How To Write A Short Cover Letter (With Examples)

When applying for a job you will want to make sure your cover letter has your qualifications and why you are the right person for the job. This sounds like an easy task, right?

While it may sound easy to do, recruiters and hiring managers don’t have the time to read through every application in detail. Sometimes a cover letter that is short and sweet is what you need to grab their attention without wasting their time.

We will go over why you should use a short cover letter, when its appropriate, and how to write one while providing some examples.

Key Takeaways:

• A short cover letter should be about 100-250 words broken down into three to four paragraphs.

• You should use a short cover letter if you are an entry level employee, if you are emailing your cover letter, or if you are submitting your application online.

• Your cover letter should highlight your qualifications and sell you as the ideal candidate.

Why Use a Short Cover Letter

• You stand out. When you use a short cover letter, you will stand out from the other candidates. A hiring manager will likely be reading a lot of cover letters, and if yours is shorter from the rest, it will stick out and they will remember it.

• You can highlight easier. A shorter letter lets you highlight your qualifications without burying it in fluff and buzzwords. It will also give the hiring manager enough information before, while you’re still able to give more information during an interview.

• Time-saving. As said before, a hiring manager is likely reading a lot of cover letters. If yours is short, they are more likely to read yours over the long ones.

When to Write a Short Cover Letter

If you’re applying for a high-level executive position, it makes sense for you to write closer to 400 words.

• An entry-level employee. You won’t have as much experience as those high-level execs so an entry-level cover letter should be closer to 200 words, or even less.

• Email cover letter. Emails are short and usually to the point by nature. Email cover letters should not be long. Otherwise, it would look like a gigantic block of text that the hiring manager will likely not even bother with.

• Electronic application. If you are submitting your cover letter through an online application, you will need to keep it short. Many of those supplied text boxes have strict character limits.

You’re not tied to the above scenarios. If you don’t feel like the position calls for a long cover letter, then don’t include a lengthy attachment. You should still include a cover letter, though. Just keep it short. Think short story, not novel.

How to Write a Short Cover Letter

A short cover letter does pose an interesting challenge. There is a lot of information you want to convey, and you have so much space to do so.

Generally, a cover letter is about half a page in length and consists of 200-400 words broken into three to four paragraphs. The same cannot be said for a short cover letter.

You can still include all of the same elements you see in a regular length cover letter. You just have to be more selective with the words you use and the achievements you highlight. Here’s how to write a short cover letter:

1. Cut the fluff. Nobody wants fluffy cover letters. Despite how it sounds, fluff is actually a technical term. It means adding more information than is really necessary. So cut the fluff and remove unnecessary details.

   You may find it easier to remove the fluff after you’ve finished your cover letter. Or, you may find it easier to be aware of it as you write and avoid it altogether. Your preference really matters.

   But, how do you cut the fluff? Simple.

   • Avoid adjectives. Sure, adjectives liven up your writing, but this isn’t a creative writing piece. It’s a cover letter. You don’t have to cut them completely, but you should use them sparingly.

   • Avoid buzzwords. Try not to fill up your sentences with words like self-motivated, results-oriented, deadline-driven, or team-oriented. They just make your writing feel bulkier.

   • Write concisely. Get to your point quickly. If you can shorten the sentence, do it. Be careful, though. Sometimes when we write concisely, it comes off as terse or rude. Your tone really matters, so be aware of it.

2. Focus on relevant skills and experience. Technically, any cover letter you write should focus on the skills, experience, and achievements that relate to the position you’re applying for.

   In a short cover letter, you want to be very selective. Use the job description to identify the qualifications and skills they find most important and focus on those.

3. Use bullet points to your advantage. Seeing a bulleted list in the middle of a cover letter is completely normal. Many job applicants use bullet points to highlight their most attention-grabbing (and relevant) qualifications and achievements.

   Those bullet points can make a bigger impact in a short cover letter. You can include more in fewer words.

