How Long Should My Cover Letter Be

When it comes to crafting a compelling cover letter, one of the most common questions that job
seekers have is, "How long should my cover letter be?" While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to
this question, there are some general guidelines that can help you determine the appropriate length for
your cover letter.

In general, a cover letter should be no longer than one page. This means that you should aim to keep
your cover letter concise and to the point, focusing on the most relevant information that will
showcase your qualifications and interest in the position.

However, it's also important to ensure that your cover letter provides enough information to
effectively convey your enthusiasm for the role and your suitability for the position. This means that
you shouldn't sacrifice important details or relevant examples in order to keep your cover letter short.

Instead, focus on including key points such as:

1. An introduction that explains why you're interested in the position and why you're a good fit
for the role.
2. A brief overview of your relevant experience and qualifications, highlighting the most
important points that make you a strong candidate.
3. Specific examples of your achievements or accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and
abilities.
4. A closing paragraph that reiterates your interest in the position and expresses your
enthusiasm for the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your cover letter is the right length to effectively
communicate your qualifications and interest in the position without overwhelming the reader with
unnecessary information.

For personalized assistance with crafting a tailored cover letter that highlights your strengths and
maximizes your chances of success, consider ordering from BestResumeHelp.com . Our team of
experienced professionals can help you create a cover letter that stands out and impresses employers.
It's especially true when you’re doing something you might find difficult—like writing a cover letter.
Cover letters are like a written handshake in an era when job-seekers no longer walk into offices
with no appointment asking to see the hiring manager. Advanced product testing, pulling in client
teams to boost customer ratings 32%. My expertise in strategic planning, data analysis, and project
management qualifies me to offer a novel strategic approach to your marketing initiatives. But it
should never be used in a cover letter in which you’re seeking a job. 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. Include plenty of white space and small,
punchy paragraphs. Thank recruiters for their time and interest in your application, adding a
reminder of why you are an ideal job fit. Cover Letter Builder Write a cover letter that convinces
employers you’re the best. List only relevant work experience when customizing your cover letter for
each job listing. But proofreading can sometimes reveal word-tightening opportunities too, including
inadvertent editing errors. Whatever the case is, it should not exceed the one-page limit, as a hiring
manager will never read a two-page cover letter. It can start earning you points as the best job
candidate before anyone even looks at your resume. However, if it’s not of adequate length, it can
only make a hiring manager reject you. The maximum length you should go for is 400 words,
organized into up to six paragraphs. Cover letters play a crucial role in the job application process.
The date: Always include the date on your cover letter that way, you and the hiring manager can
keep track of when you applied. Otherwise, you may end up with a cramped document that is
difficult to follow. Choose type of cookies to accept Analytics These cookies allow us to analyze our
performance to offer you a better experience of creating resumes and cover letters. Ideal Length in
2024 Create your cover letter now Maciej Duszynski, CPRW Career Expert Updated: January 03,
2024 Article Rating: 4.63 Share: Our customers have been hired by: Table of Contents Show Hide
Intro How Long Should a Cover Letter Be. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my
experience in driving successful campaigns and data-driven decision-making can contribute to your
dynamic team. As an elevator pitch hitting just the high notes, your cover letter should never rehash
your resume information, but rather reframe it as a preview. You should almost always be sending a
cover letter along with your resume unless the listing states otherwise. A good cover letter contains 3
to 4 concise paragraphs and no more than 400 words in total. Please enable JavaScript to view the
comments powered by Disqus. The difference is, write a great subject line and leave the address
section off the top. Being concise and highlighting only the most important achievements may help
you keep the letter within the word limit. Elaborate on a few carefully selected achievements and the
transferable skills brought to bear. Why else? Myth-busting research has concluded that the cover
letter is not “dead.” The opposite is true. Every time you review each cover letter redraft, a crisper,
cleaner and more efficiently polished new version should emerge.
A cover letter should be about three paragraphs of facts explaining why you're perfect for the
position. Ideal Length in 2024 Create your cover letter now Maciej Duszynski, CPRW Career Expert
Updated: January 03, 2024 Article Rating: 4.63 Share: Our customers have been hired by: Table of
Contents Show Hide Intro How Long Should a Cover Letter Be. 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. CV Format Pick the
right format for your situation. Consult a thesaurus often for help pinpointing exactly the right words
to say what you mean. Job Search Learn how to find the right job and get it. Sending a cover letter
with a typo or mistake can cost you the job interview even if you have great qualifications and
writing style. How to Write a CV Learn how to make a CV that gets interviews. Simply structured
Take heart in the simplicity of a cover letter’s framework to feel less overwhelmed. And, just like
with a paper cover letter, make sure you sell: Why this role. The maximum length you should go for
is 400 words, organized into up to six paragraphs. It can even make a difference in whether your
resume gets read at all. Even for published authors, getting started is typically the hardest part of any
writing task. The right cover letter length matters because it sends a signal you're worth looking into.
And here's an example of a one-page cover letter with the right page, paragraph, and word count:
One Page Cover Letter—Example With the Ideal Number of Words Sample cover letter made with
our builder: See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here. Settings Accept
Cookie settings Click on the types of cookies below to learn more about them and customize your
experience on our Site. Save preferences This site uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience
on our website. Hiring professionals receive 250 applications per job posting on average. But it
should never be used in a cover letter in which you’re seeking a job. If they see your cover letter
