Cover Letter Length: Striking the Right Balance for Success

In the competitive job market, a well-crafted cover letter is an essential tool that can make a
significant impact on your job application. One common dilemma job seekers face is determining the
ideal length for their cover letter. Is brevity the key, or does a longer letter offer more opportunity to
impress? BestResumeHelp.com provides valuable insights into the question: "Cover Letter - How
Long Should It Be?"

The Concise Approach

A concise cover letter is often favored by hiring managers who appreciate clarity and efficiency.
Keeping it short and to the point can demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively.
BestResumeHelp.com recommends a one-page cover letter that highlights your key qualifications
and aligns with the job requirements. A brief yet impactful letter can capture the employer's attention
without overwhelming them.

The Comprehensive Perspective

On the other hand, a more detailed cover letter allows you to delve deeper into your skills,
experiences, and achievements. BestResumeHelp.com acknowledges that certain industries and
positions may benefit from a longer cover letter, providing you with the opportunity to showcase
your expertise in a thorough manner. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance, ensuring that your
letter remains engaging and doesn't lose the reader's interest.

Tailoring to the Job

Customization is key when determining the length of your cover letter. BestResumeHelp.com
emphasizes the importance of tailoring your letter to the specific job and company. Whether you opt
for brevity or detail, focus on addressing the employer's needs and showcasing how your skills align
with the position.

Best Practices for Cover Letter Length

BestResumeHelp.com shares practical tips to help you strike the right balance:

1. Relevance is Key: Include information that directly relates to the job requirements.
2. Highlight Achievements:Showcase your accomplishments to grab the employer's attention.
3. Maintain a Professional Tone: Regardless of length, ensure your letter is well-written and
professional.
4. Edit and Refine: Trim unnecessary details and refine your language to keep the cover letter
impactful.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of cover letter length.

