Not every US employer reads cover letters, but a good one helps when you’re changing countries or fields. It explains the story your resume can’t.
Format
- Your contact details at the top
- “Dear Hiring Manager,” or the person’s name if known
- Three or four short paragraphs
- “Sincerely,” and your name
Template
- Opening: “I’m applying for the Marketing Analyst role at Acme. I’ve spent four years turning customer data into campaigns that grew revenue, and I’d love to bring that to your team.”
- Middle: one or two specific results that match the job description.
- Why them: one sentence on what draws you to this company.
- Close: “I’m relocating to Denver in May and authorized to work in the US. I’d welcome the chance to talk.”
Mistakes to avoid
- Repeating your resume line by line
- Generic letters sent to every company
- Long explanations of visa details
- Typos in the company’s name
