How to start a cover letter: an opening line from how you came to the role and one thing you did.
Choose how you came to this role, add the role and company, and write one thing you did that fits it. The tool writes the first sentence, adds yours, and checks the result for the lines that lose a reader. With a free account, the AI can write that second line from your resume.
In the posting's own words: the one thing it puts first.
A sentence, with a result if you have one. This is the line that gets the rest read.
Not sure what to put after the first line?
Paste your resume or notes. The AI picks the work closest to this role and writes two versions of the line, using only your notes. A version that states anything your notes do not is dropped.
Paste a few lines of your resume or notes first.
Still to add: the role, what the posting asks for, one thing you did. The [brackets] show where.
I am applying for the role, which asks for [what the posting puts first]. [One thing you did that fits this role, with a result.]
The opener and the check are free, need no account, and run in this browser. The AI line is optional, needs a free account, and sends your notes only when you press the button.
What the first two lines of a cover letter have to do.
A reader decides in two sentences whether to read the third. The first says how you came to this role. The second says one thing only you could write.
How you came to this role. Then one thing you did that fits it, with a result.
Someone referred me
Lead with: Their name, in the first line. A referral is the strongest start there is: it borrows trust you have not had to earn.
Answering a job posting
Lead with: What the posting puts first, in its own words, then the work of yours that matches it.
Writing in, with no posting
Lead with: Something specific to this company, not "your great culture". Then your strongest result.
Changing careers
Lead with: Where you are coming from, said plainly, then the result that carries over to the new work.
First job after study
Lead with: Your course and the clearest thing you have done: a project, an internship, or a result from either.
Cover letter opening lines, by situation.
Each is the tool's own output for what the person typed, with a second version underneath. The people are made up; the employers and kinds of work are real.
Referred, accounts
Kavya Iyer, an audit manager in your Pune office, suggested I write to you about the Senior Accounts Executive role at Deloitte. At Hargreaves I reconciled supplier statements for 3 branches every month and cleared a 6-month backlog in 8 weeks.
Another way to open
I am applying for the Senior Accounts Executive role at Deloitte at the suggestion of Kavya Iyer, an audit manager in your Pune office. At Hargreaves I reconciled supplier statements for 3 branches every month and cleared a 6-month backlog in 8 weeks.
Answering a posting, customer support
Your posting for the Customer Support Team Lead role asks for bringing first-reply time down on a growing queue. On my shift at Zomato I wrote 25 Freshdesk macros and trained 12 agents to use them, and first replies fell from about 6 hours to under 2.
Another way to open
The Customer Support Team Lead role at Freshworks calls for bringing first-reply time down on a growing queue. On my shift at Zomato I wrote 25 Freshdesk macros and trained 12 agents to use them, and first replies fell from about 6 hours to under 2.
Answering a posting, nursing
Your posting for the Band 6 Staff Nurse role asks for experience leading a shift on a busy medical ward. I have led night shifts on a 28-bed elderly care ward for two years, and the falls-risk checklist I introduced at handover is now used on every shift.
Another way to open
The Band 6 Staff Nurse role at Leeds Teaching Hospitals calls for experience leading a shift on a busy medical ward. I have led night shifts on a 28-bed elderly care ward for two years, and the falls-risk checklist I introduced at handover is now used on every shift.
Writing in, fintech
What draws me to Jupiter is the way you explain money to first-time savers. At Groww I built the funnel report that found 40% of new users dropped at KYC, and the fix we shipped lifted completion to 71%.
Another way to open
I would like to work at Jupiter because of the way you explain money to first-time savers. At Groww I built the funnel report that found 40% of new users dropped at KYC, and the fix we shipped lifted completion to 71%.
Writing in, design
What draws me to Practo is how much of India books its first doctor's visit through you. I redesigned a dental clinic's appointment screen after 8 interviews with front-desk staff, and the clinic rolled it out to 3 locations.
Another way to open
I would like to work at Practo because of how much of India books its first doctor's visit through you. I redesigned a dental clinic's appointment screen after 8 interviews with front-desk staff, and the clinic rolled it out to 3 locations.
Changing careers, teaching to data
After 8 years of teaching maths, I am applying for the Junior Data Analyst role at Swiggy. I analysed 3 years of my district's attendance data in Excel and found that Monday absences ran 40% above the weekly average.
Another way to open
I am changing careers after 8 years of teaching maths, and I would like to be considered for the Junior Data Analyst role at Swiggy. I analysed 3 years of my district's attendance data in Excel and found that Monday absences ran 40% above the weekly average.
Changing careers, banking to writing
After 5 years in branch banking at HDFC Bank, I am applying for the Content Writer role at Finology. My personal finance blog explains one product a week in plain words, and it has about 1,200 readers a month.
