The cover letter is the most dreaded document in the job search, and most of that dread is self-inflicted. People treat it like an essay. It’s a note — three short paragraphs that connect you to one specific role.
Skip the windup
“I am writing to express my interest in…” tells the reader nothing they don’t already know. Open with the single most relevant thing about you for this job. Earn the second sentence with the first.
The three-paragraph shape
- Why this role/company — one specific, genuine reason (not flattery).
- Why you — one proof point that maps to what they need.
- A confident, low-pressure close and a thank-you.
A cover letter isn’t a summary of your CV. It’s the argument your CV can’t make on its own.
Eliška Kovářová, Career Coach
Keep it under 200 words. If it reads like a human wrote it in one focused sitting, you’re done. Send it.