How to Start a Cover Letter
Hi friend,
Are you staring at an empty page under “Dear Hiring Manager” and panicking? First of all, don’t address your cover letter to “Hiring Manager”— check out my blog on How to Address a Cover Letter, and then come back. ;) Second of all, don’t panic! There’s a simple formula that you can use for your cover letter opening!
Start your cover letter with an “I am…” statement. This is an identity statement; it’s how you perceive yourself, and will come out naturally as others get to know you. Here are some examples:
I am… a student-athlete leader...
I am… a customer advocate...
Then continue the first sentence of your cover letter by backing it up with relevant experience or modifying information:
I am a career educator… with over a decade of experience working as an at-home tutor, a program mentor, professional tutor, and long-term substitute teacher.
I am a historian and actress… who recently graduated with a B.A. in Ancient History and Minors in Theatre Arts and American History.
If you want, you can add an additional sentence that further explains your background and qualifications, but you don’t have to. The last sentence in the first paragraph should be forward looking, and I usually like “I am excited…” for this. Make sure to connect it to your background and the position.
I am excited to... explore career paths adjacent to medicine like the [Position Name], where I can combine my interests in microbiology with my experience in program management, and further develop my event planning skills.
I am excited to... apply my communications and marketing expertise to raise awareness for the work [Organization Name] is doing and help improve clean drinking water access for impoverished communities around the world.
That’s it! You only need 2-3 sentences for the first paragraph in your cover letter. The first paragraph should cover who you are and where you’re going. A slightly more condensed version of your cover letter’s first paragraph makes a good summary statement on your resume, and can be used as your “elevator pitch”, or your answer to the ever-frustrating question: “Tell me about you.”
And seriously, make sure to read up on how to address your cover letter if you haven’t already; addressing it to a specific person makes a huge difference in how personal/customized the rest of your cover letter feels.
Happy Tuesday,
Karissa
