I know. Nobody likes writing them.
A lot of advice online will tell you cover letters are dead. They're not. Here's what's actually true in 2026:
- If the application doesn't ask for one, don't include one. Nobody will read it.
- If the application asks for one, even if it says "optional," write one. "Optional" is how they screen out the people who can't be bothered. Assume everyone serious is submitting one. If you skip it, you're losing to everyone who didn't.
**The purpose of a cover letter is not to repeat your resume. The purpose is to:**
1. Show you can write like a normal human being
2. Connect one specific thing in the job description to one specific thing about you
3. Bait them into an interview
That's it. Don't overcomplicate it.
**A structure that works:**
**Paragraph 1:** Why you're writing. Name the role. Mention one thing that genuinely interested you about it. Not "I was excited to see this opportunity." Something real. "The part of the job description that caught me was X, because [specific reason from your actual background]."
**Paragraph 2:** A concrete example. One story, one experience from your background that shows you'd do well in this role. Specific. Not a list of traits.
**Paragraph 3:** A closing line that invites a conversation. Not "I hope to hear from you soon." Something like, "Happy to get on a short call if it'd be useful. I'd love to talk more about how I could help with X."
Keep it under 250 words. Three short paragraphs. Read it out loud before you send. If any line sounds like it was generated by a machine or a 1998 career counselor, rewrite it.
One non-negotiable: make it sound like you. If you're someone who talks normally, the letter should sound normal. If you're a little dry and witty, let that come through. The whole point is that the person reading it thinks, "huh, this one sounds like an actual person."
Yes, you can use AI to help draft it. But rewrite the AI's draft in your own voice before sending. If you send what ChatGPT spits out word-for-word, the person reading will clock it immediately.
