tired of writing cover letters

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4 Tips for Writing Tighter Cover Letters

Published: Oct 13, 2020

Cover letters are like first impressions. They’re often the first things employers see in your applications. So your cover letters need to be strong. They also need to be short. Recruiters have busy schedules. They don’t have time to read page-long cover letters.

Ideally, your cover letters will be not be longer than three short paragraphs. Any longer than that and you risk your letters will go unread—and your applications will not be considered.

So, to help you write more concise cover letters, here are four tricks that will tighten up your prose.

1. Use as few words as possible

Once you’ve written a draft of your cover letter, read it closely word by word, looking for phrases and groups of words you can rewrite using fewer words. For example, phrases like “have a significant impact” can be shortened to “significantly impact.” Also, “as well as” can usually be “and.” And “for the most part” can be “mostly.” You get the idea. Hunt for ways to use fewer words, as few as possible. Treat it like a game. Your writing will benefit, as will your application.

Another way to cut the number of words in your cover letters is to use contractions. “I am” can be “I’m.” “I would” can be “I’d.” Using contractions doesn’t make your writing informal; it makes it conversational and easier to read.

2. Cut superfluous words

Another way to tighten your cover letters is to remove words that don’t add anything. For example, the following words are unnecessary in most sentences: “both,” “just,” “actually,” “currently,” “really,” “very,” “definitely,” and “completely.” If you find one of these words when editing your cover letters, read the sentence without the word and ask, Am I still getting across the same idea without the word? You’ll find that, in most cases, you are. And so you can hit the delete key, further tightening up your letter.

Another word that can often be cut is “today.” You'll find it at the beginning of sentences: “Today, I'm writing you to express my interest ...” In this case, along with “today,” “you” can be cut: “I'm writing to express my interest ...”

Also, beware of “I believe.” These two words can usually be cut. For example, “I believe that I am a very hard worker” can be reduced to “I’m a hard worker” or “I’m hardworking.”

3. Use simpler words

Do you use words like “utilize” and “purchase” instead of “use” and “buy” because you think they make you sound smarter, your writing better? The truth is they do the opposite. They make you sound like you’re reaching, like you’re a weak writer. So, when in doubt, always use the simple word.

An added benefit is a simple, shorter word takes less time to read than a longer word. Yes, the time is just a fraction of a second, but those fractions add up. And if your cover letter has too many “utilizes,” “purchases,” “moreovers,” “howevers,” and “diligents,” recruiters will grow tired and set it (and you) aside.

4. Split long or clunky sentences into two sentences

When you’re editing your cover letter and come across a sentence that’s long, awkward, or clunky, try splitting it into two sentences. This will often clarify what you’re trying to get across and tighten up your prose.

Here’s an example of a long, clunky sentence: “During my tenure with Rondo & Rondo Corp., the company’s annual revenues have increased by 200 percent to $2 million, and I have progressed from having very little client contact to interacting with the client side of the business on a regular basis.”

Here’s an example of what happens when you split it into two (and make a few other edits): “During my time with Rondo & Rondo, I progressed from having little client contact to interacting regularly with clients. Also in that time, the firm’s annual sales increased by 200 percent to $2 million.”

A quick spellcheck tells you that the original two sentences included 43 words and 208 characters; the edited version includes 34 words and 170 characters. That is, the edited version is about 20 percent shorter.

A final note

The above tips can be applied to more than cover letters. They can also be applied to resumes, LinkedIn profiles, networking emails, work emails, grad school applications, and more. No matter what you’re writing, it’s never a bad idea to tighten your prose, using as few words as possible to get across a statement, idea, or concept. Readers want clear, concise writing—and will reward you for it by reading all the way to the end.

If you're new to writing cover letters and don't know where to start, check out these clear and concise two-minute videos:  Cover Letter Basics ,  Tips for Writing Better Cover Letters , and Selling Yourself in Your Cover Letter .

Tired of writing cover letters?

by Myna | May 26, 2023 | hiring , Interview , job search , Over 40 , Uncategorized | 0 comments

It is time to revisit the importance of including a cover letter with your resume when applying for a job in this current job market.

