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A cover letter structure that gets read: three short paragraphs

Last updated 9 October 2026

Paragraph 1: the role and the fit

Name the exact role and the company, then one sentence on why you fit. "I'm applying for the Senior Product Analyst role at Northwind. I've spent four years running pricing experiments and turning them into decisions, which is the core of this role."

Paragraph 2: one result that matches

Pick the posting's most important requirement and tell one short story that proves it: the situation, what you did, and the result, with a number if you have one. One strong example beats five weak ones.

Paragraph 3: the close

Say what you would like to happen next and thank them. No need for flourishes: "I'd welcome the chance to talk about how I could help the team. Thank you for your time."

What to leave out

• Your whole career history: that is the résumé's job.
• Claims you cannot back ("passionate", "world-class").
• Anything that would only be true of a different employer.

Do you still need one?

Not every application asks for a letter. When one is optional, a short, specific letter is still a way to connect your experience to the role in your own words, and it takes ten minutes with this structure.

Questions

How long should a cover letter be?

Usually 150 to 300 words. Three short paragraphs fit comfortably on less than a page.

Should I address it to a person?

If the posting names the hiring manager, yes. Otherwise "Dear hiring team" is fine.

Can I reuse one letter?

Reuse the structure, not the content. The first two paragraphs should change for every role.

Keep reading

• Not hearing back from job applications? Fix these four things first
• Résumé keywords: how to use the job posting's words without stuffing
• How many jobs should you apply to per week?

By Vamsi Venkatesh · 2026-10-09