{"id":2971,"date":"2022-11-08T15:30:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T15:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/?p=2971"},"modified":"2022-12-06T12:28:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T12:28:45","slug":"how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Cover letters are an essential part of getting your foot in the door when you\u2019re looking for a new job. However, it can be difficult to know how long to make them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how long should a cover letter be? <strong>Should it be one page? Two pages? A single paragraph?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article will answer these questions and more! We\u2019ll also give you some tips on making your <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\/\">cover letter stand out<\/a> and not get tossed aside. Hopefully, you can find inspiration to create the best possible cover letter for your next job application!<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"builder-button\">  \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img width=\"800\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/how-long-cover-letter-be.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/how-long-cover-letter-be.png 800w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/how-long-cover-letter-be-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/how-long-cover-letter-be-50x34.png 50w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/how-long-cover-letter-be-768x520.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69de9d19826fa\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69de9d19826fa\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#What_Is_a_Cover_Letter\" >What Is a Cover Letter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Whats_the_Ideal_Cover_Letter_Length\" >What&#8217;s the Ideal Cover Letter Length?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#What_Should_You_Include_in_a_Cover_Letter\" >What Should You Include in a Cover Letter?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Date\" >Date<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Contact_Information\" >Contact Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Relevant_Experience\" >Relevant Experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Why_You_Want_the_Job\" >Why You Want the Job<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Qualifications\" >Qualifications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Closing\" >Closing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Other_Tips_to_Prepare_a_Perfect_Cover_Letter\" >Other Tips to Prepare a Perfect Cover Letter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-cover-letter-be\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Cover_Letter\"><\/span>What Is a Cover Letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume and helps you introduce yourself as a candidate for the position. The main <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-cover-letter\/\">purpose of a cover letter<\/a> is to concisely summarize why you are qualified, what makes you stand out from other applicants, and how this position aligns with your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common question when it comes to the length of a cover letter is how many words should a cover letter be; there are many different opinions on this subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people believe that a three-paragraph cover letter is enough, but others feel that five paragraphs are better. There are no set rules in terms of how many sentences or paragraphs make up an appropriate length for a cover letter. So, it\u2019s best to consider what would work best given your situation (how much information you have about the company\/position) and then decide based on what feels right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/are-cover-letters-necessary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2966\">Are Cover Letters Necessary?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"builder-banner-top\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__title\">\n            You'll Never Find a Good Job\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__text\">\n            It\u2019s a job hunter\u2019s common fear, but we can help boost your chances!\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner-top__a\">Click to build your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_Ideal_Cover_Letter_Length\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the Ideal Cover Letter Length?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, your cover letter should be one page long, but it can vary based on the position you&#8217;re applying for. If you&#8217;re applying for an office-based position, your cover letter might be shorter than if you were applying for a laborer position at an excavation company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s always best to ask the hiring manager or HR representative what is considered appropriate for their company and industry before submitting your application materials! If you don&#8217;t know, err on the side of being more concise with your cover letter rather than sending too much information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rule of thumb is that if it doesn&#8217;t sound good when said in person, don&#8217;t write it in an email or as part of a paper document. That goes for every type of content, from text messages to emails and cover letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"386\" src=\"http:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cover-letter-structure.png\" alt=\"Cover letter length and structure\" class=\"wp-image-2974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cover-letter-structure.png 800w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cover-letter-structure-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cover-letter-structure-50x24.png 50w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cover-letter-structure-768x371.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_You_Include_in_a_Cover_Letter\"><\/span>What Should You Include in a Cover Letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/resumes-cover-letters\/what-is-a-cover-letter\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/resumes-cover-letters\/what-is-a-cover-letter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cover letter<\/a> is your opportunity to make an impression on your potential employer, so it&#8217;s important that you put your best foot forward and show them how much you&#8217;re looking forward to being a part of their team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But how do you know what information needs to go in your cover letter, and what information should you include in it? See the list below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Date\"><\/span>Date<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like with a resume, employers are interested in knowing when they can start working with you. Let them know how soon you&#8217;re ready to join their company!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contact_Information\"><\/span>Contact Information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone wants more information about you after reading your cover letter, they&#8217;ll want to contact you at some point. Be sure to have contact information available for the right person, including any phone numbers or email addresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relevant_Experience\"><\/span>Relevant Experience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Give examples of your relevant experience, including internships and extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_You_Want_the_Job\"><\/span>Why You Want the Job<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Get specific about why this position interests you and aligns with both your skillset and career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Qualifications\"><\/span>Qualifications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Explain any qualifications or certifications that apply specifically to this position. Reiterate why you believe that these qualities will help meet the company&#8217;s goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, don&#8217;t forget to mention any other aspects of your professional life, such as volunteer experience, research projects, publications, etc. If you have additional documents that are appropriate for submissions, such as transcripts from a degree program or references from past supervisors, feel free to attach them here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closing\"><\/span>Closing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-end-a-cover-letter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-end-a-cover-letter\/\">end your cover letter<\/a>, include some personal details about yourself and close by reiterating your interest in the position. Remember to also thank the employer for taking time out of their day to read through your application!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Tips_to_Prepare_a_Perfect_Cover_Letter\"><\/span>Other Tips to Prepare a Perfect Cover Letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-crafted cover letter can make all the difference when applying for jobs, but it can also be tricky knowing how much information to include. There are no set rules for how long a cover letter should be, but here are some general guidelines that may help you decide what is best for your situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>If you&#8217;re applying for an internship or other short-term job, for example for less than two weeks of work, then limit your paragraph about yourself and why you&#8217;re interested in this position to one or two sentences at most.<\/li><li>If it&#8217;s been more than six months since you&#8217;ve applied for a role in a company you previously worked for or run by someone you know, then don&#8217;t share too many personal details about yourself in your introductory paragraph. They already know you.<\/li><li>Know what you&#8217;re going for. A cover letter is a document that helps you sell yourself and your skills to an employer. It&#8217;s not an in-depth resume but rather an introduction of who you are, what you can do, and why they want to hire you.<\/li><li>Keep it short. A good rule of thumb is one paragraph (or two short paragraphs) at most. This keeps your message concise and easy to read.<\/li><li>Be honest, and don&#8217;t exaggerate. Hiring managers will quickly see through any false claims or misrepresentations if you try to stretch the truth with your qualifications.<\/li><li>Follow up. After you\u2019ve sent your cover letter off, follow up with an email one or two weeks later to check in and ask for updates. If they respond with questions about you or your application, be ready to answer those questions right away!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/to-whom-it-may-concern\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"697\">To Whom It May Concern Alternatives<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A successful cover letter is one that presents you as a capable and qualified candidate while also demonstrating that you are an excellent fit for the company&#8217;s mission and values. And while there is no exact rule on how long should a cover letter be, three paragraphs (roughly 300 words) are ideal for most applications.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"builder-banner\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__title\">\n            Build your perfect resume in&nbsp;a&nbsp;snap\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__text\">\n            Use templates created by HR pros to make your resume and cover letter catch the recruiter's eye.\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-cover-letter\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your cover letter<\/a>\n    <\/div><div style='text-align:left' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cover letters are an essential part of getting your foot in the door when you\u2019re looking for a new job. However, it can be difficult [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0,"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2971"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3364,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions\/3364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2971"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=2971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}