Cover Letter 101
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You just spent hours perfecting your resume and finally uploaded it to an application portal…only to see that dreaded required field: “Attach your cover letter.”
Don’t stress. Instead of staring at a blank page, let’s break down exactly how to craft a letter that actually gets read.
Fundamentally, your cover letter needs to answer the three questions on every employer’s mind:
- Why you?
- Why this position?
- Why this company?
The First Paragraph: Hook, Value, and Tie In
We’ll start at the beginning. A compelling hook can draw an employer in quickly. For example:
“When I noticed our campus newspaper’s readership dropping, I didn’t just accept it—I spearheaded a digital-first strategy that increased our online engagement by 40%.”
Once you’ve hooked them, the next sentence describes what makes you a great fit through your “value proposition.” This is the unique set of facts about you that encapsulates your qualifications:
“A recent Communications graduate with a background in digital marketing, I have hands-on experience developing social media strategies that drive audience engagement.”
The third sentence weaves your value proposition to the role you are seeking:
“As a Social Media Coordinator, I will leverage my content creation skills to help [Company Name] increase brand awareness among Gen Z consumers.”
The Middle Paragraph: Show, Don’t Tell
The next paragraph glues the resume to the cover letter by providing a description of how your degree and experience qualify you for the new position.
This section is about showing, not telling. Think about which of your accomplishments relates most directly to the new role. Then, place this accomplishment in context by telling a brief story using this “Problem, Solution, Result” format:
Problem: “As the Events Chair for my student organization, I noticed that attendance at our monthly philanthropy fundraisers had dropped significantly.”
Solution: “I redesigned our outreach strategy by networking with three other campus clubs to co-host a larger, unified charity gala.”
Result: “This collaboration increased attendance by 150% and helped us raise a record-breaking $4,000 for our local shelter.”
To tie the paragraph together, broaden out from the example to highlight the soft skills this story demonstrates:
“This is just one example of how I’ve used strategic networking and cross-team collaboration to turn struggling initiatives into highly successful events.”
Explain Any Gaps or Red Flags
Let’s address the elephants on your resume: educational gaps, such as traveling, volunteering, or an extended graduation timeline. You can leverage this section to your advantage by sharing the relevant key skills you gained during this nontraditional period.
For instance, if you took a gap year to travel, you could write:
“My year spent navigating independent travel across Southeast Asia deepened my capacity for adaptability, cross-cultural communication, and quick problem-solving—skills that will make me a more agile asset to your team.”
The Closer
The final paragraph provides a summary of your value proposition and a quick curtsey before your signature:
“My academic foundation in data analytics coupled with my leadership experience in student government would allow me to be an asset as a Junior Analyst at [Company].”
Before exiting the letter, thank your reader for their consideration and express your eagerness to continue the conversation.
Want feedback on your resume or cover letter?
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By Jillian Kinsey
Founder of Red Pen Wench, an industry-leading career services company specializing in resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, and interview coaching