Posted On12 May 2020
Updated On03 Dec 2024
A resume should always be complemented by a cover letter. Like icing on the cake, a well-written cover letter is what turns a good resume into a great one.
Many candidates ignore the importance of the cover letter - this is a huge mistake. On the other hand, there are also those who write overwrought cover letters, and that’s a big no-no as well. To deliver the best results, your cover letter should be professional, free of any grammatical and typographical errors, and, most of all, it should just be the right length.
The Pitfalls of a Short Cover Letter
A short cover letter doesn’t give the employer enough information for them to evaluate you as a candidate. Yes, brevity is important in all job application documents. But that doesn’t mean you should leave out important details about your qualifications, achievements, or the things that raised interest in this role. Think of the cover letter this way: it’s an opportunity to complement your resume through a narrative. It will tie your experiences to the employer’s needs. You need to write just enough to make that connection. Otherwise, you risk being overlooked even if your resume is strong.
When a cover letter is too short, it looks downright lazy. Can you imagine the employer’s impression when they look at a hastily written letter of a single paragraph? They will assume you’re not really interested in the position or you didn’t care enough to write a tailored letter. You don’t want your job application to convey a lack of enthusiasm. Take your time to write a well-rounded letter that will look professional!
Here’s another reason why you shouldn’t make it too short: you can’t show your personality through a few sentences. Take some space to show enthusiasm, passion, and soft skills that distinguish you from other candidates. If you don’t use that opportunity, you’ll come across as impersonal. The cover letter gives you a chance to create a connection with the potential employer, so use it well.
The Dangers of a Long Cover Letter
In an attempt to not make it short, you might fall into the other trap: an overly long cover letter. It won’t bring you any good. It will only lose the hiring manager’s interest. Remember: a recruiter doesn’t have more than a few seconds to spend on your cover letter. If it’s too long, they won’t bother with it. Burying your key points in a sea of text is the last thing you want to do. You need to hit the right balance: write a focused letter that delivers your message and keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
When a cover letter is too long, it tends to repeat information that’s already on the resume. Such redundancy will make you look unprofessional. You’re trying to fill space rather than providing meaningful insights. That’s the impression the hiring manager will have of you as a person. They will see you as someone who cannot focus and deliver clear results.
Another danger of a lengthy cover letter is overloading it with unnecessary details. If you come across an employer willing to read a long letter, you’ll overwhelm them with information that’s not 100% relevant to the position. Do you think that an anecdote would be interesting? Sure, but only if it’s relevant, it’s not too long, and it doesn’t dilute the impact of your message. Make clarity and relevance your priorities! It’s best to stick to the key points that show why you’re the right person for this job.
So…How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
You probably know that recruiters only take all of six seconds to judge if a resume is worth their time - cover letters can even be shorter than that. With that in mind, it’s not necessary to write a cover letter that fills a whole page. In fact, writing an on-point cover letter is a skill in itself. It demonstrates your ability to communicate clearly and respect someone’s time.
How long should a cover letter be? It’s enough that the body of the letter itself takes up just about half of the page. That should be sufficient space for three paragraphs, which is the most number of paragraphs you should strive for. The letter’s length matters for sure, but the content must also be sharp. Every sentence must add value to your application.
The perfect cover letter strikes a balance between being informative and succinct. It’s not just about how much you write but also what you emphasize. You’ll need to tailor the letter to the role and cut out anything that doesn’t support your case.
Now that you know how long a cover letter should be, the next thing to do is make your cover letter flow. Here’s how to arrange your paragraphs:
- First paragraph - an irresistible intro
The opening paragraph is your chance to get the reader’s attention and make them see you differently from other applicants. This isn’t the place for a formal introduction or a recap of your resume. It’s an opportunity to make a memorable first impression.
Grab the reader from the beginning of your letter with an intro that gives a clear reason why they should pick you over other candidates. Instead of starting with your personal information (an all too common technique), use your major achievements at your previous jobs to grab their attention.
Do you have a unique qualification or accomplishment directly tied to the job requirements? That’s something you want to include. For example, you can write: “My ability to reduce operational costs by 20% in my previous workplace makes me confident I can deliver similar results for your team.” A statement like that will definitely get the reader’s eye, but it will also show you as a solution to a need they have.
After your opening greeting, get down immediately to the nitty-gritty by saying something like, “With my ability to help my employer save on costs while maximizing efficiency, I believe I am the best candidate for this position,” or something to that effect.
Your intro should also show enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention the organization’s values in correlation with your achievements. For example: “As someone passionate about innovations in project management, I am particularly drawn to your commitment to redefining industry standards.”
