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If you're going to write a cover letter, stop making them look like single-page novels.
It's well-known that a recruiter spends an average of 6 seconds on your resume; do you really think they're spending more time on your cover letter? Absolutely not!
When you're writing your cover letters, avoid these common pitfalls:
Formatting and branding your cover letter different from your resume - Your cover letter is considered part of your application. Make your application cohesive and use the same header, font, color scheme, and spacing as you do in your resume.
Including your home address - Just as with your resume, it's time to remove your street address from your cover letter. Your city, state, and country are only required.
Using more than one page - Just like your resume, your cover letter should be one page.
Including paragraphs upon paragraphs - No one is going to read multiple paragraphs if they aren't even reading the bullets on your resume.
Make writing your cover letter even easier with my resume and cover letter templates.
How to write your cover letter in 2025
If you're spending time and effort customizing your cover letter to tell your story, you better spend some time making it digestible. Here's how to do it.
Branding your cover letter
Your cover letter is your story, so make it cohesive with your resume. Include the same header as you would in your resume. Your name should be at the top with your contact information, formatted exactly like your resume.
To and from information
In the past, job applicants were encouraged to include their name and mailing address, as well as the organization's name and mailing address. In the digital age, that's not required. Now, save yourself some space by including the date and addressee's information.
Introduction
Your introduction paragraph should start your story. Read the room. What are the values of the organization? How have your co-workers described you? What experiences have led you to this point?
Be skills-focused
This is where you're cover letter is going to stand out from the rest. Most applicants will write several paragraphs that all seem to blend together. But not you. You're going to format and white space to call out three critical skills for the job.
Look through the job posting and find three key skills that stand out to you. Now, add them to your cover letter, and in a few sentences describe how you've applied this skill. Include any achievements you had, too.
Closing paragraph
At this point, the reader is winding down and ready to turn the page to the next applicant. So, keep your closing paragraph short and sweet. Express excitement for the role and gratitude for the opportunity.