All guidesBy SuitedCV TeamUpdated
How to write a cover letter that actually gets read
Most cover letters are too long, too formal, and say nothing the CV does not. A good one is short, specific to the job, and tells the reader in a few lines why you and why now. This guide covers when a cover letter still matters and how to write one a busy recruiter will actually finish.
Does a cover letter still matter?
Sometimes. Many applications go through a portal or LinkedIn with no letter at all, and no one misses it. But when a role asks for one, when you are changing field, or when there is something worth explaining, a short letter is a real advantage that most candidates skip or waste.
Treat it as optional-but-powerful. When you write one, make it earn its place: a generic letter is worse than none, because it signals effort without substance.
The structure: four short paragraphs
Keep it to a short half page. Four small paragraphs are enough:
- Opening: the role you want and one sharp reason you are a strong fit, not 'I am writing to apply for'.
- Proof: one or two concrete achievements that match what this job needs, with a number.
- Why them: a specific line on why this company or team, showing you actually looked.
- Close: a short, confident sign-off and a clear next step, no begging and no filler.
What to cut from a cover letter
- The generic opener: 'I am writing to express my interest in the position of...'.
- Retelling your whole CV in prose. Pick the one or two things that matter here.
- Empty adjectives: 'hardworking, passionate, detail-oriented' with no evidence.
- Flattery with no specifics: 'your prestigious and innovative company'.
- Length. If it runs past a short page, the reader has already stopped.
A weak opening and a stronger one
The first line decides whether the rest gets read. Lead with a fit, not a formality:
- Weak: I am writing to apply for the Marketing Manager position I saw advertised on your website.
- Stronger: I grew a B2B SaaS from 2,000 to 18,000 signups in a year, and your job post is asking for exactly that motion. Here is how I would do it for you.
How SuitedCV helps
SuitedCV does not write the letter for you, but it gives you the raw material. For each application you build a tailored version of your CV, which surfaces the two or three achievements that match this specific job, in the job's own language.
Pull your strongest tailored bullet straight into the letter's proof paragraph, and echo the keywords the tailoring highlighted. The letter and the CV then tell one consistent story rather than two loosely related ones.
Common questions
Do I still need a cover letter in 2026?
Not always. Skip it where the application does not ask and offers no field for it. Write one when it is requested, when you are changing field, or when something genuinely needs explaining.
How long should a cover letter be?
Short. A half page, three or four small paragraphs. If it fills a full page, it is doing the CV's job and the reader has stopped.
Should I address it to a named person?
If you can find the hiring manager's name without guessing, use it. If not, a simple 'Hi' or 'Dear hiring team' is fine. Never 'To whom it may concern'.
Can I reuse one cover letter for every job?
No, for the same reason a generic CV fails. Keep a reusable structure, but rewrite the fit line, the proof, and the why-them for each role.