Do you dread writing a cover letter? They are not easy to write well, plus you may have thought that creating a great resume was all that’s really needed. But remember that unlike your resume, your cover letter definitely will be read by another human being, not an applicant tracking system. Given that, it can be the deciding factor between you and another candidate.

Why you should write a Cover Letter.

It shows extra effort

Employers want someone who is going to go the extra mile. When you take the time to craft a cover letter that is exceptionally tailored to the position you are interested in, hiring managers will take notice.

Take the time to write a cover letter because others will not. Just knowing that you might be 1 of 50 candidates who actually submits a cover letter puts you ahead of the competition.

You are allowed to get personal

I like to think of creating resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles as being like wearing a new suit. Your resume is the suit jacket- you are buttoned –up and mean business. The cover letter is when you have taken off your suit jacket, a bit more approachable, but with an air of respectability. Next is your LinkedIn profile, all recruiters/Hiring managers go to your LinkedIn profile to see your activity and recommendations. LinkedIn profiles are when you have rolled up your sleeves. You can play a little in this state and have an aura of “letting loose” without going overboard.

A cover letter is the perfect place to inject some of your personality so the hiring staff can get a feel for who you are, rather than just what you can do. It’s a good in- between form the resume to your LinkedIn profile.

It shows enthusiasm

By writing a cover letter, you are sailing ahead of the competition. Your resume has shown the recruiter that there’s an actual person interested in the opportunity. With a cover letter, you’re taking the time to show that you have researched the organization you want to work for and are excited about this opportunity.

An effective cover letter should be tailored to the position you want and can include information that fills in the gaps for what hiring managers are looking for. For example maybe the job description says one of the responsibilities will be to manage the staffing process. You could add a section to explain how you’ve used your creativity in recruiting, hiring and retaining staff members who have shown longevity with a company. Or maybe you’ve noticed that the business you’re applying to values its ecological footprint, a topic you are passionate about. Include that in your cover letter.

Here is guidance that will help you create a document that will land you interviews:

Use the same header

However, you formatted your name and contact information on your resume, you’ll want to do it the same on your cover letter. That keeps it at the forefront of the hiring manager’s mind.

For example:

MARY SOUTHERN

Austin, Texas 64.351.9492

I  [email protected]  LinkedIn: Mary- southern

Then, format the rest of your letter in a formal letter style with date, name of person, name of company and right- aligned.

It’s also smart to use the hiring person’s name when possible. If you do a little digging on LinkedIn or the company website, you may find the name so you can address your cover letter specifically to them.

Hint: It’s also easier to write a letter to an actual person, so whether you have a name or not, remember a person is going to read your letter. In the event you can’t find a name, then simply address your cover letter to “Hiring Manager.”

Short and sweet is key

While resumes often run two pages, a cover letter needs to stay at one page. In fact, the optimal letter is between 250 and 400 words. That doesn’t give you a lot of room, so you will have to be choosey on what you include and leave out.

Make sure to carefully read the employer’s submission guidelines. If they want a PDF, be sure to send it in that format. . Be on the lookout for other specifics in the job posting such as format, length , margins and content so that you can craft your cover letter to their requirements. It’s another way to show you are invested in them and want the job.

Also, NEVER submit your cover letter (or resume) without proofreading it. A few tricks that can help you catch errors are:

• Read your documents out loud
• Go line by line, starting at the bottom and working your way to the top.
• Have a friend read your cover letter and resume

Each of these suggestions trick you into seeing the words differently so your brain will not fill in blanks and fixes automatically.

One other tactic is to use lots of action verbs. For example, instead of writing “I was responsible for payroll,” change it to read, “I spearheaded a group of eight exceptional team members in the payroll department.”

It is fine to dread writing a cover letter. They are not easy to write well, plus you may have thought that creating a great resume was all that’s really needed. But remember that unlike your resume, your cover letter definitely will be read by another human being, not an applicant tracking system. Given that, it can be the deciding factor between you and another candidate.

