what does a cover letter need to have in it

In an increasingly digitized world, where customer-centric strategies are vital for business success, I am thrilled to apply for the [Job Title] position at HubSpot."

Unhelpful Cover Letter Introduction:

"To Whom it May Concern,

I am applying for the [Job Title] position at HubSpot. I have some experience in marketing and can help your clients grow their businesses."

Relevant Professional Experience

It can be tempting to use the same cover letter for every job. After all, it‘s about your experience, isn’t it? But it's not enough to rephrase the work history in your resume.

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking to fill a specific role, so you need to show how your experience translates to their unique needs.

So, the body of a great cover letter should showcase the specific professional experiences that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Emphasize your accomplishments and skills that directly relate to what the job needs.

To speed up this part of the cover letter writing process, start by creating a list of your transferable skills . Drafting this list can help you quickly focus on the skills to highlight in your cover letter.

Then, use AI tools to summarize job descriptions and narrow in on where your experience and the needs of the role you're applying for overlap. This post is full of useful AI assistant tools if you're new to AI.

Helpful Cover Letter Experience:

“At [Company Name], I had the opportunity to assist a global ecommerce retailer in enhancing their online customer experience. By conducting in-depth market research and customer journey mapping, I identified pain points and areas of improvement in their website navigation and user interface.”

Unhelpful Cover Letter Experience:

“I also worked with an ecommerce retailer to improve the customer experience. We did some surveys and training, and they were happy with the results.”

Useful Examples

To make your cover letter stand out, add specific examples that show how you've solved problems or gotten results in past roles.

Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible, using data to give the reader a clear understanding of your impact.

Helpful Cover Letter Example:

“I lead a team of five content writers while increasing website traffic by 18% year-over-year.”

Unhelpful Cover Letter Example:

“I have a great track record of leadership and achieving fantastic results.”

Research and Company Knowledge

Hiring teams aren‘t hiring anyone with the skills to do the job. They’re hiring a person they'll work alongside at their specific company.

So, to show that you‘re not just looking for any job anywhere, share your knowledge of the company’s industry, values, and culture in your cover letter.

Spend some time on the company website and take notes on what makes this business interesting to you and why you would want to work there.

Then, explain how your skills align with the company's mission and goals and explain how you could add to their chances of success. This will showcase your interest in the company and help them see if you are a good cultural fit.

Helpful Cover Letter Research:

“I was particularly drawn to HubSpot not only for its industry-leading solutions but also for its exceptional company culture. HubSpot's commitment to employee development and fostering a collaborative environment is evident in its recognition as a top workplace consistently. I strongly believe that my passion for continuous learning, self-motivation, and dedication to contributing to a team will make me a valuable asset to HubSpot.”

Unhelpful Cover Letter Research:

“I have been inspired by HubSpot's commitment to inbound marketing and its comprehensive suite of solutions. HubSpot's dedication to providing valuable content and fostering meaningful relationships aligns with my own values and aspirations.”

Clear Writing

Your cover letter needs to pack in a lot of important information. But it's also important that your cover letter is clear and concise.

To accomplish this, use professional but easy-to-understand language. Be sure to remove any grammar or spelling errors and avoid lengthy paragraphs and avoid jargon or overly technical language.

You may also want to use bullet points to make your letter easier to skim. Then, proofread your cover letter for clarity or ask a friend to proofread it for you.

• Guide to Becoming a Better Writer
• Tips for Simplifying Your Writing

Helpful Cover Letter Writing:

"In addition to my academic accomplishments, I gained valuable practical experience through internships at respected law firms.

Working alongside experienced attorneys, I assisted in providing legal support to clients. This hands-on experience helped me develop a deep understanding of client needs and enhanced my ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts in a straightforward manner."

Unhelpful Cover Letter Writing:

"Furthermore, as a complement to my academic accomplishments, I have garnered invaluable practical experience through internships at esteemed law firms.

Throughout these placements, I actively collaborated with seasoned attorneys to conduct due diligence and furnish clients with comprehensive legal support. Notably, these experiences fostered a profound comprehension of client necessities, whilst honing my legal acumen to articulately convey intricate legal principles within a lucid and concise framework, adhering to applicable precedents and statutes of limitations."

