How to Write a Cover Letter in 2025 (That Actually Gets Read)
83% of hiring managers read cover letters, and 94% say they influence interview decisions. Yet most candidates write generic, boring letters that get ignored. Here's the exact formula top recruiters want to see.
Table of Contents
Quick Takeaways
- ✅ 83% of hiring managers read cover letters (LinkedIn poll, 2025)
- ✅ 94% say cover letters influence interview decisions—1 in 4 call them "very important"
- ✅ 49% of recruiters say a strong cover letter can convince them to interview a weak candidate
- ✅ 81% of recruiters have rejected applicants based solely on their cover letters
- ✅ Perfect length: Half a page (250-400 words according to 49% of hiring managers)
Do You Really Need a Cover Letter in 2025?
Short answer: Yes, in most cases.
Despite rumors that cover letters are dead, the data tells a different story:
The Numbers Don't Lie:
83-87% of hiring managers read cover letters
Even among companies that don't require them, 73% "frequently" or "always" read them anyway
94% say they influence interview decisions
26% of hiring managers call cover letters "very important"
49% say a strong letter can save a weak resume
Nearly half of recruiters will interview an "otherwise weak candidate" if their cover letter is compelling
When You MUST Include a Cover Letter:
- ✅ The job posting requires or requests one (89% of hiring professionals expect them)
- ✅ You're changing careers (you need space to explain transferable skills)
- ✅ You have employment gaps (cover letters provide context)
- ✅ You're applying to competitive roles (differentiation matters)
- ✅ You have a referral or personal connection (19% of recruiters specifically look for this)
- ✅ Your resume raises questions (job hopping, relocation, etc.)
When You Can Skip It:
- ⚠️ The application system doesn't allow uploads (some ATS don't support cover letters)
- ⚠️ The posting explicitly says "no cover letter" (follow instructions)
- ⚠️ You're applying to high-volume hourly roles (retail, food service, warehouse—though it still helps)
Bottom Line:
When in doubt, include one. 81% of recruiters have rejected candidates based on cover letters, meaning a bad one hurts you—but a missing one when they expect it can disqualify you entirely. The upside (49% chance of turning a "no" into an interview) far outweighs the 5 minutes it takes to write a strong one.
What Makes a Good Cover Letter?
According to recruiters, here's what they're actually looking for:
What Recruiters Want to See (Survey Data):
How your experience connects to the role
Show specific, relevant achievements and skills that match the job description
Assessment of your communication skills
Clear, concise writing with no typos or grammatical errors
Referrals or personal connections
"John Smith from your marketing team suggested I reach out..."
Your motivation for the role
Why you're interested in this company and this position
The 5 Elements of a Winning Cover Letter:
1. Customization (Not Generic)
Every sentence should be specific to the company and role. Recruiters can spot templated letters instantly—and 81% reject them.
2. Achievement-Focused (Not Responsibility-Listed)
Don't rehash your resume. Instead, tell the story behind 2-3 of your most relevant achievements with specific results.
3. Company-Specific (Shows You Did Research)
Reference the company's mission, recent news, products, or challenges. Show why you want to work there, not just anywhere.
4. Concise (Half a Page or Less)
49% of hiring managers say the perfect cover letter is half a page (250-400 words). Only 26% want a full page. Nobody wants two pages.
5. Error-Free (Perfect Grammar & Spelling)
24% of recruiters use cover letters to assess communication skills. A single typo can cost you the interview. Proofread 3 times, then use Grammarly.
The Winning Cover Letter Formula
Here's the proven structure that works for 94% of hiring managers:
3-Paragraph Cover Letter Structure:
Opening: Hook + Why You're Perfect
Length: 2-3 sentences
Goal: Grab attention and state your value proposition
Formula:
"I'm applying for [ROLE] at [COMPANY]. With [X years] of [RELEVANT EXPERIENCE] and a proven track record of [KEY ACHIEVEMENT], I'm confident I can [SPECIFIC VALUE YOU'LL BRING]."
Body: Proof You Can Do the Job
Length: 1-2 paragraphs (150-250 words total)
Goal: Provide 2-3 specific, quantified achievements that match job requirements
Formula:
"In my current role at [COMPANY], I [ACHIEVEMENT #1 with numbers]. Additionally, I [ACHIEVEMENT #2 with numbers]. I'm particularly drawn to [COMPANY] because [SPECIFIC REASON related to company mission/product/culture]."
Closing: Clear Call-to-Action
Length: 2-3 sentences
Goal: Express enthusiasm and invite next steps
Formula:
"I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my [SKILL/EXPERIENCE] can contribute to [COMPANY]'s [GOAL]. I'm available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration."
How to Start a Cover Letter
Your opening sentence determines whether the recruiter keeps reading or moves on. Here's how to hook them:
Cover Letter Header (Contact Information):
Your Name
Your Title (Optional)
Your Email | Your Phone | LinkedIn Profile
City, State
[Date]
Hiring Manager's Name (if known)
Company Name
Company Address
💡 Pro tip: Research the hiring manager's name on LinkedIn. Addressing them by name shows effort.
Greeting/Salutation:
✅ Best Option: Use Their Name
"Dear [First Name Last Name]," or "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],"
Example: "Dear Sarah Johnson," or "Dear Ms. Johnson,"
✅ Good Option: Use Their Title
"Dear Hiring Manager," or "Dear [Department] Team,"
Example: "Dear Marketing Team," or "Dear Hiring Manager,"
❌ Avoid: Generic Greetings
"To Whom It May Concern," or "Dear Sir/Madam,"
These scream "I didn't bother to research your company."
