Can Cover Letters Be Short (Expert Answer)

Cover letters are often the first impression you’ll have of a job application, so it’s important to get them right. A well-written letter can make all the difference in whether or not you land an interview, but a poorly written one can be detrimental. What makes a cover letter stand out from the crowd?

Takeaways
A well-written cover letter can make a big difference in your job application.
Cover letters should be concise and focused, typically no longer than one page.
It’s important to tailor your cover letter to the specific job and company you’re applying to.
Bullet points can be an effective way to highlight your qualifications in a cover letter.
Avoid including unnecessary information, such as salary requirements, in your cover letter.

Can Cover Letters Be Short?

You’ve probably heard the saying that “brevity is the soul of wit,” but you may not have realized it applies to cover letters, as well.

Cover letters can be short and sweet. They should be succinct, relevant, specific, and accurate. It’s important not to make them too long or rambling; this will only serve to distract from what you’re trying to convey in your letter. The goal of a cover letter is to get an employer’s attention not bore them with useless details about yourself!

When it comes to job applications, a cover letter is often the first impression you make on a potential employer. That’s why it’s important to understand whether or not cover letters are necessary and how to make yours stand out.

Do You Write A Cover Letter If There’s Nothing To Address?

A cover letter is meant to be addressed to someone in particular. So, if there’s no one specific person or job title you’re writing the letter for, why write one at all?

It turns out that even if you don’t know who will read your cover letter or what position they hold (or even if you have no idea at all), a brief note can still prove useful. 

If your resume lands in the hands of someone who doesn’t know much about your skills and experience, they may be more likely to pass on it than an applicant with a well-crafted cover letter that provides some insight into their background and work history.

How Do You Make A Cover Letter Interesting?

Use a unique title. “To whom it may concern” is a boring way to begin your cover letter. Instead, try something more specific: “To the hiring manager at XYZ Company,” or even better yet, “To Ms. Jane Smith.”

Be creative with your greeting. In addition to being boring and generic, “Dear Hiring Manager” is also too formal for most situations unless you’re sending your resume as part of an application for a job in academia or some other very traditional field where formality is expected (and often required). 

A more casual approach might be better suited for the typical workplace environment: “Hi John! I’m writing as we discussed last week,” or just simply use their name “Hey Jim!”

Come up with a unique closing line that doesn’t sound like every other cover letter ever written before (e.g., “I look forward to hearing from you soon”). 

This can be tricky because many people have already used this strategy; however, there are still plenty of ways around it: end by saying something like “

Sincerely yours” followed by a smiley emoticon (this will make you seem less threatening), or even better yet go all out and do something random such as including an emoji at the end of your message (this one usually works best if combined with another overused technique like adding an exclamation mark after each sentence!).

Sign off uniquely so they remember who sent them this awesome piece of writing brilliance 😉

While some job postings may not require a cover letter, it’s always a good idea to include one if possible. Our article on whether or not cover letters are required can help you understand why and how to make the most of this important document.

How Long Should A Cover Letter Be?

In the United States, a cover letter should be one page long. If you are applying for a large company, it’s important to keep this one-page limit in mind so that your letter is concise and easy to read.

If you’re applying for a small company or an individual opportunity (like freelance blogging), it’s important not to let the standard guidelines of length get in the way of showcasing your personality and why you’re right for the job. In these cases, I advise keeping it at two pages max!

What Format Should A Cover Letter Be In?

There are several different formats that a cover letter can take, each of which is appropriate for certain situations. For example, if you’re applying for a job at an office where people regularly wear suits and ties or dresses, you might want your cover letter to be formal and written in business letter format. 

If the company is more casual (or if there’s no dress code at all), then you could use a block format instead. In general, the higher up on the ladder you climb in an organization and therefore the more important your position the more formal your writing should be.

In addition to these basic styles of formatting resumes and other documents, there are also less common options such as semi-block or modified block formats (that include both paragraphs and subheads). These may work well as long as they aren’t too complex; otherwise, they could make it difficult for your audience to figure out what exactly they need from them!

Why Are Cover Letters Important?

As you prepare to write your cover letter, it’s important to remember that a great cover letter is more than just words on paper. It’s an opportunity for you to show off your personality and highlight why you are the best person for the job position. In other words, it should make a hiring manager want to meet with you in person!

The first step is researching the company so that your cover letter demonstrates that you understand its mission and values. Then have some fun with it! The second part of this guide will walk through how I recommend writing your personalized cover letters using these tips.

How Do You Address The Hiring Manager In A Cover Letter?

When it comes to addressing the hiring manager in a cover letter, you have several options. How you address them depends on how much information you have about them, but here are some general guidelines:

Use their name if possible. If you know what their name is, use it! It shows that you took the time to look up who they were and make an effort to remember them.

Use their job title if necessary (but not necessarily). For example: “Dear Ms. Sarah Smith” could be changed to “Dear Director of Operations.” 

This may seem like a small thing, but it’s something that makes your cover letter feel more personal and specific for that person specifically, and remember: people like being addressed by their titles because titles imply respect and power!

