How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read
Most cover letters get skimmed in 7 seconds. Here's how to write one that makes recruiters stop and read every word.
What Recruiters Say
In a world of online applications and ATS systems, is the cover letter dead? Absolutely not. A well-crafted cover letter is your chance to tell your story, showcase your personality, and make a compelling case for why you're the perfect candidate.
This guide will teach you exactly how to write a cover letter that gets recruiters excited to interview you.
1. The Purpose of a Cover Letter
What a Cover Letter IS
- Your chance to tell a story your resume can't
- An opportunity to show personality and enthusiasm
- A way to connect the dots between your experience and the role
- Your pitch for why YOU specifically are a great fit
What a Cover Letter ISN'T
- ❌ A prose version of your resume
- ❌ A list of everything you've ever done
- ❌ A generic template you send everywhere
- ❌ About what YOU want (it's about what you can give)
2. The Perfect Cover Letter Structure
The 4-Paragraph Formula
Paragraph 1: The Hook (2-3 sentences)
Grab attention. State the role. Show genuine enthusiasm for THIS company.
Paragraph 2: The Pitch (3-5 sentences)
Connect your experience to their requirements. Pick 2-3 key qualifications and provide evidence.
Paragraph 3: The Fit (2-4 sentences)
Show you understand their mission/culture and align with it. Show passion.
Paragraph 4: The Close (2-3 sentences)
Summarize enthusiasm. Clear call to action. Thank them.
Length: One page maximum. 250-400 words is ideal. Recruiters are busy—respect their time.
3. Hook Them in the First Paragraph
The first paragraph is the most important. You have 7 seconds to grab attention. Make it count.
❌ What NOT to Write
"I am writing to apply for the Software Engineering Intern position that I saw on your website. I am a third-year student at XYZ University and I am interested in this position."
❌ Boring. Generic. No personality. Wastes precious opening lines.
âś… What TO Write
"When I built my first React application—a campus event finder that helped 500+ students discover activities—I discovered my passion for creating products that solve real problems. This is exactly why I'm excited about the Software Engineering role at Razorpay: your mission to simplify payments for businesses aligns perfectly with my drive to build impactful technology."
âś… Opens with accomplishment. Shows enthusiasm for the SPECIFIC company. Connects personal mission to theirs.
Opening Formulas That Work
- Achievement → Connection: "When I [accomplishment], I learned [insight]. This is why [company] excites me..."
- Passion → Fit: "I've always been fascinated by [area]. [Company]'s work on [specific project] is exactly where I want to contribute..."
- Specific Knowledge → Enthusiasm: "After reading about [company's news/product/values], I knew I had to apply for [role]..."
4. The Body: Prove Your Value
This is where you connect the dots between what they need and what you offer. Use the PAR method:
PAR Method for Each Point
- Problem/Project: What was the challenge or situation?
- Action: What specifically did YOU do?
- Result: What was the outcome? (Quantify if possible)
Example Body Paragraphs
For a Software Developer Role:
"Your job description emphasizes building scalable backend systems—exactly what I focused on during my internship at TechCorp. When our API started timing out during peak traffic, I led the redesign of our caching layer, implementing Redis and optimizing database queries. The result? A 65% reduction in response time and zero timeouts during our product launch week."
For a Marketing Role:
"I noticed you're looking for someone to grow your social media presence. In my current role managing social for our college fest, I developed a content strategy that grew our Instagram from 2,000 to 15,000 followers and drove 3,000+ event registrations. I'd love to bring this same data-driven, creative approach to [Company]'s brand."
Show You Understand Their Needs
Reference specific things from the job description. This shows you're not sending a form letter:
- "Your emphasis on [skill from JD] resonates with my experience..."
- "I was excited to see you're working on [product/project]..."
- "The requirement for [specific skill] matches my background in..."
5. Close with Confidence
End with enthusiasm, gratitude, and a clear next step.
Strong Closing Formula
"I'm excited about the opportunity to bring my [key strength] to [Company] and contribute to [specific goal/project]. I would welcome the chance to discuss how my background in [area] aligns with your team's needs."
"Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of speaking with you."
Avoid Weak Closings
- ❌ "I hope to hear from you soon" (passive)
- ❌ "Please contact me at your convenience" (too deferential)
- ❌ "I am available for an interview anytime" (no value-add)
6. Full Cover Letter Examples
Example 1: Software Engineering Intern
[Your Contact Info] | [Date] | [Their Contact Info]
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
When I built an AI-powered study planner that helped 200+ students improve their exam scores, I discovered my passion for creating technology that makes lives better. This is why I'm thrilled to apply for the Software Engineering Internship at Swiggy—your mission to transform how India eats through technology aligns perfectly with my drive to build impactful products.
Your job description emphasizes full-stack development with React and Node.js—exactly my focus areas. During my internship at a seed-stage startup, I built the company's customer-facing dashboard from scratch, implementing a real-time order tracking feature that reduced support tickets by 35%. I'm particularly strong in writing clean, maintainable code—I take pride in comprehensive documentation and thorough testing.
Swiggy's scale fascinates me. The technical challenges of serving millions of users, optimizing delivery routes, and ensuring seamless user experiences are exactly the problems I want to solve. I've been following your engineering blog, and the post on your microservices architecture made me even more excited about learning from your team.
I'd love to discuss how my experience building user-centric products and my enthusiasm for scale can contribute to Swiggy's engineering team. Thank you for considering my application.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Example 2: Marketing Intern
[Your Contact Info] | [Date] | [Their Contact Info]
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
When I saw Zomato's Unacademy billboard that said "Kya aapki Galli-mohalle mein padhai ka mahaul hai?"—I spent 30 minutes analyzing why it worked so well. Creating marketing that sparks conversations is exactly what I want to do, which is why I'm excited about the Marketing Internship at [Company].
As Marketing Lead for my college's annual fest, I developed a guerrilla marketing campaign that generated 50,000 Instagram impressions and increased ticket sales by 40% year-over-year—on a shoestring budget. I'm comfortable with both creative ideation and data analysis; I believe the best marketing happens when creativity meets metrics.
I've been following [Company]'s recent campaigns closely, and I love how you balance brand storytelling with performance marketing. The recent [specific campaign] was particularly clever—[why it impressed you]. I'd be thrilled to contribute fresh ideas while learning from your experienced team.
I'm eager to bring my creative energy and analytical approach to [Company]'s marketing efforts. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
7. Common Cover Letter Mistakes
❌ Being Generic
"Dear Sir/Madam, I am interested in any available position..." — Instant rejection.
❌ Rehashing Your Resume
Don't list your experiences—tell stories your resume can't.
❌ Making It About You
"I want this job because I need experience..." — Focus on what you can GIVE.
❌ Being Too Long
One page max. 300-400 words is ideal. Edit ruthlessly.
❌ Typos and Errors
Proofread multiple times. Get a friend to review. One typo can kill your application.
8. Final Cover Letter Checklist
Conclusion: Make Them Remember You
A cover letter is your chance to be more than a resume. It's where you show personality, passion, and purpose. Done well, it makes recruiters excited to meet the person behind the paper.
Take the extra 30 minutes to customize each cover letter. Research the company. Find specific things to mention. Show that you care about THIS opportunity—not just any opportunity.
Tell your story. Show your value. Get that interview. ✉️
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Written by Sproutern Career Team
Our team has reviewed thousands of cover letters and compiled the patterns that consistently lead to interview callbacks.
Last updated: October 18, 2025