How to Write a Cover Letter in 2025: Templates, Tips, and Examples

A cover letter remains one of your most powerful tools in the 2025 job market. Despite evolving recruitment technologies, up to 94% of hiring managers still consider cover letters essential to interview decisions. This guide shows you exactly how to write a cover letter that stands out, with proven templates, actionable tips, and real examples that have landed jobs at top companies like Google and Microsoft.

What Should a Cover Letter Look Like in 2025?

Modern cover letters balance brevity with impact. Recruiters in 2025 prefer one-page documents of 250–400 words divided into three to five focused paragraphs. Your letter should open with a professional header containing your contact information, followed by the date and hiring manager's details when available.

The structure that generates the highest callback rates includes:

• Strong opening paragraph that immediately connects your value to the company's mission (41% of hiring managers cite the introduction as most impactful)

• One to two body paragraphs highlighting specific achievements with measurable results

• Clear closing with a confident call-to-action requesting an interview

Format-wise, use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 11–12 point size with one-inch margins. Save as PDF unless otherwise specified, and name your file clearly (FirstName_LastName_Cover_Letter.pdf). This clean approach ensures your letter passes Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) while remaining visually appealing to human readers.

Avoid graphics, tables, text boxes, or nonstandard headers—ATS software in 2025 has become stricter about parsing these elements. Instead, use selective bullet points to highlight key achievements within your body paragraphs.

How to Write a Killer Cover Letter

Research and Personalize

Generic cover letters fail immediately. Start by researching the company's culture, recent projects, and mission. Address your letter to a specific person whenever possible—"Dear Hiring Manager" signals you didn't invest time in research.

Incorporate details that prove you've done your homework. For example, reference a recent company initiative or explain how your values align with their stated mission. 72% of hiring managers consider customization "important" or "very important."

Lead with Impact

Your opening sentence must grab attention. Skip tired phrases like "I am writing to apply for..." Instead, try:

• "When I increased organic search traffic by 48% in six months at [Company], I used the same data-driven approach that [Target Company] champions in its marketing strategy."

• "Your recent expansion into [market] aligns perfectly with my five years leading international product launches that generated $2M in cost savings."

Showcase Measurable Results

Don't rehash your resume—add context with specific metrics. Quantifiable achievements make your value immediately clear:

These concrete numbers demonstrate impact and help recruiters envision your potential contribution.

Tailor for Remote and Hybrid Roles

When applying for remote positions, emphasize digital-first competencies:

• Communication skills: Highlight experience with asynchronous collaboration and written communication

• Remote tools proficiency: Mention specific platforms (Slack, Zoom, Notion, Trello) you've used successfully

• Self-management: Provide examples of independent project completion or cross-timezone coordination

• Time zone awareness: Include your location and time zone in your header

Keep remote cover letters even more concise—under 300 words—since digital-first companies value efficiency. One candidate successfully landed a remote role by opening with: "As someone who has managed distributed teams across three continents, I understand that remote work requires proactive communication and disciplined time management—skills I've honed over four years of fully remote product development."

Close with Confidence

Your final paragraph should express enthusiasm and prompt action. Avoid weak closings like "Thank you for your time." Instead:

"I'm excited to bring my track record of [specific achievement] to [Company Name]'s [team/department]. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience with [relevant skill] can contribute to [specific company goal]. I'm available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to speaking with you soon."

What Are the Three Golden Rules in Writing the Cover Letter?

1. Customize Every Single Letter

Never send the same cover letter twice. Each application requires research into the specific company and role. Use keywords from the job description naturally throughout your letter—this helps with both ATS parsing and showing alignment with the position's requirements.

2. Keep It Concise and Scannable

Hiring managers spend 30 seconds to two minutes reviewing cover letters. Make every sentence count. Use short paragraphs (2-4 sentences), occasional bullet points for achievements, and white space to improve readability. If a sentence doesn't directly support why you're the ideal candidate, delete it.

3. Balance AI Assistance with Authenticity

Generative AI can help overcome writer's block and suggest keywords, but 84% of recruiters can spot unedited AI content. Use AI tools as starting points, then heavily revise with your own voice, specific examples, and personal insights. Run your final draft through plagiarism detectors to ensure originality. Your genuine enthusiasm and unique experiences should shine through—these are what truly differentiate you from other candidates.

Cover Letter Templates and Examples That Work

Template for Career Changers

Header: [Your contact information]

Opening: "While my background is in [previous field], the skills I've developed in [transferable skill] directly apply to [target role] at [Company]. Specifically, my experience [relevant achievement] demonstrates the [key quality] your job posting emphasizes."

Body: Focus on transferable skills with metrics. Explain your motivation for the change and how your unique perspective adds value.

Closing: Express enthusiasm for bringing a fresh perspective while emphasizing your commitment to the new field.

Real Example: Microsoft Software Engineering Manager

Isabelle Todd's successful Microsoft cover letter worked because it:

• Opened by aligning her passion for software innovation with Microsoft's reputation

• Highlighted a specific Oracle project where her team removed 50,000 lines of deprecated code

• Included measurable outcomes: 68% performance optimization and 55% boost in user satisfaction

• Demonstrated technical leadership with concrete numbers

• Balanced personal enthusiasm with professional achievement

This approach showed immediate value while proving cultural fit—exactly what top companies seek.

Real Example: Google Product Manager

Johnatan Wright's Google cover letter succeeded by:

• Directly referencing Google's mission in the opening

• Describing his Intel role where he led a strategic product development overhaul

• Quantifying results: faster ideation-to-delivery pipeline and $2M in cost savings

• Using storytelling to blend technical insights with market strategy

• Showing cross-functional leadership capabilities

Both examples follow 2025 best practices: concise formatting, personalized greetings, specific numbers, and clear alignment with company goals. You can find more cover letter examples that get interviews to inspire your own approach.

Automate Your Cover Letter Process with PitchMeAI

Writing customized cover letters for every application is time-consuming. PitchMeAI solves this challenge by generating tailored cover letters in seconds—directly from any job posting you find online.

Here's how it streamlines your application process:

Instant Customization: The PitchMeAI Chrome extension works on any job board or company website. Click one button and it analyzes the job description, pulls relevant details from your resume, and crafts a personalized cover letter that highlights your most relevant achievements for that specific role.

Find the Right Contact: PitchMeAI locates hiring manager email addresses so you can send your application directly to decision-makers—a strategy that significantly increases response rates. Learn more about crafting the perfect message to hiring manager.

ATS-Optimized Output: Every generated cover letter includes keywords from the job posting and follows the clean, standard formatting that passes through Applicant Tracking Systems while remaining engaging for human readers.

Complete Application Suite: Beyond cover letters, PitchMeAI generates tailored resumes for each position. The platform also offers a free resume builder where you can speak your experience via voice note, paste free text, or upload an old resume—and get a polished, professional resume in under one minute.

PitchMeAI offers 3 free credits monthly, plus a 10-credit free trial. The premium plan ($22/month) provides unlimited usage—a worthwhile investment when you're applying to multiple positions and need to maintain quality and customization at scale.

By automating the time-consuming parts of application writing while maintaining personalization and authenticity, PitchMeAI helps you apply to more positions without sacrificing quality—the key to landing interviews in 2025's competitive job market.