Cover Letter Writing Archives

Why the First Sentence of Your Cover Letter Matters

Did you know that 94% of hiring managers use cover letters to decide which candidates to interview? Most of them skim letters quickly, which means your first sentence only has a few seconds to make an impression. A strong first sentence can:

Even if this is your first professional role, the right opening can position you as a strong candidate. The key is to write a clear and engaging first sentence that draws the reader in and encourages them to read the rest of your letter.

Common Mistakes in Cover Letter Openings

Before diving into strong examples, it helps to understand what doesn’t work. Many cover letters start with something like, “I am writing to apply for [Job Title]…” It’s not wrong, but it’s definitely forgettable. Hiring managers read that same line over and over, so it doesn’t give them a reason to keep reading or remember you.

Another common mistake is opening with something overly focused on what you want rather than what you offer. For example, saying you want the job because it “looks fun” doesn’t show how you’d add value. The best way to write a cover letter opening is to make an impression fast by focusing on your impact and relevance to the position.

Proven Ways to Start a Cover Letter

Here are several ways to start your cover letter that set you apart from other applicants.

1. Lead with Enthusiasm for the Company or Role

Showing real excitement about the job immediately signals you’re invested. For example:

“I was thrilled to see that [Company Name] recently launched [Project/Product], and I’d love to bring my communication and teamwork skills to support your next initiative.”

This approach demonstrates that you’ve done your homework and are motivated by the work itself, not just the paycheck.

2. Feature your Skills

Every skill you’ve built can prove your value to a future employer. According to Forbes, nearly 40% of hiring managers now evaluate candidates based on their skills rather than job titles alone. That means clearly showing what you can do, even from part‑time jobs or volunteer work, directly strengthens your application. For example:

“At [Coffee Shop], I learned to juggle orders and keep customers happy during peak hours. I am ready to bring that same multitasking and service mindset to [Company Name].”

Presenting your experience like this proves your abilities matter, regardless of your job title.

3. Tell a Short Story or Anecdote

Sharing a quick example of responsibility, problem-solving, or leadership makes your opening more memorable. Research shows that people remember stories far better than isolated facts, meaning a short narrative can stick in a hiring manager’s mind. For example:

“When a last-minute schedule change left our team short-staffed, I reorganized tasks to make sure every customer was helped on time. That experience taught me how to stay organized and calm under pressure, skills I plan to bring to [Company Name].”

A story like this shows your skills in action, much more than a generic claim ever could.

4. Ask a Thoughtful Question

Asking a thoughtful question is a smart way to show that you’ve done research on the company and want to learn more about them. It also signals that you care about the role and want to understand how you can contribute effectively. For example:

“How can a team member with strong communication and problem-solving skills help [Company Name] expand its client services? I’m eager to find out as part of your [Job Title] team.”

Using this approach is one of the most effective ways to show you’re focused on the company’s needs, not just your own. Learning how to start a cover letter with a question can make your opening more memorable for hiring managers.

Cover Letter Worthy Skills

Part-time, volunteer, or internship work often builds highly transferable skills that employers value. The trick is to frame them so that they showcase their impact. Learn the wrong and right ways to showcase your experiences:

Even everyday roles can become valuable proof of your professional abilities. Hardly’s guide on transferable skills explains how to identify the skills you’ve already built and present them so hiring managers can see the value you bring to any role.

A Handy Cover Letter Checklist

Use this checklist to make your cover letter the best it can be:

Start strong — Open with a sentence that shows enthusiasm or relevant skills.
Tailor it — Reference the company, role, or a specific project.
Highlight your strengths — Focus on skills, achievements, or experiences that matter.
Show impact — Explain how your skills have made a difference in past roles.
Keep it concise — 3–4 short paragraphs are ideal.
Avoid clichés — Demonstrate value with real examples instead of generic statements.
Close confidently — End with a strong, action-oriented statement about next steps.

Following this checklist ensures your cover letter is professional, tailored, and memorable for hiring managers. Go get that job, knowing that your cover letter is ready to impress.

How Hardly Helps

At Hardly, we can guide you on how to start a cover letter, and that’s just the beginning. Here are the top three tools we recommend to get your application moving:

Cover Letter Generator: lets you tell your story without sounding unprofessional.

Resume Builder: helps translate life experience into clear, confident language.

Job Tracker: helps track real-time growth and learning moments for future updates.

Final Thoughts

Now go on and write your cover letter with confidence. You already have the skills and experience that matter. Focus on showing who you are, what you bring to the role, and how you can make a real impact.

