To write a short cover letter that still lands you the interview, draw inspiration from our short cover letter samples and template below.
Our free-to-use cover letter builder can make you a cover letter in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
Short cover letter sample #1
This brief cover letter works because it leads with the candidate’s genuine enthusiasm for tutoring, then backs that up with concrete achievements.
These examples show employers what the candidate brings to the table in a few short sentences.
Short cover letter sample #2
Despite its short length, this cover letter quickly spotlights the candidate’s interpersonal skills and full attendance record—both details that will impress employers.
By the end, the reader is left with a clear understanding of this candidate’s qualifications and confidence in their abilities.
Include a call to action in the last paragraph of your cover letter to encourage hiring managers to reach out to you and schedule an interview.
Short cover letter sample #3
This concise cover letter is effective because the applicant wastes no time highlighting how much experience they have.
In less than 150 words, they effectively draw attention to their key hard and soft skills in a convincing yet brief cover letter.
Mentioning industry-specific awards and certifications can make a short cover letter more impactful than a longer letter filled with less relevant information.
Short cover letter sample #4
This short cover letter succeeds by packing plenty of information into a small space.
The applicant uses bullet points to showcase their relevant achievements and backs up those achievements with hard numbers, showing employers exactly what they could bring to the role.
Short cover letter sample #5
This example demonstrates that you don’t need work experience to write an effective short cover letter.
In fact, short cover letters are perfect if you’re writing an entry-level cover letter. The shorter format lets you get right to the point and allows you to focus on your top 1–2 achievements that make you a good fit for the role.
Short cover letter template
Prefer using a template where you can just plug in your information? We’ve got you covered.
Date
Hiring Manager’s Name
Company Address
City, State, ZIP
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@email.com
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
As a [Position Name] with [X] years of experience [Action], I believe that I am the ideal candidate for [Company Name].
I am a [Adjective], [Adjective] worker, and in my current position have successfully [Achievement — with numbers]
I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached at [Your Email] or [Your Phone Number].
Sincerely,
Your Name
This template ticks all the boxes of a well-written short cover letter: it’s properly formatted, concise, and addresses the hiring manager by name. To use this template, copy and paste the text into your favorite cover letter template and fill in the blanks.
How to write a short cover letter for a job application
To write an effective short cover letter, you need to summarize your relevant experience, skill set, and achievements as quickly as possible.
Follow these tips to create a brief cover letter that wins over hiring managers.
1. Make your opening line count
“I’m writing to apply for the role of…” is the most overused opening line job seekers use on their cover letters.
Most hiring managers have seen it thousands of times. When writing your cover letter, try to avoid this boring opener.
Instead, learn how to start a cover letter with creativity and personalize your opening, and you’ll get noticed by more recruiters.
To illustrate how to do this, here’s an example of a captivating opening line:
“As an experienced and innovative marketer with an excellent track record, I’m thrilled to submit my application for the Senior Marketing Specialist role at ABC Enterprises.”
2. Write concisely
Without realizing it, we sometimes write unnecessarily long phrases on professional documents when a single word is enough. After you’ve written your cover letter, go back and reread it. Replace longer phrases with single words (or at least fewer words).
Here are some examples of long phrases that are frequently used in cover letters along with some shorter words to use instead:
Concise
- To
- I can
- Because
- Accomplished
- Many
- Regarding/About
- Currently
- Before
Wordy
- In order to
- I am capable of/I am able to
- Due to the fact that
- Successfully accomplished
- A large number of
- With regard to
- At the present time
- Prior to
3. Cut meaningless buzzwords
Anyone can describe themself as “detail-oriented” or a “self-starter,” but buzzwords mean little to recruiters.
Rather than describing yourself as “self-motivated,” give an example of an achievement that demonstrates this quality in action.
For instance, if you’re applying for a sales role, you could write:
Researched a new search engine optimization strategy that led to a 47% increase in sales.
Adding an accomplishment that reflects your strongest skills demonstrates to the hiring manager that you actually have those skills, and aren’t just saying so.
4. Only mention relevant experience
You don’t need to mention every job you’ve ever had in a short cover letter.
Instead of talking about specific roles, discuss the accomplishments and skills listed on your resume that make you the perfect fit for the job.
Read the job posting carefully to find out what skills the company is looking for, and highlight the ones you have in your short cover letter.
You can give a more detailed overview of your previous positions when writing your resume.
Dread writing cover letters? Read our guide to learn how to write a great cover letter that convinces hiring managers you’re the ideal person for the job.
Short cover letter FAQs
Here are the answers to some common questions about short cover letters.
What do I include in a short cover letter?
Add the same sections of a cover letter you normally would, including:
- a cover letter header with your contact information
- the hiring manager’s mailing address
- a proper cover letter salutation
- the body of your cover letter
- a sign off with your signature or typed name
How do I format a short cover letter?
Format your short cover letter the same way you’d format a cover letter that’s standard length.
Standard formatting elements include:
- a professional cover letter font (size 10.5–12 points — your contact details can go down to around 8 points)
- 1” cover letter margins
- PDF or DOCX format
When shouldn’t I use a short and concise cover letter?
There are a few situations when you shouldn’t use a short and concise cover letter:
- If the hiring manager has set a minimum word count — make sure you hit it.
- If you have many relevant achievements, skills, and certifications that the hiring manager absolutely needs to know about (and you can’t describe them properly on your resume) — then you can add them to your cover letter.
- If writing at a high level is part of the job — showcase your writing skills with your cover letter.
- If you’re changing careers — a compelling career change cover letter needs to be long enough to explain why you’re making the change and convince employers that your skill set will be an asset to their company.
However, here’s the Golden Rule of cover letter length: Never go past one page!
How can I make a short cover letter quickly?
If you need to make a short cover letter quickly, you can use a cover letter builder, which breaks the process down into a few quick steps.
Will hiring managers be turned off by a brief cover letter?
No, hiring managers won’t be turned off by a brief cover letter. In fact, many hiring managers will appreciate your ability to get to the point. Hiring managers have dozens of applications to review, and if you can sum up why you’d be the perfect hire in 200 words or less, they’ll appreciate you saving them time.
How short should a cover letter be?
As long as you can present a solid reason for why you should be hired, there’s no real rule about how short a cover letter should be. The shortest one we feature is under 150 words, but if you could convey the same information in fewer words, then go for it!

Ida Pettersson
Career Coach and Resume Expert
Committed to empowering job seekers of all experience levels to take the next step in their careers, Ida helps professionals navigate the job hunt from start to finish. After graduating from New College of Florida with a B.A. in Philosophy and Chinese Language and Culture, Ida moved to Hong Kong to begin her own career journey and finally settled in Taiwan. Her insights on resume writing, interview strategies, and career development have been featured on websites such as LawCareers.net, Digital Marketer, and SheCanCode.
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