Genuine Interest and Enthusiasm

Find ways to convey your passion for the role and how excited you are to contribute to the company you're applying to. At the same time, make sure your interest feels authentic and outline how it aligns with your career goals.

Your ultimate goal is an enthusiastic letter that feels honest and leaves a lasting positive impression.

Showing excitement in writing doesn't come naturally for everyone. A few tips that can help you boost the genuine enthusiasm in your letter:

• Record audio of yourself speaking about the role, then use voice-to-text technology to transcribe and add these sections to your letter.
• Choose your words carefully .
• Write in active voice.

Helpful Cover Letter Tone:

“I am genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of joining [Company/Organization Name] as an accountant. My combination of technical proficiency, eagerness to learn, and strong attention to detail make me an ideal candidate for this role. I am confident that my dedication, reliability, and passion for accounting will contribute to the continued success of your organization.”

Unhelpful Cover Letter Tone:

“Honestly, I can hardly contain my excitement when it comes to reconciliations, financial statement analysis, and tax regulations! Engaging in spirited discussions with professors and classmates has allowed me to foster an unbreakable bond with the fascinating world of accounting, and I'm positively bursting with enthusiasm at the prospect of applying my skills in a professional setting.”

Memorable Conclusion

End your cover letter on a strong note. Summarize your top qualifications, restate your interest in the position, and express your interest in future communication.

Then, thank your reader for their time and consideration and include your contact information for easy follow-up.

To make your conclusion memorable, think about what parts of your letter you‘d most like the hiring manager to keep top of mind. Then, consider your word choice and phrasing. If you’re feeling stuck, this list of ways to close an email can help.

Helpful Cover Letter Conclusion:

"Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the opportunity to further discuss how my qualifications align with the needs of Greenpeace. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to arrange an interview.

Together, let's make a lasting impact on our planet.

[Your Name]"

Unhelpful Cover Letter Conclusion:

"Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my qualifications further and how I can contribute to Greenpeace's mission. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to arrange an interview.

I’d like to add another stage to the job search: experimentation.

In today’s competitive landscape, it’s so easy to feel defeated, less-than-good-enough, or like giving up your job search.

But don’t let the process become so monotonous. Have fun discovering the qualitative data I’ve discussed here — then, have even more by getting creative with your cover letter composition.

I certainly can’t guarantee that every prospective employer will respond positively — or at all — to even the most unique, compelling cover letter. But the one that’s right for you will.

So, get inspired by these examples and templates. Write an incredible cover letter that shows the hiring team at your dream job exactly who you are.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in October 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You a Job Interview

Learn to avoid the biggest mistake job seekers make and write a cover letter that truly makes an impact.

Customers Interviewed by:

Most job seekers don’t know how to write a proper cover letter. They believe a cover letter is just a “here is my resume” note. This is a wasted opportunity!

In this article, you’ll discover the secret to writing a professional cover letter that’s truly effective. It’s not hard to do and will give you a significant edge over the competition. We’ll walk you through the process in a few straightforward steps and provide examples to help you along the way.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and create a cover letter that opens doors to your next opportunity.

What is a cover letter and do you really need one?

A cover letter is a short document (around 300 words) that accompanies your resume. Your cover letter should not simply repeat what your resume says . Instead, it should complement your resume, highlight your personality, and potentially address any weaknesses that could otherwise prevent you from getting an interview.

But do you really need a cover letter in 2024? The short answer is YES.

“Over 80% of hiring managers read a cover letter and 60% of applications require one as part of the application,” says career coach Madelyn Mackie . “Even hiring managers and recruiters who say they never read cover letters may find themselves drawn in by a particularly compelling letter.”

In fact, Jobscan analyzed nearly 1 million job applications and found that including a cover letter with your resume makes you  1.9 times more likely  to be invited for an interview compared to those who left out a cover letter.

What’s the biggest cover letter mistake?

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing their cover letter is to focus only on themselves .

“It’s not about you,” says career coach Susan Schwartz . “It’s about what you can do for them. Talking to them about what they care about—not about what you want—is what’s going to make them want to read your letter. And to hire you!”

According to Schwartz, this is the best way to write a cover letter:

Paragraph 1. A single sentence (maximum two) stating the PROBLEM that the company faces. What is the issue/need/opportunity that this role will address?

