Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2023? Do I Need a Cover Letter?
Asking yourself "Do I need a cover letter?" We surveyed 200 hiring decision-makers to find out if cover letters are still important in 2023.
5 Short Cover Letter Samples That Will Get You Hired in 2023
Short and sweet—that’s the type of cover letters hiring managers want to see. Learn how to say more with less with our 5 best short cover letter samples.
When applying for a job, a cover letter is just as important as your resume.
However, crafting a perfect short cover letter can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, we're about to show you 5 short cover letter samples that will take this weight off your shoulders.
In this guide you'll see:
- How to write a short cover letter that will get you the job.
- Five short cover letter samples for different career stages.
- Why simple cover letters are the best cover letters.
- What to put in a beginner cover letter.
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Looking for a cover letter guide for a specific job? Check these out:
- Business Cover Letter
- Computer Science Cover Letter
- Copywriter Cover Letter
- Customer Service Cover Letter
- Customer Service Representative Cover Letter
- Elementary Teacher Cover Letter
- Federal Cover Letter
- Human Resources Cover Letter
- Legal Cover Letter
- Marketing Cover Letter
- Nursing Cover Letter
- Project Manager Cover Letter
- Sales Cover Letter
- USPS Cover Letter
Haven't found your job? See our list of perfect cover letter examples for any jobs.
1. A Short Cover Letter: Why Should You Write One?
Do you know Sharon?
She’s a hiring manager working for a corporation that’s currently hiring.
She gets 250 applications a day and is looking for any reason to reduce the pile of papers… or the endless list of emailed resumes.
The ones that make it are the ones that are scannable, easy to read, and… short.
Not the 3-page-long ones that have different characters, plot lines, and themes.
When it comes to cover letters, they all must respect certain rules to be well-written and meet the expectations of recruiters.
Keep in mind that the goal of a short cover letter is to land a job interview, not just to introduce yourself, show off your skills or tell your life story.
So—
Go straight to the point by showing your motivation and what you can bring to the company with your simple cover letter.
Now, before we move on to talking about the cover letter writing tips, let’s take a look at some short cover letter samples to get a better feel of what recruiters are looking for.
2. Five Short Cover Letter Samples to Get You Started
Let's start with some real-life basic cover letter samples written by career experts. Each of them is for a different level of experience.
After that, we'll show you how to write your own short cover letter.
Short Cover Letter Sample (No Experience)
First, meet Tracy—a marketing student with a strong desire to get some hands-on experience as an intern.
Here’s how she made her cover letter short and sweet while still including the most relevant information that the recruiter is looking for:
Tracy Tillman
Marketing Student
631-279-9265
tracy.tillman@gmail.com
Santa Barabara, October 20, 2021
Marion Sandoval
Content Manager
Metrico
1382 Par Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Dear Ms. Sandoval,
I am submitting my resume for consideration for the summer internship program at Metrico. Working with your company would be a wonderful opportunity, and I strongly believe that my academic background and skills would make me an ideal candidate for the role.
I am currently a Junior at the University of Illinois, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Communications. During my sophomore year, I served as a research assistant for a project that analyzed how marketing strategies differ across different cultures. This experience helped me to reinforce the idea that I wanted to get a Master’s degree in the future.
In addition to research work, I was Editor-in-Chief at my University’s newspaper, where I developed my communication and leadership skills significantly. For two years, I led a team of 10 other students, which also helped my project management skills and my ability to meet deadlines.
Moreover, since high school I have been volunteering at the local animal shelter, where I organized 2 fundraising events that helped raise more than $4.5K for shelter supplies.
I know that Metrico is in need of a person to support the content marketing department, and I believe that my skills and knowledge will be a great asset to your company.
I’d be thrilled to learn more about this position, and show how I can help Metrico grow through a strategic content marketing effort.
Sincerely,
Tracy Tillman
Will she be getting that phone call from Marion?
We’re sure she will!
Now, let’s move on to a mid-level application:
Short Cover Letter Sample (Mid-Level Job)
Next up—Roxanna.
She has more than 3 years of experience working as an office manager, and she’s simply looking for a new opportunity to advance her career.
Roxanna Moore
Office Cooridnator
972-831-1503
roxi.moore@gmail.com
Dallas, April 19, 2021
Kimberly Barnes
HR Manager
Yahili
3282 Stoney Lane
Dallas, TX 75240
Dear Ms. Barnes,
With the enclosed resume, I would like to express my sincere interest in the office coordinator position you have available. As an accomplished and enthusiastic professional with 3+ years of experience maintaining a workspace that promotes productivity, inclusivity, and creativity, I strongly believe that my skills and experience will allow me to contribute toward the success of your company.
My background includes providing excellent professional administrative and clerical service to colleagues and supervisors, as well as top-notch customer service to external and internal customers.
Some of my key responsibilities and accomplishments as office coordinator include:
- Processed bi-weekly payroll for 80 employees, including labor reports and vacation and sick time requests.
- Interviewed, hired, and trained 25 new employees.