alone is two pages, they’ll throw it in the “No” pile almost immediately. She is a content writer and
editor for Resume.co. She loves casual Fridays and carefree days spent on the beach and has been
writing for several years now. It was a perfect introduction to selling a high-value seasonal product
and many conferences and events later, I had perfected my sales pitch. Don’t worry about including
all of the context and details about your past jobs. Did you ever do the opposite to slip in under a
page maximum without having to do another editing pass at 3 a.m.? (Guilty!). The pauses pack more
punch and command staying power, while also sustaining reader momentum. CV Help Improve your
CV with help from expert guides. Conclude the paragraph with one sentence that will recap the main
idea of the paragraph. This was disappointing, as I took great pleasure in eating away at your market
share (the net gain for my previous employer was 6%), but after an acrimonious exit and on finishing
my gardening leave, I am keen to stay in garden furniture and feel that my three years of direct
experience will prove useful. Advanced product testing, pulling in client teams to boost customer
ratings 32%.
Every time you review each cover letter redraft, a crisper, cleaner and more efficiently polished new
version should emerge. And here's an example of a one-page cover letter with the right page,
paragraph, and word count: One Page Cover Letter—Example With the Ideal Number of Words
Sample cover letter made with our builder: See more cover letter templates and create your cover
letter here. We mean using a few bullet points to concisely relay a few key pieces of information that
aren’t on your resume, but contribute to your qualifications as a candidate, without taking up too
much space. Choose type of cookies to accept Analytics These cookies allow us to analyze our
performance to offer you a better experience of creating resumes and cover letters. That’s why all
cover letters should be addressed to someone by name if possible. Plus, including a bulleted list is
particularly handy when you’re elaborating on vital details about your qualifications but want to
keep it short. CV Format Pick the right format for your situation. A 2-page cover letter violates the
cover letter definition. My expertise in strategic planning, data analysis, and project management
qualifies me to offer a novel strategic approach to your marketing initiatives. 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. 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. Don’t
be surprised or discouraged by this oft-misunderstood reality when composing your cover letter: the
shorter it is, the longer you might take writing it well. Career Advice Improve your career with expert
tips and strategies. They don’t ask for the interview in their closing paragraph. Example: Sales
Representative Cover Letter Closing. Our sales representative sample letter leads with this masterful
introduction. It adds narrative depth to your relatively impersonal resume, which is a barebones
factual synopsis in mostly list format. The length may vary depending on your level of experience,
but it should never exceed 400 words. The right cover letter length matters because it sends a signal
you're worth looking into. Research, teaching, departmental service, and relevant accolades. Pay
attention to the structure, number, and order of paragraphs, as well as the included information.
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. Even within a single-page
document,“widow” lines of text can cause problems with page fit and layout imbalance. Body (one
to three paragraphs): Your body paragraphs should focus on the ways you can help the organization
or team, Owens says. Necessary These cookies are essential for the Site's performance and for you to
be able to use its features. In my first two years as a sales rep, I skyrocketed my region’s sales by
80%, attracted 55 more customers and won the national sales prize in my second year. The answer
for “ Can a cover letter be 2 pages?” How long is a cover letter and how to keep its length under
control. How? Treat the job offer as a guide and only touch upon the things it mentions. Overused or
cliche phrases Anything about what the job would do for you: Focus on what you can do for them.
Meaningless cliches and other superfluous fluff waste valuable cover letter page space and the
reader’s precious time.
It should show your connections to the employer and your interest and excitement for the position,
Liou says. Let's find out how long should a cover letter be and what should be included to amaze
your future employer. It can start earning you points as the best job candidate before anyone even
looks at your resume. But how you make a cover letter the right length decides how many interviews
you get. If a job posting tells you that you shouldn’t include a cover letter at all, default to the job
description. Written by Debbie Bride How long should a cover letter be. Then, in the following
paragraph, you can mention what attracted you to the company and why you think you’d be the best
candidate for the role. 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. Blog Cover Letter How Long Should a
Cover Letter Be. Maybe include that you are eager to hear back or wish them a great week. Neither
is desirable in a multi-page document, but can be prevented with certain line or page break
adjustments. Find out how long your cover letter should be and why length is important. Talk about
what skills and experience you bring to the company, and back up what you’re saying with past
examples—but keep them concise. Conclusion (one paragraph): Your conclusion should be “a final
paragraph thanking the reader for their time and reiterating your interest,” Owens says. Resume
Help Improve your resume with help from expert guides. It’s okay if your cover letter doesn’t take
up an entire page, but it should never exceed one full page. The right cover letter length matters
because it sends a signal you're worth looking into. Our team conducts original research to
understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and
prime media outlets from around the world. Cover letter greeting Start your cover letter off on a
professional, yet approachable, note in the greeting. Keep paragraphs short and use bullet points to
avoid adding unnecessary information. A cover letter compensates for the resume’s limitations. You
must know how to put the space you have to good use. Cover Letter Examples See perfect cover
letter samples that get jobs. Cut through the noise and dive deep on specific topics from some of our
most popular categories. Three-page or two-page cover letters are a waste of paper. Taking too long
to make your point is as bad as repeating yourself. Writing your job-winning resume has never been
this easy. My proficiency in digital marketing, market research, and team leadership has significantly
contributed to achieving the company’s goals. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the
way. To make better use of your time, flesh out the projects you directly worked on, your
responsibilities, and the achievements you have that make you a great candidate.