Published on
March 7, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
The mainpurpose of a cover letter is to showcase your qualifications, personality, and enthusiasm for the role.
When you apply for a job, you submit a 1-page cover letter and your resume to convince recruiters that your skills and background are well-aligned with the job requirements. Employers use cover letters and resumes to decide which candidates they want to interview.
While your resume provides a structured summary of your skills and experience, a cover letter elaborates on your achievements and values in a narrative fashion.
The following tips about the purpose of a cover letter will help you introduce yourself and tell your professional story in a compelling and convincing fashion.
TipIf you need to create a cover letter quickly, use QuillBot’s AI cover letter generator to instantly draft a compelling cover letter that includes all the necessary sections.
Published on
March 6, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
How far back a resume should go depends on your experience level and the job requirements. A resume should go back 10–15 years at most and only include jobs that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
You don’t need to go back 10 years if you’re in the early stages of your career, and you don’t need to include every past job.
In fact, you might only have room for 3–4 past jobs if you want to achieve a concise resume format and a 1–2 page resume length.
No matter how far back your resume goes, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you submit job applications that are polished and error free.
How far back should a resume go exampleYou’re a 35-year-old accountant who is applying for an Accounts Payable Specialist position. You have 10 years of experience, starting with your first job out of college working as a tax preparer. For the last 7 years, you’ve worked on vendor invoices.
The main requirement on the job posting is “5–7 years of accounts payable experience with 2–3 years in a senior-level accounting position,” and the job entails invoicing and paying vendors.
On your resume’s “Employment History” section, you only include jobs from the last 7 years, and you focus each job description on the skills that this particular position requires.
Published on
March 4, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 27, 2025
In English grammar, negatives are words—such as “no,” “not,” and “never”—that show something is untrue, not happening, or of zero quantity. For example, the sentence “Nobody wants this” means “zero people want this.” It’s the opposite of “Everybody wants this” or “Someone wants this.”
Common negatives include “not,” “none,” “nobody,” “nowhere,” and “nothing.” Some qualifiers—such as “barely” and “hardly”—are also negatives.
The main grammar rule for negatives is to only use one per sentence. A double negative is grammatically incorrect because two negatives in the same sentence cancel each other. For example, grammatically, “We never go nowhere” means “We always go somewhere” instead of “We never go anywhere.”
Negative sentences examples Kara has never seen an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
The candidate barely won the election.
Nothing is more important than friends and family.
Published on
February 26, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
A functional resume is an alternative to a traditional resume for students, recent graduates, or job seekers who are new to a profession. Unlike the standard, chronological resume, which focuses on your employment history, functional resumes focus on your skills. That’s why they’re sometimes called “skills-based resumes.”
The functional resume format is sometimes useful for internships, entry-level positions, or career fairs. Even in these situations, though, the functional resume is increasingly rare. When at all possible, the safest choice is a traditional, reverse-chronological format like this resume template.
When the functional resume format is your best option, the tips and examples below will help your functional resume make the best possible impression. For proofreading and polishing resumes, cover letters, and other application materials, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker has got you covered!
Published on
February 20, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
In most cases, the ideal resume length is 1–2 pages. The most common resume format includes four main sections—a professional summary, technical skills, work history, and education.
The purpose of a resume is to help recruiters quickly see your most relevant skills and achievements, so only include jobs and skills on your resume that directly relate to the job posting. A concise resume length improves your chances of receiving an interview because it shows your ability to focus on relevant details.
To learn more about how long a resume should be, follow the tips and examples below. QuillBot’s free Paraphraser Android App or Paraphraser iOS App can also help you summarize your skills and experiences in a concise and effective manner.
How long should a resume be exampleYou recently earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, and you’re applying for a teaching job at a Montessori preschool.
For the last 10 years, you’ve worked as a childcare provider and assistant preschool teacher in addition to a retail sales associate and customer service representative.
Your resume is one page and only includes jobs where you worked with children. The education section includes your bachelor’s degree but not your high school diploma. In the education section, you also list courses or school projects related to early childhood and Montessori education.
Published on
February 20, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
A resume is a 1–2 page formal document that summarizes your skills, experience, and achievements when you’re applying for a job, internship, or other career opportunity.
