Cover Letter Tips for 2025

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Table of contents

How to Write a Cover Letter
Cover Letter Tips to Get Noticed
Example Cover Letter
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

Creating a cover letter that highlights your unique qualifications and displays your expertise and skills is key to capturing the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. If you're looking for a new opportunity, let our cover letter tips help you level up your letter and ace the job search.

Our guide will discuss:

How to write a cover letter.
Cover letter tips to make your letter great.
A sample cover letter.
Key takeaways.

Want an application-ready cover letter right now? Try building one fast with the help of our Cover Letter Builder. This tool offers templates, formatting help, and content suggestions based on your career details so you can make a job-winning letter in just minutes.

How to Write a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a career document that usually accompanies a resume. In a cover letter, you should summarize who you are and what you bring to the table professionally, highlighting unique details like why the role interests you, why you'd be a great fit, or how your experience has impacted your working style.

To write a cover letter, you need:

A header that includes your name, email address, phone number, and city and state.
An opening paragraph that introduces you to employers and quickly establishes your experience level and the skills that you bring to the table.
Body paragraphs that expand on your skills and demonstrate your ability to achieve results.
A conclusion that thanks the reader for their time and states your desire to follow up in an interview.
A polite and professional sign-off.

Cover Letter Tips to Get Noticed

Creating a cover letter gives you a chance to stand out to employers. Our tips will help you upgrade your letter to put your best foot forward.

Tip #1

Choose a stylish template:

A cover letter isn't just text. Pick a ready-to-use cover letter template or create one using Google Docs or Word. A simple and stylish template goes a long way toward highlighting your professional brand. Bonus points for using a template that matches your resume template.

Tip #2

Master the basics:

Before we discuss specific cover letter strategies that you can try, make sure you have the cover letter basics down. Ensure that your letter is formatted neatly, that your font choice is appropriate, that you use consistent margins, and that you check thoroughly for mistakes.

Tip #3

Address your letter to the right person:

Addressing your letter to the recruiter or hiring manager who will read it gives it a nice personal touch and demonstrates that you've researched the role and organization. If this isn't possible, avoid stuffy greetings like "To Whom It May Concern." Address your letter as "Dear Hiring Manager" instead.

Tip #4

Discuss why you're applying to the organization:

A cover letter isn't just a sales pitch. Do more than explain your own merits as a candidate. A great cover letter also explains what about the role and organization excites you. An enthusiastic candidate is a huge plus for most employers.

Tip #5

Include links to your digital portfolio or professional social media:

Many employers are on LinkedIn, so including a link to your up-to-date LinkedIn profile is a smart move. If you work in a field where you may have a professional portfolio, link this on your cover letter to give employers easy access to your impressive work.

Tip #6

Focus on specific outcomes:

When it comes to the content of your cover letter, you shouldn't list experience the way you would on a resume. Instead, choose specific examples from your career that demonstrate why you're an ideal candidate. Highlight how you achieved results in those situations. Use active language and concrete data to give your achievements a sense of real-world impact.

Tip #7

Use keywords from the job description:

A cover letter should be customized for each role you apply to. Read the job description carefully and look for keywords that will help you show the employer that you can meet and exceed their expectations. Because many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates, keywords can help ensure that a human sees your letter.

Tip #8

Make the most of AI assistance:

Your cover letter should tell your story, so it's never a good idea to let artificial intelligence (AI) software like ChatGPT do all the writing for you. However, while an AI-generated cover letter is generic and unimpressive, a letter that uses AI assistance wisely can have a significant impact. Use AI on your cover letter to help organize your ideas, identify weak points, and ensure that your cover letter matches the job description.

Tip #9

Sell your skills:

A cover letter should give the employer confidence in your abilities. Sell your hard and soft skills and focus primarily on those listed in the job description. If you're worried about being underqualified for the role, try pursuing a certification or "upskilling" in areas relevant to the job description. Employers like to see candidates that are committed to growing. If you have relevant certifications or extracurriculars, your cover letter is the perfect time to highlight them.

Tip #10

Phone a friend:

Is your cover letter strong enough to convey your value as a professional? A second set of eyes can help you overcome your blind spots and improve your letter. Plus, sharing your career journey with professional contacts is a mutually beneficial way to build your networking skills.

Tip #11

Emphasize your values:

Culture is an important factor during the hiring process — on both sides! Use your cover letter to discuss your values and highlight how they align with the role. This is also a good time to highlight extracurricular activities, like volunteer work or youth mentorship, that may demonstrate your values.

Example Cover Letter

Need inspiration to help you get your cover letter off the ground? Take a look at this sample cover letter.

Use this template

Key Takeaways

Ace the basics.

A great cover letter is a neatly organized document that maximizes each standard section. Focus on building an error-free letter that gives employers a strong sense of your attention to detail and technical skills.
Make it stylish.

Choose a simple and stylish cover letter template to showcase your abilities neatly. A polished letter is more likely to capture employers' attention.
Research the role.

Look closely at the job description to identify keywords and understand what the employer is looking for. This will help you align your letter with their needs. Doing your research will also allow you to address the hiring manager by name, explain why you want the role, and showcase your dedication.
Use modern tools to make your letter stronger.

AI assistance can help you overcome writer's block and make a letter that conquers your blind spots. Digital portfolios and social media can also be great additions to your letter that help it stand out from the rest.
Get specific.

Use specific accomplishments, active language, and numerical data to give employers a realistic vision of what you do and how you can contribute to their organization.

Resources to Help With Your Job Search

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.