Thousands of other job seekers are applying for your dream job. So, if you want to get hired, you must learn how to start a cover letter that makes you stand out from the crowd.
As someone who鈥檚 written several cover letters 鈥 including the one that landed me my dream job at 探花精选 鈥 I鈥檝e found that a compelling cover letter introduction makes the hiring team excited to know more about you. That鈥檚 something a resume alone won鈥檛 do for you.
Today, I鈥檒l show you how to start a cover letter that hooks employers at first glance.
Table of Contents
I took some time to study the best cover letter examples, and one thing stood out to me: They all have compelling opening sentences.
To help you overcome writer鈥檚 block, I鈥檝e put together some crisp cover letter opening lines so you can get your creative juices flowing.
Start off your cover letter (and finish it) with a bang with . These fill-in-the-blank templates can help you impress recruiters and land your next job interview.
I used to think my writing was the secret sauce that made my cover letters stand out. But over time, I realized there were other elements that really brought them to life.
Based on my experience, here are some things I recommend doing:
When writing a cover letter, here are some things to avoid if you want to land a job interview faster:
A cover letter is a lot like a professional bio 鈥 it highlights your expertise and accomplishments. The difference is that while a bio is static, a cover letter is tailored to a specific role, which means you鈥檒l need to impress the hiring manager from the get-go.
When starting a cover letter for a job, here are ten methods I recommend.
It isn鈥檛 enough to mention you鈥檙e a 鈥渄igital marketer with proven success in SEO strategies.鈥 Proven success? Okay, where鈥檚 the proof?
Don鈥檛 expect the hiring manager to just take your word for it. Toss in some stats instead. How have you contributed to your company鈥檚 bottom line? Did your Facebook marketing campaign grow your social media following, or has your blog content increased organic traffic?
Unsurprisingly, while researching this topic, I found that I鈥檓 not the only one who believes in starting a cover letter with a quantifiable accomplishment.
, a certified resume writer at says, 鈥淲hen a candidate quantifies their accomplishments, it tells me that they get the importance of results and business impact. In our business, it鈥檚 all about the results.鈥
Sure, past success doesn鈥檛 guarantee future results, but employers love seeing numbers anyway 鈥 stats mean measurable performance.
鈥淥ver the past year as a digital marketing manager at [company name], I鈥檝e generated over $25,000 in revenue, increased organic website traffic by 15%, and tripled our social media ROI.鈥
Employers want to see whether you鈥檙e capable of achieving long-term results. By including stats, this candidate goes straight to the point and gives employers just what they鈥檙e looking for.
Pro tip: Not all achievements are quantifiable. If you don鈥檛 have the work experience to report impressive numbers, I recommend a qualitative approach. Ever received positive feedback from your boss? That counts!
Hiring managers are busy people. So, I wouldn鈥檛 waste their time when applying for a job. That鈥檚 why I never state the obvious. They already know I鈥檓 writing to apply for the open position at their company, and my resume highlights everything they need to know about my job history and educational background. Why waste my opener on something so boring?
In my years of experience, I鈥檝e learned it鈥檚 an instant rejection. So, I start my cover letters by offering something new, expanding on what the employer already knows about me, and presenting new details about what I can bring to the company.
鈥淢y resume will tell you I鈥檓 a certified content marketer. Your records will tell you I鈥檝e interviewed for a few different [company name] positions in the past. What neither of these will tell you is that I鈥檝e been working with your customer success team to build a new campaign strategy for my company 鈥 one of your newest (and largest) clients.鈥
The candidate steals the show with a unique intro that demonstrates they鈥檙e not interested in wasting anyone鈥檚 time. Not even theirs. This impressive tactic effuses the kind of confidence that makes other cover letters pale in contrast to yours.
You can鈥檛 go wrong with company news and facts in your first sentence. These little add-ons show you鈥檝e done your research about the company.
I love including company news in my cover letters because it allows me to incorporate my own values. For example, if a company I鈥檓 interested in wins an award for its high-tech solutions, I can sprinkle in a few words about how much I value technological advancements.
Besides facts and news, here are other things worth including in your opening sentence:
Let鈥檚 see how to start a cover letter by mentioning a newsworthy event.