BestResumeHelp.com encourages job seekers to consider the industry, job requirements, and their
own qualifications when deciding on the ideal length. By striking the right balance between brevity
and detail, you can create a cover letter that effectively communicates your value to potential
employers. Visit BestResumeHelp.com for expert guidance and professional assistance in crafting
the perfect cover letter for your job application.
So you need to strike a balancing act between cover letter length and making sure you’ve included
enough information to ensure their interest is piqued. He's worked with people at all stages of their
career paths: from interns to directors to C-suite members, he now helps you find your dream job.
Create a Cover Letter Now Career Blog See All Posts Find out how you can get a new job or
improve the one you have. Most will ignore the rest of the message. 2 paragraphs of which the first
one consisting an introduction and second describing why you are eligible for the job is enough with
a closing paragraph at the end. Resume Checker Get your resume checked and scored with one
click. This can be your blueprint for what to include in your cover letter. The goal is to express
interest and provide a brief list of relevant qualifications including, but not limited to, education,
experience, certification, and job-related skills. Create a Cover Letter Now Blog Contact English
(UK) English (US) My Account You control your data We and our partners use cookies to provide
you with our services and, depending on your settings, gather analytics and marketing data. What to
Include In Your Cover Letter How to Keep Your Cover Letter Concise Cover Letter Examples Tips
for Cover Letter Length Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More Check Length
Requirements. Set spacing to 1 or 1.15. With those settings, 250 words will fill roughly half a page.
So the real question is, how do you make your cover letter the right length ? 3 Tips for finding the
ideal cover letter length Focus on the value you bring. Use this part to showcase your knowledge
about the company. An applicant’s resume and accompanying cover letter are, in essence, the first
interview with a potential employer. Its length is perfect for a PDF file that you can send as an email
attachment. CV Help Improve your CV with help from expert guides. Too long and time-poor
recruiters won’t even read it. Editorial Guidelines Learn how our experts create our content Media
Mentions Discover where our work has been featured in Press Page Read original data insights to
boost your reporting. How to Write a CV Learn how to make a CV that gets interviews. This is
about as much as people can see on their mobile devices, which is often how people check their
email. Putting in the time and effort to research that company’s core values, strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, challenges, and requirements will give you a leg up on the competition. Take a look at
how it's done in the example below where the main body is only 120 words: Short Email Cover
Letter—Example Dear Anne, I'm very excited about the software engineer position at Igatronix, Inc.
It’s okay to have a master cover letter, but make sure to customize it to each job. His insights and
advice have been published by LinkedIn, Forbes, MSN, Yahoo!, Business Insider, AOL, U.S. News,
and other top news outlets. Don’t use phrases that have been so often overused that they no longer
have meaning; stuff like “team player,” “thinks outside the box,” or “detail-oriented.”. If your cover
letter is too long, they won’t bother reading it, but if it’s too short, they’ll think you don’t care
enough about the job. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every
stage of the career life cycle. Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman are classics for a reason. At the
same time, a Robert Half research says that whopping 90% of employers want to see a cover letter.
The cover letter is aimed at demonstrating the key characteristics of the job applicant and being a
self-marketing tool. Imposing a limit on the length of your cover letter will make you less likely to
give everything away too soon.
These two application documents are separate and should include different information. For one, I
led the team that won the Bossie for an online video editing application. Resume Help Improve your
resume with help from expert guides. So the question now is, how to make the cover letter of the
right length. Be PAR For The Course When writing about your achievements stick to the PAR
formula. A cover letter can’t just be a rehash of your resume; it has to be a stand-alone document.
This is your opportunity to shine and ultimately land that new job. See actionable examples and get
expert tips along the way. Actually, a cover letter should always be less than one page. Get a weekly
dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox Must be a valid e-mail address. Cover Letter Builders are
programs that guide job-seekers step-by-step through the creation process. Adding double spaces
between lines of text is not such a great idea—stick to single line spacing or 1.15 at the maximum.
Still not sure how to format your cover letter to optimize its length. Zety is a career site powered by
career experts, with millions of readers yearly. It’s a job seeker’s best hope of catching the attention
of a Recruiter, headhunter, or hiring manager all of whom receive tons of resumes. Resume Checker
Get your resume checked and scored with one click. How to Write a Cover Letter Learn how to
make a cover letter that gets interviews. If your documents have these types of errors, it won’t matter
how sterling the contents are. Use the words “you,” “yours,” and the name of the company. We share
tips, tools, and knowledge to help you find your dream job. Read more Aug 8 2019 11 Top-Rated
Job Sites UK Are you ready to land your dream job and get a high salary. You’ll also want to leave
an empty space between your greeting and the first paragraph, between each paragraph, and between
the last paragraph and the sign-off so that your letter is easy to read. Say what you can do to help the
company in the areas specified by the recruiter in the ad. Matt is also a Certified Professional
Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University. Prolonged and heavy
sentences will put anyone off from what they’re reading. Only if you’ve read the job posting you can
see if this particular recruiter requires a cover letter or not. The difference is, write a great subject line
and leave the address section off the top. About 70% of employers want a half-page cover letter or
feel that the shorter the better. Additionally, it shouldn’t take multiple paragraphs to introduce
yourself, express interest in the company, or thank the reader for their consideration. Somewhere
between 250 and 400-word count is a good amount. Zety is a career site fueled by the best career
experts and a community of millions of readers yearly.
The goal is to express interest and provide a brief list of relevant qualifications including, but not
limited to, education, experience, certification, and job-related skills. Be sure to include highlights of
your experience that is specific to a company or industry. Cover Letter Builder Write a cover letter
that convinces employers you’re the best. Make sure no one will have to squint their eyes to read it
and make it 12 point font. A cover letter is a necessary evil in today’s job market. It’s a job seeker’s
best hope of catching the attention of a Recruiter, headhunter, or hiring manager all of whom receive
