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Let’s be real. Most people hate writing cover letters. I get it. They feel outdated, annoying, and way too easy to mess up. But if you’re serious about landing a job, your cover letter can’t just be “fine.” It needs to be tight, strategic, and straight to the point.
In the first episode of my Secure the Damn Job series on Five with Fry, I’m breaking down how to write a cover letter that actually gets read, and more importantly, gets you through the door.
You’ll hear five strategies that’ll take your letter from meh to bomb ass, with advice I’ve picked up from years of reviewing applications and helping job seekers tell their story.
First up: Formatting matters more than you think.
I’ve seen it all—cover letters with margins big enough to land a plane or so tight it looks like the words are trying to escape. Aim for balance: 0.4″ top, 0.5″ bottom, 0.6″ sides. That layout hits the sweet spot between too much white space and not enough.
And if you’re not 100% sure who the letter’s going to? Don’t guess. Just use “To Whom It May Concern” or “To the Hiring Committee.” Clean and simple wins.
Second: Font size. Please stop using 10pt.
Seriously. No one wants to squint to read your cover letter. Use 11.5 or 12-point font. And if that pushes your letter onto a second page? You’re writing too much. Edit it down. You’ve got one page to make your case. Use it wisely.
Third: Copy and paste is not a bad thing.
You heard me. Your cover letter should mirror your resume. Why? Because you don’t know which one will actually get read. Some folks skim the resume. Others read the cover letter first. Either way, your message needs to be clear in both.
Here’s the structure I recommend:
- Paragraph 1 = Your executive summary
- Paragraph 2 = Your current job (especially if you’ve been there 5+ years)
- Paragraph 3 = Past experience that’s relevant to the job
- Paragraph 4 = Wrap it up and show some enthusiasm
Keep it focused. Cut the fluff. Say what you need to say and bounce.
Bottom line? Cover letters don’t have to be awful.
If you approach it like a tool—not a chore—you can absolutely stand out. I promise you that when the details are right and your message is sharp, your cover letter will stop being something people skim and become something that gets you noticed.
Want the full breakdown? Listen to “The Cover Letter Blueprint” on Five with Fry wherever you get your podcasts.
Need a little help making your letter shine? Head to Hyreable—the career development arm of JenFryTalks. We’ve got resume and cover letter editing services that’ll help you secure the damn job.
Let’s get to work.
