This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Mehedi Hasan
A cover letter plays a crucial role when applying for a job. It gives recruiters a primary-level understanding of your experience and skills.
While your resume lists your skills and experiences in bullet points, a cover letter allows you to:
Summarize key points from your resume
Share your personal interests and motivation
Showcase your knowledge about the company
Explain why you’re a great fit for the role
In short, a cover letter tells your career story and highlights both your technical and interpersonal skills in a more personal and compelling way.
What to Include in a Cover Letter
Information About You
Start with your contact information at the top-left corner:
Full Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Address
LinkedIn Profile (if applicable)
Portfolio or Personal Website (if relevant)
Date
Include the date below your contact information.
Contact Person’s Details
Add the hiring manager’s name, title, company, and address.
Salutation
Write an appropriate greeting to the person you are addressing.
Opening Paragraph
Introduce yourself and mention how you found the job opportunity.
Middle Paragraph
Highlight your hard skills, professional background, and achievements.
Explain why you are a good fit for the position.
You can also briefly mention your education here.
Second Middle Paragraph
Showcase your soft skills and interpersonal abilities.
Include any volunteering or extra-curricular experiences if relevant.
Closing Paragraph
Thank the reader for their time and consideration.
Closing Examples:
Yours sincerely
Sincerely
Respectfully
Best regards
Regards
Important Tips
Write a unique cover letter for each job. Don’t reuse the same one for multiple applications.
Organize content logically.
Use correct grammar and simple language.
Keep sentences short and paragraphs brief.
Make every word count.
Use punctuation correctly: commas, dashes, periods.
Follow standard cover letter format.
Keep it one page only.
Set margins at 1½ inches.
Use a simple, easy-to-read font (10–14 pt) like Times, Courier, or Helvetica.
Use bold, italics, caps, or underlining sparingly.
Proofread carefully to ensure there are no factual or grammatical errors.
ChatGPT Prompts to Generate a Cover Letter
Here are three prompts you can use with ChatGPT to quickly generate a professional cover letter:
“Write a conversational cover letter for a [position] role at [company] using my resume below as a reference.”
“Draft a persuasive cover letter in 150 words or less highlighting my qualifications and enthusiasm for the [position] at [company] using my resume achievements below.”
“Compose a professional cover letter demonstrating how my abilities align with the requirements for the [position] at [company]. Use the information below as a guide.”
Simply provide your resume and the job description as references.
If you read this guide carefully, I hope it will help you craft cover letters that get noticed by recruiters. 
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Mehedi Hasan