tons of resumes. A cover letter has become a significant part of the application process. This trend is
probably most frequently seen during online application processes, as some of these hiring systems
do not allow candidates to submit additional materials. Leave an extra line of white space between
the paragraphs. The right cover letter length matters because it sends a signal you're worth looking
into. It’s great to give examples of when you did something particularly excellent at your previous
job. Start earning a lot of money by choosing an IT position. With this in mind, your cover letter
must be spot-on, laser-targeted, and very compelling. Advertising These cookies are placed by third-
party companies to deliver targeted content based on relevant topics that are of interest to you.
Necessary These cookies are essential for the Site's performance and for you to be able to use its
features. Three is the absolute minimum to do the following: introduce yourself, state your
qualifications, and express interest in the specific company. Cover Letter Examples See perfect cover
letter samples that get jobs. Get a weekly dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox Must be a valid
e-mail address. Cover letter word count should be between 200 and 400 words (300 is the sweet
spot.) Why? Because that's the right length to fill up slightly more than half a page with 12-point
font. To learn more about the services offered by Distinctive Career Services visit. Both components
should be taken seriously and constructed with great care. Set the scene, describe what your job was,
what you did, and what the result was. Putting in the time and effort to research that company’s core
values, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, challenges, and requirements will give you a leg up on
the competition. In other words, do show your best side on the cover letter, but keep some aces up
your sleeve for the interview. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
You’ll also want to leave an empty space between your greeting and the first paragraph, between
each paragraph, and between the last paragraph and the sign-off so that your letter is easy to read.
Most of the information should be on your resume, the cover letter is just an add-on. A cover letter
should be about three paragraphs of facts explaining why you're perfect for the position. Cover
letters play a crucial role in the job application process. Also, make 1-inch margins on the right and
on the left side.
I love it! If you have already found the answer to your question, you may want to explore other
subjects related to cover letter writing: What Does a Good Cover Letter Look Like What Your
Cover Letter Should Say Cover Letter Structure 1 How Long Should a Cover Letter Be. Whether
you are a first-time job seeker or a seasoned professional, it is likely you will want to write and
submit a cover letter with your application materials. Create a Cover Letter Now Blog Contact
English (UK) English (US) My Account You control your data We and our partners use cookies to
provide you with our services and, depending on your settings, gather analytics and marketing data.
An applicant’s resume and accompanying cover letter are, in essence, the first interview with a
potential employer. This allows us to improve our Site and our services. What to Include In Your
Cover Letter How to Keep Your Cover Letter Concise Cover Letter Examples Tips for Cover Letter
Length Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More Check Length Requirements. The
accomplishments and expertise that are listed in that shared space are the very things that you need
to highlight in your cover letter. The right cover letter length increases your chances exponentially.
Too many applicants skip this step because most are not applying for a single job but carpet bombing
job openings. New User Please make your order to get access to personal account. Think: what about
your work history, your skills, or accomplishments are most fitting for the specific job for which
you’re applying. Fear not; once you’ve broken down a cover letter into sections, it’s easy to say what
needs saying efficiently. The cover letter is aimed at demonstrating the key characteristics of the job
applicant and being a self-marketing tool. Use this part to showcase your knowledge about the
company. I look forward to speaking with you more about how we can make sure that Green Mosely
is the top name that comes to mind when people think of software solutions at scale. No matter how
chocked full of fancy degrees and impressive achievements your resume might be, if you don’t
spend time crafting a killer cover letter, you won’t even get that first foot in the door. It is appropriate
to mention a referring colleague as well. Let's look at some examples of how should a cover letter
look. Performance and Personalization These cookies give you access to a customized experience of
our products. However, it may be a good idea to give yourself four paragraphs, so you have more
time to tout your credentials. Example of a Cover Letter With the Perfect Length Your CV needs to
be the right length too. The answer for “ Can a cover letter be 2 pages?” How long is a cover letter
and how to keep its length under control. To me, the Bossie wasn't just an award, but a culmination
of: Eight years as the CEO of a profitable video production firm. No need to overcomplicate your
sentences just to appear smarter. Make sure you read it carefully and follow any certain directions
and demands mentioned in it. The size should be no more than 13 point and no less than 11 point.
Zety is a career site powered by career experts, with millions of readers yearly. Find out how long
your cover letter should be and why length is important. Be sure to include highlights of your
experience that is specific to a company or industry. Its length is perfect for a PDF file that you can
send as an email attachment.
The spot where the lists overlap is where you should focus your attention. Cover Letter Help Boost
your chances of having your CV read with our help. If the job advert clearly states a word limit then
double-check that you’ve met it. The difference is, write a great subject line and leave the address
section off the top. It displays your genuine interest and proposes why you think you are the best
candidate for the job. How long should it be, how should it be formatted, and should you puff up
your wares to use an old expression. For example, essential cookies include: cookies dropped to
provide the service, maintain your account, provide builder access, payment pages, create IDs for
your documents and store your consents. Set the scene, describe what your job was, what you did,
and what the result was. A very pressing question in the recruitment circles is: how long should a
cover letter be for a job. This process may be particularly beneficial to individuals with limited
writing skills, insufficient work experience, or little time before the application materials are due.
Let's find out how long should a cover letter be and what should be included to amaze your future
employer. Job Interviews Prepare for any interview and ace it. I look forward to speaking with you
more about how we can make sure that Green Mosely is the top name that comes to mind when
people think of software solutions at scale. Ideally, you should shoot for between half a page and a
page, always aiming for the lower end of that spectrum. Make sure no one will have to squint their
eyes to read it and make it 12 point font. Keywords will jump out at you, include some of those
