12 Ways to Start a Cover Letter: Examples & Tips

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Knowing how to begin a cover letter in a way that sparks interest is the first step toward writing a cover letter that will impress any hiring manager.

If the opening lines of your cover letter are too stiff or wordy, you’ll lose the hiring manager’s interest. Instead, get straight to the point and impress the reader with your qualifications in those first few lines.

In this article, we’ll demonstrate how to successfully start a cover letter with 12 great examples of cover letter openings and a few tips for writing your own.

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12 winning ways to start your cover letter

Our sample cover letter introductions will help you learn how to open a cover letter in a way that stands out and boosts your chances of landing an interview.

1. Mention a contact within the company

If you were referred by a former coworker, classmate, or friend who’s highly regarded in their company, mention their name in the opening sentence of your cover letter for some immediate credibility.

Example:

Well-Connected

Upon learning about the social media manager opportunity at StarWon through my former colleague, Jennifer Henderson, I was thrilled by the prospect of joining your dynamic team. Jennifer and I collaborated closely during my two years at Turbofun, where we successfully executed eight high-impact social media projects. I’ve heard great things about the work being done at StarWon, and I’m confident my skills and experience would make me an excellent asset to your team.

Hiring managers are more likely to take your application seriously if you’ve been recommended by someone they already work with and respect.

According to LinkedIn, 70% of people hired in 2016 had a connection at their new company. That’s why referencing a mutual contact is one of the most effective ways to distinguish yourself from other applicants, especially if you’re writing an entry-level cover letter.

2. Express enthusiasm for the role

Employers love candidates who care about their work. They want to see that your passions align with the responsibilities associated with the role.

Example:

Passionate

My senior year of high school, I saved up for nearly a year to buy the first generation Oculus Rift headset — my parents thought I was nuts. But ever since, I’ve been obsessed with the potential of virtual reality technology and have been thrilled to see its presence grow in our changing media industry. That’s why I’m excited for the opportunity to put my passion for VR to work as an Engineer at NextGen VR Corp, and help build the future of virtual reality technology.

Employees who are passionate about their work are likely to perform better, stay longer, and make a greater long-term contribution to the company.

To demonstrate your enthusiasm, explain what drew you to the position and how it fits into your career goals.

3. Show your excitement about the company’s work

If you’re genuinely excited about a company’s brand, its mission statement, or its products, highlight this excitement in your cover letter introduction. Relate your personal mission statement to the company’s mission to show that your goals align with theirs.

Example:

Excited

As a long-term admirer of the contributions to solar panel technology being made by your team at GreenWays Engineering, I’m excited to submit my application for the open entry-level technician position posted on your site. As a recent graduate from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering, I’m confident that my knowledge of PV systems, practical experience performing energy modeling assessments, and precise attention to detail will make me an asset at GreenWays.

4. Impress employers with a relevant accomplishment

The best cover letters demonstrate a candidate’s expertise. If you already have experience in your field, start your cover letter by noting a professional achievement that showcases a meaningful contribution at a previous workplace.

Example:

Accomplished

With over six years of diverse accounting experience under my belt, I’ve cultivated a strong foundation in financial management and cost reduction strategies, enabling me to make a substantial impact on any team. For instance, during my tenure at Smith Johnson & Sons, I balanced a $400,000 budget while reducing costs by 20% for a client. I’m eager to bring my attention to detail and analytical abilities to the Senior Accountant role at Walker & Company and achieve similar results while further enhancing my expertise.

Draw a connection between your achievement and how the skills you gained will help you succeed in your next role.

By highlighting specific accomplishments, you reassure employers that you’ll be an asset to their company.

5. Acknowledge a career change

Writing a career change cover letter can be daunting when you’re up against more experienced applicants. The key to winning over hiring managers is to demonstrate how your skills and experience transfer to your target job.

One great approach is to directly address your career change in the opening paragraph of your cover letter and make a convincing case for why they should hire you. This way, they’ll be more likely to consider your application instead of making a hasty decision to reject you due to your lack of experience.

Example:

Resourceful

As a self-taught makeup artist, I’m most fulfilled when I’m practicing makeup techniques at my full time role as a certified nursing assistant — for years I’ve honed my skills and made my patients feel beautiful, whether for special occasions or as part of our daily care routine. Inspired by your brand’s commitment to centering women over 50, I’d love to bring my eye for aesthetics, empathy, and incredibly steady hand to your team as I transition to my dream career.

This candidate includes transferable skills and relevant experience working closely with the company’s customer base so the hiring manager knows they’re a great fit despite their limited experience.

6. Demonstrate what you can do for the company

Ultimately, employers want evidence that you’ll quickly be able to contribute to the company after being hired.

To catch their attention, use the opening lines of your cover letter to highlight either a problem you can help them tackle, or any specific hard or soft skills you have to offer.

