How to write a cover letter 🙇

Plus: This state just became transparent!

October 08, 2024

Hey there! Did you hear? New Jersey is officially the 12th state to pass pay transparency legislation! 🎉 With Illinois, Minnesota, Vermont, and Massachusetts also enacting similar laws next year, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for pay transparency. 

We can’t wait to see the positive ripple effects. 💚

How to Write an Unignorable Cover Letter 

Everyone says they hate cover letters. But what they really hate are bland and boring cover letters that read like the fine print of your insurance plan.

Cover letters can be interesting and even enjoyable if they have personality and ✨ zest ✨. The key is to see them less as a stuffy, formal obligation and more as a chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager. 

And if you have a killer introduction? That could be your secret weapon to get to the next stage of the hiring process (and land the perfect high-paying job). Here are the ingredients for an unignorable cover letter that stands out from the pile: 

Be concise  

The hiring manager is reviewing dozens—if not hundreds!—of cover letters. They only spend 1–2 minutes on each, so keep yours short. 300 words is the sweet spot. 

Keep it simple   

But what do those 300 words actually say? They usually follow a three-part format: 

1️⃣ Introduction ➜ The “what, where, and why.” Include the role you’re applying for, the company name, and your reason for applying. 

2️⃣ Body ➜ List your relevant achievements, including metrics, results, and hyperlinks that showcase your previous work. 

3️⃣ Conclusion ➜ End with a thank you and a call to action to meet. 

Show, don’t tell  

Standout cover letters don’t just tell employers why you’re a good fit—they show them. For example, instead of saying “I’m a data-driven social media manager,” try “I grew my company’s LinkedIn by 10% by tracking each post's performance over six months.” 

Or if the employer wants a data analyst with a “strong attention to detail,” saying “In my current role, I submit 200 client reports each month error-free” shows you have the thoroughness they’re after. 🔍  

Get personal  

Remember: A human is reading your cover letter! Ditch the jargon and empty compliments and personalize it instead. For example: 

  • Applying for a design role? Create an aesthetic cover letter that uses the company’s brand colors. 

  • If the company has a bold brand voice (looking at you, Duolingo) match that energy instead of writing formally. 

These details show an employer you’ve done your homework and are the perfect fit—which is why you should always write a fresh cover letter for each job. 

Want even more help crafting the perfect cover letter? We’ve put together a cover letter template to help you save time and guide you through the process line-by-line so you can customize without the hassle. Get access right here. 

Sponsored by Capital One Café 

We’re Coming to Florida! 🌴

Join us at the Capital One Cafe at Miracle Mile to learn which social media platforms pay the most (and least) and the best practices that have helped us earn over $1M from social media.

Come with questions and leave with free goodies, photos with the Salary Transparent Street team, and the confidence to monetize your next social venture!

Space is limited. Click the link here to RSVP! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Limited quantities. 

$95,000. That’s the cost per year of attending some colleges in the US—and it’s only going up. 😦 So in our latest episode of Two Cents, James and I ask what we’re all thinking: Is college worth it? 

We also cover: 

  • The insane difference between how women and men determine if they’re qualified for a job 

  • What we would be doing if Salary Transparent Street didn’t exist 

  • Nontraditional jobs that pay just as much as jobs requiring college degrees

Watch it on YouTube below or tune in via Spotify! 

  • Gen Z’s latest side hustle? Airbnb arbitrage. 🏡 Gen Z entrepreneurs are leasing properties to sublet on Airbnb—and some are reportedly earning millions. But not everyone’s thrilled about this lucrative side hustle for obvious reasons (*cough* the housing crisis *cough*). 

  • Time to dust off those résumés. 💼 US hiring rose for the first time in six months after 143,000 jobs were added in September. While wage growth remains stagnant, experts predict payrolls could gradually increase soon.

  • Retired Boomers have one big regret: 😷 Not using their sick days. That includes Ron Sherman, who built up 360 hours of sick leave but lost it all without pay or credit when he was fired. This is your reminder: Use 👏 your 👏 sick 👏 days. 

  • The dockworkers strike is over. 🪧A global shipping crisis was narrowly avoided after the union secured a 61.5% wage increase over six years. Dockworkers used to earn $20 an hour…while the shipping industry has made $400 billion in profit since 2020.

Thanks for being here! We’re more than halfway done with our tour and would love to see you at our next stop! RSVP below to save your spot. 💚

 See you next week!

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