words in your cover letter. Necessary These cookies are essential for the Site's performance and for
you to be able to use its features. Set spacing to 1 or 1.15. With those settings, 250 words will fill
roughly half a page. About About Find out more about Zety and its career experts. Always customize
it according to your target recruiter. Cover Letter Templates Find the perfect cover letter template.
But the hiring manager doesn’t need to know every little detail. Highlight the skills and
qualifications that make you the perfect fit for the job, express your passion for the industry, and
keep it at that. Don’t come off as presumptuous and ask for an interview date. Also, double-check if
the employer hasn’t specified their own limits anywhere. We share knowledge, tips, and tools to help
everyone find their dream job. Indicate in your cover letter that you will follow up with a phone call
within a week. Best practice shows that letters should rarely be more than a single page. The goal is
to express interest and provide a brief list of relevant qualifications including, but not limited to,
education, experience, certification, and job-related skills. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance
on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information
stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
If they give you a prompt or questions to answer, then respond to them. Cover Letter Format Pick
the right format for your situation. If you write too little, an employer may think you haven’t put
much effort into your application and that you, therefore, aren’t serious about getting the job. In
most cases, it should consist of three to four paragraphs and be limited to a single page. Every year,
the quality of our content attracts 40 million readers to our site. A rough word count estimation is
about 250-400 or three paragraphs, respectively. Understandably then, a well-written cover letter is
one of the most important weapons in your arsenal, and knowing how to write a cover letter that
stands out is an essential skill. So make sure it’s an introduction, not the story of your entire life. Not
writing enough can seem unprofessional, while writing too much may be off-putting for hiring
managers. Some people doubt whether they really need to include a cover letter in their job
application. The answer for “ Can a cover letter be 2 pages?” How long is a cover letter and how to
keep its length under control. If instead of the information they’re looking for, they come across a
story of your life, they’ll skip it without batting an eyelash. Create a CV Cover Letter Cover Letter
Builder Create a cover letter in 5 minutes. Actually, a cover letter should always be less than one
page. According to the recent survey by CareerBuilder, over 40% of HR managers suggest that
including a cover letter may boost the job searching process and help to find a decent position faster.
Kal also runs a Career Accelerator Bootcamp for young graduates. Then cherry-pick the
achievements in your CV that’ll be most applicable and expand on those. Job Interviews Prepare for
any interview and ace it. Necessary These cookies are essential for the Site's performance and for you
to be able to use its features. However, we strongly recommend keeping your cover letter to four
paragraphs. Most of the information should be on your resume, the cover letter is just an add-on.
Stop right there and don’t worry that you’re being lazy or not including enough information. How to
Keep Your Cover Letter Short and Sweet Think of your knowledge and experience as a big pot of
tasty chicken soup. Order now Registered User Email: Password: Forgot password. This will show
that you are the best candidate for the job without tooting your own horn in a self-centered way.
This is the place to stress the value you can provide regarding experience and the successes you have
had from past experiences and how that can be leveraged for future success. To learn more about the
services offered by Distinctive Career Services visit. Get a weekly dose of inspiration delivered to
your inbox Must be a valid e-mail address. Cover letters are usually all about how the business will
benefit from you, not the other way around. The thing is that it’s very hard to see redundancies and
inconsistencies in your own piece of writing.
The introduction should state the purpose of the letter and grab the employer's attention, while the
body paragraphs should highlight the applicant's relevant skills and experiences. Always customize it
according to your target recruiter. A cover letter for an academic position should be no longer than
two pages, but long enough to show off your accomplishments. About Zety’s Editorial Process This
article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines.
Use this part to list all your achievements, skills, and qualifications that are directly related to the job
position. A cover letter should be about three paragraphs of facts explaining why you're perfect for
the position. Your cover letter opening has to show passion for the company and the role and share a
standout accomplishment that proves you’re just what the company is looking for. However, you
may be surprised hearing about positions with a decent income. Frequently Asked Questions Get
answers to frequently asked questions about resumes, Zety, and more. About Zety’s Editorial Process
Our editorial team has thoroughly reviewed this article to ensure it follows Zety’s editorial
guidelines. Just like an advertisement that compels you to “Call now,” you need to give your cover
letter a call to action, usually in the closing paragraph. Industry mentors may also be able to provide
advice regarding unique requirements and preferences in the field. It’s the first thing anyone will see
when they look at your resume or cover letter. Cover Letter Help Boost your chances of having your
resume read with our help. The trick is to use experience bullet points to your advantage. Don’t
Stress About Word Count How many words should a cover letter be. Unless specifically stated
otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with Zety.
Growing revenue for a SaaS business 22% through superior development. Choose type of cookies to
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of creating resumes and cover letters. Three is the absolute minimum to do the following: introduce
yourself, state your qualifications, and express interest in the specific company. The author explains
that a cover letter should be concise, typically one page or less, and should include an introduction,
body paragraphs, and a conclusion. If they provide instructions about word count or page length, do
what they say and forget everything else you read here vis-a-vis length. Make it too small, and it’s
illegible, make it too big and it looks like you’re trying to fill up space. What to Include In Your
Cover Letter How to Keep Your Cover Letter Concise Cover Letter Examples Tips for Cover Letter
Length Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More Check Length Requirements. You must
know how to put the space you have to good use. We are going to demystify the whole cover letter
writing process so you can wow them before they even get to your resume. The same study shows
20% of employers have no preference regarding and only 12% want full-page cover letters. These
tools provide assistance with the creation and editing of professional resumes in an effort to help
people properly showcase their employment background and skills. Blog Cover Letter How Long
Should a Cover Letter Be. Be sure to communicate exactly how and why you would be of value to
their company.