鈥淲hen I saw that [company name] was featured in Fortune Magazine last month for its commitment to renewable energy and reducing waste in the workplace 鈥 all while experiencing triple-digit revenue growth 鈥 I was inspired.鈥
Not many job applicants will even think of including newsworthy events in their cover letters, so this candidate is off to a great start by mentioning the company鈥檚 most recent wins.
If an internal employee suggested you apply for a role at their company, don鈥檛 be shy to include this in your cover letter opening line. However, you鈥檒l need to get their permission first. I find this helpful because it lets me build a sense of familiarity with the hiring manager.
According to , 70% of employers share my sentiments; they believe referred employees fit better with their company culture.
That being said, be tactful with your approach. When mentioning a mutual contact, I always make sure it鈥檚 more than just a name drop but something that adds value to my cover letter.
For instance, I provide context by highlighting how my relationship with the person has prepared me for the role. And if there are any shared values that make me an ideal candidate, I mention them as well.
According to , the people and culture manager of , 鈥渢he risks of mentioning someone include the possibility that the connection might not have a positive relationship with the hiring manager or may not endorse the candidate as strongly as assumed.鈥
To mitigate these risks, Jess suggests confirming the connection has a good professional relationship with the hiring manager.
鈥淎t the suggestion of my former colleague, [colleague鈥檚 name], I鈥檓 submitting my resume for the graphic designer position and [company name]. I worked with [colleague鈥檚 name] at [previous company name]. She referred me to this job because she believes my proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator makes me a great fit for the role.鈥
There was no beating around the bush here. The applicant seized the first opportunity to hook the hiring manager鈥檚 attention by mentioning a mutual contact. It鈥檒l get them wondering how much of an asset the person is. That鈥檚 the kind of curiosity that gets you hired.
Learned something noteworthy in your previous job? Let鈥檚 hear it. Employers expect some level of expertise from their employees. Well, unless you鈥檙e applying for an entry-level job.
If you want to impress employers, spice up your cover letter opening line with a lesson you鈥檝e learned in your career. Let鈥檚 see an example of this tip in action.
鈥淎s a [previous job position] with high-level management experience in the [industry], I鈥檝e learned that the best way to boost conversions was to [biggest lesson you鈥檝e learned].鈥
Notice how this candidate demonstrates their ability to learn and adapt? They sure are committed to professional development. That鈥檚 a surefire way to stand out from the rest!
I鈥檓 a big advocate of applying for a role that aligns with my values. So, I wouldn鈥檛 want to work in an organization whose vision and mission I don鈥檛 share. Our goals must align to a great extent. It helps me strike a healthy work-life balance that contributes to my overall job satisfaction.
If you don鈥檛 already have a personal mission statement, you might want to take some time to create one. I鈥檇 recommend checking out personal brand statement examples or LinkedIn profiles of industry leaders for inspiration.
, owner of , says, 鈥淥pening with a personal mission statement [鈥 isn鈥檛 about grandiose declarations of intent but about succinctly aligning one鈥檚 professional purpose with the organizational mission.鈥
Bryan further provides an example of how to start a cover letter using a personal mission statement.
鈥淒riven by a commitment to foster inclusive work environments, I鈥檝e dedicated my career to developing HR policies that not only comply with legislation but celebrate diversity 鈥 reflecting the company鈥檚 core values.鈥
The candidate doesn鈥檛 stop at mentioning what motivates them. They take things one step further by linking their motivation to the company鈥檚 core values. They鈥檙e essentially telling the hiring manager, 鈥淚 know the importance of this role, so I won鈥檛 slack off on it.鈥
When researching this article, I was surprised to find that to recruit new talent. So, I don鈥檛 blame recruiters for using strict screening methods to choose the right candidate for each role. And part of what makes you suitable is your passion.
Passionate employees are more likely to be content with their jobs and stay longer in their positions than discontent employees. In my case, I鈥檝e been a seasoned writer at 探花精选 for over six years, and my passion for storytelling is one of the things that keeps me going.
So, if I want to express passion for what I do, I鈥檒l include at least one of these things in my cover letter:
Then, I鈥檒l link my passion to the role I'm applying for. The example below demonstrates how to achieve this.
鈥淢y proficiency in using design tools like Adobe Photoshop aside, what truly drives me is the power of telling stories through compelling visuals. I enjoy consuming complex information, breaking it down, and presenting it in a simple-to-understand, colorful visual that resonates with my target audience.鈥
Why This Works
Every job applicant will boast about their skills. Only a few, like this one, will truly express genuine passion for what they do. It鈥檚 a breath of fresh air that hiring managers will really appreciate.
