How to Start a Cover Letter | 5 Tips to Stand Out
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.
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.
Cover letter greetings
The cover letter greeting is an essential part of the standard cover letter format. Before the cover letter introduction (but after your contact information and the date), always address a cover letter with a professional greeting. A cover letter greeting includes these parts:
- A salutation—such as “Dear”—or the preposition “To”
- The name of the hiring manager if this information is available (e.g., “Dear Martin Lorenzo”) or the team that will be reading your letter (e.g., “Dear Recruiting Team” or “To the Maxwell Property Management Team”)
- A comma or colon
To Graham Schaefer and the Academic Advising Department:
Dear Event Management Team,
When you don’t have the manager’s name, it’s also perfectly fine to address a cover letter without a name (e.g., “Dear Content Management Team”), especially at a large corporation, where multiple people will review your materials. Avoid the outdated and impersonal phrase “To Whom It May Concern,” though.
Cover letter introductions
The purpose of a cover letter introduction is to entice the recruiter or hiring manager to read the rest of your application materials. Most cover letter introductions are 3–4 concise and engaging sentences that achieve the following goals.
1. Mention the position
The first or second sentence of your cover letter introduction should include the job title you’re applying for. Use the exact words from the job advertisement. If the job posting includes a reference number, include it in parentheses after the job title.
I’m delighted to apply for the STEM Curriculum Support Specialist position (#1456463) at Global EdTech Solutions.
2. Show enthusiasm for the company
The cover letter introduction should also show that you’re specifically excited about this company. Briefly mention what you admire or appreciate most (e.g., “After learning about Onyx’s commitment to sustainable and locally sourced products, I knew that this was an ideal fit”).
To write this part of the introduction, review the company website, particularly the “About” or “Mission” pages, to find details about the company’s achievements, philanthropy, and team culture that align with your own values and professional priorities. Of all the companies that hire people with your background, why here, and why now?
A personal connection can include any of the following:
- A recruiter whom you met at a career fair
- A former colleague who currently works there
- A mutual connection with whom you’ve discussed potential opportunities
3. Summarize your overall experience and expertise
Next, summarize your overall background in a sentence that is tailored to this specific company or role.
For example, if you’re applying for a sales role for educational software, but you’ve also sold software for other industries, focus on your educational software experience (e.g., “My 5-year tenure selling cutting-edge reading software to K–12 schools has been the most rewarding experience of my 10-year sales career”).
4. State why you’re an ideal fit
In the last sentence of your cover letter introduction, state a claim with one or two reasons why you’re the best fit. These reasons are the topics of the body paragraphs. Some of the most common reasons include particular job experiences, areas of expertise, or your academic and/or technical credentials.
My experience in community outreach and sustainable agriculture have prepared me to deliver exceptional training programs for your dedicated volunteers. [The body of this letter would include a paragraph about community outreach and a paragraph about sustainable agriculture.]
5. Use keywords from the job posting
Use keywords from the job posting throughout your cover letter, especially in the introduction. At most businesses, the onboarding process begins with filtering software that narrows the pool of applicants to the closest matches.
These applicant tracking systems (ATSs) sometimes weed out qualified applicants who used different terminology for the same requirements on the posting.
Before you start your cover letter, look for words that appear frequently in the posting, and incorporate them into your letter. When there are multiple synonyms for the same role or skills, opt for the same language as the posting.
Your current resume and cover letter have a synonym for this keyword—“reading instruction”—which you revise to “literacy instruction” in both your cover letter and resume.
Cover letter introduction examples
The following cover letter introductions illustrate a few ways to engage recruiters and hiring managers for different industries.
Example 1: Event Coordinator
In this example, an event coordinator shows enthusiasm for the company and makes an organized claim in order to convince a convention center that she’s well-prepared to plan state-of-the-art events.
Aisha Diallo
aisha.diallo@email.com
www.linkedin.com/aisha-diallo-349863
(444) 588-2300
Dear Sabrina Chappell,
I am excited to apply for the Event Coordinator position at the Metropolitan Convention Center. The exquisitely designed spaces and world-renowned events at MCC have captivated me since I began my career in hospitality. My 10 years of experience planning weddings and galas for the Tilton franchise have provided me with a strong foundation in all aspects of event execution. I am confident that my eye for detail and proactive approach to coordinating logistics will make me an excellent fit for this role.
Example 2: Administrative Assistant
In this example, an administrative assistant with three years of relevant experience shows that he is ready to take on a new challenge at a legal firm.
Jonathan Oates
jon.oates@email.com
www.linkedin.com/jon-oates-766543
(719) 266-2837
Dear Wanda Pritchett and the Legal Team:
I am writing to express my deep interest in the Administrative Assistant position at Pritchett Law Firm. Your firm’s focus on teamwork and exceptional client service is especially compatible with my work ethic and my passion for the legal process. For the last 3 years, I have provided exceptional administrative support to the legal department at Ernest & Dunn. I am confident that my organization and communication skills will enhance your injury litigation team’s daily operations and overall success.
Example 3: Software Developer
In this cover letter introduction, a recent college graduate includes the name of a career fair recruiter who works at the same company. She also includes keywords from the job requirements to stand out in the ATS.
Monique Chalamet
monique.chalamet@email.com
(333) 867-5309
Dear Jeremy Snyder,
After speaking with Rob Sidell at the UNFW career fair about Mandolet’s strong client focus, I’m thrilled to apply for the Java Full Stack Developer position. My graduate coursework and internships have provided me with a strong foundation in core Java, SuperScript, and C++ as well as Microservices and Github. With my passion for software development and deep knowledge of data visualization tools, I’m confident that I will excel in this role.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser App for Android to improve the word count of your career writing? It can help you expand your cover letter introduction or make it more concise.
Frequently asked questions about how to start a cover letter
- How do you start a cover letter greeting?
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Start a cover letter greeting with a formal or semi-formal salutation. “Dear” is a good option for starting a cover letter.
To address your cover letter to a specific person, use the person’s full name (e.g., “Dear Diane Smith,”). Avoid gendered titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.”
To address a cover letter without a name, direct it to the relevant team (e.g., “Dear People Team,”), or to a generic position (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,”).
Regardless of who you’re sending your letter to, make sure it’s error-free by using QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- What is the difference between a cover letter and an introduction statement?
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The difference between a cover letter and an introduction statement on your resume is the format and content.
An introduction statement at the top of a resume (aka a professional summary) is a short paragraph or list that highlights your skills, experience, and education. Start this section with a heading that matches the title of the job you’re applying for (e.g., “Java Full Stack Developer”). Then, list the skills and experiences from your background that match the job posting.
A cover letter is 3–4 paragraphs (introduction, body, and conclusion) that elaborate on your interest in the company and your achievements within the skill sets from the job posting and your resume. Start a cover letter with a sentence that says what job you’re applying for (e.g., “I was thrilled to see the Assistant Property Manager position advertised on Indeed”).
When you start a cover letter or a resume, why not try QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? It will help you choose words that will motivate recruiters and managers to contact you for an interview.
- What is a salutation?
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A salutation is a greeting (e.g., “Hello” and “Good morning”).
In writing, a salutation is the opening of a letter. Salutations are used in formal letters, informal letters, and emails, although they may look a bit different depending on the context.
For example, “Dear” is a good salutation to address a cover letter to a hiring manager or recruiter. Cover letter format recommends using the salutation, the person’s full name, and a comma or colon (e.g., “Dear Tessa James:”).
In an email to a friend, “Hi” may be a more appropriate salutation (e.g., “Hi Jim,”).
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can make sure your salutations are free of spelling errors.