- Second paragraph - a winning sales pitch
After luring them in with your intro, win your reader over by using the second paragraph to declare the value that you bring to the company. In this part, you’ll transform your claims into evidence. The best way to achieve this is to provide tangible results based on the achievements you claimed in your intro. You must give concrete examples of the positive results that your efforts have contributed to the company, then relate them to what you plan to achieve for your potential employer’s company in the future.
For example, if your intro stated that you excel at reducing costs, now you have space to back that up with numbers: “At my previous job, I was in charge of inventory processes, cutting costs by 15% quarterly.” Including tangible achievements makes the claims both more credible and more memorable.
On that note, be sure to research the company before writing your cover letter so you can make your examples align with the company’s mission. By knowing what the company seeks to achieve, you can give more relevant reasons as to why your education, skills, experience, and accomplishments fulfill the company’s needs while also making sure you meet the expectation of how long a resume cover letter should be.
If the company is launching a new product, you could mention a similar experience where you played a critical role. With that, you’ll make the hiring manager believe you’re the exact person they want to hire at this moment.
- Third paragraph - a strong close
Use your third paragraph to tell your reader that you appreciate them taking the time to read your cover letter. Start by thanking them for taking the time to consider you as a candidate. Acknowledge their effort so you’ll wrap things up with a positive tone. Here’s an example of what you could write: “Thank you for taking the time to review my application and learn more about the way I can contribute to your team.” That’s a small gesture of appreciation, but it’s enough to set the tone for an elegant conclusion.
After offering your thanks, use a ‘call-to-action’ that will compel your reader to respond positively. So, instead of saying that you hope to hear from them soon, use a more proactive statement indicating you would like to have the opportunity to discuss further how you plan to contribute to the company’s success. Here’s a good example: “I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences can support your company in achieving its goals.” That statement shows enthusiasm and makes you seem ready to engage further.
For an even stronger conclusion, you can mention the next steps. “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can bring value to your team in an interview at your convenience. Please feel free to contact me at…” Providing your contact details here is a good idea since you make it easy for the employer to reach out right away.
Finally, you’ll sign off in the most professional way. Phrases like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” are classics. They are still suitable.
What to Avoid in a Cover Letter
Job applicants make some common mistakes that affect the cover letter’s length. They aim for brevity, but they also want to include as many details as possible. Avoid these pitfalls if you want to achieve just the right length:
Including irrelevant information
Details that aren’t directly related to the job don’t belong in your cover letter. Discussing hobbies is excessive. Avoid unrelated achievements, too. They will add length without adding value. Instead, focus on the experiences and skills that show you’re a great candidate for the specific position.
Telling your entire career story
It’s a cover letter, not your autobiography. Including every job you’ve ever had can be tempting. You want to list all your professional achievements, thinking that’s the right way to impress a potential employer. Don’t do it! Stick to one or two key accomplishments that are relevant to the job description. Anything more will overwhelm the reader and make the letter too long.
Over-explaining your points
Yes, it’s important to include examples that add context to your achievements. But be careful not to overdo it! Instead of writing a long paragraph about the way you solved a problem, summarize it as briefly as you can. For example:
“I oversaw the onboarding process, reducing the average onboarding time by 20%. With that, the entire team's productivity was improved.”
And that’s more than enough to show your value.
Repeating yourself
If you already covered something in your resume, you don’t need to repeat it in the cover letter. It will waste precious space. Let’s say you stated your job title and responsibilities in the resume. You won’t restate them in the cover letter. Instead, you can use the space to explain what impact your work had.
Long, complex sentences
You can’t write basic sentences, but don’t make them too long, either! Keep the information straightforward.
For example, this sentence is too long: “I am writing to express my sincere interest in the position of Marketing Manager in your esteemed company because of my deep passion for innovative strategies.” Did you notice the fillers? The sentence is cluttered with adjectives and unnecessary phrases.
This is much more effective: “I am excited to apply for the Marketing Manager role, which suits my passion for innovative strategies I can bring to your team.”
Neglecting the need for clear structure
It’s simple: your cover letter needs an introduction, body, and conclusion. Nothing more and nothing less. If you avoid this structure, you risk rambling or including unnecessary details. Stick to this well-defined recommendation to make sure your cover letter is easy to read.
Adding unnecessary formalities
A potential employer won’t appreciate excessive gratitude and other lengthy formalities. You don’t need to describe in detail how you found the job posting, either. When you want to include such information, be brief, like this: “I learned about this role on LinkedIn and was excited for the opportunity to join your team.”
