How to Write a Cover Letter From Your Resume
A cover letter shouldn't restate your resume — it should connect the dots a resume can't. Your resume lists what you did; the letter argues why it matters for this role. You already have the raw material, so the job is selection and framing, not invention.
Start from your strongest matching evidence
Open your resume next to the job post and pick the two or three experiences that map most directly to the role's must-haves. Those become the spine of the letter.
Ignore everything else. A cover letter that tries to cover your whole resume covers nothing.
The three-paragraph structure
Opening: name the role and one specific reason you're a fit — a result or responsibility that matches the post. Skip "I am writing to apply for…"
Middle: take one or two resume accomplishments and explain the impact and the how. This is where you add the context a bullet point can't hold.
Close: connect to the company or team, and end with a clear, low-friction next step.
What to cut
Cut anything already obvious from your resume, generic praise of the company, and filler like "team player" or "detail-oriented" with no evidence behind it.
Keep it under one page — three to four short paragraphs. Hiring managers skim letters even faster than resumes.
Keep it grounded
Every claim should trace back to something real in your history. Inflated letters read as inflated, and they fall apart in the interview. Specific and true beats impressive and vague.
Frequently asked questions
Should a cover letter repeat my resume?
No. Reference one or two resume highlights, then add the context, reasoning, and impact that a bullet point can't carry. Repetition wastes the reader's time.
How long should a cover letter be?
Under one page — three to four short paragraphs, roughly 250 to 350 words. Shorter and specific beats longer and generic.
Do I need a different cover letter for every job?
The structure stays the same, but the matching evidence and the company-specific close should change per role. A reused letter is obvious to the reader.