Paragraph 2. what solution do you offer how are you the answer to their need again, keep it to a sentence or two., paragraph 3. explanation: what experience do you have that supports your assertion that you can help this paragraph can be 3-4 sentences, but keep it short., paragraph 4. call to action: suggest next steps. not “thank you” but let’s plan to discuss this next week..

Since hiring managers often spend less than 20 seconds on an application, your cover letter needs to grab their attention and get them to look at your resume. By highlighting how your experience matches the job, you make it easier for them to see you as a great fit for the role.

Now let’s examine each of these steps in more detail.

How to write a strong cover letter step-by-step

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, research the company to understand its current challenges and goals. Visit the company website, read their latest news and press releases, and follow their social media channels.

Don’t skip this step! It’s crucial for writing a cover letter that truly resonates with a potential employer and sets you apart from other candidates.

After you’ve researched the company, carefully read the job description. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What specific problems or challenges is this role designed to address?
• How do my skills and experiences align with the job requirements?
• Am I a good fit for the role?
• What unique value can I bring to the company in this role?
• Are there any keywords or phrases that I should incorporate into my cover letter?

After researching the company and the role, you’re ready to start writing your cover letter.

2. Write your opening paragraphs

Many job seekers make the mistake of being too wordy in their cover letters. You’re not writing a novel. Use short words in short sentences. Remember, a hiring manager is going to quickly scan your application, so you need to get right to the point.

Here are some examples of how to start a cover letter:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’ve noticed that NexGen is working hard to stand out in a crowded digital market, and keeping your brand top-of-mind for customers can be tough.

That’s where I come in—I specialize in creating engaging content and smart SEO strategies that boost online presence and drive customer engagement.

I understand that Weissman is seeking to maintain its innovative edge in the dancewear industry while consistently meeting sales and margin targets.

I am confident that my experience and passion for design can help Weissman continue to create stunning, market-leading dancewear.

I understand that Timmons Company needs motivated individuals to manage sales territories and boost product visibility in retail grocery stores around Quincy, IL.

I am excited to bring my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset to your team, ensuring your products not only maintain their shelf presence but also thrive.

3. Prove you can do the job

Now you need to provide evidence that you’re the right person for the job. The best way to do this is to highlight your relevant experience and achievements. Here are some things you should focus on:

• Specific Accomplishments : Share examples of your successes, such as increasing sales, leading projects, or improving processes.
• Relevant Skills : Highlight the skills that match the job requirements, like planning, organizing, technical proficiencies, or specific industry experience.
• Problem-Solving : Discuss times when you successfully tackled challenges, such as resolving issues, managing conflicts, or implementing solutions.
• Industry Knowledge : Demonstrate your understanding of the field and awareness of current trends and standards.
• Team Collaboration : Mention how you’ve effectively worked in teams, mentored others, or collaborated across departments.

Remember to keep it concise. Your letter isn’t meant to tell your whole story; it’s about making a compelling case that you understand the key aspects of the job.

Your goal is to leave the reader eager to learn more about you. Here are some examples:

“Over the past five years, I’ve led digital marketing campaigns that ramped up organic traffic by 40% and bumped up conversion rates by 25%. I’ve worked with diverse teams to create compelling content that resonates with audiences and used data analytics to refine strategies for maximum impact. My experience with social media management and email marketing also ensures a holistic approach to your digital marketing needs.”

“With over ten years in apparel design, specializing in activewear and dancewear, I have a proven track record of developing designs that resonate with customers and drive sales. My expertise includes conducting global trend research, selecting inspiring materials, and leading teams to transform creative concepts into market-ready products. I am proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and have experience with CLO3D, ensuring that my designs are both innovative and technically sound. My leadership skills have been honed by mentoring junior designers and managing cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and efficient design process.”

“With several years of experience in CPG retail sales and merchandising, I have successfully managed sales territories, maintained product placements, and executed promotional strategies. My ability to plan and organize, combined with proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with iPads, positions me well to contribute effectively to your sales team. I am adept at thinking on my feet and delivering results in dynamic environments, ensuring that products are always tagged, rotated, and optimally displayed.”

4. Conclude with a call to action

When wrapping up your cover letter, it’s crucial to include a strong call to action in your closing paragraph. This isn’t just about expressing gratitude—it’s about setting the stage for the next steps in the hiring process.

