- Career Advice
- Cover Letter
- What should you write in a cover letter body? With examples!
What should you write in a cover letter body? With examples!
Artwork by: Antonina Kasyanikova
- General rules for creating the body of your cover letter
- How do you write a good body paragraph for a cover letter?
- How many body paragraphs should a cover letter have?
- 2 Examples of cover letter bodies
- Key takeaways
Writing a good cover letter body is never easy. We'll give you some good tips and advice on how to author an outstanding cover letter.
Writing a cover letter isn’t something you do every day or even very often, hopefully. So, most people have a difficult time writing an effective cover letter. The body of the letter is the most important part, and there are some best practices you can follow that will make your cover letter more impactful. We’ll give you some cover letter tips and guidance to help you land your next interview.
In this article, we’ll talk about the following points:
Rules for writing a cover letter body
Writing a good cover letter body paragraph
The paragraphs for a cover letter body
2 cover letter body examples
General rules for creating the body of your cover letter
Generally speaking, a cover letter is a type of business letter. As such, the salutation and closing are pretty similar to any other business letter. What goes in between is the body of the cover letter, and that’s where it gets interesting.
Remember that the goal of a cover letter is to get your foot in the door for an interview. You must impress the reader with your professionalism and show them you’re the best candidate for the job. Don’t use a lot of fancy words, formatting, or background. Keep it simple and easy to read. Use the same formatting as your resume, if possible.
How do you write a good body paragraph for a cover letter?
Be brief. A cover letter should be no more than a single page. Aim for three to four paragraphs.
Don’t copy and paste directly from your resume. Reiterate (and rephrase!) the key details from your resume, highlighting your most relevant duties and achievements.
Focus on what makes you a great candidate for the position. We’ll get more into this shortly.
How many body paragraphs should a cover letter have?
The best cover letter bodies consist of three paragraphs. Let’s talk about those:
First paragraph. This is your introduction paragraph. Tell them what you do (title, industry, field, specialty, etc.). Then tell them why you are writing to them: the position, job posting, and where you saw or heard about the job. If you were referred by someone, include their name. Express your interest in the role. It never hurts to throw in a compliment about the company or job, but be genuine.
Second paragraph. This is where you sell yourself. Think of it as your elevator pitch paragraph. Look at the job description and use keywords and responsibilities that match your skill set and experiences. Explain how you will bring value to the job and the company. This is a good opportunity to tout some skills or things you couldn’t fit on your resume. Just make sure they’re relevant to the position.
Final paragraph. This is where you conclude your letter. Tell them again how interested you are in the position. Use the name of the company and of the job. Include a call to action, encouraging the hiring manager to contact you for an interview.
Don’t forget to include all your contact information like email, phone number(s), website, and social media (as appropriate).
2 Examples of cover letter bodies
If you’re looking for something in the world of finance or a position as an analyst, then the below example for a financial analyst role will give you some good wording to inspire you.
Cover letter body paragraphs for a financial analyst
I am an accomplished financial analyst with over six years of experience in analyzing financial statements and data to deliver comprehensive assessments, reports, and recommendations for financial decisions. I'm currently seeking a new, challenging, and career-enhancing role and was pleased to find a job listing on LinkedIn for the Financial Analyst position with the Fragmire, Williams, and Wright firm. I would be thrilled to bring my data analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to benefit Fragmire, Williams, and Wright.
My strong educational background (MBA from Stanford) and past professional experience as a business analyst and accountant make me an excellent candidate for the position. In my previous role as a financial analyst with Tipton and Halford Partners, I was able to assist 75 clients in making profitable investment decisions. This allowed me to gain invaluable experience analyzing financial data across a number of different industries, including healthcare, real estate, retail, and insurance. I also spearheaded the development of standardized methods and processes to assess the financial health and viability of various businesses which improved client profitability by an average of 32% per investment.
I am confident that my skills, knowledge, and experience will be an asset to Fragmire, Williams, and Wright and will help you expand your client base while reinforcing your strong reputation as a leading company in financial consulting. I've attached a current copy of my resume. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss this opportunity. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have any questions or need further information. I appreciate your time and consideration.
The below example follows the three-paragraph and one-page rule. It’s for a client services management position, but could be used for any sales or customer service-related role.
Cover letter body paragraphs for a financial analyst
I am writing to you to apply for the position of Client Services Manager at Performance Customizations. My considerable experience of over 10 years in customer service and account management has given me a broad skill set and knowledge that enable me to create and cultivate strong client relationships. I am very excited about the opportunity to work with your high-end clients while expanding my knowledge of the automotive and aftermarket industry.
My prior role as an Account Manager with Princeton Chevrolet was focused on the importance of positive and consistent customer engagement and the creation of great experiences. I oversaw a staff of 50 sales and service representatives and drove efforts to constantly improve our services which led to a customer satisfaction score of 98% (an increase of 12%). My communication and analytical skills enabled me to establish and maintain a set of processes and procedures that ensured each of our staff provided consistent and outstanding services to each of their clients. Part of these efforts also included the implementation of an online service request tracking system which improved our response times by 32% as well as allowed us to more efficiently schedule service calls (increasing our technician utilization rate by 15%).
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to learn more about the Client Services Manager position at Performance Customizations and to discuss how I can deliver enhanced services and satisfaction for your clients. You may contact me at any time at the phone number or email above.
If you’re looking for a job but not sure how to get started or where to go, then check out our Job Search Plan to help you figure out how to get your search on the right track.
Key takeaways
Writing the body of a cover letter can be a challenge, but you can do it.
Use a simple format and make it easy to read.
Follow the three-paragraph and one-page rule to make your resume the most impactful.
Tailor your cover letter body to match with the job you’re applying for.
Close with a call to action encouraging the reader to contact you.
Write a great cover letter and land that interview.
