Covering all the bases

Tips on tightening that cover letter

This is the sequel to hunting piece on how to tighten and refine cover letters that we so shamelessly copy-paste and claim to ‘resonate’ with the mission of every single company hiring. I know, been there.

Let’s push aside some basic questions. Do people even read cover letters? Yes, yes they do. Or just believe this and do your job. Why? For it will give you clarity — of the job, the company, and how much you actually want this position. How much time should I typically spend on a cover letter? Depending on how productive you feel, spend an hour each over 2–3 days to write it. Might be a better idea to read your writing with fresh eyes rather than spending an entire afternoon without blinking. How many words are the minimum? A page or less. If you need too many words to explain why someone should hire you, write again. Be succinct. I’ll explain exactly how in a bit.

Where should I begin my cover letter? There are many ways to structure a cover letter. A simple google search will prove this. Learning from truly remarkable people, Reddit forums, and ‘no-response’ HR, this is what I use:

As I said, this is one of the many ways to write a cover letter. Think about what writing principles make sense to you and what feels most authentic. There aren’t really any rules, merely suggestions.

(Drop a note if you need a total stranger, a.k.a me, to give you more concrete tips on your writing. Drop a note if you want to give me some tips on writing)

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