Ignoring the word count
The ideal length of a cover letter is 300-400 words. Anything more can easily lose the reader’s interest. Keep an eye on the word count, and use it well. That’s enough for you to make your case.
Long conclusion
The closing should be especially brief and impactful. Avoid reiterating every point you make. Be confident and straightforward in this part!
Including too many examples
It’s important to support your accomplishments with examples. However, too many of them will overwhelm the reader. Choose one or two relevant stories that show your skills.
How to Edit a Long Cover Letter
You already wrote your cover letter and noticed it’s too long? That’s a problem. Even executive resume writing, no matter how experienced the candidate is, should be accompanied by a brief cover letter.
If you haven’t sent it yet, there’s nothing to worry about. That’s what the editing stage is all about - you can refine the content to make it more impactful and get to the right length. Follow these tips to trim the excess:
Start with the job description
This is the first thing you should do: compare what you wrote to the job posting. Are all the points you mentioned directly relevant? If anything doesn’t align with the role, remove it. Focus on the company’s priorities and tailor the content to match them.
Get rid of redundant phrases
The next step is getting rid of repetitive writing. Many candidates make the mistake of using fillers like this: “I have exceptional time-management skills and a proven ability to meet deadlines promptly.”
That was a long sentence that said something simple, like this: “I excel at meeting deadlines with strong time-management skills.”
Trim long sentences
If there are overly complex sentences, you should break them down. Here’s an example of a sentence that needs some editing: “During my previous work, I was responsible for a variety of tasks including managing a team, developing marketing strategies, and ensuring that projects were completed on time and within budget.”
There’s a better way to say that: “At my previous job, I managed a team, developed marketing strategies, and delivered projects on time and within budget.” Did you notice the action verbs here? That’s the right way to write in a concise way.
Get rid of irrelevant details
Did you write about unrelated skills, jobs, and hobbies? Those details distract the hiring manager from the main message. For example, if you’re aiming for a marketing role, there’s no need to write about being a barista ten years ago.
Edit the introduction and conclusion
The opening and closing paragraphs should be especially brief. Do your best to reduce some of the content in those sections.
Read aloud to catch excess words
Read your cover letter out loud! That will help you identify awkward phrases. Is there something in there that you wouldn’t say in a normal conversation? If any part seems too wordy or unnatural, edit it.
Ask someone for feedback
If you can’t make the cover letter shorter no matter how hard you try, it’s time to ask for an outside perspective. When someone reads your content, they will help you see where you’ve written something unnecessary. Who can you ask for feedback? A trusted friend or mentor will give you an honest and constructive opinion.
How to Extend a Short Cover Letter
Let’s talk about the other extreme now. You’re trying to write a cover letter, but you can’t get past a few sentences. How do you write something that matters?
Write about your most important achievements
If you’re at the beginning of your career journey, you don’t have many accomplishments to write about. Even in that case, you can write a cover letter that’s long enough. Describe the specific actions you took to achieve an important result. Then, write about the positive impact it had. A single experience of that type matters for a beginner.
For example, let’s say you wrote: “I have strong organizational skills.” There’s a way to add depth to that statement through the experience you accumulated during internships. Like this: “During my internship at the Orange Company, I successfully coordinated schedules for a team of five, making sure all deadlines were met. As a result, the team’s overall efficiency was improved.”
Get inspired by the job description
Check the job posting once again. Identify the needed skills and qualifications and think: Can you find something in your background to relate to them? Explain how your experiences made you suitable for this specific position. For example, if the role mentions leadership, give a brief example of a situation when you led a team or project to success.
Add a personal touch
When you need something to write about, think about why you’re interested in the job. Mention the company’s values and mission. You can mention some of its recent achievements you find impressive, and you’ll explain how they align with your career goals.
Here’s how to do it: “I admire your company’s dedication to innovation in renewable energy. I would be thrilled to contribute to your mission of creating sustainable solutions.”
Write about your soft skills
Technical skills are certainly important. If you wrote about them in the cover letter and you still have space, write about your soft skills. Mention communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and similar skills. Accompany them with a quick example of how they have benefited your previous employers.
Let Resumeble write your cover letter for you
A cover letter needs to be personal yet assertive. Formal, yet friendly. Thorough, yet concise. If you cannot achieve the perfect length no matter how much you try, resume writing services can be a huge help.
Resumeble can write a cover letter that not only meets the requirements of how long a professional cover letter should be but will also make the perfect complement to your resume. Contact us today to learn more about how long a cover letter should be in 2025 and any other questions you may have about your resume or job application process. We are here to make things easier for you.