The Period of Waiting After Submitting

The relief of finally hitting the submit button is cause for celebration. The process of writing has been made so much easier by utilizing Hardly.

But what about the days and weeks of waiting after? Puttering around the house and waiting to hear back is nobody’s idea of a good time. The longer the waiting period stretches, the more room yawns open for anxiety to slip in.

If you’re wondering what to do next, wonder no longer. Hardly has your back (and a few options of what to do in the meanwhile).

Take a Breath and Reset

It’s a lot of pressure to organize everything and apply. Taking a moment to breathe is never going to hurt. Life is always going to be chaotic and full of surprises. One moment of peace is something you shouldn’t begrudge yourself.

While applying, your eyes tend to be locked on a screen for HOURS. Hitting the submit button means screen time can finally be over. Hardly recommends stepping away from all screens, big and small. Especially right before sleeping. That text can wait (all non-urgent ones of course) and so can that new TV show.

Don’t overthink or let yourself join the negativity club. Don’t let yourself spiral into “what ifs.” Easier said than done, right?

What To Do Instead

Once you’ve hit submit, give yourself a minute. Literally.

You’ve done the hard work. Now it’s time to let your brain catch up. Focus on the things you are grateful for and things you are looking forward to.

Track and Organize Your Applications

With Hardly’s job tracker, you can see every single application you have submitted, what stage you are at with each one, and have coaches able to advise you every step of the way. Creating multiple accounts for different job portals, remembering all of those passwords, and hoping that you won’t miss the next email or phone call sounds like a hassle.

I’ve seen people utilize Excel and create gigantic spreadsheets or write down every job in their Notes app. It works for some people, but definitely not for everyone.

Don’t make extra work for yourself. Keeping track of your applications reduces stress and keeps you prepared.

By inputting the company, date applied, and the link to the job description, you’ve already organized your pile of jobs in less than a minute. Once you get an interview, you can change the status of the application to “Interviewing.” If an opportunity doesn’t work out, another click of a button greys it out.

Prepare for the Next Steps

If you’re antsy to get past relaxing and onto the next thing, we have a few tips for you. Use the waiting time to get ready for potential interviews or follow-ups.

Do the research. Companies LOVE when you already know all about the position and the company. If you bring fresh ideas to an interview or personal projects that you completed specifically for that company, that puts you 5 steps above the rest of the applicants.

Practice common interview questions. You can never practice enough. Sometimes you might have to wing it because life happens. It’s not the end of the world BECAUSE you have already spent extra time practicing for whatever might come your way. The research you have done will ensure you’re never caught off-guard with questions related to the company.

Update your portfolio or LinkedIn. Don’t think that interviewing companies won’t look over your portfolio or Linkedin before they even speak to you. You want to show and put your most polished foot forward.

Keep relevant materials (resume, cover letter) handy and polished. Printer paper won’t cut it. Invest in a few copies of your clean and simple resume on white cotton paper. You won’t regret it and your future employers will appreciate it.

Build Up Your Skills

Like I mentioned earlier, personal projects can be huge when interviewing for a specific job. In the design world, a branding project focused on the company you’d love to work at should be included in your portfolio and mentioned.

Online courses and free webinars are abundant. LinkedIn Learning is a huge resource. I highly recommend certificates. They take a few hours to a couple of days to complete, but ultimately highlight your steadfast dedication to a specific skill.

Network, Network, and Network

Friends can refer you to people in that company or industry. Those people can refer to exactly who you need. Six degrees of separation is not entirely unfounded. Everyone knows someone.

If not, sending out a few messages and emails to people in the company or industry for a cup of coffee or a 15 minute call can establish relationships and help you get you where you need to be. Down the road, it could be the tipping point of an opportunity or help create a new opportunity just for you. Make sure you aren’t just asking the person for a job. That’s shallow and transactional. Truly invest your attention in them and then they’ll invest in you AFTER building a strong relationship.

Keep Applying, But Stay Focused

Now that you’re ready to start applying again, I recommend applying to a few every day. Don’t apply to a thousand because that encourages burnout in a wildly short amount of time. Sending out a few high quality applications is worth much more in the end than a thousand half-baked applications. Make sure to proofread and ensure your resume and cover letter are saying exactly what you want them to say.

Never forget to celebrate your progress!

Conclusion: Own the In-Between

It might feel empty, just waiting for people to get back to you. Fill that time and space with things that can only help you move forward. Rest and being proactive are qualities that will serve you well, even outside of job applications.