Example:

Helpful

I’m writing to apply for the Software Engineer role at Jasper Development. With over five years of experience as a backend engineer, I’m confident that my expertise would allow me to become an immediate contributor to the team at Jasper. Specifically, I understand that Jasper is looking to expand their services in cloud computing. At my previous job, I spearheaded a new cloud computing project that generated a 15% revenue increase. The Software Engineer role at Jasper would be an exciting opportunity for me to help your team build up the company’s cloud computing capacity while continuing to hone my skills in this area.

By including the project type, their role, and a quantifiable achievement that added value to the company, the hiring manager can easily see that this applicant would be an asset.

7. Be direct

Hiring managers are busy people, and often don’t have time to read each applicant’s cover letter thoroughly. To make sure your application isn’t overlooked, write a short cover letter that gets straight to the point in the opening lines.

Example:

Direct

I’m writing to apply for the restaurant manager position at La Fare Bistro. With more than eight years in the restaurant industry as a host, server, and manager, I’m confident that my expertise aligns closely with the responsibilities required of the restaurant manager position.

To model your cover letter’s first paragraph after this one, clearly and concisely state what job you’re applying for and why you’d be a good fit. The end result is a straightforward cover letter intro that makes you seem confident and qualified.

8. Reference industry trends or recent news

Another great way to let hiring managers know you’re a good fit is to mention recent trends in the field or give your take on relevant news that will impact the business.

Example:

Informed

As a passionate follower of the biotechnology sector, I was thrilled to read about Sinom Innovations’ recent breakthrough in risk reduction through personalized medicine. As a seasoned biomedical engineer with a 10+ year background in genetics and data analysis, I’d love to bring my experience in planning customized treatments to Sinom’s mission of revolutionizing patient care.

Be sure to explain later in your cover letter how your experience has informed your take on the news to show hiring managers that you’re well-equipped to navigate industry changes and contribute to the company’s success.

9. Lead with an impressive statistic

Hiring managers love to see concrete proof of your achievements. Win them over right away by including a statistic that shows off your abilities in the opening sentence of your cover letter.

Example:

Skillful

In my previous role as a marketing manager at Oracle Solutions, I led a team that achieved a 45% increase in lead generation within the first six months, surpassing our annual target. Recognizing that Apex Digital’s commitment to driving growth through innovative marketing strategies aligns perfectly with my own professional experience and skills, I am eager to explore the possibility of joining your company. I’d love to use my experience developing and executing successful marketing campaigns to contribute to the continued success of Apex.

This candidate hooks the reader with an impressive accomplishment in the first sentence, and then shifts the focus to what they can contribute if hired.

If you choose this angle for your cover letter, make sure you follow suit and let hiring managers know you’re prepared to achieve similar results at their company.

10. Use humor (if appropriate)

Hiring managers come across dozens of generic cover letters every day. Injecting humor into your cover letter opening is an effective way to add personality to your application and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Example:

Creative

As an online native who’s obsessed (yes, obsessed) with the GoGourmet app, I was thrilled to see your listing for the Social Media Manager position at GoGourmet Studios. Before I started watching GoGourmet’s content, I didn’t know the difference between a ham steak and a lamb shank. While I still may not be much of a chef, I would consider myself something of a social media sommelier. With over three years of professional experience as an online brand manager under my belt, I’m confident my adaptability and hands-on branding experience would make me the ideal candidate to help GoGourmet expand their online presence and user base.

Before you decide to take a humorous approach to your cover letter intro, consider whether it’s appropriate. Some companies and industries may consider a casual tone unprofessional.

Do some research into the company culture to determine whether a casual tone is acceptable.

11. Explain how you were introduced to the company

If you’re applying to a company whose work you’re already familiar with, sharing your personal experience is one way to establish an immediate connection.

Example:

Devoted

When I lived on Park Street, the smell of your bagels baking made me a morning person — and a loyal customer. Before long, I was recommending Bo’s Bagels to strangers on the street. 3 years later, I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover an open position at Bo’s as an advertising specialist. I’ve directed successful campaigns for a range of small businesses in the community — most recently increasing foot traffic at a local farmer’s market by 35% — and I’m confident my expertise will help establish Bo’s Bagels as the community staple it deserves to be.

This example uses a bit of flattery paired with an example of relevant experience to show that this applicant is the best person to lead the company’s advertising campaign.

12. Start with a unique skill

If you have an uncommon skill that sets you apart from other applicants, your cover letter introduction is a great place to mention it.

Example:

Talented

Growing up trilingual and deeply connected to both my Spanish and Arabic-speaking sides of the family, I’ve been lucky enough to participate in a truly multicultural society. When I learned about Borderless Inc.’s dedication to bridging cultural gaps through expert translation and localization services, I knew I’d found the perfect opportunity to leverage my unique language skills and multicultural experience. I am confident that my linguistic expertise and exceptional communication skills will enable me to excel as a localization specialist, fostering growth and success in the increasingly interconnected global market.

