How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? Answer Examples
Cover letters should fit onto one page, consist of three to four paragraphs and 250 to 400 words. Here, we’ll give examples of the ideal cover letter length to help you impress employers and win the job!
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The right length for a cover letter
A cover letter is a document you send with your resume to help convince a hiring manager you’re the best person for the job. It follows the structure and length of a standard business letter, which is one page.
Cover letters comprise three to four paragraphs and should be under 400 words. Check out our collection of cover letter examples to see the ideal length.
Submitting a cover letter over one page long can hurt your chances of winning a job, even if you write a great resume!
Why cover letter length is important
Keeping your cover letter to one page:
- It shows you value the hiring manager’s time.
- It helps your message stay concise and focused.
- Ensure your letter passes applicant tracking system (ATS) scans. Many companies use this software to filter out applicants, and longer documents may fail this test.
Next, we’ll cover the basics of how to write your cover letter to reach one page in length and even show you how to format your letter.
But if you’re ready to take charge and finish your cover letter in under 15 minutes, consider our Cover Letter Generator.
It’s a handy tool that automates the writing process and allows you to select from prewritten text! You can tweak and customize the phrases –– and voila –– your cover letter is the right length!
Tips for how to make cover letter right length
Fitting your cover letter onto a single page is easy if you follow these six tips:
1
Check the job post or ad for clues.
Look for hints in the job description about what the hiring manager wants to see in your cover letter. See if it mentions a word count or if they provide any questions they want you to answer, like availability, start date or salary expectations.
You may also determine what skills and experience the employer seeks so that you can target them in your cover letter’s message!
PRO TIP
How long should a cover letter be? If the job post or ad doesn’t specify, assume it should be one page.
2
Keep your cover letter within 250 to 400 words.
There is no need to wonder how many words a cover letter should be; it’s within this range. To check your document’s word count, most word processors have a “Word count” feature under the “Tools” tab (on Mac, ⌘+ shift + C; on PC, “ctrl + shift + G”).
Using a font size of 11 to 13, this word count should be between a half page or one page in length using the standard cover letter margins (1 inch) and line spacing (1.15-1.5).
3
Leave white space.
White space allows room for the eyes to breathe –– hiring managers want that when reading stacks of applications. Break up your text by adding a blank line between paragraphs and keeping 1-inch margins on each side.
You could also use a cover letter template. Templates take care of your cover letter’s design and formatting elements. Professional designers created them to look sharp and have the right balance of white space.
4
Tell your story in three to four paragraphs.
Every paragraph in a cover letter has a purpose. Keeping your text focused on achieving these goals makes it easy to make your cover letter the proper length.
First paragraph goals: The first paragraph of your cover letter should be two to four sentences long. The aim is to introduce yourself, mention the role you want and the top skills or reason you feel like you’re a stellar fit. If you have a connection to an employee at the company, it’s also good to mention it here.
First paragraph example:
“My colleague and your CFO, Tyrone Cline, informed me of an opening for an administrative position to which I should apply. In my previous role at [Previous employer], I successfully coordinated office operations, managed schedules, and facilitated seamless communication between departments. My ability to prioritize tasks and maintain a high level of organization makes me a perfect candidate for this opportunity.”
Middle paragraph(s) goals: These are sometimes referred to as the “main body” paragraph(s) because they tend to be the longest, up to five sentences.
Here, tell a story that proves your skills or accomplishments. You can keep it a single paragraph or break up your points into two shorter, more focused paragraphs.
Many people who opt for two paragraphs break one of their paragraphs into bullet points because it helps add white space and highlight your main points.
Main body paragraphs example:
“I am drawn to [Company Name] because of your commitment to innovation and excellence. Your dedication to creating a positive work environment aligns with my values, and I am eager to contribute my administrative skills to support the team’s success. My attention to detail and strong communication skills make me a perfect fit for the dynamic work culture at [Company Name].
During my tenure at [Previous Company], I achieved the following:
- Implementing a new filing system, resulting in a 21% increase in document retrieval efficiency.
- Coordinating and executing logistical details for company events, ensuring smooth operations and positive participant feedback.
- Demonstrating proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, handling data entry, report generation and document preparation.”
Final paragraph goal: In a cover letter’s closing paragraph, before you sign off, you should reiterate your interest in the position, express the hope to discuss the role further and thank the reader for their time.
Final paragraph example:
“Thank you for considering my application. I am excited to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the needs of [Company Name]. I look forward to the possibility of an interview to show how I can contribute to the success of your team.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]”
5
Include a relevant and helpful story.
The trickiest part of writing your cover letter is briefly explaining why you’re qualified for the role using proof from your work history. Review the job description for clues if you’re unsure about which skills or experiences to showcase.
Using the “STAR method” to tell your story makes it impactful. STAR stands for Situation (the background of your story), Task (the goal to achieve), Action (what you did to reach the goal) and Result (the outcome achieved). Framing your story this way clarifies what you did and how it impacted business.
Here’s an example of how to use the STAR method in a cover letter:
Situation:
In my current role, we needed to engage local media and create interest in launching a new service.
Task:
I was asked to draft a press release of our new offering to engage local media and create interest in the launch.
Action:
I presented several drafts to our senior leadership team, each focusing on a different value proposition. After incorporating their feedback, I secured media attention in local publications, Nextdoor and the Chamber of Commerce.
Result:
On the day we launched the service, we announced it on the front page of the business section of the leading local paper — both print and online. Our site’s traffic increased 5X the daily average and received unprecedented inbound interest from new and existing small business clients. It was one of the most successful launches in the company’s history.
6
Trim your cover letter if it is longer than a page.
Editing is your friend If you’re struggling to fit your cover letter onto one page!
Focus on the top reason why you deserve the job. Remove anything off-topic from your main message.
Keep your most impressive achievements, but remove any mention of day-to-day job duties or unnecessary background information.
Key takeaways
To recap, here are the main points about how long a cover letter is:
- The standard length of a cover letter is one page.
- For a single-page cover letter, you should have up to four paragraphs and a word count between 250-400.
- Your cover letter should only be longer than this if the job post mentions it or has provided writing prompts.
- Keeping your cover letter to one page makes it easier to read and more digestible.
- Proofread your letter for errors before you send it!
Hopefully, you’re ready to make a winning one-page cover letter.
Our Cover Letter Builder features 25+ templates; you can switch between them with a single click. Adjusting the look of your cover letter couldn’t be easier!
And, since our builder provides text suggestions targeted to the role you’re applying for, it’ll help you produce a great one-page letter even faster!
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