Opening Sentence Templates (With Examples):
1. The Achievement Hook
"I'm excited to apply for the Senior Marketing Manager role at Tesla. In my current position, I've increased qualified leads by 147% and reduced customer acquisition costs by $2.3M—results I'm confident I can replicate for your rapidly growing energy division."
✅ Why it works: Immediately proves value with specific, impressive numbers.
2. The Referral Hook
"Jane Smith, your Director of Product, suggested I reach out about the Product Manager opening. Having collaborated with Jane on two successful product launches, she thought my background in SaaS analytics would be a strong fit for your team."
✅ Why it works: 19% of recruiters specifically look for referrals—this puts you ahead instantly.
3. The Company-Specific Hook
"When I read about Airbnb's recent launch of AI-powered travel recommendations, I knew I had to apply for the Machine Learning Engineer role. As someone who's built personalization engines that increased user engagement by 68%, I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to this next chapter of Airbnb's innovation."
✅ Why it works: Shows you did research and have relevant experience for their specific initiatives.
4. The Skills-Match Hook
"I'm writing to apply for the Data Analyst position at Netflix. With 5 years of experience in SQL, Python, and Tableau—plus a proven track record of translating complex datasets into actionable business insights—I'm confident I can help drive Netflix's data-driven content strategy."
✅ Why it works: Immediately addresses the key qualifications from the job description.
Writing Compelling Body Paragraphs
The body of your cover letter should do one thing: prove you can do the job.
The PAR Method (Problem-Action-Result):
For each achievement you mention, follow this story structure:
Problem:
"Our email open rates had declined to 12%, well below industry average"
Action:
"I redesigned our email segmentation strategy and implemented A/B testing"
Result:
"Increasing open rates to 31% and generating $450K in additional revenue"
Body Paragraph Template:
Paragraph 1 (Your Relevant Experience):
"In my current role as [TITLE] at [COMPANY], I [ACHIEVEMENT #1 with numbers]. For example, [BRIEF STORY using PAR method]. Additionally, I [ACHIEVEMENT #2 with numbers], which [IMPACT on business]."
Paragraph 2 (Why This Company):
"I'm particularly excited about [COMPANY] because [SPECIFIC REASON based on research]. Your recent [PROJECT/INITIATIVE/PRODUCT] aligns perfectly with my experience in [RELEVANT SKILL], and I'm eager to contribute to [COMPANY GOAL]."
Real Body Paragraph Examples:
Example 1: Marketing Manager
"In my current role as Digital Marketing Manager at GrowthCo, I've led campaigns that generated $3.2M in revenue while reducing cost-per-acquisition by 34%. When our organic traffic plateaued at 50K monthly visitors, I implemented a content strategy focused on long-tail SEO and strategic partnerships, growing traffic to 180K visitors within 8 months. Additionally, I rebuilt our email nurture sequences using behavioral triggers, increasing conversion rates from 2.1% to 8.7%. I'm particularly drawn to HubSpot because your inbound marketing philosophy aligns perfectly with my data-driven, customer-centric approach. Your recent launch of AI content tools is especially exciting, as I've been experimenting with AI-assisted content creation in my current role."
Example 2: Software Engineer
"As a Senior Backend Engineer at DataFlow, I've architected and deployed microservices that handle 2 million API requests daily with 99.97% uptime. When our legacy monolith became a scaling bottleneck, I led the migration to a containerized architecture using Kubernetes and Docker, reducing deployment time from 3 hours to 12 minutes while cutting infrastructure costs by $180K annually. I also mentored 4 junior engineers, all of whom have since been promoted. I'm excited about the opportunity at Stripe because your commitment to developer experience and API-first design resonates deeply with my engineering philosophy. Your recent expansion into embedded finance is particularly compelling, as I've built payment integrations for 3 major fintech clients."
How to End a Cover Letter
Your closing should be confident, appreciative, and include a clear call-to-action.
Closing Paragraph Formula:
"[Enthusiasm] + [Availability] + [Thank You] + [Signature]"
Full Example:
"I'm excited about the opportunity to bring my data analysis expertise to Netflix's content strategy team. I'm available for an interview at your earliest convenience and would welcome the chance to discuss how my background aligns with your needs. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you."
5 Strong Closing Paragraph Examples:
"I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my 7 years of product management experience can contribute to Airbnb's mission of creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere. I'm available for a conversation at your convenience and have prepared specific ideas for improving your host onboarding experience. Thank you for considering my application."
"I'm confident my background in machine learning and personalization engines would be a strong asset to Spotify's recommendation algorithms team. I'm eager to learn more about your current challenges and would appreciate the opportunity to share how I've solved similar problems at scale. Thank you for your time."
"Thank you for considering my application for the Senior UX Designer position. I'm passionate about creating intuitive interfaces that solve real user problems, and I'm excited about the possibility of contributing to Figma's design tools. I'm available to discuss my portfolio and approach to user research at any time that works for your team."
Sign-Off Options:
✅ Professional & Safe:
- • Sincerely,
- • Best regards,
- • Kind regards,
- • Respectfully,
❌ Too Casual/Outdated:
- • Cheers,
- • Thanks!
- • Warmly,
- • Yours truly,