Another way to open
I am changing careers after 5 years in branch banking at HDFC Bank, and I would like to be considered for the Content Writer role at Finology. My personal finance blog explains one product a week in plain words, and it has about 1,200 readers a month.
First job, engineering
I am applying for the Graduate Engineer Trainee role at Tata Motors as a B.Tech Mechanical graduate (2025). In my 6-week internship at your Pimpri plant I inspected 120 door panels a shift against the control plan.
Another way to open
As a B.Tech Mechanical graduate (2025), I am applying for the Graduate Engineer Trainee role at Tata Motors. In my 6-week internship at your Pimpri plant I inspected 120 door panels a shift against the control plan.
First job, commerce
I am applying for the Audit Associate role at EY as a final-year B.Com student. As an article assistant I tested inventory and revenue on the statutory audits of 3 listed manufacturers.
Another way to open
As a final-year B.Com student, I am applying for the Audit Associate role at EY. As an article assistant I tested inventory and revenue on the statutory audits of 3 listed manufacturers.
Referred, sales
Arjun Mehta suggested I write to you about the Enterprise Account Executive role at Zoho. Last year I closed 9 of my team's 14 new enterprise accounts in the west region.
Another way to open
I am applying for the Enterprise Account Executive role at Zoho at the suggestion of Arjun Mehta. Last year I closed 9 of my team's 14 new enterprise accounts in the west region.
Opening lines that lose the reader, and what to write instead.
Weak: I am writing to apply for the position of Accounts Executive at your esteemed organisation.
Strong: Your posting for the Accounts Executive role asks for GST reconciliation across branches. I have reconciled GSTR-2B for 3 branches every month for two years.
The reader knows you are applying. Start with what they asked for, and show you have done it.
Weak: My name is Riya and I am a passionate, hard-working fresher.
Strong: As a final-year B.Com student, I am applying for the Audit Associate role at EY. As an article assistant I tested inventory on 3 statutory audits.
Your name is at the top already, and anyone can say passionate. Say what you have done.
Weak: I believe I would be a perfect fit for this role.
Strong: Arjun Mehta suggested I write to you about the Account Executive role at Zoho. Last year I closed 9 of my team's 14 new enterprise accounts.
Fit is the reader's judgement to make. Give them the fact that makes it.
Weak: I have always dreamed of working at your company.
Strong: What draws me to Practo is how much of India books its first doctor's visit through you. I redesigned a clinic's appointment screen after 8 interviews with its staff.
A dream says nothing about them. Name what is specific to this company, then your work.
What the tool does with what you type.
Your opener is written in this browser
The first sentence comes from how you came to the role and the names you type. The second is your own sentence, with a capital and a full stop. Nothing is added, and nothing is sent anywhere.
Then it is checked
The check looks for the stock first lines ("I am writing to apply"), your name, filler like "passionate", a missing result, and length, and says what to change.
The AI can write the second line
With a free account, paste your resume or notes. It picks the work closest to the role and writes two versions, using only your notes. The posting's words are never put in your mouth.
Every version is checked first
Code checks every number, name and tool against your notes, a second model call must quote your words for every claim, and a third judges whether anything is unsupported. A version that fails is dropped.
The opener gets you read. The letter has to back it up.
When the whole letter is written, the cover letter checker reads it against the role. The cover letter examples show whole letters by field, and the cover letter generator drafts one from your resume and the job.
How do I start a cover letter?
Say how you came to this role in one sentence (who referred you, what the posting asks for, or why this company), then say one thing you did that fits it, with a result. Name the role and the company in the first two lines so it never reads like a form letter.
Should I say "I am writing to apply for"?
No. It spends your most important line on something the reader already knows. Open with the one thing that is true only of you and this job.
How do I start a cover letter with a referral?
Put the person's name in the first sentence: "Priya Sharma suggested I write to you about the Analyst role." Check with them first that you may use their name.
How do I start a cover letter with no experience?
Lead with your course and the clearest thing you have done: a project, an internship or a result from either. Your evidence is what you have built, so open with it rather than an apology for what you have not done yet.
How do I start a cover letter for a career change?
Say where you are coming from in a few words, then the result from that work that carries over: "After 8 years of teaching maths, I am applying for the Junior Data Analyst role." Then the analysis you did.
How long should the opening be?
Two or three sentences, under about 70 words. The opener earns the paragraph that follows; it is not the paragraph itself.
Should I start with "Dear Hiring Manager"?
Use the hiring manager's name if the posting or the company's site gives it. If not, "Dear Hiring Team" is fine. Avoid "To whom it may concern".
Does the AI make anything up?
It is told not to, and every version is checked before you see it: every number, name and tool must be in your notes, a second check must quote your words for every claim, and a version that fails is dropped.
Make sure the resume behind your letter says the same.
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