How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Interviews in 2026

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume, explaining why you're the ideal candidate for a specific role. Despite rumors of its death, 83% of hiring managers say cover letters are important in their hiring decisions—and a well-written one can be the difference between getting an interview and getting ignored.

This guide will show you exactly how to write a cover letter that stands out, with real examples, templates, and the mistakes to avoid.

Do Cover Letters Still Matter in 2026?

Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, cover letters still matter. Here's what the data shows:

• 83% of hiring managers consider cover letters important when making hiring decisions
• 72% expect a cover letter even when it's listed as "optional"
• Candidates with tailored cover letters are 50% more likely to land interviews
• 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter

The catch? Generic, cookie-cutter cover letters do more harm than good. A bad cover letter signals that you don't care enough to put in effort. But a great cover letter? It can compensate for resume gaps, showcase personality, and make a compelling case for why you specifically deserve the interview.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Cover Letter

Every effective cover letter follows a proven structure. Here's the breakdown:

1. Header (Your Contact Information)

Match your resume header for consistency. Include:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn profile URL (optional)
• City, State (full address not necessary)

2. Opening Paragraph: The Hook

You have 6 seconds to grab attention. Your opening should:

• State the specific position you're applying for
• Demonstrate immediate relevance or enthusiasm
• Include a compelling hook—an achievement, connection, or insight

Weak opening:

"I am writing to apply for the Marketing Manager position at your company. I believe I would be a great fit for this role."

Strong opening:

"When I increased qualified leads by 156% at [Company] using the exact marketing automation stack listed in your job posting, I knew that the Marketing Manager role at [Target Company] was my next step. Your recent expansion into B2B SaaS aligns perfectly with where I've driven the most impact."

3. Body Paragraphs: Your Case

This is where you connect your experience to their needs. Use 1-2 paragraphs to:

• Highlight 2-3 relevant achievements with specific metrics
• Show you understand their challenges and can solve them
• Demonstrate knowledge of the company (not just the role)

4. Closing Paragraph: The Ask

End with confidence and a clear call to action:

• Reiterate your enthusiasm for the specific role
• Mention you've attached your resume
• Express interest in discussing further
• Thank them for their consideration

5. Professional Sign-Off

Keep it simple:

• "Best regards,"
• "Sincerely,"
• "Thank you,"

The 5 Types of Cover Letter Openings That Work

The opening line is everything. Here are five approaches that grab attention:

1. The Achievement Lead

Start with your most impressive relevant accomplishment.

"After scaling our customer success team from 5 to 25 while improving NPS by 40 points, I'm ready to bring that same growth mindset to [Company] as your Director of Customer Success."

2. The Connection Lead

Reference a mutual connection, recent news, or insider knowledge.

"My conversation with [Employee Name] at [Event] about [Company's] approach to product-led growth confirmed what I'd suspected: this is the team I want to join. As a Senior Product Manager who's launched three PLG features reaching 1M+ users, I'm excited to apply for the open role."

3. The Problem-Solver Lead

Show you understand their challenges.

"Scaling content production while maintaining quality is the challenge every growing marketing team faces. At [Previous Company], I built the editorial system that solved exactly this—producing 300% more content with a 25% higher engagement rate. I'd love to do the same for [Target Company]."

4. The Passion Lead

Express genuine enthusiasm (with substance to back it up).

"I've been using [Product] since 2021, recommended it to three companies I've worked with, and have strong opinions about your recent [Feature] update. As a UX Designer with 7 years of SaaS experience, the opportunity to shape the product I love is too compelling to pass up."

5. The Direct Lead

Sometimes straightforward is best.

"I'm a software engineer with 5 years of experience in the exact technologies in your stack—Python, Django, PostgreSQL, and AWS—and a track record of reducing deployment time by 60% through CI/CD optimization. Here's why I'm the right fit for your Senior Backend Engineer role."

How to Customize Your Cover Letter for Every Application

A generic cover letter is worse than no cover letter. Here's how to customize effectively without spending hours on each one:

Step 1: Identify the 3 Most Important Requirements

Read the job description carefully. What are the non-negotiable skills or experiences? Usually they're:

• Listed first or mentioned multiple times
• In the "required" section (not "nice to have")
• Specific technical skills or years of experience

Step 2: Match Your Top 3 Achievements

For each key requirement, identify your most relevant accomplishment. Use specific metrics:

• They want: "Experience with Salesforce" → You write: "Implemented Salesforce across 3 departments, improving pipeline visibility by 85%"
• They want: "Team leadership" → You write: "Led a cross-functional team of 12, delivering projects 20% under budget"

Step 3: Research the Company

Spend 10-15 minutes researching:

• Recent news, funding, or product launches
• Company values and mission statement
• LinkedIn profiles of team members
• Glassdoor reviews for company culture insights

Step 4: Find the Hiring Manager's Name

"Dear Hiring Manager" is fine, but "Dear [Name]" is better. Check:

• The job posting for a contact name
• LinkedIn for the hiring manager or department head
• The company's team page

Cover Letter Template (Ready to Use)

Here's a proven template you can adapt for any role:

Cover Letter Examples by Industry

Example 1: Software Engineer

Dear Ms. Chen,

When I reduced API response times by 65% at my current company using the same microservices architecture described in your Senior Backend Engineer posting, I realized [Company] is where I want to continue pushing technical boundaries.

