What is the Perfect Length of a Strong Cover Letter

After weeks of heavy job searching and getting done with crafting a flawless resume, you are all set to submit your job application but wait!

Before you can send in your application and binge-watch your next favorite season, you land on the cover letter section of your job application and already begin to wonder if the length of your cover letter is too small or too long. Is it covering everything you intended to cover? Why should I bother about it if it is optional? 

These are some of the questions that might run through your head. But don’t worry if you can’t help throwing empty stares at an A4 paper that is meant to showcase your profile as a person. 

We are here to help you with your cover letter-length riddle. Read the whole article for better understanding. 

What is the Ideal Length of a Cover Letter?

As a general recommendation, your cover letter should ideally be a one-page document. It should be long enough to showcase your qualities as a person and professional. The length of your cover letter should be around three to six paragraphs (250-400 words roughly). However, the length of your cover letter is directly linked to the industry and job market you are sending in your application.

You should only go beyond the one-page limit if the job ad instructs you to do it or if you have extensive experience otherwise brevity is the best policy. 

How to Make Your Cover Letter a One-Page Document?

No matter what your career level is, a cover letter gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your precise writing skills. How long is too long and how short is too short are the two pertinent questions that need to be addressed. Because too much text can overwhelm the HR manager and he/she may not have another look at it. Similarly, getting a short or extra truncated document will leave recruiters thinking that you didn’t put much thought or effort into crafting the cover letter. 

Structuring your cover letter properly is very important. Here are some tips that will allow you to cover everything in your cover letter while keeping it concise and clear. 

1. Conciseness: Write Concisely and Kill Wordy Sentences 

When writing a cover letter, being concise is paramount. While a cover letter is a great way to quantify your personality, HR managers often tend to rummage through the piles of job applications with cover letters attached. Make sure you use short sentences and avoid lengthy wordy sentences to communicate simple ideas. 

HR staffers are busy folk who don’t bother to read anything that exceeds 1-page and thus need simplification in communication. So instead of mentioning your daily activities, highlight relevant experiences that align with the applied position. 

Also incorporate bullets where necessary to draw attention, break up large chunks of text, and save space. Replace fancy phrases that make your writing less direct with a word to sound clear and also maintain a one-page cover letter goal. Last but not least, without injecting fluff in your content, explain how your skills, qualifications, and personality are tailor made to serve the company. 

2. List Only Relevant Experiences 

Unless the employer demands a certain word count, don’t go beyond the recommended one-page length. By keeping it short, you will also be able to highlight only relevant experiences and career stories. Being specific about your past achievements and career highlights will allow recruiters to gauge if your current professional and personal profile can become an asset to your prospective employer.  

3. Segmentation of Cover Letter 

An effective cover letter consists of 4-6 paragraphs. It is important to keep the sentences short so the reader can quickly navigate through the contents of the cover letter. 

Para #1: The Intro

The intro should be used to attract the attention of the decision-makers. Express your interest in the position opened by the company and also your knowledge of the organization. Conduct proper research about the company you are applying to and edit and personalize each letter according to the job.  Also correctly address the person or department. 

Example (Content Writer Cover Letter)

I am excited to apply for the Content Writer position at [Company Name]. With a passion for crafting engaging narratives and a proven track record in creating compelling content across various platforms, I am eager to bring my skills to your dynamic team. My ability to adapt tone and style to resonate with diverse audiences will contribute to [Company Name]'s mission of delivering impactful storytelling. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate and elevate your content strategy.

Para #2: Mention Your Qualifications 

The second paragraph in the cover letter should outline your qualifications. Here is an example of the qualifications of a content writer: 

“With a degree in English and over three years of experience in content creation, I have honed my ability to produce engaging and SEO-friendly articles, blog posts, and marketing materials. My background includes collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop content strategies that drive audience engagement and brand loyalty. In the previous company (company name), I increased the website traffic by 36% with my ability to create SEO Optimized content.”

Express Your Interest in the Company 

After introducing and highlighting your qualifications, discuss your interest in the company, let them know how to find out about them and tell them what influenced you to apply to them. By being enthusiastic and passionate about the organization, you can certainly sway the recruiter's decision in your favor. 

Para #4: The Outro 

Once again reiterate your interest in the prospective employer and job offering in the closing para. Also, don’t forget to thank the reader for taking the time to read your document while requesting an in-person meeting. Include detailed contact information at the end of the page.  

4. Experience Level: Junior vs Senior

Cover letters may vary depending on one’s experience level. If you are a fresh college graduate looking to secure a junior position instead of flaunting metrics such as GPA, include your projects, experiences, and accomplishments. If you are an experienced contender, filter only the most relevant and recent experience and stories. For example, “With 6+ years of hands-on experience, I am writing to express my interest in the open position for SEO Content Writer.”

5. Make Necessary Formatting Adjustments

Formatting is no less important than length when it comes to cover letter writing. Pay attention to spacing as more spacing enhances readability and hence qualifies your document to attract the attention of the recruiters. Imagine being a busy HR manager who wants his hectic job to be a bit easier. Pick a font that is legible, keep standard margins, and follow proper alignment. Do remember that your cover letter should never be double-spaced because you want to fit all the information on one page and any double spacing would seriously hamper this effort.