I can help you write an awesome cover letter that will highlight your accomplishments and get you an interview.

Schedule a Free 30 minute consultation and let’s get your Cover Letter together https://cindyfassler.com/contact/

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12 Great Resources if Writing a Cover Letter Fills You With Dread

When you think about writing cover letters, what emotions come to mind? Joy? Excitement?

I’m going to hazard a guess and say those probably aren’t the feelings you experience when you face that blank computer screen. The essential job-searching task is more likely to make you feel dread than anything else.

Unfortunately, although it can feel like a daunting exercise, it’s typically a necessary step that’s intended to sell your skills, showcase your work history, and demonstrate a passion for the company. And when you really covet the job, it’s easy to become paralyzed about every little detail, such as: What do I write? How do I write it? Address it? Include x or leave it out? What about y?

These are legitimate concerns; after all, you’re hoping your letter gets you invited in for an interview. Look at this as an opportunity to show some personality and point out your achievements—beyond your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Lucky for you, we have a ton of great, informative material to help you get going:

1. This Is What it Means to Write a Cover Letter for Your Resume

These two documents need to complement each other in order for you to present a cohesive version of yourself. While your resume outlines what you can do in general, your cover letter explains what you can do for the company.

2. 3 Cover Letter Tips for People Who Haven’t Written One in Forever

And if you’re feeling out of practice, here’s where to start.

3. Even People Who Hate Writing Can Make Their Cover Letter Stand Out

Worried about your very average writing skills not catching anyone’s eye? Here’s a method to help you get over that hurdle.

4. The Cover Letter Formula That Skyrocketed My Interviews From 0% to 55%

Try this format discovered by someone who wrote 103 before finding a seemingly foolproof formula that gets results.

5. I’ve Read Over 300+ Cover Letters and This Is How I Decide if It’s Good or Bad Within 3 Minutes

Take it from a pro: This is how to stand out from the crowd in the best way possible.

6. 3 Better Ways to Start Your Cover Letter, According to a Recruiter Who’s Read a Lot of Bad Ones

Struggling over your first sentence? This will help you craft the perfect one.

7. 3 Quick Tricks to Make Writing a Conversational Cover Letter Easy

By now, you’ve heard how formal cover letters are a thing of the past, and writing close to how you speak in conversation is the way to go. If you’re not quite sure how to translate your voice to paper, here’s how.

8. How to Show You’re Truly Excited for a Job in a Cover Letter (Without Coming Off Desperate)

You want to show your passion, but not scare off the reader with an abundance of enthusiasm. This is how to strike the right balance.

9. 4 Things You’re So Close to Doing Right on Your Cover Letter—But You’re Not

Fine-tune your document with this advice before letting it leave your inbox.

10. 4 Reasons Your Cover Letter Makes Hiring Managers Say “Pass!”—and 4 Quick Fixes You Should Try

Oh, and check to make sure it’s free and clear of these common errors.

11. The Difference Between a Cover Letter and the Email You Send With Your Application

If you’re wondering what to say in the email that accompanies your application, wonder no longer with advice from career coach, Jenny Foss.

12. 7 Things You Need to Double-Check Before You Submit Your Cover Letter

Lastly, it’s time to be nitpicky with all the small details before you send off that perfected letter.

More From Forbes

You're overthinking it: 3 cover letter details that simply don't matter.

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Writing a cover letter will almost always be a stressful exercise. You know they’re required, and you know that the right words could set you apart from the competition. But because there’s so much on the line, it’s easy to hone in on the most minor details. Details so minuscule that many employers don’t even notice them.

So, before you spend the next few hours debating over something that’s insignificant, here are a few things I simply did not look for as a recruiter —and what you should be more concerned about instead.

1. You’re Too Concerned About How It Looks

You’ve probably heard a lot of things about how to format this document. You might’ve even gotten tips about matching the font on all of your application materials (I know I have). And because you’re so convinced that an impressive looking document will win over the reader, you spend way too much time agonizing over the perfect layout. However, a visually stunning document doesn’t make up for a poorly-written one.

