How to Start a Cover Letter [+ Introduction Examples]

Your resume is your ticket for landing a job interview. But how do you get a hiring manager to review your resume? That’s where a great cover letter comes in. Your cover letter is there to set the scene and entice potential employers to review your full resume.

To do that well, you need to snag the hiring manager’s attention right from the first sentence. But figuring out how to start a cover letter in a way that’s clear and compelling is tough. 

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of tips and tools (including AI cover letter generators that will do the hard work for you) to take the pain out of the process of writing a good cover letter opening.

This guide covers what you need to know to start a cover letter, including why your cover letter matters, what to include in your first paragraph, and examples to help you start strong.

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Applications taking too long? Try Teal's AI Cover Letter Generator to write a tailored letter for every job.

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Why are cover letter introductions important?

Before you can figure out how to write a cover letter, it’s helpful to know why you’re writing one in the first place. What advantages do cover letter introductions offer to job seekers?

Benefits of an effective cover letter introduction

• Follow the application instructions: An estimated 60% of employers still require job applicants to submit a cover letter. If the job application specifically mentions a cover letter, you need to check that box if you want to move forward in the process. Even if the job posting doesn’t explicitly request a cover letter, writing an effective intro can help you stand out from other applicants.
• Snag the attention of the hiring manager: There’s plenty of debate over whether hiring managers actually read cover letters. But pursuing your dream job isn’t a situation when you want to take chances. Writing a compelling cover letter intro ensures that it’s there if and when the hiring manager does want to read it. Plus, 49% of hiring managers say including a cover letter is one of the top ways to call attention to your resume, ranking only behind tailoring your resume to the job description.
• Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences: Your cover letter functions more like a highlight reel, which means it won’t get into the nitty-gritty of your qualifications like your resume will. However, your cover letter introduction is the perfect place to separate your skills from other candidates, It’s a crucial opportunity to shine the spotlight on your most relevant and impressive qualifications.
• Fill in any gaps on your resume: It’s hard to tell the story of your job history and career path within the confines of the bullet points and sentence fragments on your resume. Your cover letter can provide context about things that are harder to address on a resume, like a career transition or a break from the workforce.

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What to include in a cover letter introduction

Your cover letter plays an important role in your job search. Your entire letter is three to four paragraphs highlighting why you’re the right fit for your job.

But while all the parts of your cover letter matter, it’s knowing how to start a cover letter that carries the most weight. If you don’t start strong, you’ll inevitably lose the interest of the recruiter or hiring team before they even make it to your second paragraph (not to mention your resume).

Here’s a look at the three main elements your cover letter opening should include:

1. Header

Cover letters are still formatted like traditional letters, which means you need to include a header at the top that includes basic information like your:

• Full name
• Location
• Email address and phone number
• LinkedIn URL

You can use the same header from your resume introduction on your cover letter. This confirms you have the right information included, and also makes your job application documents look like a branded package.

Underneath your information, you’ll also include a separate address block where you list the hiring manager’s name, company name, and address. Below that, you’ll list the date when you’re writing your cover letter.

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Cover letter header example

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Greeting

Your greeting (sometimes called your “salutation”) is a single line at the top of the document where you kick off your letter by stating who it’s for (usually with “Dear Mr.,” “Dear Miss or Mrs.” or “Dear [Full Name]”).

“To whom it may concern” was a common default for many years, but comes across as generic and impersonal today.

Instead, try to find the hiring manager’s name. Check to see if it’s listed with the job posting or do some digging on the company’s LinkedIn page to see if you can find someone from the hiring team. If your search comes up empty, search for the name of the manager who leads the department. 

Addressing your letter to the name of someone specific is a surefire way to garner attention and show you did your research. But, if you can’t find what you need, you can stick with a more general greeting like:

• Dear hiring manager
• Dear hiring team
• Dear hiring committee

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Example greeting for cover letter

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Opening paragraph

This is where you get into the meat of your cover letter (and there’s a good chance the hiring manager’s eyes will skip directly to the first line of your cover letter opening).

There isn’t one tried and true way to start a cover letter. Your document should be representative of what separates you from other job seekers who are applying for that same role, which means you have flexibility to be creative with your approach. However, there are a few key things your opening needs to accomplish.

The opening paragraph for most cover letters should do the following:

• Make an introduction: Introduce yourself and your experience. This typically happens in the first sentence.
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm: Explain why you’re genuinely interested in the position and the employer.
• Highlight your most relevant skills: You’ll dig deeper in the following paragraphs, but your opening should touch on your unmissable qualifications to present you as the ideal candidate.

Those are the boxes your first paragraph needs to check, but there are plenty of different ways to hit those points—whether you share an anecdote from your career history or highlight a mutual contact who referred you to the position.

Regardless of the method you choose, remember that the point of your opening paragraph is to get your reader’s attention and encourage them to learn more about why you’re the right candidate for that particular job.

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Cover letter opening paragraph example

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How to start a cover letter

Your cover letter header and greeting are straightforward enough. Those share basic information that you can quickly swap out for every company and job title you apply for. It’s when you need to start writing your cover letter opening that the writer’s block really kicks in.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to writing your opening paragraph and crafting your most compelling cover letter.

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1. Research the company and position

You’ve likely heard the advice to tailor your resume to present yourself as a good match. That advice holds true on your cover letter too, which is why you need to start by researching the company.

How to research an employer:

• Review the job posting carefully to pull out relevant skills and qualifications
• Explore the company website to learn about the company’s goals and company’s values
• Look at the company’s social accounts to better understand their culture and approach
• Read through employer review sites to hear about existing employees’ experiences

Not only does this due diligence help you understand what experiences and qualities to highlight, but it also helps you match the voice and tone of the company in your cover letter.

Teal’s Matching Mode can help with all of the above. Attach a job description to your resume and Teal will pull out specific skills and keywords for you to include on your resume and cover letter.

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2. Create a list of your most relevant and impressive qualifications

You don’t just need to know what the employer wants—you also need to know what you honestly possess. Review your notes from your research (or the list of skills generated by Teal’s Matching Mode) and match those up with your own experience.

As you do, ask yourself this: If I could only tell this potential employer three things about myself, what would they be?

You’ll ideally have space to highlight more than three qualifications on your cover letter. But that framing will help you identify the high points that should be worked into your opening paragraph. 

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3. Determine the best way to start

You know the must-have elements to start a cover letter, as well as how your strengths compare to what the employer wants. Now it’s time to play with the order of those elements to craft your opening paragraph.

As a refresher, the three key parts of a cover letter opening are:

1. Your introduction
2. Your enthusiasm
3. Your relevant skills

But you don’t necessarily need to put them in that order. Here’s a look at three different cover letter openings, all written for a sales representative:

Cover letter introduction example: introduction

I am a results-driven sales professional with a passion for building client relationships and achieving sales growth, and I’m thrilled with the opportunity to join Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as a Sales Representative.

Cover letter introduction example: enthusiasm

I am thrilled with the opportunity to join Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as a Sales Representative, where I can bring my experience and passion for building meaningful client relationships and driving sales growth.

Cover letter introduction example: skills

With a proven track record of exceeding targets and fostering strong client relationships during my 10+ year career as a dynamic sales professional, I am excited to apply for the Sales Representative position at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

All of those touch on the core three elements—it’s just the order that’s different. Alternatively, you could also kick off your cover letter by sharing a professional anecdote or calling attention to a mutual contact or personal connection with the company. Here’s a look at both options:

Cover letter introduction example: anecdote

I found my passion for sales at the ripe age of eight, when I opened my first lemonade stand on our neighborhood street corner. That same enthusiasm drives me today as a sales professional, where I’ve built a successful track record of exceeding targets and nurturing strong client relationships. I am eager to bring this passion and experience to Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as your next Sales Representative.

Cover letter introduction example: mutual connection

When Dwight Schrute mentioned an opening for a Sales Representative at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, I knew I had to apply. As someone who shares his passion for innovative approaches to client engagement and growth, I am excited about the opportunity to join your team.

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4 tips for writing your best cover letter opening

The above steps and examples can guide you as you craft a well-written cover letter, but there are a few more tips to write a letter that helps you achieve your career goals:

1. Do it last: Try writing the body of your cover letter first and then heading back to your introduction. You’ll have given yourself a refresher on your qualifications, which makes writing your introduction easier.
2. Showcase your personality: Cover letters can feel dry and old fashioned, but you can bring a fresh approach by adding in your personality and a more conversational tone when it feels appropriate.
3. Stay focused on your qualifications: While you want to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest, the focus of your cover letter isn’t why you want the job—it’s why you’re the right fit for the job. Remember to dedicate more than a fair share of your letter to your skills and experience.
4. Proofread carefully: Grammatical errors in your first paragraph can turn a hiring manager off from reading the rest. Proofread closely and carefully to catch any typos and mistakes.

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Examples of effective cover letter introductions

Need more inspiration? Take a look at these three different cover letter examples to help you write a cover letter that positions you as a standout job applicant.

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Cover letter introduction example for an internship or entry level job

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Cover letter introduction example for a leadership position

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Cover letter introduction example for changing careers

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Cover letter introduction template

Your strongest cover letter will be tailored to your target audience (meaning, the specific employer you’re applying with) and call attention to all of the impressive skills and experiences you have to offer.

But if you just need some help figuring out how to start a cover letter, this simple template can get your wheels turning.

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Cover letter introduction template

I am a [your current position or job title] with [number] years of experience in [field or industry]. I am excited about the opportunity to join [Company Name] as a [Position Title], where I can bring my passion for [key aspect or responsibility of the job] and my proven ability to [relevant skill or achievement]. I am confident that my experience and enthusiasm make me an ideal candidate for your team.

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How to write a cover letter introduction with AI

Completing job applications is a lot of work. Fortunately, AI can take some of the pain out of the process of writing your cover letter.

Of course, the biggest fear in using AI is that you’ll end up with something generic and robotic. And while you can use ChatGPT to write your cover letter (provided you use specific prompts), you still run the risk of ending up with a cover letter that sounds like it was written by a robot.

You can get around this by using Teal (one of the best AI cover letter writers available), which pulls in information from the job posting and your resume to write a compelling cover letter that’s tailor-made for each position. Here’s how to do it:

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1. Navigate to Teal’s Resume Builder and click into one of your resumes

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2. Select “Cover Letter” in the top menu

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3. Attach a job to your resume

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4. Click the “write with AI” button

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When you do, you can select options for the length and tone of your cover letter and even select statements from the job description you want to include. You can also create a custom prompt if you prefer. 

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5. Adjust your cover letter

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Teal will automatically generate a cover letter that incorporates aspects from your resume and the job posting. Read through that and make any adjustments to the skills and tone of voice.

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6. Export the PDF

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Create a cover letter introduction in seconds with Teal

To take the next step in your job search and the hiring process, you need to catch the attention of the hiring manager. That seems like a big job for a single cover letter, but it’s possible if you nail your cover letter introduction.

Teal can help. By pulling in aspects of your resume and the job description, you can automatically generate a cover letter that makes hiring managers want to learn more about you. And the even better news? You can do it without tearing your hair out.

Ready to write a cover letter that does your qualifications justice? Get started with Teal’s AI Cover Letter Generator today.