How to Start a Cover Letter [6 Good Cover Letter Opening Examples]

How to Start a titelblatt Letter 6 Good Cover Letter Opening Examples How to Start a Cover Letter Six Cover Letter Opening ExamplesMay 27, 2019 By Jess Chen Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWNot quite sure how to start your titelbild letter? Weve listed six attention grabbing openings for you to check out choose your favorite and start landing more interviews.Make a Cover Letter in MinutesStarting your titelbild letter effectively will impress hiring managers. Coming off as dull and uninspired will destroy your chances of getting phoned in for an interview.After youve learned how to address a titelblatt letter and figured out the basics of a cover letter format, you must craft a captivating cover letter introduction. Your first paragraph even your first sentence needs to convince the hiring manager that youre different from (and better than) the competition.So, how do you begin your cover letter? This cover letter intro guide (paired with six good examples) will show you the way.The 6 Best Cover Letter Opening StrategiesJob seekers frequently punkt into the trap of starting with a generic cover letter intro such as this oneDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,My anthroponym is Applicant Name, and Im grateful for the opportunity to apply for the open position of Job Title at Company Name.This kind of basic cover letter opening sentence is simply not going to catch the hiring managers eye. To distinguish yourself from the pack, youve got to employ a different tactic.Here are six good strategies for writing the best cover letter toattract attention and earn you an interview.1 Lead With Your PassionsIf the job youre seeking aligns with one of your passions, begin your cover letters opening paragraph by describing what you love doing and how it ties into that particular role.Having sincere passion for your industry is an attractive job-seeker trait. Companies are looking for employees with good attitudes, who will happily work in any given role for an extended period o f time.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,Ive had a passion for helping people ever since I was little. Back then, I would help make-believe patients feel better by pretending to be a doctor. Now, after 10+ years of medical school and placements, my passion for helping others hasnt waned, which is why Im excited to apply to the open pediatrician role at Mercy Springs General Hospital.2 Express ExcitementIf you show that youre knowledgeable about the company, youll make a great first impression.If this particular company is your dream workplace (or at least one youd love to join), great Use your opening to show how thrilled you are about the prospect of working there.Do some research and pepper your introduction with facts about the company, so the employer can tell that youre actually enthusiastic and not just faking it for the sake of leaving a positive impression.Hiring managers also appreciate this gesture, because its a good sign that youll be a happy employee. Hap py employees have been shown to stick around longer than ones motivated by more material reasons.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,Ever since going on a fourth grade field trip to visit the Washington Post headquarters on 15th Street NW, Ive dreamed of working as a journalist there. As the ministerprsident newspaper in the Washington metropolitan area, it would be an honor to join this prestigious team as a full-time reporter. 3 Impress With an AccomplishmentIf youve got significant experience in your field, start your cover letter with a notable, quantifiable achievement that reflects that experience. Employers want to know that hiring you will be worth the effort so why not provide them with a bit of proof?By displaying your relevant accomplishments first, you reassure employers that youre more than capable of performing the role.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,As an accountant with 6+ years of experience, I would be a valuable addition to your tea m. Last year while working for Smith Johnson Sons, I balanced a $400,000 budget, while reducing costs by 20% for a client. I would love to bring my skills to the open accountant role at Walker Company, with the hopes of enhancing my performance further while under your employment.4 Reference a Mutual ContactA contact within the company is a valuable asset to leverage in your cover letter intro.If you heard about the role from a friend or former coworker, mention their name in your cover letter introduction.Although this may seem like name-dropping, referencing this mutual contact is effective because it immediately distinguishes you from other applicants.Plus, if your contact is highly respected by their colleagues and/or manager, youre immediately on the inside track for landing an interview. TipIf your target company gives monetary incentives for referrals, mentioning someones name ensures theyre rewarded in the event you get hired.