Because hiring managers receive hundreds of job applications, they may spend less than to find out how each candidate can provide value to the company. Why not make their job easier by writing your unique value proposition upfront?
It鈥檚 not enough to just state your hard skills. Instead, highlight how your skills, accomplishments, and experience make you a valuable asset to the organization.
, managing director of , shares this sentiment. He says, 鈥淪imply listing skills in a cover letter can come across as generic and impersonal. Effectively highlighting skills involves connecting them to the specific needs and goals of the company.鈥
In the example below, George demonstrates how to start a cover letter by highlighting what you bring to the table.
鈥淲ith my strong communication skills, I can effectively engage with clients to understand their needs and provide personalized solutions, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and retention for your company.鈥
Why This Works
I love how concise this intro is! Plus, the candidate shows they understand the requirements of the customer-facing role they鈥檙e applying for. Looks like a win to me.
It makes sense to mention why you鈥檙e interested in the role you鈥檙e applying for. But to hiring managers, that鈥檚 just another bland section of a cover letter. Tell them why you鈥檙e excited to work for the company, and you鈥檒l totally blow them away.
For instance, if I鈥檓 applying for a content writing role, I could say, 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to work at [company name] because I鈥檓 passionate about content writing, and I think my skills and experiences will be a good match.鈥
Sure, I鈥檝e expressed my passion for the job, but I鈥檝e done nothing to explain why the company specifically suits my interests. So, instead, I鈥檒l want to highlight how my expertise relates to the company鈥檚 goals.
鈥淲hen I discovered [company name] was hiring, I knew I had to apply. I鈥檓 excited to find a company where I can use my content writing expertise to generate organic traffic. I鈥檝e gone through the feedback of past and current employees on Glassdoors, and your organizational culture is something I can seamlessly fit into.鈥
Employers want to hire people who are excited about working for them. I like how the candidate shows they appreciate the organizational culture, proving that it鈥檚 not just about the money 鈥 they鈥檙e genuinely interested in the company.
Imagine if you had to flip through a hundred cover letters a day, and each one began with the same clich茅 phrase: 鈥淚鈥檓 writing to express interest in鈥︹
Boring, right? It鈥檒l be easy for such applications to get lost in the clutter. That鈥檚 exactly what you don鈥檛 want to happen in your job search.
Hiring teams need a break from clich茅 cover letter opening lines. So, you鈥檒l be at an advantage if you quickly build intrigue from the first line. It spurs them to keep reading.
One thing I鈥檝e learned, though, is that if you start your cover letter with an element of surprise, you need to follow it up with some concrete information.
鈥淚 like to think of myself as a round peg thriving in a square hole kind of world. What does this mean? It means that my diverse background makes me a well-rounded candidate who is able to comprehend, develop, and execute various functions in business.鈥
Finally, a cover letter where the job applicant鈥檚 personality shines through! That鈥檚 something you don鈥檛 see every day. When hiring managers feel like a real person is behind a job application, they鈥檒l want to keep reading.
In some cases, you鈥檒l submit your cover letter separately from your resume. So, you need to make sure the hiring manager can reach you if the need arises. That鈥檚 why I always double-check to confirm I鈥檝e included my contact information and everything else that belongs in the header.
Here鈥檚 a checklist I swear by:
After you鈥檝e written a good cover letter, though, your resume can determine whether or not you make it to an interview. So, learning how to write a resume is just as important as polishing your cover letter writing skills.
If you want to boost your chances of getting your dream job, I鈥檇 recommend following our ultimate resume-writing checklist, straight from recruiters.
When making a career change, learning how to start a cover letter is a soft skill worth gaining. It can significantly boost your job search and help you land multiple interviews.
If you want to craft a great cover letter in half the time it鈥檒l take to write one from scratch, the cover letter formats I provided earlier are all you need. Whether you want to write a skimmable cover letter or a data-driven one, you鈥檒l find unique formats you can customize to get your dream job.
Remember the dos and don鈥檛s I outlined? They鈥檒l come in handy whether you write a cover letter from scratch or use a template. While there鈥檚 no hard and fast rule, following these tips will help your job application stand out from the rest.