How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
May 12th, 2010 |
A cover letter is often the first means of introduction that you have when it comes to a potential new employer. You want it to make an impression, and you want it to be of interest to whoever reads it, so that your chances of getting called in for an interview are as high as possible. That’s especially true if the economy is bad or there are a lot of people competing for the job that’s available. With that in mind, you also want to avoid telling the people who read your cover letter your entire life story and work history.
Your life story isn’t necessary, and the work history should be in the resume. If the company has asked for something specific in the cover letter, be sure that you include it. If there aren’t any specifics, it’s better to err on the side of caution and keep the letter short. Two or three lines isn’t going to be enough, but you don’t want to ramble on. A cover letter should never be longer than one page. Half of a page is probably sufficient. Just make your main points clearly and distinctly, and then close politely. Show that you can be brief and still be clear.
Anyone who reads your cover letter should be very clear about what job you’re applying for, whether you have experience, and what kinds of expectations you have. Don’t state a salary figure you’re looking for unless it’s specifically asked for – and then, state a range. It’s better to be a little vague about issues like how much you’ll work for. The cover letter really isn’t the place for those kinds of things. If it comes out longer than 1/2 of a page, look at what can be removed from it so it doesn’t become too wordy.