- Answered and maintained 6 phone lines, responded to emails with excellent customer service, while ensuring clear and prompt communication among all constituents.
- Maintained a 97% customer satisfaction rate.
- Received the 2019 Office Coordinator Award of Excellence.
I am confident that my proven success in creating a welcoming office environment and handling all administrative tasks with accuracy and a commitment to quality will contribute immensely to your company’s success.
Could we schedule an appointment to discuss how I can help your company reach its productivity, cost management, and efficiency goals?
Kind regards,
Roxanna Moore
Impressive!
Simple Cover Letter Example (IT Job)
Our next candidate is Brenda, who’s got a love for Italian cuisine, a healthy lifestyle, and Siamese cats.
But that’s not as important as the fact that Java is her love language, and she can program like a machine.
Let’s take a look at her short cover letter:
Brenda Williams
Java Developer
425-390-0682
b.williams92@gmail.com
Seattle, July 5, 2021
Frank Corley
HR Manager
Lab Collab
2378 Ryder Avenue
Seattle, WA 98161
Dear Mr. Corley,
I am writing to apply for the senior java developer position with Lab Collab. I bring 6 years of programming experience that I believe can be a valuable asset to your company. Likewise, I have honed my developing and problem-solving skills over these past years and have extensive experience in developing system architecture and code design, implementation, installation and testing processes. I would love to contribute my knowledge to your organization.
Some of my responsibilities, skills and most important achievements include:
- Developed Java web applications using RAP/RWT in a modular OSGi system.
- Responsible for design and development of JMS (Java Messaging Service) based Message Exchange System containing XML formatted sales data for Compensation Purposes using Point-To-Point, Publish and Subscribe Messaging via MQseries.
- Responsible for deployment and testing of the code in WebSphere environment and installation and configuration of IBM CTG (CICS Transaction Gateway) to be used to connect and run CICS transactions and perform screen scraping from JAVA Code using EPI and ECI technologies.
- Implemented JDBC connection for retrieving data from Oracle database.
- Customized the java bean validation framework to propagate constraint violations to respective fields in UI layer.
- Wrote interfaces and test clients in order to facilitate testing scheduled jobs.
Although I specialize in Java, I’m fluent in several other programming languages, frameworks, and software.
Working with such a skilled team within a company that I truly admire would be an incredible learning experience, and I would love the opportunity to prove that I'm a great fit for the role.
I look forward to meeting you to discuss the prospect of joining your team.
Sincerely,
Brenda Williams
Bang.
Just like that, she’s going to get that job at Lab Collab, no doubt.
Ready to see another example?
Basic Cover Letter Example (Managerial Position)
Say Hi to Ronald, an accomplished account manager, whose professional achievements are A-1.
Here’s how he highlights them on his simple cover letter:
Ronald Johnson
Account Manager
404-854-1414
r.johnson90@gmail.com
Atlanta, September 30, 2021
Aileen Summers
HR Manager
Insureb
1072 Stroop Hill Road
Atlanta, GA 30303
Dear Ms. Summers,
Having a well-rounded skill set is an advantage for every job, particularly that of an account manager. That is why I was pleased to see your posting for a new account manager, as my set of qualifications and goals are directly in line with the ideal candidate you are seeking. I am confident that I would make a valuable addition to your organization.
With more than 8 years of experience as an account manager, I am adept in building key relationships with account management, strategy, and fulfillment departments. During my previous role at Lendent, I worked closely with sales strategy, finance, and marketing to implement the Annual Sales Strategy with growths in Sales Volume and Net Revenue while balancing a trade accrual budget.
I achieved +42% sales growth (+$5M) at Key Account for the past 3 years by increasing distribution of core SKUs, new item placements, and executing aggressive sale plans. All while managing the workloads of 15 employees, and tracking and balancing account disbursements through Excel spreadsheets. Moreover, I managed to develop & grow the account base by 36% over first 2 quarters and was awarded top new sales rep for 2013. Overall, during my 8 years as an account manager, I’ve signed over 600 corporate accounts.
My proven ability to achieve and sustain my sales goals by prospecting new business and developing existing accounts to grow our overall brand, along with my solid problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, will contribute immensely to Insureb’s growth.
When would be a good time to have a meeting or a call to discuss how I successfully apply routine communication to establish relationships with clients to understand their business needs and goals?
Sincerely,
Ronald Johnson
Pretty good, right?
Right away, you know exactly who you’re dealing with. A shark.
Brief Cover Letter Sample (Creative Job)
Last, but not least: James, an art director from Florida in search of a new professional challenge.
James Valdez
Art Director
407-694-3810
JamesValdez@gmail.com
Orlando, November 20, 2020
Ida Shaw
HR Manager
Finession
2543 Grand Avenue
Orlando, FL 32810
Dear Ms. Shaw,
I would like to submit my candidacy for the Art Director position at Finession. As an experienced specialist with experience in creating concepts and designs to meet internally briefed requirements and with a passion for photography, typography, layout, and digital and social ideation, I believe that I have the skills and experience necessary to give your company the creative direction you need.
