Resumes
Cover letters: when they matter and how to write one
Not every job needs a cover letter, but the right one can move you to the top of the pile. Here's a simple structure that works.
Universal Hiring Careers Team · Aug 20, 2026 · 5 min read
ResumesMany applications list a cover letter as optional. When a posting asks for one, or when you're changing careers, it's worth the twenty minutes.
When a cover letter helps most
- The posting asks for one
- You're changing fields and need to connect the dots
- You're applying to a small business where one person reads everything
- There's a gap or a move you'd like to explain in your own words
A simple structure
**Opening:** name the job and say in one sentence why you're a good fit.
**Middle:** pick two things from the posting and show, with a real example, that you've done them. Numbers help: "trained six new cashiers", "cut order errors in half".
**Close:** say you'd welcome a conversation and give the best way to reach you.
Keep it short
Three short paragraphs on one page is plenty. Hiring managers skim cover letters even faster than resumes.
Make it about the job
Change the first and middle paragraphs for every application. A letter that could be sent to any employer usually reads that way.