Watch on Forbes:

Instead: Focus On Whether Or Not The Recruiter Can Read It

I remember at least a handful that made me say, “Wow, this must have taken forever to design, but I can’t read the text.” And although I was jealous of their graphic design skills, I couldn’t make a decision about whether or not they were good candidates. In many cases, I moved on to other applications that were in a simple, readable font (think Arial or Times New Roman).

While you should be commended for going the extra mile to make it look nice, make sure your design isn’t getting in the way of the story you’re trying to tell. That might mean using a more functional font that you’d like, but trust me—it’ll make a huge difference to a recruiter who’s simply skimming your stuff.

(And if you’re not sure how it looks to a stranger, read it on your phone—you’d be amazed at what doesn’t translate.)

Related:  3 Application Instructions You Think Are OK To Skip Over (But Totally Aren ’ t)

2. You’re Too Concerned About Formality

Like a lot of people I know, my dad drilled this attention to detail into me when I was wrapping up my senior year of college. He insisted that I care about things like including the company’s address in my header. But here’s the thing—when my dad was applying for jobs, he needed to care about these details because he was sending his applications through the mail. And I, many years later, was submitting mine over the internet.

Instead: Focus On Tailoring It

I’ve never met a recruiter who said, “Well, we thought you were great, but you didn’t include our address in the header.” If your cover letter makes it clear that you’re excited for the job, that means much more to employers than knowing that a candidate was able to look up their office location online.

You might be tired of hearing it, but the truth remains that tailoring your message for each company makes you stand out. So if you feel confident that you’ve done this, a formality mistake shouldn’t hold you back from clicking “submit.”

Related:  7 Things You Need To Double-Check Before You Submit Your Cover Letter

3. You’re Too Concerned About Getting In Every Relevant Detail

I’ve met a few people who wanted to brag about how they manipulated the one-page rule of thumb. “I changed the margins and the font size,” they say. “And it gave me more space to add a paragraph about my study abroad semester, my favorite snacks and the cities I’ve never visited.”

Those things might be good to talk about during an interview, but when I asked those people if they got responses, they looked at me and said, “Come to think of it, I should probably follow up.”

Related:  The Cover Letter Formula That Skyrocketed My Interviews From 0% To 55%

Instead: Focus On Showing The Employer What You’ll Bring To The Table

Your cover letter should be a combination of why you’re interested in the company and how you feel you’d be a valuable addition to the team. After all, you’re trying to sell the hiring manager on making time to meet with you, so do just that.

When in doubt, use career expert Lily Zhang’s cover letter template to help you focus on the skills you’ll bring to the table—and keep it as brief as possible.

Most people will never feel 100% when they send in their application. They take a good amount of effort and finesse to tell the type of story you’re hoping to convey. But while you should be focused on making it compelling, a lot of the other details just don’t matter as much as you think.

At the end of the day, the most important aspect (in addition to it literally being read-able), is that you’re making the case for why you’d be the best hire . And if you truly believe you are and have the facts to back it up, it should be a little less stressful.

" You're Overthinking It: 3 Cover Letter Details That Simply Don't Matter "  was originally published on The Muse .

In addition to writing for The Muse, Richard Moy is a Content Marketing Writer at Stack Overflow .

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3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out

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3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out was originally published on Vault .

It's a myth that high quality job openings are few and far between thanks to Covid. The truth is, despite the economic uncertainty created by the pandemic, there are many great openings out there. And to get them—or, at least, have a chance at getting them—you first need to capture the attention of hiring managers. And the best way to do that is to write compelling cover letters. So here are the three keys to writing cover letters that stand out.

1. Convey your personality, quirks and all.

Showcasing your uniqueness and allowing your personality to shine through in your cover letters can magnetize hiring managers, sending instant messages that you might be the candidate they're looking for. The secret to achieving this is to use specific details, rather than vague ones.

