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How to write a cover letter that gets read
A cover letter generator saves you the formatting, but the letter still has to say something. Hiring managers skim, so a good one answers three questions fast: which job are you applying for, why are you a fit, and what should they do next. Here is the order that works, and every step updates the preview as you type.
- Type your name, phone, email and address, then the company, the job title and the name of the person who will read it.
- Pick the starter text closest to your situation, such as Fresh graduate, Career change or Nurse, and press Use starter text. The company name and job title are filled in for you.
- Replace every [square bracket] with a real detail. The counter under the preview tells you how many are left.
- Choose a template and an accent colour. The picker thumbnails show your own letter in each layout.
- Check that the indicator says it fits on one page, then download the PDF.
What goes in each paragraph?
Three short paragraphs are enough for most jobs. Add a fourth only if you have a specific story that does not fit elsewhere.
| Part | What to write | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | The job title, where you saw it, and one line on why you fit | 2 to 3 sentences |
| Body | Two or three facts with numbers: what you did, how much, what changed | 1 or 2 paragraphs |
| Why this company | One specific reason that is not on their homepage tagline | 1 to 2 sentences |
| Closing | When you can start and how to reach you | 2 sentences |
How do I write a cover letter with no experience?
Use what you have. A final-year project, a term as club treasurer, six weekends at a shop and a certificate from an online course all count, as long as you say what you did and what came out of it. Compare two versions of the same sentence:
- Weak: "I am a hard-working graduate who is eager to learn."
- Better: "For my final-year project I surveyed 120 students and built the report in Excel, which the department now uses as a template."
The second one proves the first without using any adjectives. Choose the Fresh graduate or Internship starter text and rewrite the brackets in that style. Keep the letter short. Three tight paragraphs beat a page of general statements.
Should I use a cover letter template or write my own?
Use a template for the layout and write the words yourself. A layout is not what gets you hired, but a clean one avoids the small errors that make a letter look rushed: a misaligned date, a missing subject line, a signature crammed against the text. The starter paragraphs here are drafts. If you send one with the brackets still in it, the recruiter will notice, so read it out loud once before you download.
Which template should I pick?
The layout should match the industry, not your taste in colours.
| Template | Best for |
|---|---|
| Classic | Almost anything, and the safest choice for online portals |
| Executive | Finance, law, management and other senior roles |
| Minimal | Short letters, academia, and anyone who wants quiet |
| Modern, Sidebar | Marketing, sales and start-ups |
| Creative, Elegant | Design, media, hospitality and event work |
| Compact | Longer letters that must stay on one page |
| Tech | Developers, data and product roles |
| Formal | Applications to Indonesian companies, government and schools |
If the employer asks you to paste the letter into a web form, skip the layout question and use Copy as text.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page. The sweet spot is 250 to 300 words with normal margins. At 400 words the page starts to feel dense, and the generator will shrink the text a little to keep the letter on one page. That helps, but cutting is better: delete any sentence that repeats your resume without adding a reason.
Cover letter for specific jobs
The starter text covers fresh graduates, experienced hires, career changers, internships, admin, sales, IT, teaching, nursing, driving, customer service, accounting, hospitality, retail and factory work. What changes between them is the evidence. A nurse mentions licence validity and shift flexibility. A driver mentions a clean record and the licence class. A developer links to code. Hiring managers in each field look for those details first, so put them in the first half of the letter.
Mistakes that cost interviews
- Sending the same letter to every company without changing the name.
- Opening with "I am writing to apply for a position" and no job title.
- Repeating the resume line by line instead of choosing two achievements.
- Leaving the greeting as "To whom it may concern" when a name was one search away.
- Exporting a large image-only file that the employer cannot search. This tool adds an invisible text layer to the PDF for that reason.
Need a resume to go with it? Build one in the CV Builder and keep both documents in the same style.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a cover letter with no experience?
Open with the job title and the company, then spend the middle on what you have done instead of what you lack: a class project, an internship, volunteer work, a part-time job. Pick the starter text called Fresh graduate or Internship in this tool, replace the [brackets] with real examples and keep it to one page. Employers hiring entry-level staff expect a short letter that shows effort and a clear reason for applying.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page, roughly 200 to 350 words in three or four short paragraphs. The word counter next to the preview tells you where you are, and the fit indicator turns amber when the letter spills onto a second page. If you are over, cut the sentence that repeats your resume.
Is this cover letter generator really free?
Yes. There is no account, no watermark and no limit on downloads. The letter is drawn in your browser and the PDF is made on your device, so your name, address and signature are never uploaded.
Should I address the letter to a person?
Yes when you can find a name. Check the job post, the company page or LinkedIn, and type it in the hiring manager field, for example Ms. Laura Chen. If there is no name, leave the field empty and the letter opens with Dear Hiring Manager, which is fine.
Will the PDF work with applicant tracking systems?
Mostly yes. Every page is a picture with an invisible text layer on top, so the text can be selected, searched and copied. For an online portal that asks you to paste text instead of uploading a file, use Copy as text, or download the .txt file.
Can I use the same letter for several jobs?
You can reuse the structure, but change the company name, the job title and at least one sentence about why that employer interests you. Save the data file after each version so you can reopen it later and edit only what differs.
Can I add my signature to the letter?
Yes. Sign on white paper, take a photo or scan it and upload the image under Signature image. Keep the option that makes the white paper transparent on, and drag the size slider until it sits naturally above your typed name.
Can I write the letter in Indonesian?
Yes. Switch the letter language to Indonesia and the date, greeting, subject line (Perihal), enclosure list (Lampiran) and sign-off change to the usual surat lamaran kerja format. The Formal template gives you the classic layout many Indonesian employers expect.