4. Focus on the value. Your cover letter should be conveying your value. Focus your attention on what you can bring to the position and the company.

Formatting a Short Cover Letter

As a general rule, the format of your cover letter should not change much, no matter the length. The biggest difference between a short cover letter and a regular length cover letter is the delivery method.

Your short cover letter should include:

1. Header. If you are emailing your cover letter or submitting it via an electronic application portal, you will not need to include a header. If you are submitting it more traditionally, then you will still need to include the header at the top.

   Your header should look like this:

   Your full name
   (Optional) Your current address
   Your phone number
   Your professional email address
   Your online portfolio
   (Optional) Your website, LinkedIn

   Date of submission

   Hiring manager’s name
   Hiring manager’s title within the company
   Company name
   (Optional) Company address

2. Greeting (Salutation). Regardless of how you are submitting your cover letter, you will need to address it properly. “Dear [hiring manager’s name]” is the standard. If you can’t locate the name of the hiring manager, you can use a more generic greeting. But, you should never use “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”.

3. Opening lines. Your opening lines should capture the reader’s attention and convince them to keep reading.

4. Body paragraph. This is where you will highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember to pull information from the job description to help you determine which qualifications and achievements to focus on.

5. Closing lines. End your cover letter with a strong call-to-action. Give the hiring manager a reason to reach out to you.

6. Sign-off. Similar to your greeting, there is a right and a wrong way to close your letter. Even if you are submitting via email, you should use a formal closing such as “Sincerely”, “Respectfully”, “Thank you”, or “Best regards”.

   You may also want to include your contact information below your name. This is especially true if you are excluding a header.

Short Cover Letter Examples

1. Example Answer 1: Short Email Cover Letter:

   Subject: Customer Service Representative – Eloise Greene

   Dear Ms. Chatner,

   XYZ Department Store is known for its incredible customer service. I believe I would make an excellent addition to your team, and I have the customer satisfaction ratings to prove it.

   I take pride in the companies I serve, and it shows through my professionalism and enthusiasm. At ABC Shoppe, I was regularly mentioned by name in customer feedback surveys and had the most positive feedback ratings each week.

   You will find that I develop an excellent rapport with my customers, solve customer problems quickly and efficiently, and can work well independently. My coworkers and superiors know that there is no one more dedicated, reliable, or efficient than me.

   I look forward to speaking with you about this position.

   Sincerely,
   Eloise Greene
   555-123-4567
   egreene@email.com
   linkedin.com/in/eloisegreene478

2. Example Answer 2: Sales Rep Short Cover Letter:

   Tanner Gaddas
   Atlanta, GA
   555-123-4567
   tgaddas@email.com
   linkedin.com/in/tannergaddas

   January 1, 2021

   Genevieve Hudson
   VP of Human Resources
   123 Sellers

   Dear Ms. Hudson,

   As a talented sales professional with eight years of proven history generating new leads, converting leads to customers, and driving growth in my territory, I believe I would be an asset to 123 Sellers.

   During my tenure at XYZ Enterprises, I have earned multiple awards and was named top seller three years in a row. I have expertise in client retention, new customer acquisition, and cold calling and am comfortable using CRMs like SalesForce and Hubspot.

   Highlights of my achievements include:

   • Growing a $1M territory to a $4M in two years

   • Converted 300 new customers over the course of a year

   • Exceeded sales goals by 50% in my first year

   • Maintain expert knowledge in complete product line up consisting of over 200 products

   I am confident that with my sales experience and techniques, I will help your company gain a larger market share. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing this opportunity further.

   Respectfully,
   Tanner Gaddas
   555-123-4567

Author

Samantha Goddiess

Samantha is a lifelong writer who has been writing professionally for the last six years. After graduating with honors from Greensboro College with a degree in English & Communications, she went on to find work as an in-house copywriter for several companies including Costume Supercenter, and Blueprint Education.

Expert

Matt Warzel, CPRW, CIR

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.