Naturally, you want to come across as a professional, but don’t open your letter in a manner that’s so excessively formal and dry that you sound robotic. You could even consider putting these basics in the subject line of your email (if you’re applying digitally) or in a “RE:” header (if you’re sending a hard copy) so you can use your introductory element to get straight to the meaty details that’ll win recruiters over. Yes, it’s important to cover key details, like the position you’re interested in and the company name, at the start of your letter, but try do so in a more original way. It’s dull, it’s uninspiring, and every recruiter has already seen it far too many times. Whatever you do, don’t open your cover letter with a line like, “I’m writing to apply for the position of, which I saw advertised on on ”. Below are our eight tips for writing a cover letter opening that’ll definitely get you noticed.

But we’re here to help you out of your frozen state. It’s no wonder that the mere mention of the task tends to paralyze job seekers. And yet, you only have a few lines to achieve all of this, and you know little about the addressee and what appeals to them. In a cover letter, so much hinges on one paragraph: your intro needs to successfully hook the viewer and compel them to keep reading, market you as a brilliant hire right off the bat, and be original enough to make you stand out. Some would argue that it’s easier to write a novel than it is to craft an effective cover letter opening.

Tips for writing a cover letter