The Cover Letter Template That Actually Gets Read
Most cover letters are skipped. Here is a four-paragraph template that hiring managers will actually finish — and what to put in each one.
Do cover letters still matter?
For competitive roles, yes. Not because every recruiter reads them — many don't — but because the ones who do tend to be the hiring manager, the person whose opinion decides whether you get an interview. A strong cover letter can rescue a borderline CV. A weak one rarely hurts as long as you write one.
The four-paragraph template
Paragraph 1: the hook (2–3 sentences)
State the role, where you saw it, and one specific reason this company is interesting to you. Skip "I am writing to apply for…" — they know.
I was excited to see the Senior Brand Designer role at Patch. I've been a customer for two years and your recent rebrand around seasonal plant collections is exactly the kind of work I want to do next.
Paragraph 2: why you (4–5 sentences)
Pick the top two requirements from the job description and prove you meet them with specific examples. Use numbers. This is the paragraph that earns the interview.
In my five years at Bloom & Wild, I led the rebrand of our subscription product, growing trial-to-paid conversion by 22%. I work end-to-end across brand and product design, with a portfolio of e-commerce projects in the lifestyle space — including a recent collaboration with a sustainable garden brand that's currently in market.
Paragraph 3: why them (3–4 sentences)
Show you've researched beyond the careers page. Reference something specific — a recent product launch, a blog post, a value, a leader. Tie it back to what you'd bring.
Your decision to expand into outdoor and tool collections this year tells me Patch is at the stage where brand needs to scale beyond core plant imagery. That's the kind of strategic brand work I find most interesting, and where I think I'd be most useful.
Paragraph 4: the close (1–2 sentences)
Be direct. Ask for the conversation.
I'd love to talk through how I could help. I'm available for an introductory call any afternoon next week.
What to leave out
- Your full life story
- Generic statements that could apply to any company
- Salary expectations (unless asked)
- Apologies for missing requirements
- Anything you've already said on your CV verbatim
Keep the whole thing under 350 words. PDF, same name format as your CV, sent as a separate attachment unless the form has a single field.