If you choose to lead with your skills, make sure to use the rest of your cover letter to emphasize how your experience has prepared you to fulfill the daily responsibilities of the role. That way, hiring managers will have a clearer picture of how you can apply this featured skill.

Need help crafting a killer cover letter introduction? Try using an AI cover letter generator that can help you come up with creative new ideas.

Cover letter introduction template

If you’re still not sure how to start your cover letter, below is a text template you can copy and paste into a document.

Once you’ve got your cover letter opening down, don’t forget to pay attention to the rest of your cover letter format.

YOUR NAME
Address: Street, City, State, Zip Code | Email: your.email@email.com | Phone: (303) 456-7876 | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/your.profile

[Today’s Date] [Hiring Manager’s Name] 123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],

I was excited to see the [Position Name] listing at [Company Name] on [Job Search Platform]. Given my [relevant experience] and expertise in [area of expertise], I am writing to express my interest in the position, as I have long admired [Company Name]’s efforts to [company goal]. In my previous work at [Company Name], I [professional accomplishment], demonstrating keen [relevant hard or soft skills]. I believe that these experiences have prepared me well to [professional achievement goal] at [Company Name].

Tips for beginning a cover letter

An engaging opening paragraph can go a long way toward winning over the employer from the start.

1. Include the essential elements

Understanding the main parts of a cover letter is crucial, and the introduction is one of the most important components. Your cover letter introduction should include the following information in the first couple of sentences:

The position you’re applying for
The company you’re applying to
How you learned about the job opening
A statement expressing and explaining your interest in the position
Any achievements that highlight your qualifications

Your goal is to hit these points in your introduction concisely. Hiring managers often have to pore over dozens of applications at a time, and one way to make a good impression is to respect their time by writing a cover letter that gets straight to the point.

Don’t neglect the fact that how you address your cover letter plays an important part in making a great first impression. “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam” are classic cover letter openers, but these days many hiring managers consider them outdated.

2. Pay special attention to your cover letter’s opening line

Knowing what to write in the opening lines of your cover letter can be difficult because you need to concisely sum up your qualifications as a candidate and make the best possible impression.

Here are 5 cover letter opening sentence examples to give you some ideas:

How to write a cover letter opening line as a recent graduate

Dear Ms. Casey,

As a recent graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in business-oriented chemistry, I was excited to see your listing on Indeed for a Marketing Associate at AMCOL Corp.

How to write a cover letter opening line that makes a connection

Dear Ms. Nguyen,

After speaking with my former colleague Mary Waltman about the open Real Estate Agent position at Weichert Co., I decided I couldn’t miss out on such an exciting opportunity and am writing to express my interest in joining your agency.

How to write a cover letter opening line that puts relevant experience first

Dear Mr. Wilson,

As a cybersecurity expert with 3 years of experience in online banking systems, I am seeking a new opportunity and was intrigued by your job listing for a Cybersecurity Consultant.

How to write a cover letter opening line that mentions skills and training

Dear Mr. Garcia,

As a responsible and organized NNA-trained notary, I am writing to apply for the Notary Public position with PRA Group listed on Linkedin.

How to write a cover letter opening line that mentions being referred by a current employee

Dear Ms. Evans,

With 6+ years of K-12 teaching experience, I was thrilled to hear that you have an opening for a 4th grade teacher from John Marquez, whom I worked with for several years at Whitman Elementary School.

The examples above are effective because they immediately indicate the position the candidate is applying for, as well as their relevant experience, qualifications, or connections.

Including informative details like this in the first sentence quickly gives employers an idea of what makes you an ideal candidate, and encourages them to keep reading.

3. Match the tone of the company’s site or socials

The best cover letter opening lines are simple, direct, and informative.

While it can be tempting to use cover letter starters that are unique and add flair to your application, you should make sure that your opening is appropriate for the company culture. Otherwise, you risk your cover letter coming across as unprofessional or gimmicky.

Before you begin writing your cover letter, spend some time browsing the company’s social media, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.

If they have a website or blog, pay special attention to the tone of their “about us” section, where you can usually get a good idea of what the company culture is like. Then, model the tone of your cover letter after the company’s voice, while still letting your unique personality and writing style shine through.

Still have writer’s block? Our list of the best AI cover letter generators will help you get started.

Emily Crowley

Career Advisor & Senior Content Writer

Emily Crowley loves helping job seekers overcome obstacles to advance their careers. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Foreign Language and Culture and relocated to Taipei shortly after. As a writer and career advisor, she takes a particular interest in empowering young professionals through practical knowledge and advice on topics like resume writing, interviewing, and navigating career changes. Emily’s career advice has been featured in online publications such as Global Trade Magazine and Parade. For media-related queries, she can be reached at emily [at] resumegenius [dot] com.

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