Expert advice synthesised from academic career coaches and hiring managers. Apply these to every application.
Always do
Never do
What a cover letter is — and isn't
It's not a CV summary
A cover letter is your story and your voice. The recruiter already has your CV. Don't list your experiences again — explain what they mean and why they matter for this specific role.
Answer two questions
Every cover letter must answer: (1) What can you do for them? (2) Why does this specific role/company matter to you? If either answer is missing, the letter is incomplete.
One letter per application
A generic letter sent to 20 employers reads like one. At minimum, customise the section about why you want that specific role. Hiring managers can tell instantly when a letter is recycled.
The 4 required sections — in order
Opening (3–5 sentences)
Name the position. Briefly frame your background. Immediately hint at why you're a strong fit. End the opening with a preview of the 1–2 key skills you'll expand on in the body.
Body 1 — Why you fit
Use Claim + Evidence for every skill: "I am proficient in X, as demonstrated by Y in Z context." Address specific criteria listed in the job posting — both technical and soft skills.
Body 2 — Why this specific role
Reference a specific paper, project, or initiative from the company or PI. Explain how your background complements (not duplicates) their direction. This is where generic letters fail — most applicants skip it.
Closing (3–4 sentences)
Express genuine enthusiasm. State what you will both learn AND contribute. Invite a specific next step (a call, a meeting). Thank them by name.
The first sentence decides whether they read the second
Lead with a specific achievement
Open with a concrete result or skill that proves fit immediately. "During my PhD at Peking University, I developed X that achieved Y" tells the reader more than any generic opener ever could.
Name the position and company
State the exact role and institution in your first sentence. It signals focus and prevents the letter from being misfiled.
Never use these openers
"I am writing to express my interest…", "I hope this email finds you well…", "To Whom It May Concern" — these lines waste the reader's attention and signal a recycled letter. Delete them.
Show, don't tell
Quantify everything you can
"Increased model accuracy by 12%" beats "improved model performance" every time. Numbers anchor abstract claims and make them memorable.
Results, not duties
"Led a team that shipped the feature 2 weeks early" beats "managed a development team". Describe outcomes, not job descriptions.
Frame value outward, not inward
Replace "I want to grow my skills" with "I can contribute X to your Y initiative". Every sentence should answer: what does this mean for them?
No hollow flattery
"I am impressed by your prestigious lab" is a red flag — it signals you haven't done real research. Reference something specific: a recent paper, a stated goal, a named project.
Tone, length, and language
Length: 1 page, 300–450 words
Recruiters spend 30 seconds on the first pass. Three to four focused paragraphs is the target. Cut ruthlessly — if a sentence doesn't add information, delete it.
Match the company's tone
Read 2–3 job postings from the same company. Startup? Be direct and energetic. Law firm or bank? Be precise and formal. Your letter should feel like it belongs in their culture.
First person, active voice
Write "I designed" not "a system was designed by me". Active voice is shorter, clearer, and more confident.
No em dashes
Em dashes (—) often signal AI-generated text to experienced readers. Use commas, semicolons, or rewrite the sentence instead.
Address by correct name
"Dear Prof. Chen," is always better than "Dear Hiring Team,". Spend 2 minutes finding the right name — getting it wrong (wrong gender, wrong title) is worse than not using one.
What to look up before you type a single word
Find the hiring manager's name
Check LinkedIn, the company website, or the job posting itself. Using a name raises response rates and signals initiative.
Read one recent paper or project
For academic roles: read the abstract of one recent paper from the PI's lab. For industry: find one blog post, case study, or press release. Reference it by name — it proves you actually researched.
Map your skills to their needs
Before writing, list the 3 most important criteria in the job description. Make sure each one is addressed somewhere in your letter with a concrete example.
For English–Chinese applicants
Lead with your bilingual ability
Fluency in both English and Chinese is a competitive advantage most candidates bury in bullet points. State it in the opening — especially for roles with cross-border responsibilities.
For Chinese companies, emphasise these values
团队合作 (teamwork), 责任心 (sense of responsibility), and 执行力 (ability to execute) are key cultural signals. Weave them in naturally rather than listing them as buzzwords.
Match the expected formality
Chinese academic and government institutions expect a more formal, respectful tone than Western startups. Adjust accordingly.
CoverCraft applies all of these rules automatically — just paste your CV and the job description.
Generate a cover letter