For many job seekers, the cover letter opening is the hardest part of writing a cover letter. But starting your cover letter is easy once you learn how. Our guide will teach you the best ways to begin your cover letter, and show you cover letter introduction examples for each.
The Best Ways to Start a Cover Letter
When starting a cover letter for a job, you must cater your introduction to that job. As such, there is no 100% “best way” to start your cover letter.
There are, however, a number of great cover letter opening strategies for you to choose from:
1. Be Simple and Direct
Sometimes the best cover letter opening statement is the simplest. There is a common misbelief that a strong cover letter intro has to be special or interesting in some way. However, in many cases a straightforward opening paragraph is not only effective, but actually extremely helpful for hiring managers that field a lot of candidates for a variety of positions.
How to Start With This Style:
- In your opening line, state your name, the position you’re applying for, and how you found it. This will ensure the hiring manager remembers you.
- Follow your opening sentence with a brief statement about why you’re the right person for the job.
Example:
Dear Mr. Hiring Manager,
My name is [Job Applicant], and I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Opening] position, as advertised on LinkedIn. I believe that my 5+ years of accounting experience, qualifications, and extensive skill-set perfectly match the requirements your company is seeking. |
2. Express Your Passion
Utilizing your passion for your target job or company can be a truly powerful tool when starting a cover letter. Hiring managers are easily swayed by passionate candidates because people who are enthusiastic about their jobs work harder.
How to Start a Cover Letter With Passion:
- State what you’re passionate about in your first sentence (whether it’s an aspect of the job, or things about the company itself).
- Mention what you’ve done that proves your passion.
Example:
Dear Mr. Hiring Manager,
Transforming people through the art of makeup has been my greatest passion since I was young. Ever since I saw the glee on my sister’s face after preparing her makeup for Prom, I knew it’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. To pursue this life long passion, I’m applying for the makeup artist position at AQ Studios. |
3. Mention a Reference
If someone you know at the company referred you, you should always mention it in your cover letter opening line. By mentioning someone who already works at the company, you immediately establish rapport with the hiring manager as well. This can be an especially powerful tool, since recruiters are much more likely to hire referred candidates.
How to Start Your Cover Letter by Mentioning a Referral:
- In your first sentence, simply state that a current employee told you about the job opening, and be sure to mention them by name.
- You can make this intro even more effective by emphasizing that you both think you’re a great fit for the position.
Example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I was thrilled to learn about this job opportunity from your Senior Copy Editor, Richard Johnson. When the position opened up, he called me on the phone and told me my experience and natural talent for writing made me perfect for the position – and after reviewing the requirements I couldn’t agree more. |
4. Show You’ve Done Your Homework
Beginning your cover letter by proving you’ve researched your target company leaves a strong and lasting impression on any hiring manager. Find a piece of recent news, or other particular detail about the company, and mention it in your cover letter intro.
How to Begin by Proving You’ve Researched the Company:
- Scour the company website for any recent news or details (such as clients, recent events, or awards)
- Do a Google search for the company to see if they’ve been featured in any recent news articles. (Pro Tip: you can set a time range for your search to find the most recent news by clicking “Tools”.)
- Relate the news or detail to your desire to work for the company.
Example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
When I saw the Senior 3D Animator job opening on Unit Image’s website, I almost jumped out of chair with excitement. Throughout my 6+ years of working in animation, I have always been in awe of the work your studio produces – but after seeing the recent Baldur’s Gate 3 opening cinematic, I just knew there’s no other animation studio I’d rather work for. |
5. Showcase a Relevant Achievement
Hook the recruiter by beginning your introduction with a noteworthy achievement. Keep in mind that the achievement should be something that would not only benefit your target company, but also lines up with the requirements in the job description. If the accomplishment is quantifiable, it’ll make your cover letter opening even more effective.
How to Open by Showcasing an Achievement:
- While carefully reading through the job description, think about what you’ve accomplished that will prove you’d be highly effective in your target job position.
- Write down the achievement you think would impress the hiring manager most, and wave it into the opening line of your cover letter introduction.
- If possible, always quantify the achievement.
Example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
In just one quarter, I implemented a new SEO strategy that increased [Company Website]’s traffic by over 40%. I’d love to combine my passion for fashion and SEO expertise to help Asos’ website achieve similar results by filling the SEO Manager position at your company. |
6. Lead With Your Beliefs
If your personal beliefs align strongly with the company’s mission or values, opening with a statement of said beliefs will impress the hiring manager and make you stand out amongst other candidates.
How to Start Your Cover Letter With a Belief Statement
Generally, you’ll only be using this strategy when you’re applying for a job because you believe in what they’re doing. In which case all you need to do is state your beliefs in your first sentence. However, below are a few strategies you can use:
- Find the company’s mission statement and browse through their website to get a feel for core goals and values.
- In your first sentence, state your belief – keeping it short, but sweet.
- Be sure not to avoid sounding too similar to what’s written on the company website, or you risk coming off as insincere.
Example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I believe that renewable energy is the key to a bright future for humanity, and I believe that Berkshire Hathaway Energy is at the forefront of leading us to that future. Which is why I’m thrilled to apply for the open Internship position. |
7. Be Creative
Start with a creative cover letter opening by injecting some personality or humor into your intro with a story or anecdote. This will set you apart from other applicants, and show the hiring manager that you’re a personable human being who would be enjoyable to work with.
Tips for Beginning With a Creative Cover Letter Opening:
- Read through the job description and company website.
- While reading, think of any humorous or interesting personal stories that either align with the responsibilities of the job role, or relate you to the company in some way.
- The story could be about a work accomplishment, or even something from your childhood demonstrates your passion for the company or position.
- Keep your story short – the hiring manager wants to hire a strong candidate for the job, not a novelist.
Example:
Dear Hiring Manager,
It’s 1984, a young boy eagerly presses his face against the glass of the local shoe store. As he stares at the perfect pair of Air Jordans sitting on display, the signature Nike tick engraves itself into his mind. In that moment, a lifelong Nike fan was born. That boy is now a man with a long and successful career in sales, and that man is eagerly applying to your open Director of Sales position. |
Key Takeaways for a Writing a Great Cover Letter Introduction
As we said before, there is no 100% best way to start a cover letter, but the techniques above are all highly effective ways of writing an intro that will land you more interviews.
Keep in mind that the cover letter opening strategy you choose will depend on your target company and job position. For example, if you’re not truly passionate about the job opening or company, then you shouldn’t pretend. Doing so could land you in a lot trouble during the interview.
Lastly, don’t forget that before you start your cover letter introduction, you’ll first need to learn how to address a cover letter.
Need more help writing your cover letter? Check out some of our other cover letter resources below: