AaronBult
New member
I used to obsess over cover letter length. Is one page too long? Is half a page too short? What if I have more to say? What if I have nothing to say? After reading advice from countless career sites and actually talking to hiring managers, here's what I've learned.
One page is the sweet spot. Not a novel, not a tweet. About 3-4 paragraphs, 250-400 words. Enough to make your case, not so much that you waste anyone's time.
If you're struggling to fill a page, you probably need more specific examples. Instead of "I have leadership experience," write "I led a team of five in organizing a campus event for 200 students." Details add substance.
If you're over a page, you're probably including irrelevant information. That summer job from five years ago? Unless it's directly relevant, cut it. Your life story? Save it for the interview.
Hiring managers skim. They want to quickly see if you're a match. Make it easy for them. Concise, focused, and scannable wins every time.
One page is the sweet spot. Not a novel, not a tweet. About 3-4 paragraphs, 250-400 words. Enough to make your case, not so much that you waste anyone's time. If you're struggling to fill a page, you probably need more specific examples. Instead of "I have leadership experience," write "I led a team of five in organizing a campus event for 200 students." Details add substance. If you're over a page, you're probably including irrelevant information. That summer job from five years ago? Unless it's directly relevant, cut it. Your life story? Save it for the interview.Hiring managers skim. They want to quickly see if you're a match. Make it easy for them. Concise, focused, and scannable wins every time.