Contact information should include both email addresses and phone numbers for interviewers at all levels in case there’s any confusion about which interviewer(s) will be conducting interviews with applicants from your company of choice 

In other words, someone from HR might be interviewing candidates too even though they might not normally conduct interviews themselves!”

A well-written cover letter can help you stand out from the competition, but it’s important to strike the right balance between length and content. Check out our article on whether a cover letter can be too long to learn how to make your cover letter concise and effective.

What Not To Include In A Cover Letter?

• Don’t include your salary requirements.
• Don’t include information about your references.
• Don’t share your social security number or date of birth, as these are considered private and should be kept out of a cover letter.

If you’re applying for a job in another country, don’t list your passport number or national identification number. Your passport info is usually used by immigration officials to identify you at Customs checkpoints, so it’s better to leave this blank rather than give an employer access to it before they even hire you!

Also, avoid sharing personal details like marital status or nationality in a cover letter because these aren’t relevant each job has its own set of rules that determine whether an applicant’s marital status is acceptable (or not).

How Do You Start A Formal Letter About Yourself?

Start with a greeting.

Introduce yourself, and explain why you are writing. For example: “I am applying for the position of Director of Marketing at Acme Inc., where I would be responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns.”

Provide details about what kind of job you want. In this case, it’s an opening in the company’s marketing department.

Explain why this position interests you as an applicant and the skills and experiences that make you well-suited to it include.

What Is The Best Way To Start A Formal Letter?

A formal letter is a type of written communication that follows certain conventions. It’s meant to be serious, and it uses language that is more direct than casual conversation. Because of this, you may have questions about how to write one in the first place. Here are some tips for getting started:

Introduce yourself by name and address (if known). If you don’t know the recipient well enough to call them by their first name, then use their last name when addressing them at the beginning of your letter. You can also include your title if appropriate; for example, “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms.” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

State the purpose of your letter and its date clearly in its opening paragraph before providing any other details such as identifying information about yourself or what you’re enclosing with this document (more on those below). 

This helps set up readers’ expectations so they know exactly where things stand right off the bat instead of having questions pop into their minds later on down in their reading experience!

Use complete sentences throughout most parts of your correspondence unless there’s a good reason not to do so like just listing names without anything else related specifically back around each person themselves instead

Using bullet points in a cover letter can be an effective way to highlight your qualifications and make your application stand out. Our article on using bullet points in a cover letters can help you learn how to use them effectively.

What To Think About When Writing Your Cover Letter

So you’ve got your resume, and it looks great. You’re ready to apply for the job of your dreams! But wait you need a cover letter, too. What should you put in it?

The first thing to do is think about what kind of company you are applying for. Do they have a specific culture or style? If so, go with that tone as best as possible. Are they very formal in their language and tone? 

Then make sure that your cover letter follows suit. Will this company appreciate humor or informality more? Then write accordingly! Use these details from the job posting to inform your decision-making process on how to write your cover letter.

Changing fields can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted cover letter can help you make the transition. Check out our guide on how to write a cover letter when changing fields to learn how to highlight your transferable skills and make a strong case for why you’re the right candidate for the job.

Conclusion

So, when it comes to writing a cover letter, there are a lot of things to consider. The most important thing to remember is that it’s just one part of the application process. 

You don’t want your cover letter to be too long or too short, but rather get across all the relevant information in an interesting way. Make sure that your goal is clear from the beginning and establish your credentials early on so potential employers can see why they should hire you!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources you can check out to learn more about crafting effective cover letters:

What’s the Ideal Cover Letter Length? – This Indeed article provides insights into the optimal length for a cover letter and how to make the most of the space you have.

Cover Letters – Prospects offers a comprehensive guide to writing cover letters, including examples and tips for making yours stand out.

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in 2021? – This Zety article provides an up-to-date look at the ideal length of a cover letter and offers tips for making the most of the limited space you have.

FAQs

What should I include in my cover letter?

Your cover letter should include an introduction, a brief summary of your relevant experience and qualifications, and a closing statement expressing your interest in the position. You may also want to touch on specific skills or accomplishments that make you a strong candidate for the job.

How long should my cover letter be?

While there’s no hard and fast rule for cover letter length, most experts agree that it should be no longer than one page. This means that you’ll need to be concise and selective in your language, focusing on the most relevant information.

Should I customize my cover letter for each job I apply for?

Yes! A customized cover letter is much more effective than a generic one. Take the time to research the company and the job, and tailor your cover letter to reflect your knowledge and interest in the position.

Can I use bullet points in my cover letter?

Yes, but use them sparingly. Bullet points can be a useful way to break up dense paragraphs and highlight key points, but don’t overdo it. Remember, your cover letter should be concise and focused.

Should I include my salary requirements in my cover letter?

No. Salary requirements are typically discussed later in the hiring process, so there’s no need to include them in your cover letter. Focus on highlighting your qualifications and expressing your interest in the position.