What to Include in a Cover Letter: Complete Checklist

What to Include in a Cover Letter

A well-crafted cover letter includes specific elements that demonstrate your qualifications and interest. This guide covers everything you should include—and what to avoid.

Quick answer: Include your contact information, the date, employer's information, a professional greeting, 3-4 body paragraphs (position statement, why you're interested, your relevant experience, how you'll contribute), a closing paragraph with call-to-action, and a professional sign-off. Always customize content for the specific job.

Essential Elements (Must Include)

1. Your Contact Information

Location: Top of the letter, left-aligned

Include:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn profile URL (optional but recommended)
• City and state (full address optional)

Example:

Sarah Chen
San Francisco, CA
(555) 123-4567
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/sarahchen

Why it matters: Makes it easy for employers to contact you

2. Date

Location: Below your contact information

Format: "January 20, 2026" (full date)

Why it matters: Shows when you applied, helps with tracking

3. Employer's Contact Information

Location: Below the date

Include:

• Hiring manager's name (if known)
• Their title
• Company name
• Company address (optional but professional)

If unknown:

• "Hiring Manager" or "[Company Name] Hiring Team"
• Company name and address

Why it matters: Shows you've researched the company

4. Professional Greeting/Salutation

Location: Below employer's information

Best options:

• "Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name]," (if you know the name)
• "Dear Hiring Manager," (if name unknown)
• "Dear [Company Name] Team," (for startups/tech)

Avoid:

• "To Whom It May Concern"
• "Dear Sir/Madam"
• Overly casual greetings

Why it matters: Sets professional tone

5. Opening Paragraph

Location: First paragraph after greeting

Include:

• Position you're applying for
• Where you found the job posting (optional)
• Compelling hook (enthusiasm, achievement, or connection)

Example:

"I am excited to apply for the Marketing Manager position at [Company Name]. Your recent campaign for [Project] impressed me, and I'm eager to contribute to your innovative marketing team."

Why it matters: Grabs attention, shows interest

6. Body Paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs)

Location: Middle section

Paragraph 1: Why You're Interested

• What draws you to the company
• Why this role excites you
• How your values align

Paragraph 2: Your Relevant Experience

• 2-3 most relevant achievements
• Quantified results (numbers, percentages)
• Skills that match job requirements

Paragraph 3: How You'll Contribute (optional)

• What value you'll bring
• How you'll help achieve company goals
• Your unique strengths

Why it matters: Demonstrates fit and value

7. Closing Paragraph

Location: Before sign-off

Include:

• Brief reiteration of interest
• Request for interview (call-to-action)
• Thank you statement

Example:

"I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name]'s success. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience can benefit your team. Thank you for considering my application."

Why it matters: Clear next steps, professional closure

8. Professional Sign-Off

Location: End of letter

Best options:

• "Sincerely," (most formal)
• "Best regards," (professional, friendly)
• "Thank you," (grateful tone)

Followed by:

• Your typed name
• Handwritten signature (if physical copy)

Why it matters: Professional closure

Important Elements (Should Include)

9. Keywords from Job Description

What: Relevant keywords naturally integrated throughout

Why: Helps pass ATS screening, shows you understand the role

How: Use keywords from job posting naturally in your content

Example: If job requires "project management," mention your "project management experience"

10. Quantified Achievements

What: Numbers, percentages, dollar amounts

Why: Shows concrete impact, more credible than vague statements

Examples:

• "Increased sales by 30%"
• "Managed team of 10"
• "Reduced costs by $50,000"

11. Specific Examples

What: Concrete examples of your work

Why: More compelling than generic statements

Instead of: "I have marketing experience" Use: "I developed and executed a social media campaign that increased engagement by 45%"

12. Company Research

What: References to company values, recent news, or projects

Why: Shows genuine interest, not generic application

Example: "Your recent expansion into [market] aligns with my expertise in [relevant skill]"

Optional Elements (Include When Relevant)

13. Referral Mention

When: Someone referred you to the position

How: Mention early in opening paragraph

Example: "I am writing to apply for the [Position], recommended to me by [Name], who spoke highly of your team."

14. Portfolio Link

When: Creative roles (design, writing, marketing)

How: Include in contact information or body paragraph

Example: "You can view my portfolio at [URL]"

15. Relevant Certifications

When: Certifications are required or highly valued

How: Mention in body paragraph when relevant

Example: "My PMP certification and five years of project management experience..."

16. Availability Statement

When: You're available immediately or have specific timing

How: Include in closing paragraph

Example: "I am available to start immediately and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this role further."

