How To Start A Cover Letter

A cover letter is the hiring manager’s first look at you. It is a personalized document that shows why you stand out as a candidate.

This document plays a key role in demonstrating your extra commitment or explaining a complex background to the employer. If you’re unsure why this document matters so much, understanding the role of a cover letter can give you better clarity before you start writing.

According to stats, 83% of hiring managers read cover letters, while 47% of the candidates are more likely to get an interview because of them!

Based on the significant impact, the start of a cover letter is often one of the most daunting tasks for candidates.

From showing your enthusiasm to expressing your passion, every detail matters. Keep reading to know how to create an outstanding cover letter that can help you land the job right away!

Table of Contents

What Is The Importance Of The Cover Letter Opening?

Did you know that a recruiter spends a maximum of 30 seconds scanning a cover letter?

Starting your cover letter with a strong introduction can immediately communicate your value. Amidst many applications, here is how a strong cover letter opening helps you stand out.

Instantly grabs attention with an engaging sentence
Sets the tone by establishing your professionalism
Provides context regarding the position you are applying for
Briefly hints at your values
Shows your interest in the role

Given these numerous benefits, many candidates adopt a risk-free approach and work with experienced Cover letter writing services in Canada.

What Are The Cover Letter Writing Tips That Work?

According to 94% of the hiring managers, cover letters influence the interview decisions! While 59% of the hiring managers analyze the applicant’s personality through it.

Here are the cover letter writing tips that you need to keep in mind while writing this document:

Research	Understand the mission, culture, and practices of the company.
Personalize	Start with a personalized greeting, and mention the hiring manager’s name.
Why	Explain the why behind your excitement for this specific role.
Skills	Quantifiable skills are an instant attention grabber.
Conciseness	Keep it short. Your intro should be about 3-4 paragraphs.

What Are The Cover Letter Openings That Work?

Effective cover letter openings can instantly connect your skills to a specific company, setting up the rest of the letter. It works as a personal sales pitch and convinces the hiring manager to read ahead.

Let’s take a look at some of the most effective opening strategies you need to implement to start a cover letter.

Mention A Mutual Connection

Mentioning the name of the referral to increase your hiring chances is one of the most effective cover letter openings that work. If the hiring manager considers their opinion as valuable, they will instantly think about the next step of the hiring process.

Express Your Enthusiasm

Show your passion for the job role. This tells the employer that you have performed the relevant research and are eager to become a part of the company.

Tell How You Would Add Value

Discuss an impressive achievement that highlights your unique value for the role. A quantifiable success that directly connects with the role’s needs will show that you are the perfect fit for the new role!

Explain What Inspired You About The Company

Demonstrate your genuine interest in the company. Mention any specific mission or recent work of the company that inspired you. This shows that instead of just a generic application, you are a candidate who invested their time researching the firm.

Explain Why You Love Your Career

Dedication is what impresses the hiring managers. Discussing the background of your career choices and how you got to where you are is one of the best ways to show yourself as a valuable candidate.

Write An Engaging Story

Hiring managers receive hundreds of generic applications in a day. Discussing your career story is one of the most effective ways to catch the hiring manager’s attention. It keeps them invested in your career journey while you get an opportunity to present your real potential to them as well!

Pro tip: Many candidates struggle to narrate their career story on professional documents that demand conciseness. For that, you can choose to work with professional resume writing services.

State A Strong Statement

Hiring managers are looking for someone who can help them achieve the organization’s goals and uphold its values. By presenting a short yet powerful statement of your beliefs and how they align with the company’s mission, you can instantly create an impressive impression on the hiring manager!

Present Your Plans For The Role

Shifting the focus to the company’s needs will help you directly communicate your contribution to the role. It specifies the impact that you will bring and highlights the real change that you are going to bring to the firm.

How To Address A Cover Letter?

Outdated greetings sound vague. Knowing how to address a cover letter makes things easier. It instantly reflects your professionalism. Instead of impersonal and standardized greetings like

“To whom it may concern,” here is what you need to do:

Use the recruiter’s name	Dear Mr. Oliver, Dear Mr. James, Dear Mr. Charles
Address the department	Greet them at the department. Dear sales team.
Be general	Only when necessary. Dear hiring manager.

In case you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, the best options to use are:

To Whom It May Concern
Dear Sir Madam
Dear Hiring Manager

Make sure to prioritize using names, as it shows your attention to detail!

What Are Some Examples Of Strong Cover Letter Beginnings?

A few examples of strong cover letter beginningsinclude:

Example 1

Dear Mr. John

I’m thrilled to apply for the marketing manager position at ABC Corp. My former colleague Alex Grey suggested that I would be an ideal fit for the marketing manager position, considering my passion for the industry.

Example 2

Dear Mr. Edwards

I’m excited to apply for the customer service representative position at ABC Corp. My experience of retaining clients and improving satisfactory outcomes by 40% aligns perfectly with your team’s goals.

Example 3

Dear Mr. Charles

In my previous role at HighTech Solutions, I drove a 25% increase in user engagement across multiple social media platforms. I’m eager to bring the same strategic approach to your marketing manager position.

Example 4

Dear Mr. James

I was thrilled to see your recent initiative regarding the green product you just launched. I have been watching this company integrate sustainable work practices since the start, and I’m a long-term admirer of your commitment to eco-friendly initiatives. I’m eager to apply for the ESG analyst position.