In my four years at [Current Company], I've architected and deployed 15+ microservices handling 10M+ daily requests, implemented CI/CD pipelines that reduced deployment time by 60%, and mentored three junior engineers who are now mid-level contributors. Your emphasis on engineering excellence and code ownership aligns perfectly with how I approach software development.

What excites me most about [Company] is your recent open-source contributions to [Project]. As an active contributor to [Related Project], I'd love to bring my experience building developer tools to your infrastructure team.

I've attached my resume and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to [Company]'s engineering goals.

Best regards,
[Name]

Example 2: Marketing Manager

Dear Hiring Team,

Building a B2B content engine that generated $3.2M in pipeline last year taught me exactly what your Marketing Manager role requires—and I'm ready to replicate that success at [Company].

At [Current Company], I led demand generation across all digital channels, growing organic traffic by 340% and reducing cost-per-lead by 52% through strategic SEO and marketing automation (HubSpot, Marketo). I also built and managed a team of 4, implementing the processes that scaled our content production without sacrificing quality.

I've followed [Company]'s growth in the [industry] space, and your recent [product launch/funding round/expansion] signals the kind of scaling challenge I thrive on. Your commitment to product-led growth particularly resonates—I've spent the last two years developing PLG marketing strategies that reduced CAC by 35%.

Thank you for considering my application. I'd love to discuss how I can help [Company] reach its next growth milestone.

Sincerely,
[Name]

Cover Letter Mistakes That Get You Rejected

Avoid these common errors that instantly disqualify candidates:

1. Addressing It to the Wrong Company

The fastest way to the rejection pile. Triple-check company names before sending.

2. Repeating Your Resume

Your cover letter should complement your resume, not duplicate it. Add context, personality, and the "why" behind your achievements.

3. Focusing on What You Want

Wrong: "I'm looking for an opportunity to grow my skills..."
Right: "I can help you solve [specific challenge] by..."

Hiring managers care about what you can do for them, not what the job can do for you.

4. Being Too Long

Keep it to one page—ideally 250-400 words. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on initial cover letter review.

5. Using Clichés

Phrases like "I'm a passionate team player" or "I think outside the box" say nothing. Replace with specific achievements and evidence.

6. Not Proofreading

Typos signal carelessness. Read aloud, use spell-check, and have someone else review before sending.

7. Mentioning Salary Too Early

Unless specifically asked, don't discuss compensation in your cover letter. Save it for the negotiation phase.

When to Skip the Cover Letter

In rare cases, you might skip the cover letter:

• When the application explicitly says "no cover letter"
• When applying through referrals where the referring employee will advocate for you
• When using platforms like LinkedIn Easy Apply (though attaching one still helps)

When in doubt, include one. A good cover letter never hurts; its absence might.

How to Handle Tricky Situations in Cover Letters

Employment Gaps

Address gaps briefly and positively:

"After a career pause to [care for family/complete a certification/travel], I'm energized to return to [industry] and bring fresh perspective to [Company]."

Career Changes

Focus on transferable skills:

"While my background is in teaching, the skills I developed—curriculum design, stakeholder communication, and performance analysis—translate directly to the Learning & Development role. My experience training 500+ students per year prepared me to design scalable training programs."

Overqualified for the Role

Explain your motivation:

"While my experience extends beyond the requirements for this role, I'm specifically seeking to join a mission-driven company where I can contribute to [specific aspect]. [Company]'s approach to [value/mission] is exactly the environment I want to be in."

How Themis Automates Cover Letter Writing

Writing a customized cover letter for every application takes 20-30 minutes. For 50 applications, that's 15-25 hours—just on cover letters.

Themis generates tailored cover letters automatically:

1. Upload your resume
2. Paste the job description
3. Get a customized cover letter matched to the role—in under 60 seconds

Each cover letter is tailored with your specific experience, aligned to the job requirements, and formatted professionally. You can edit and personalize before sending, or use as-is.

Cover Letter Checklist Before Sending

Before you hit submit, verify:

• ☐ Correct company name throughout
• ☐ Correct job title mentioned
• ☐ Hiring manager's name (if found)
• ☐ 2-3 specific achievements with metrics
• ☐ Company-specific details showing research
• ☐ One page or less (250-400 words ideal)
• ☐ No spelling or grammar errors
• ☐ Professional email address in header
• ☐ Consistent formatting with resume
• ☐ Saved as PDF (unless .docx requested)

Key Takeaways

• Cover letters still matter—83% of hiring managers say they're important
• Customize for every application—generic cover letters hurt more than help
• Lead with a hook—an achievement, connection, or insight that grabs attention
• Show, don't tell—use specific achievements with metrics, not adjectives
• Keep it to one page—250-400 words is the sweet spot
• Research the company—demonstrate genuine interest and culture fit
• Proofread ruthlessly—typos signal carelessness
• Focus on their needs—what you can do for them, not what you want from them

A great cover letter doesn't just summarize your resume—it tells a story about why you and this specific role are the perfect match. Take the time to get it right, or use tools like Themis to generate tailored cover letters efficiently. Either way, don't skip this crucial step in your job application.