What NOT to Include

❌ Salary Requirements

Unless: Specifically requested in job posting

Why: Can disqualify you if too high/low, better discussed later

❌ Personal Information

Avoid:

• Age
• Marital status
• Religion
• Political affiliation
• Photos (unless specifically requested)

Why: Not relevant, can lead to discrimination

❌ Negative Comments

Avoid:

• Complaints about previous employers
• Reasons for leaving previous jobs (unless positive)
• Criticisms of the company

Why: Unprofessional, creates negative impression

❌ Irrelevant Experience

Avoid:

• Unrelated jobs from 10+ years ago
• Personal hobbies (unless relevant)
• High school achievements (unless recent graduate)

Why: Takes up valuable space, dilutes focus

❌ Generic Content

Avoid:

• Copy-paste templates without customization
• Vague statements without specifics
• Clichés ("I'm a hard worker," "I'm a team player")

Why: Shows lack of effort, doesn't differentiate you

❌ Typos and Errors

Avoid:

• Spelling mistakes
• Grammatical errors
• Wrong company name
• Wrong job title

Why: Shows carelessness, unprofessional

❌ Overly Long Content

Avoid:

• More than one page
• More than 400 words
• More than 5 paragraphs

Why: Won't be read completely, shows poor communication skills

Cover Letter Checklist

Use this checklist before submitting your cover letter:

Contact Information

• Full name included
• Phone number included
• Professional email address included
• LinkedIn profile included (optional)
• City and state included

Formatting

• Date included
• Employer's information included
• Professional greeting/salutation
• Proper spacing throughout
• One page maximum
• Professional font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• 10-12pt font size
• 1-inch margins

Content

• Position clearly stated
• Opening hook included
• Why you're interested explained
• Relevant experience highlighted
• Quantified achievements included
• Specific examples provided
• Company research evident
• Keywords from job description included
• Clear call-to-action
• Thank you statement included
• Professional sign-off

Quality

• No typos or errors
• Grammar checked
• Customized for this specific job
• Professional tone throughout
• No negative comments
• No irrelevant information
• Appropriate length (250-400 words)

File Format

• Saved as PDF (or .docx if required)
• File name is professional (e.g., "YourName_CoverLetter.pdf")
• Formatting preserved
• All text is selectable (not scanned)

Industry-Specific Inclusions

Technology Roles

• Include: Technical skills, programming languages, frameworks
• Emphasize: Projects, GitHub links, technical achievements
• Avoid: Overly formal language

Sales Roles

• Include: Sales numbers, revenue generated, quota achievements
• Emphasize: Results, relationships, closing deals
• Avoid: Vague statements about "people skills"

Marketing Roles

• Include: Campaign results, metrics, creative examples
• Emphasize: ROI, engagement, brand awareness
• Avoid: Generic marketing buzzwords without proof

Healthcare Roles

• Include: Licenses, certifications, patient care experience
• Emphasize: Clinical skills, compassion, patient outcomes
• Avoid: Personal health information

Finance Roles

• Include: Financial achievements, certifications (CPA, CFA), analysis skills
• Emphasize: Accuracy, compliance, financial results
• Avoid: Unprofessional language

Creative Roles

• Include: Portfolio link, creative projects, design skills
• Emphasize: Creativity, innovation, visual examples
• Avoid: Overly formal tone (but still professional)

ATS Optimization Checklist

For ATS-friendly cover letters, ensure:

• Keywords from job description included naturally
• Standard section headings (if used)
• Simple formatting (no complex layouts)
• Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• PDF format (or .docx if required)
• All text is selectable (not scanned)
• No images or graphics
• No tables or text boxes
• Standard margins (1 inch)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Repeating Your Resume

Problem: Copying entire resume sections Solution: Reference resume, don't repeat it. Focus on connecting experience to their needs.

Mistake 2: Being Too Generic

Problem: Using same cover letter for every job Solution: Customize for each position. Mention specific company details and role requirements.

Mistake 3: Including Too Much

Problem: Trying to include everything Solution: Focus on 2-3 most relevant achievements. Quality over quantity.

Mistake 4: Being Too Vague

Problem: Generic statements without specifics Solution: Include numbers, examples, and concrete achievements.

Mistake 5: Forgetting the Call-to-Action

Problem: Ending without requesting interview Solution: Always include clear request for next steps.

Next Steps

1. Use our checklist to ensure you include everything
2. Check your cover letter with our tools:
   • Cover Letter Length Checker - Ensure proper length
   • ATS Score Checker - Verify keyword inclusion
   • ATS Keyword Analyzer - Find keywords to include
   • Resume Keyword Extractor - Extract keywords from your resume
3. Generate a complete cover letter:
   • Cover Letter Generator - Create cover letter with all essential elements

Related Resources

• Cover Letter Format Guide - Proper formatting
• Cover Letter Structure - Complete structure breakdown
• How to Start a Cover Letter - Opening paragraph guide
• How to End a Cover Letter - Closing paragraph guide
• How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? - Length guidelines
• Cover Letter Greeting Guide - How to address hiring managers
• What is a Cover Letter? - Complete guide
• Cover Letter Examples - See complete examples
• Cover Letter Templates - Professional templates