What To Include In A Cover Letter Introduction?

Your cover letter introduction shouldn’t contain clichés like those of other candidates. It should have something different. Consider these four key points to write an introduction that leaves an impact.

Here is what to include in a cover letter introduction:

Your professional identity and background
The job title you have applied for
How are you going to solve the problem
Why are you excited about joining the company

What Are Cover Letter Greeting Examples

So what are cover letter greeting examples?

In case you know the hiring manager’s name:

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr.
Dear [First Name] [Last Name]
Dear [First Name]

If you are unable to find the name:

Dear Hiring Manager
Dear [Department Name] Team
Dear Hiring Team
Dear Human Resources Department
To Whom It May Concern

Remember, always use a comma after the greeting, and conduct in-depth research to find the name of the hiring manager.

Casual greetings like “hey” or “hello there” should be strictly avoided!

What Are The Cover Letter Opening Phrases That Get Read

The most recommended cover letter opening phrases that get read are:

With 10 years of experience in…
I’m excited to apply for the role…
As a dedicated sales executive…
With a successful record of handling clients, I’m eager to…
I’m writing to express my interest in…

As an answer to how start a cover letter, you need to follow this approach:

Your info, such as name, phone, and email
The full date
Employer info, such as their name, title, and company
Salutation ( Dear Mr. Smith or Dear Hiring Manager)

For the opening paragraph, you need to:

Be direct about the role and where you saw it
Show your immediate value with a quantifiable accomplishment
Show enthusiasm about something specific related to the company

What Are Cover Letter Opening Lines

Cover letter opening lines are a strong paragraph that is:

Direct and enthusiastic
Highlights a connection
Leads with an achievement
Shows company passion

What Are The Cover Letter Introduction Examples

A few examples of cover letter introduction examples include:

I was thrilled to see your opening for the senior graphic designer role on LinkedIn; with my proven ability to redesign website UI and increase user conversion rates by 20% at my previous role, I’m confident I can drive similar growth for your brand.

Having followed Tech Solutions’ innovative work in the digital marketing agency for years, I was excited to learn of the opening for the social media manager position, where my 6 years of experience with increasing engagement and running successful ad campaigns aligns perfectly with your needs.

Best Cover Letter Opening Sentences

The best cover letter opening sentences will start with:

With a passion for digital marketing…
As an award-winning data analyst…
I’m a digital marketer with six years of experience in…

What Are Cover Letter Tips Canada

The best cover letter tips for Canada that you need to keep in mind are:

Aim for one page
Use Canadian spelling
Don’t send generic letters. Tailor each for a company.
Add quantifiable achievements
Never add generic statements

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job

A cover letter follows this basic structure. Use this framework to resolve your how to write a cover letter for a job related queries:

Header	Include the contact info and employer info.
Greeting	Address the hiring manager.
Introduction	Begin with a compelling introduction that highlights that you are a great fit.
Body	Write 1-2 body paragraphs that outline your skills and experience.
Closing	Thank the recruiter with a professional sign-off.

What Are Some Of The Effective Cover Letter Starts

Use this powerful combination for effective cover letter starts:

Personalized greeting
Presenting the job role
Key Skills (Quantified)
Interest in the company

Cover Letter Opening Templates For Job Seekers

Take a look at these Cover letter examples for job seekers

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]

I’m writing to express my interest in the [Job Position] at [Company name]. With [X years] of experience in the [field/industry] and a proven track record of [accomplishment], I’m confident in my ability to contribute to [Company’s name] success.”

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]

As a lifelong admirer of [Company name], I was thrilled to see the job posting for the position of [ Job title], I’m positive that I can help with [Company’s name’s] upcoming challenges. My experience in the [skill/industry] and passion for [related field] make me a strong candidate who can deliver an immediate impact.

How To End A Cover Letter?

Your cover letter should end on a positive note and should be forward-looking to leave a strong final impression.

Here is what you need to include in it,

Express gratitude by thanking them for their time and consideration
Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role or company
A call to action that invites them to review your resume
Professional sign off, such as ‘’Best regards’’, ‘’ Sincerely’’

If you’re unsure how to structure your final paragraph effectively, read our detailed guide on how to end a cover letter for more professional closing examples.

Here is an example for how to end a cover letter,

Thankyou for your time and consideration. I look forward to learn more about this opportunity and discussing how many skills in [Your skill] and experience [ years of experience] can align with the [Job title] at [Company name]. I’m eager to hear from you soon.

FAQS

What are some extra cover letter writing tips?

Additional cover letter writing tips include adding keywords throughout your cover letter, using action words to emphasize your performance, and proofreading each paragraph after writing it.

Is it necessary to personalize the cover letter opening lines?

Yes! Addressing the hiring manager by their name creates a strong impression instantly. Knowing how to address a cover letter properly demonstrates your professionalism and dedication to researching the company.

Does the starting of a cover letter have an impact on the hiring decision?

Yes! Compelling cover letter opening lines instantly set the expectations regarding your letter and show your communication skills to the employer. A weak opening won’t catch their attention, whereas a strong one will encourage them to continue reading!

Wrapping Up

Starting a cover letter the right way is the key to getting your application noticed among other candidates. By aiming for a single page, beginning with a strong opening, and personalizing your sentences, you can start a cover letter that tells your tailored story and persuades the hiring manager by telling why you are the perfect match for the role.