Resumes are divided into sections that categorize different aspects of your professional background (e.g., work history, technical skills, and education). Each resume section includes a bold heading and lists of concise phrases.
The purpose of a resume and the concise resume format is to quickly inform job recruiters or other decision makers about your qualifications.
Learning more about what a resume is will help you submit applications that make a positive and memorable impression. QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also make your resume shine!
Published on
February 18, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
When you end a cover letter, the goal is to motivate your reader to consider your application and contact you for an interview. To effectively close a cover letter, follow these two steps:
Write a cover letter conclusion that restates the claim, shows your enthusiasm, and offers a call to action (e.g., “I look forward to learning more about the role”).
Sign your cover letter with a complimentary close (e.g., “Sincerely”) and your full name.
How to end a cover letter example If you’re looking for an experienced home health provider with detailed expertise in nutrition and wellness, I’m available for an interview at your earliest convenience. I would be honored to further the success of your program and ensure that Wentzville’s older adults receive the care and compassion they deserve. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Evelyn Dubois
TipBecause the ideal cover letter length is one single-spaced page, strive for a total of 50–75 words in each conclusion.
Published on
February 18, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
Starting a cover letter involves two main steps:
A professional greeting to the hiring manager or recruiting team
An introduction paragraph that says what you’re applying for, why the company appeals to you, what your overall background is, and why you’re the best fit
The beginning of a cover letter is often the most important part of a job application. When a cover letter is necessary, it might be the recruiter’s first impression of your personality and background.
No matter what type of job you’re seeking, the following tips and examples will help you write a cover letter introduction that makes a stellar first impression. To craft all the pieces of your cover letter quickly and easily, try out QuillBot’s free cover letter generator.
How to start a cover letter example Dear Annabelle Jones,
I was thrilled to see the Assistant Property Manager position advertised on Indeed. Maxell Rental Properties’ reputation for exceptional service and innovative multi-family housing strongly aligns with my values and professional goals. For over 7 years, I’ve efficiently managed luxury and affordable rental properties throughout the Springfield community. With my knack for tenant relations and expertise in leasing strategies, I’m confident that I will enhance Maxwell’s ongoing success.
Published on
February 7, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 18, 2025
A cover letter should usually be a single page with three or four short paragraphs. It should include an introduction, one or two body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. Most recruiting experts also say that 300–400 words is the ideal cover letter length.
The purpose of a cover letter is to help recruiters quickly learn why you’re uniquely qualified, so the right cover letter length is crucial. A cover letter that’s too long can overwhelm busy recruiters, who typically receive hundreds of applications for each opening. If a cover letter is too short, you might be missing details that will help you stand out.
To learn more about how to write an effective one-page cover letter, follow the tips and examples below. QuillBot’s free Paraphraser Mobile App for Android can also help you describe your qualifications in a concise and effective manner.
Cover letter length exampleAn experienced art teacher is applying for a position as the school district’s fine arts curriculum coordinator. The cover letter would include these four paragraphs.
Introduction: A brief overview of the teacher’s experience and interest in the job
Body Paragraph 1: The art teacher’s success with refining and implementing a high-quality art curriculum in a 9–12 classroom
Body Paragraph 2: The art teacher’s leadership experience with training and mentoring other teachers in effective art instruction
Conclusion: A brief recap of the main qualifications and an invitation to discuss the role further in an interview
Published on
February 3, 2025
by
Nicole Routh, M.Ed
Revised on
November 27, 2025
A modifier is an adjective, adverb, or group of words that describes or limits the meaning of one or more other words in a sentence. The word “modify” means “to change.” When used correctly, modifiers make writing more precise.
For example, by itself, the noun “shirt” isn’t very precise. However, when you add one or more modifiers, like in the examples below, “shirt” can have a variety of slightly different meanings. As the examples illustrate, a word or group of words can have more than one modifier in the same sentence.
Modifiers in sentences examplesErika made Cathy a blue and purple tie-dyed shirt.
The green button-down shirt in the laundry basket needs to be ironed.
My favorite flannel shirt, which belonged to my grandfather, has a hole in the front pocket.
