Cover letters
Cover letters that get read past sentence two.
Most cover letters waste their opening on 'I am writing to express my strong interest.' We rewrite them to lead with what you actually did and why this role is the right next move.
Before & after
Before
Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Product Manager position at your esteemed company. With my extensive experience in product management and a proven track record of delivering successful outcomes, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
After
I'd like to be considered for the Senior PM role. I spent the last four years leading the checkout team at Linear, where we cut payment failure rate from 4.1% to 0.8% across three releases. The job description's emphasis on owning the metric, not the feature, is the part I want to talk about.
What changed, and why
- Opening sentence replaced with a direct statement of intent — no throat-clearing.
- Generic experience claim replaced with a specific, measurable accomplishment.
- Closing reframed around the actual angle on the role, not boilerplate praise.
- Tone shifted from formal-deferential to confident-curious — the register senior hires actually use.
- Total length cut by 40% with no loss of substance.
When to use this rewrite
Use on every cover letter where the hiring manager will skim before reading. That is most cover letters. The exception is junior roles where the application volume forces keyword-screening — there, optimise for the screen first, then humanise the body.
What to avoid
Do not over-correct into casual register. Senior cover letters should sound like the writer takes the role seriously without taking themselves too seriously. The line is 'confident professional,' not 'casual friend.'
Common questions
Does this work for early-career applications?
Yes, with one adjustment — early-career letters substitute specific projects, coursework, or internships for senior accomplishments. The principle of leading with substance rather than enthusiasm is the same.
Should I still tailor each letter?
Yes. The rewrite engine handles the voice and structure; the specifics of why this role, this company, and this team still come from you. A tailored, rewritten letter outperforms either a generic rewritten one or a tailored template.
What about applicant tracking systems?
ATS systems mostly parse resumes, not cover letters. Keyword density matters less in cover letters than in the resume itself.