10 Cover Letter Tips That Will Get You More Interviews

Most cover letter advice is vague. Here are ten specific, actionable things you can do to your cover letter right now that will improve its effectiveness.

1. Start With Something Specific to This Employer

Not "I am writing to apply" — open with a sentence that could only apply to this company and this role. It takes five minutes of research and signals that you are a serious candidate immediately.

2. Write Three Paragraphs, Maximum

If you are writing more than three to four paragraphs, you are padding. Cut to the most essential content. Shorter cover letters get read more fully than longer ones.

3. Include at Least One Number

"Increased sales by 34%," "managed a team of twelve," "delivered £2m savings" — numbers are both credible and memorable. A cover letter without any quantified evidence is easy to forget.

4. Use the Employer's Language

Read the job description carefully. If they say "client relationship management," use that phrase — not "account management" or "client services." Language alignment signals cultural understanding and helps with any ATS scanning.

5. Prove, Do Not Assert

"I have excellent communication skills" is an assertion. "I have presented strategy recommendations to C-suite stakeholders at four FTSE 250 organisations" is proof of communication skills. Replace assertions with evidence.

6. Do Not Summarise Your CV

The recruiter can read your CV. Your cover letter should add context and make an argument — not narrate your work history in prose.

7. Find the Hiring Manager's Name

A LinkedIn search takes two minutes. "Dear Sarah Johnson" is more personal and less generic than "Dear Hiring Manager." It signals initiative.

8. Proofread Out Loud

Silent reading misses errors that listening catches. Read your cover letter out loud before sending it. If a sentence sounds wrong, it probably reads wrong too.

9. End With a Specific Close, Not a Passive Hope

"I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background in [X] could contribute to [Y]" is better than "I hope to hear from you." Be slightly more direct about the next step.

10. Tailor It — Every Time

A 70% tailored cover letter outperforms a 100% generic one. Update your opening, your core paragraph, and your close for each application. It takes ten minutes and meaningfully improves your response rate.

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