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Cover Letters 5 min read · Updated June 2026

Write a cover letter that actually gets read

Most cover letters restate the resume and bore the reader. A good one tells a short, specific story about why you and this role fit. Here's the structure that works.

The four-paragraph formula

  • Opening: name the role and lead with one genuine reason you're excited about this company specifically.
  • Proof 1: a concrete achievement that maps to the job's top requirement.
  • Proof 2: a second story showing a different strength they need.
  • Close: a confident, forward-looking line and a thank-you.

Make the opening specific

"I'm excited to apply for the Marketing Manager role" says nothing. "Your shift to community-led growth is exactly the playbook I ran at Brightwave" says everything. Reference something real about the company.

Keep it short and human

Aim for under 300 words. Write like you'd talk. Skip "To Whom It May Concern" — find the hiring manager's name when you can, and use it.

The NavPeer Resume cover letter builder drafts all four paragraphs from your role and company, then lets you edit every line so it sounds like you.

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