Instead of a simple “thank you,” aim to propose a specific plan, such as scheduling a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company.

Here are some examples of how to end a cover letter :

“Let’s discuss how I can help NexGen Creative Agency achieve its sales goals next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

“How about we chat next week about how I can help Weissman shine even brighter? Let me know when you’re free.”

“Let’s plan to discuss how my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset can boost product visibility for Timmons Company next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

There is no need to add anything more. Time is valuable, so hiring managers won’t spend it on a cover letter that isn’t concise and to the point.

Expert tips for writing a cover letter

We’ve gone over the basics of how to write a good cover letter. Here are some expert tips for formatting and how to make your cover letter even better.

Format your contact information correctly

Before diving into the content of your cover letter, it’s important to format the contact details and header correctly. You’ll need to include your name, full address, phone number, and email address.

Here’s an example:

Personalize your greeting

To whom should you address your cover letter to? “For maximum impact, see if you can find the hiring manager or recruiter for the role, and send your letter to them,” says career coach Susan Schwarz . “Addressing your letter to a specific person will significantly increase the likelihood of someone reading it.”

Check the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to find the name of the hiring manager. However, if you can’t find a specific name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.

To end a cover letter, you can use “best regards” or “kind regards” followed by your full name.

Show your personality

While it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. But remember, you don’t want to overdo it—keep it concise and relevant .

Here are some ways to show your personality in your cover letter:

• Briefly mention a specific project or experience you enjoyed.
• Highlight a distinctive skill or trait that sets you apart.
• Talk about how your values align with the company’s mission or culture.
• Describe a unique volunteer experience.

Emphasize your adaptability

According to LinkedIn , the top “skill of the moment” is adaptability . This means being open to new ideas, ready to pivot when needed, and always looking for ways to improve. In a world where the only constant is change, being adaptable can set you apart.

Here’s an example of how to incorporate adaptability into your cover letter:

“In my previous role as a CPG retail sales merchandiser, I consistently demonstrated my ability to adjust to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and sales strategies. This adaptability allowed me to increase sales by 25% in a highly competitive market.”

Show enthusiasm

Research shows that 40% of employers would not hire a candidate if they lacked enthusiasm. Remember, you’re much more attractive to employers when you’re on fire .

Here’s an example of how to show enthusiasm for the company you’re applying to:

“I’ve long admired Weissman’s commitment to the dance community and the artistry of your costumes. Your dedication to empowering performances and celebrating creativity is inspiring, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join your passionate team.”

Balance professionalism with friendliness

Try to strike a balance between a professional and friendly tone. Don’t use overly formal language, but make sure your writing is polished and error-free. Use humor sparingly, as it can be easily misinterpreted.

This approach helps you come across as both competent and personable, making you an ideal candidate.

Cover letter do’s and don’ts

• Do personalize . Address your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible.
• Do be concise . Keep your cover letter to one page.
• Do show enthusiasm . Mention specific reasons why you want to work there.
• Do include measurable accomplishments . These are achievements that can be quantified , such as increasing sales by a percentage.
• Do show your personality . Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• Do be professional yet friendly . Avoid overly formal language.
• Do proofread your cover letter. A single mistake can damage your chances of getting an interview.
• Do include a call to action. Suggest scheduling a meeting or a call.
• Don’t be too formal . Strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
• Don’t overuse humor . Humor can be easily misinterpreted or come off as unprofessional.
• Don’t repeat your resume . Your cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it.
• Don’t include irrelevant information. Focus only on what’s most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Don’t use clichés . Phrases like “I am a hard worker” or “I think outside the box” are overused and add little value.
• Don’t make excuses . Avoid explaining gaps in employment or other potential negatives.
• Don’t forget to tailor each letter . Customizing each cover letter will help it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Cover letter examples

Here are a few cover letter examples that show how to highlight your skills, show your personality, and match your experiences with the job.

Cover letter example for someone with no work experience

Starting your career can be challenging, especially when you don’t have much experience to showcase. But don’t worry—a well-written cover letter can highlight your strengths and potential.

