How to Start a Cover Letter: Prompts to Help You Begin

A cover letter is a tool that helps you make a strong first impression, effectively introducing yourself and your strengths to potential employers while adding personality and context to your resume. As you’ll want to put your best foot forward, it’s important to start your cover letter in a way that grabs the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager. Using the proper greeting, addressing the letter to the appropriate person, and starting with a strong first sentence can all help you make the best first impression possible. 

A resume is just a list of your credentials and other data, which takes analysis to understand and consider. However, a cover letter allows you to frame your credentials in personal terms that make it easier for your potential employer to see you as a complete package of skills, education, experiences, and personality. 

Learn more about what to put in your cover letter and how to start your cover letter in a way that gets you noticed by potential employers. 

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How to start a cover letter

The opening paragraph can help you accomplish a few different things. First, it’s your chance to introduce who you are and why you are writing the cover letter in the first place. Second, you can also use it to show that you’ve researched the company and believe you would be a good fit. Mention the position you’re applying for as well as the specific credentials you hold that make you a good fit. Last, you should identify the main reason that an employer would choose your resume over another. 

You should mention where you learned about the job posting, whether you found the job on LinkedIn or Indeed, or if you have a more personal connection such as a reference or other contact in the organization who might provide a positive word on your behalf. You’ll have limited space in your cover letter, so make sure to hit each of these important points with concise and precise language. 

How to start a cover letter: Greeting

Before you write your opening paragraph, address the letter to the person you want to read it and use a salutation or greeting. A common way to greet someone in a cover letter is with “Dear,” followed by their name, title, or department or title, such as “Hiring Manager.” Whenever you can, use a personalized greeting rather than a generic one.

What is a good opening sentence for a cover letter?

It’s vital to remember that cover letters should be tailored to each job opening and company you’re applying to work with, making a “good” opening sentence relatively subjective. However, the first sentence and first paragraph of your cover letter can set the tone for a future interview. The person reviewing applications will likely look at a large number of resumes and cover letters, all using roughly the same layout and format. Your first sentence can help you set yourself apart from other applicants and grab the recruiter’s attention. 

Explore some prompts to help you write an engaging first sentence: 

• “I’m writing with enthusiasm to express interest in [specific job posting] because I recently graduated with my [degree] in [field], and this position would be an ideal next step for my career goals.”

• “I’m excited to apply for [Job title] because my skills in [relevant fields] will be well matched to help you achieve your organizational goals [specify which organizational goals you want to help achieve].”

• “As a long-time fan of [brand or product], I was delighted to see a job opening for [job title] because [what you enjoy about the brand or product and what it would mean to join the company].”

• “When I saw the listing for [job title], I immediately felt excitement because my experience with [prior position] would allow me to contribute to the company’s goals and objectives, making this role a natural next move for my career goals.” 

• “I learned about the job posting for [job title] from [contact] who I met at a recent job fair. In our conversation, I realized that [the company] would be a great fit for my skills in [skill area] and my experience with [past positions].”

How to address a cover letter

When you can, address your cover letter to a particular person rather than a title or department. Doing so helps increase the personalized feel of your cover letter while demonstrating that you’ve are willing to research the company if needed. 

If you apply for a job posting on LinkedIn, you may see the recruiter’s name with the job posting. In other cases, you can look at the company’s website to find the appropriate person. Otherwise, you can directly call the company, explain that you’re writing a cover letter for a position, and ask who the appropriate person for that position might be. 

How long should a cover letter be?

A cover letter should be one page, single-spaced with an extra line between paragraphs, using a professional font and a 10- to 12-point font. You may find that your specific field or skill set makes it difficult to keep your cover letter on one page. Depending on factors like the field you work in and your potential employer’s preference, you may be able to send a two-page cover letter. However, in most cases, a one-page cover letter is what your future employer will expect. 

What else should go in a cover letter?

After your first paragraph, you will have more space in the rest of the letter to give specific details about your credentials and why you would be a good fit for the job. You may write four or five paragraphs depending on your writing, but you should include three main sections: a first paragraph that introduces you and why you are applying to the job, a second paragraph that provides more detail about the most relevant experience on your resume, and a third paragraph to conclude the article, provide logistical information, and to thank the recruiter for their time. 

• Second paragraph: The second paragraph of your cover letter is a chance to provide more details about the most relevant and important parts of your resume. You will already include your resume with your application, so you can avoid listing everything you’ve ever accomplished in your cover letter. Instead, select two or three experiences relevant to the job you're applying for, and use the second paragraph in your cover letter to highlight these experiences and add details that you may not fit on your resume. 

• Third paragraph: The third paragraph allows you to summarize your cover letter and provide logistical information, such as the items you’ve also enclosed or attached. You can also offer additional information, such as offering to provide a writing sample or a portfolio of your work on request. You should also thank the recruiter for meeting with you and reiterate your interest in the position and your excitement to hear from them about the position. 

Do you always need a cover letter?

A cover letter isn’t always necessary, but including one can be a good idea, even if the job posting doesn’t specifically call for one. You should always add a cover letter if the posting specifies that you should or if you feel that the employer would benefit from the additional context a cover letter can provide. If the job posting indicates that a cover letter is optional, submitting a cover letter sets you apart from other applicants who might not be willing to go that extra mile.

You can skip the cover letter if the job posting specifically says not to include one or if the application's structure makes it very difficult to add one. 

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Starting your cover letter with the appropriate greeting, addressing it to the right person, and writing a compelling first sentence that grabs the reader's attention are important concepts for writing an effective cover letter. If you’re thinking about starting a new career, you can find courses to help you learn new skills and improve your career readiness on Coursera Plus. With courses and programs from over 350 educational partners, you can search through over 10,000 learning programs to help you reach your goals. 

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