Staying positive makes all the difference. That time between submitting and hearing back doesn’t have to feel empty. With Hardly’s tools like your resume, your tracker, and your next steps, it all becomes part of the bigger picture you’re building. You’re not just waiting. You’re moving forward.

1. Clean Up What's Collecting Dust

Let’s start by clearing out what’s no longer working. We want your career story to be told and catch the attention of those who need to hear it.

For my young professionals out there, keep your resume clean and clear with a one page maximum.

The same goes for your cover letter. It’s tempting to fit every experience into your resume — believe me, I’ve been there and done that. In the words of one of my former teachers, you don’t want the person reading it to be in a bad mood because it’s too long. When it’s too long, most people will skip through it even faster. That’s not ideal.

💡 Career experts agree; cover letters aren’t always required, but a strong one can make all the difference in your job search.

For everyone else, it’s always good to keep the most recent and relevant experiences on your resume and highlight specific instances in your cover letters. Understandably, some people have significant gaps in time in their professional careers. In those cases, prioritize relevant experiences. If there happen to be other jobs or professional experiences since then that can be highlighted, let that job you had straight after your last year of school take a backseat.

Now that we’ve got the main bullet points in place, it’s time to make sure that your resume sounds sleek and modern.

Here are some examples of tired and dated sentence phrases:

“Responsible for handling customer inquiries." (Translation: I answered lots and lots of phone calls.)
“Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. (Every office job ever.)
“Hard worker with a positive attitude.” (Yawn.)
“Participated in team meetings and contributed ideas.” (Basically, I showed up.)

These tired phrases are holding your career story hostage. It’s time to kick them to the curb and make space for what really counts. We’ll give an example about how to revitalize phrases like this in the next section, so keep reading.

2. Keep the Gems

What’s still working for you? That introduction might have been collecting dust for a few years, but at one point it accurately described your abilities and career story. Take the tone or a certain word and refresh it.

🕰 Have you always been good with time-management? Update the wording so that strength finally gets the credit it deserves.

Before (dusty old intro):“I am a detail-oriented professional with strong time-management skills and a commitment to teamwork.”

After (much better):“A natural multitasker who thrives in fast-paced environments, I balance deadlines, projects, and collaboration with ease. Busy days become my success stories” (a perfect segue to an example of such a success story)

Of course, there isn’t anything wrong with the first introduction. It gets the job done with no extra fluff. In full transparency, the AI that reads it first won’t notice anything amiss. The only thing missing?

(It’s kind of important.)

It’s your voice. Once your resume and cover letter make it past the initial rounds, which it will, a real person will be scanning cover letter after cover letter. You want to make it stick in their minds. This is your chance to stand out in a clean and memorable way! Make it count.

For more on how to make your resume and cover letter ATS-friendly, click here.

3. Rewrite the Script

I have an even easier solution for you.

Imagine not going through your cover letter and resume and rewriting every little thing about your career.

You don’t have to imagine it. With Hardly, input your old cover letter and resume along with some key words about what you want your new cover letter or resume to sound like into our cover letter and resume builders. Within minutes, you’ll have a brand-new, clutter-free, and ATS-friendly cover letter and resume ready to submit.

Worried about tone? You don’t have to be. Our AI enhances all text to sound exactly how you want it to. And guess what? All of Hardly’s tools are customizable to your needs. Use what you want, leave behind what you don’t.

4. Clear the Way for Change

Here’s your Hardly toolkit:

Resume Builder – Match resumes to job descriptions instantly so you can apply with confidence and clarity. Hardly tailors the structure and content to position you for success.
Cover Letter Builder – You can pick any job description, and generate a cohesive and polished cover letter within seconds that tells your career story. Enhance the cover letter with Hardly’s AI button.
Job Application Tracker – Track applications, identify next steps, and coach with confidence using Hardly’s real-time job tracking tool
Interview Practice Tool – Hardly’s Interview Practice Tool helps job seekers like you get ready for interviews by practicing responses and improving their delivery. It is an excellent tool to simulate the basic interview process.
Messaging – Stay connected with quick, secure messages, all within the platform.

Assessments – Use built-in assessments to identify strengths, gaps, and job readiness.

Final Thoughts

Your career story is not fixed. It grows as you do. Whether you are just starting out or re-entering the workforce after time away, you already have what you need. What matters now is how you tell it.

Clear the clutter. Say what you mean. Let Hardly help you bring your next chapter into focus.