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Na me,I was excited to hear about the open position of social media manager at StarWon from an ex-colleague of mine, Jennifer Henderson. We were on the same social media team at Turbofun for two years, where we worked on eight projects together. Ive heard great things about the company, and feel that my skills and experience would be an excellent asset to your team.5 Open With Humor or CreativityIf youre applying for a non-traditional job or to a company that has a quirky company culture, stand out by injecting your cover letter introduction with humor or creativity. Entertaining the hiring manager can keep them reading and make them curious enough to invite you in for an interview.Before you try this approach, however, research the company to ensure that they would appreciate your lightheartedness.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,With a name like Englebert Nicholas Stanley Humperdinck, I know what its like to be that weird kid in class. Now that Im Mr. Humperdinck, the English teacher with 250+ hours of classroom training and a M.A. in Education, I command a bit more respect in the classroom. Thats why Im excited to apply for the11th grade English Literature teacher position at Peppercorn Experimental High School.6 Tie in Company nachrichtensendungDoing a bit of research can go a long way in personalizing your cover letter opening.If your target company has had some recent, publicized success, mention it in your cover letter introduction. This will help you differentiate yourself from other applicants.By making a note of such news and tying it in with why you want to work at their company, you show the employer youve done a bit of research and arent simply mailing out bulk applications.This reinforces the idea that you legitimately care about working for their business, which in turn makes you a more compelling candidate.Opening ExampleDear Mr./Ms. Hiring Managers Name,When I heard that Lucky Sparks had taken home two awards at the Toronto Intern ational Film Festival (TIFF) for Best Director and Best Narrative Feature, I was overjoyed and inspired. Ive been consistently impressed with the work that Lucky Sparks puts out, which is why Im excited for the opportunity to apply for the open Production Assistant role. TipConfused about how the rest of a cover letter should look? Check out our 80+ professionally-written cover letter examples for some helpful ideas.4 Donts for Cover Letter OpeningsNow that you know the best way to start an interview-landing cover letter, here are some surefire ways to send your cover letter straight into the trash (so you can avoid them).Repeat DONT do the following1. Dont write a generic cover letter openingAs mentioned previously, dont go with the standard, generic opening for your cover letter. Since a cover letters main function is to create a more complete picture of you as a candidate by providing information that wasnt touched on in your resume, it needs to have a unique angle so that youll attract the hiring managers interest.Similarly, do not address your cover letter with To Whom It May Concern. Doing so looks lazy and old-fashioned, neither of which are good impressions for you to make as an aspiring candidate.2. Dontwaste time getting to the pointYour cover letters first paragraph needs to seize the hiring managers attention immediately. Dont waste space with fluff and filler. While you may be tempted to begin your cover letter with My name is or Im writing to you to apply for, you should instead begin with an interesting hook. The hiring manager should already know your name and the position youre applying for, so theres no need for redundant information. TipKeeping your message brief is especially important when writing an email cover letter.3. Dont be hyperbolicWhile its good to be confident in your cover letter, avoid using exaggerated phrases like Im uniquely suited for the job, or Im the best candidate for the job.Even though such language is commonly empl oyed by job seekers, its better to steer clear of it. Theres no need to come off as bombastic or arrogant. Instead, stick to quantifiable achievements, where you can use data to prove your competence.4. Dont talk down your potentialWhen writing about themselves, many applicants feel the need to be humble about their abilities. The end result is that they talk down their potential. This is a major turn-off for employers.Using self-effacing language such as Although Im not the best, or Even though I dont have much experience in, will harm your chances of landing an interview. Stick to pointing out your strengths, and back up your claims with evidence. TipRead our guide to how to end a cover letter to put the feinschliff touches on your application.Key Takeaways for Starting a Cover LetterThere are no set rules for how to open a cover letter. Every job is unique, so youll need to develop your own pitch for each opening that inspires you. Armed with our guidelines, were confident youll be successful.Need more cover letter help? We have a long list of cover letter tips.You can also check out our beautiful cover letter templates or our intuitive cover letter builder, and craft your own document with ease.Wed love to hear your thoughts and experiences about how you started your cover letters leave a comment below