How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read

The 7-Second Problem

Hiring managers don't read cover letters. They skim them. You get about 7 seconds before they decide whether to keep going or move on. That's not an exaggeration — it's what most recruiters will tell you if you ask them directly.

So the question isn't "is my cover letter good?" It's "does my cover letter earn the next 10 seconds?" Everything comes down to your opener.

The opener is everything. Don't waste it.

What a Bad Opening Looks Like

You know the type. "I am writing to express my interest in the Software Engineer position at Acme Corp." That sentence tells the reader nothing they don't already know. They posted the job. You applied for it. Of course you're interested.

Other common offenders: starting with "My name is..." (they can see your name), or "I believe I would be a great fit..." (everyone says this), or "Throughout my career..." (nobody cares about your career narrative yet).

These openers don't fail because they're wrong. They fail because they're forgettable.

How to Write the First Sentence

A good first sentence does one of two things: it names a specific result you've achieved, or it shows you understand something specific about the company. Both of these signal that you're not sending a mass-apply letter.

Here's a real example of a weak opener vs. a strong one for the same candidate:

The strong version is specific. It's got a number. It hints at ambition. And it makes the reader think: "Tell me more."

The Cover Letter Format That Works

Keep it to three short paragraphs. That's it. Most cover letters are twice as long as they need to be (and that's harder than it sounds when you're trying to sell yourself).

• 1.Hook: Your strong first sentence, plus one more line that explains why you're applying to this company specifically. Not "because it's a great opportunity." Something real.
• 2.Proof: Two or three lines about what you've done that's directly relevant. Pull from your resume, but phrase it differently. Add the context the resume can't fit.
• 3.Close: One line asking for the conversation. Not begging, not over-eager. Just a clear, direct ask. "I'd love to talk through how this could work" is fine.

What to Cut

Here's a quick list of things you can remove from almost any cover letter without losing anything:

• The date and your full address (this isn't a formal letter, it's 2025)
• Restating the job title in the first line
• Any sentence that starts with "I have always been passionate about..."
• The phrase "I am a team player" or any version of it
• "Please find my CV attached" — they know
• Any paragraph longer than 4 sentences

Shorter is almost always better. If you can say it in 200 words, don't use 400.

Tailoring Without Rewriting

You don't need a completely different cover letter for every job. You need a strong base and a few swappable lines. The hook and the closing paragraph usually stay the same. What changes is the second sentence of paragraph one (the company-specific bit) and one or two details in paragraph two.

That 20% of customisation does most of the work. Read the job description. Find two or three phrases that keep appearing. Work them in naturally. Don't stuff them.

Want to go further? Read our guide on how to tailor your cover letter to a job description — it covers word mirroring and ATS scanning in detail.

One More Thing

Read it out loud before you send it. Seriously. If you stumble over a sentence, cut it or rewrite it. If it sounds like a press release, start again. Your cover letter should sound like a confident, specific person. Not a document.

The best cover letters don't try to cover everything. They say one thing clearly and make the reader want to find out more. That's the whole job.