company name]. I bring with me a strong background in [xxx, xxx, xxx, and xxx], coupled with extensive experience in [xxx and xxx].

This is basically the only part about YOU. It should be brief. it’s basically a one-liner about who you are/ what you do.

Most recently, I have been working in [xxx] at [current employer name], where I have [discuss some quantifiable accomplishments around relationship-building bc that’s what this job is about]. Prior to that I was with [previous employer name] collaborating with [xxx, xxx, and xxx] to develop [something else quantifiable].

This part should be about making sense of your experience and building your value to THEM.

While these roles have provided compelling experiences in the [xxx industry], my goal is to move into a position within a company that [why you want to work for this company].

This is the rationale for why you are seeking new opportunities. You want to give them context/ explain why you are seeking new opportunities now—the goal here is to tell the silver lining story (i.e., not that you lost your job, or funding, but that you are seeking XYZ from your next experience). Perhaps it is to lead a larger team? Or work with a larger company?

I’m excited by [something about their company/ what makes you want to work with them in particular]. I’m interested in [company name] because [say some unique things about it].

This part is all about the company—you want them to know why you are specifically interested in THEM!

As [job title] at [company name], my expertise and extensive contacts will ensure the recruitment of [profitable, high- quality writers, producers, and publishers] to guide [company name] to exceed its [financial and sponsorship goals].

This part is also all about THEM—this is about what you can bring to the table/ what THEY will get out of having you there.

I have attached my resumé for your review, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the role further.
Thank you for your consideration,
[your name]

The Unsolicited Cover Letter

This is an underutilized, but highly effective approach. It involves sending unsolicited cover letters/resumes to companies or organizations of interest that may not have any current openings posted. What’s really cool here is that you can catch the right person at the right time (e.g., right before they post a job, the day someone announces their intention to leave, etc.) Our clients have had a lot of luck with this approach. The cover letter will look a little different than the regular version. Here is an example of an unsolicited cover letter that got this person hired in an unposted job!

Dear Dr. Abdul,
I am writing to you because I have taken an interest in your current research projects on your website. I have reviewed the information on the website and I find all of the projects to be fascinating, in particular Head Start Cares and the Next Generation Project, as my research experiences at Fordham University have surrounded the themes of family, in particular low-income families and Head Start.
I am a recent graduate, with a B.S. in Psychology with relatively extensive research experience as an undergraduate. I reviewed your website, but I was unsure if you were looking for any full-time researchers to aid with Head Start Cares or the Next Generation Project (or possibly other projects that might be related to research with low-income families and policy). I am interested in your research topics and I have gained a passion for research during my time at Fordham. I believe that I could be a good fit and that I would have much to contribute to one of your teams as a research assistant if you were interested.
I have attached my resumé for your review, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the role further.
Thank you for your consideration,
Megan

Who to send such a letter to? See the section of Diversifying the Job Search on Gentle Stalking.

The Double Tap Cover Letter (When you want an actual human to read your resume)

This cover letter is for when you have submitted an application for a job through a website/portal, but you want to go a step further and get it in front of an actual human. This cover letter should look very similar to the General Cover Letter (above), but you’ll change the first sentence:

Dear [name] ,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the [job title] position at [company name]. I already applied through the [company name] portal, but I wanted to reach out to you directly as well. I bring with me a strong background in...

The Create a Job Cover Letter

Sometimes you can convince a company/organization to hire you for a position/role that doesn’t yet exist. It sounds far-fetched, but it isn’t. Our clients have succeeded with this approach, but it has to be done right, which means it has to be well-researched, persuasive, and with a strong logic- and financially-based rationale. We will break down the anatomy of this cover letter using a cover letter that actually worked to get hired in a job/role that didn’t exist!

Hi Jessica,

It’s very important to find the name of the person with the power to create/advocate for a new position. It could be someone in an adjacent position or a leader/stakeholder at the company/organization.

I am writing to you because I have taken an interest in [company name] and its high-quality range of products. I’m reaching out because I reviewed the team information on the website and found that [company name] does not seem to have a [job title]. I realize [company name] is a young brand and the concept of including a [job title] as part of the team may not have been top of mind in the early stages of product development and marketing.

This part is all about introducing your interest in the company/organization (“why them?”) and introducing the job title you are proposing they need. Here you can also include a rationale for why now is a good time for them to take on this job title.

[Job titles] are quickly becoming an industry standard for companies that want to [attract and retain talent]. [Job titles] are vital to companies’ success as they [xyz], but also because they [xyz]. Research has evidenced that [job titles] increase a company's bottom line by [xyz] because [xyz], saving companies on average, about [$xx] per year.

This part is about why it is absolutely necessary that they have this job title at their company. Add some research, facts, figures--whatever you need to convince the reader that they should really consider this. You always want to make a financial argument, too (e.g., how your position will save the company money or make them more money). Do your research and cite your sources.

My background is focused on [diversity and inclusion research], coupled with extensive experience in [organizational consulting and culture change within technology companies]. Most recently, I have been working in [current job title] at [current company name], where I have [discuss some quantifiable accomplishments]. Prior to that, I was with [previous company name] collaborating with [xxx] to develop [something else quantifiable]. While these roles have provided compelling experiences in the [commercial music industry], my goal is to take my talents to a [tech/wellness company] to which I feel deeply connected like [company name] and establish them to become a pioneer in [job title].

This part is about you--what can you bring to the table? You convinced them the job is necessary, but why you?

It is my hope that [company name] is open to pioneering such a department/role (or possibly integrating some of these responsibilities into an existing adjacent role), and I’m interested in discussing how I could contribute to [company name] in this capacity. I have attached my resumé for your review, and I look forward to the opportunity to further discuss a potential collaboration.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ron

Here is another actual cover letter that our client sent to a company to get hired in a job/role that didn’t exist!

Hi [name],
After getting a taste of [company name]’s personality via your website and social media, I was intrigued to learn more about the company and its culture. Upon seeing the impressive, varied roster of clients you work with and how your team values idea development and problem-solving, it became eminently clear that [company name] and I would be a fantastic fit.
I have been searching for a position that fulfills my interests in [brand strategy and project management] at a creative, innovative company. Through my research of the industry, [company name] has excited me the most.
I am reaching out to inquire about any potential on your [Strategy or Account Management] teams. I am a curious, driven, and communicative leader recently coming out of the events/fundraising world, looking to engage in a fulfilling and challenging position.
I have attached my resume here and would love to further discuss my interests and qualifications with you if you have any availability.
Thanks for your consideration,
[name]

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References

Some ideas were adapted from What Color Is Your Parachute? Guide to Rethinking Interviews: Ace the Interview and Land Your Dream Job by Richard N. Bolles