For example, the following was recently used by an applicant when applying for a Head of Marketing position (shortly after sending this, the candidate was interviewed and then hired):

“I have a passion for data and analytics. I enjoy spending (a little too much time) geeking out in Google analytics, advertising platforms, and BI tools (Tableau and Looker), digging deep into data to identify opportunities that can be leveraged to drive growth and inform testing strategies for campaigns, websites, and products.”

Now compare the above to the below (which has less personality and fewer details, and thus would likely not stand out):

“I am well versed in data analytics, and I am experienced with Google analytics, BI Tools, and other advertising platforms. I have a proven ability to inform testing strategies for campaigns for websites and products.”

Here's another example of cover letter phrasing that captures the attention of hiring managers:

“I'm rather obsessed with personal organization. I read three organizational blogs on my own time, and I've organized my desktop folders into color-coded sub-categories. My friends laugh at me for saying things like, ‘An organized space equals an organized mind,' but I don't like wasting time looking for things.” 

Now compare that to this less specific phrasing:

“I have a proven track record of being organized, and I have a passion for it. I have a proven knack for keeping files organized on an ongoing basis, and I have put organizational processes and procedures in place for my department. The bottom line is organization is always my highest priority.” 

2. Prove your level of dedication to your profession.

Another way to stand out is to illustrate specific things about your dedication to your field. In the following example, a candidate showcases her dedication to her profession, proves that she spends a lot of time thinking about driving results in her field, and shows that she takes concrete steps in order to be a high quality contributor in her field. All of which goes a long way when it comes time for hiring managers to decide which candidates to interview. 

“I believe that a good marketing strategy requires seeking out the latest trends and staying one step ahead of the competition. I've attended the Traction conference two years in a row and completed the 2018 Reforge Growth Series, a highly credible and exclusive course that only accepts 10 percent of applicants and is built by leaders from Hubspot, Uber, and other firms. Through these professional developments, I've opened my mind to uncommon marketing methods, and I pride myself on thinking outside the box to develop strategies that create sustainable, low-cost customer acquisition loops that lead to long-term positive ROI.” 

Now compare the above to the below, which is less detailed and includes less specific phrasing:

“I have the skills and requirements for this position, and I believe I would complete every task asked of me to the highest standard expected. My background and experience make me an excellent fit for this position for many reasons. I am very interested in marketing, and I think I would be a great asset to the team.”

3. Include concrete, quantitative results that show your value.

In any written application, you'll need to showcase some form of quantitative results to stand out. Note that even if you don't have a lot of shiny results in your career yet (or even any relevant experience—which is okay!), you can still use words to capture someone's attention with what you have done. And if you do have a record of achieving quantifiable results, then by all means include them, like in the below:

“I developed several Google ad campaigns that were worth more than $500,000 and that resulted in high-level customers. Also, through testing and optimization, I increased newsletter sign-ups by more than 200 percent.”

Now compare that to this bland sentence:

“I have experience in Google ad campaigns, as well as experience in testing and optimization.”

A final note

When trying to convey your personality, get across your dedication, or communicate your value, there's a big difference between saying you're a good fit for the job and actually showing it.

So, when writing your cover letters, try to hold these words in mind: I know you (the hiring managers) don't know me, so let me show you exactly why I'm completely invested, committed, and passionate about doing this specific type of work. And let me show you the specific reasons why hiring me, over all other candidates, would be beneficial to you.

If you hold all this in mind, the right details and words will flow right out of you—and into your cover letters.

Natalie Fisher is best known for helping professionals land their ideal roles and achieve explosive salary growth (even with little experience). If you want to dive deeper on the topic of your career mindset and become a person who knows exactly how to land their dream job offer, listen to her on the podcast Get a Six Figure Job You Love .

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I'm tired of sending applications and cover letters.

Not necessary looking for advice, just needing to vent out. I really don't know what else to write in cover letters. I don't even know if they are good or necessary. I just need the job and I know I'm a good fit for it, but I'm not good at selling myself or am just tired.

I'm also tired of sending applications and never hearing back, not even to say I'm not a good fit. It would be good if for once, they acknowledged the receipt of the application and said thank you, but no thank you.