How to Write a Cover Letter
A cover letter isn't an essay about you — it's an argument for why you fit this specific role. Each section a recruiter looks for has a different intent, so the key is answering that intent with concrete experience. Here are the answer strategies for the parts that matter most, plus the mistakes people make most.
Upload your resume and AI drafts your cover letter for youStartThe 4 principles of a strong cover letter
Lead with the point
Put your conclusion (the key message) in the first sentence. Recruiters skim fast.
Concrete, not abstract
One line with a number or example is far more convincing than adjectives like "passionate" or "diligent".
Tailor to the company
Rewrite it for each company and role. Copy-paste is obvious and one of the most common reasons for rejection.
Converge on the role
Whatever the section, tie it back to "...and that is why I fit this role".
Answer strategy, section by section
Why this company / role
Intent — They check why you chose this company and role, and whether you are genuinely prepared.
Connect concrete research on the company and role (product, direction, culture) to your own experience and skills. Generic points that fit any company count against you. Structure it as "I share your direction on X, so I can contribute with my experience in Y".
Background · your strengths
Intent — They check whether you have the skills the role needs, backed by experience rather than flattery.
Pick 1–2 strengths that connect to the role and show a concrete experience where each one played out, using STAR. Skip life-story or family background and converge everything on fit for the role.
Strengths and weaknesses
Intent — They check your self-awareness and your effort to improve.
Tie your strength to the role, and frame your weakness as a real weakness plus a concrete action to address it. Clichés like "my weakness is perfectionism" or a strength in disguise fall flat.
Goals after joining the company
Intent — They check whether you will contribute and grow long-term, and whether your plans are realistic.
Instead of vague vows ("I'll do my best"), be specific about what you'll contribute early and mid-term, in the context of the role. Show where the company's direction and your own growth meet.
Common cover-letter mistakes
- ✕ Getting the company or role name wrong, or pasting in a version written for another company (fatal)
- ✕ Listing flattery and vows with no concrete examples
- ✕ Padding with stories unrelated to the role just to hit a word count
- ✕ Lies or exaggeration — they collapse under interview follow-up questions
- ✕ Ignoring the intent of the question and answering something you weren't asked
Fast with AI, but still yours
Starting from a blank page is the hardest part. When AI drafts each section from your resume, it's far faster to refine it from there with your real experience, numbers, and phrasing. But don't submit it as-is — always revise it for company fit, factual accuracy, and your own voice.
- Generate a draft → replace with concrete experience and numbers
- Rewrite motivation and career goals to fit the company and role
- Final check on facts, company name, and what each question is really asking
A resume-based cover-letter draft takes about a minute
Upload your resume and enter your target company, and AI drafts each section of your cover letter for you.
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