My background includes 7+ years in a similar position, where I gained critical skills for the art director role. I have worked with both external and internal clients and know the requirements and needs of both of them. I was responsible for designing in-store displays, digital executions, social assets and print materials at a superb level aesthetically and technically. During my time at Delicity, I’ve processed, archived and managed over 25,000 electronic art files. Apart from all these, I successfully led a team of 5 and directed the creation of visual assets with external contractors such as photographers, illustrators, and agencies.
Having a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, I demonstrate great knowledge of advertising and promotion and I have excellent communication, leadership, and management skills. I can handle long travel and stress associated with my work.
Working for a company like Finession, which constantly pushes the envelope, would be an honor and a privilege. I am convinced that I am just the right fit for your art director position.
When would be a good time to discuss how I can help your company solve strategic and creative issues while enhancing the client’s confidence in the agency?
Kind regards,
James Valdez
With a simple cover letter like this, he can be sure he will get invited for an interview.
Now you know how the perfect short cover letter should look. It's time to teach you how to do it.
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3. How To Write a Short Cover Letter
Your turn.
Write a short cover letter that is simple, easy to read and sounds genuine and sincere.
Why is it so important?
It’s your first opportunity to grab the employer’s attention by describing your interest in and qualifications for a position.
The goal?
To invite the recruiter to meet with you in person (or online) to learn more about your background. For a short cover letter to be effective, you should make it as targeted as possible to the position you are applying for.
In a nutshell, your cover letter should include:
- Your professional objective (if you’re writing a cover letter with no experience) or a summary of your qualifications,
- An explanation of your motivation for applying,
- Other relevant information that complements your resume,
- A request for an interview.
Ready to create your own simple cover letter?
Follow these steps:
1. Set a Proper Simple Cover Letter Format
When it comes to job applications, it’s not always about what you say, but how you say it.
So what your cover letter looks like matters.
In order for your letter to be simple and easy to read, you must follow the recommended cover letter formatting guidelines:
- Choose the right typeface that’s consistent with your resume font. Pay attention to serif vs sans serif, size, weight, etc.
- Set margins at 1 inch.
- Left-align the body of your cover letter, and single-space your text.
- Keep the length of your cover letter to one page.
2. Start Your Short Cover Letter Right
First rule:
Use the correct cover letter header format that includes your personal details and contact information:
- Full name
- Home address (optional)
- Phone number
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
Next up: addressing the cover letter.
Best way to grab the reader’s attention?
Personalize it to the company as much as possible by using the hiring manager’s name and researching the organization and position.
So right below your details leave a line, enter the city you’re writing from and date, another line, and the name of the person you are addressing your application to and the company deets as well.
Expert Hint: If you’re sending your cover letter via email, put your name in the subject line to make it easier for the recruiter to find it.
3. Introduce Yourself and Identify the Position
In the first paragraph, you’ll need to keep them interested, so start your cover letter by stating the position you’re applying for.
Then, give them a taste of what you have to offer with a brief background by listing your years of experience, past position, and your biggest strength.
But what’s most important?
Convey passion for the role.
Really show them that you care.
4. Give Them a Reason to Hire You
In the middle paragraph of your simple cover letter, blend your talents with their needs using the exact keywords from the job advertisement.
Include several resume achievements that drive your points home.
You can use a bulleted list or a simple paragraph to get your point across.
Want bonus points?
Use numbers and measurements when talking about these accomplishments.
For instance, if you’re writing a sales associate cover letter, tell them how many clients a day you served or what was your customer satisfaction rate.
This should nicely highlight your skills and qualifications.
5. Prove You Want This Specific Job
Think about the company you’re applying to.
What makes them special?
Then use this to tell them what makes this the perfect job for you.
This paragraph should reassure them you won’t get easily bored and move on.
Plus, it will show them that you took the time to write a cover letter that is not generic.
6. Seal the Deal By Requesting an Interview
End your cover letter strong.
How?
Ask for an in-person or online meeting.
Entice the recruiter by making a promise of an engaging discussion about meeting the company’s goals.
Then, finish with a professional sign-off, using one of the following closings:
Best Short Cover Letter Closing Salutations:
- Best regards,
- Sincerely,
- Thank you,
- All the best,
- Kind regards,
- Respectfully,
...aand you’re done!
This is all you need to know about writing short and simple cover letters to include with a resume.
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Key Points
Applying with a short and simple cover letter is important to entice the recruiter to review your detailed resume and make a case for yourself. So when writing a basic cover letter, remember to:
- Use the proper cover letter formatting and include a heading with all the essential information.
- Make your point in three short paragraphs, where you summarize your skills, explain your motivation for applying and prove you’ll be the best candidate for this specific position.
- Finish your simple cover letter with a strong closing statement and a proper sign-off.
Thanks for reading! Still not sure about something to do with writing a short cover letter? Did you find our short cover letter samples useful? Let us know in the comments below!
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