• Addresses the company’s needs : The letter begins by acknowledging the challenges the company faces, demonstrating an understanding of the industry and the company’s needs.
• Offers a solution : The candidate clearly states how they can provide value by offering a fresh perspective and innovative ideas.
• Highlights relevant experience : Even with limited work experience, the letter mentions a successful internship project that aligns with the job’s requirements.
• Shows enthusiasm and passion : The mention of a passion for sustainability and eagerness to contribute to the company’s efforts showcases the candidate’s genuine interest.
• Proposes next steps : The call to action is clear and professional, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute, which shows initiative and confidence.

Cover letter example for someone changing careers

Changing careers can be a bold and exciting move, especially when you have a strong foundation of transferable skills. The following example of a cover letter demonstrates how to effectively highlight your previous experience and enthusiasm for a new industry.

• Engaging opening : Starts with a bold question that captures attention and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
• Clear value proposition : Quickly establishes how the candidate’s project management skills can benefit the finance industry.
• Relevant experience : Highlights a specific project that showcases the candidate’s ability to improve efficiency and manage complex tasks.
• Expresses enthusiasm : Shows genuine excitement about the career change and the specific company.
• Call to action : Concludes with a clear and confident call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Cover letter example for someone re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce after a significant break can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your resilience and the valuable skills you’ve developed during your time away.

The following cover letter example demonstrates how to effectively address employment gaps while highlighting your strengths and enthusiasm for the role.

• Strong opening statement : The cover letter begins with a compelling statement about the importance of adaptability and innovation, setting a positive and forward-thinking tone.
• Addresses employment gap : It acknowledges the employment gap upfront, providing context without dwelling on it, which demonstrates honesty and transparency.
• Highlights relevant experience : The letter emphasizes past accomplishments and specific projects, showcasing the candidate’s skills and ability to deliver results.
• Shows enthusiasm for the role : The candidate expresses excitement about re-entering the workforce and aligns their values with the company’s mission.
• Proposes next steps : It ends with a clear call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Generate a perfectly crafted cover letter in seconds

If you’re still having trouble writing your cover letter, try Jobscan’s AI cover letter generator . It analyzes both your resume and the job ad to create a completely original cover letter customized for the job you’re applying for.

To learn more about how the cover letter generator works, watch this brief video:

You can try Jobscan’s cover letter generator for free below:

Key takeaways

Follow these key takeaways to write a compelling cover letter that sets you apart from other candidates and opens doors to new career opportunities.

• Write with the employer’s needs in mind. Explain how you can address their specific challenges and contribute to their goals.
• Keep it brief . Use short sentences and paragraphs to make it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly.
• Address your letter to a specific person . If you can’t find a name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.
• Showcase your relevant experience. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities.
• Inject your personality. Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• End with a strong call to action . Suggest a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success.
• Proofread your letter. A single error can torpedo your chances at getting an interview.
• Show enthusiasm. Showing excitement and a willingness to learn can make you a more attractive candidate.

A cover letter should be one page long, consisting of three to four paragraphs. The total word count should be around 250-400 words.

When you don’t have a specific name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it is considered old-fashioned.

When emailing a cover letter, use a clear subject line like “Application for Content Developer – [Your Name].” Paste your cover letter into the email body. Attach your resume.

Yes, a cover letter is necessary because good first impressions are important. By highlighting your qualifications and showing enthusiasm for the role, you can gain an advantage over someone who doesn’t send one.

Employers look for personalization in a cover letter, showing that it’s tailored to the specific job and company. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job requirements. Include specific achievements that demonstrate your capabilities and contributions.

Yes. Providing specific examples of your achievements helps demonstrate your skills and qualifications, making your application more compelling to employers.

A cover letter starts with your contact information, first and last name, the date, and the employer’s details. Begin with an introduction about your suitability for the role. Include a brief section highlighting relevant experience and skills with examples. Conclude by asking for an interview.

The primary goals of a simple cover letter are to make a good impression, get someone to read your resume, and offer you a job interview. It also shows you have good communication skills, which are highly valuable in today’s workforce.

The opening sentence should state the problem the company faces or pose a thought-provoking question to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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What’s the Ideal Length for a Cover Letter? —Plus Tips to Get Yours There

When you have a task to complete, it helps to know what the end product should look like. It's especially true when you’re doing something you might find difficult—like writing a cover letter . How long should it be? What information do you need to include?

Hiring managers and recruiters are busy people, so you don’t want to disqualify yourself by writing a cover letter that’s too long. But you do want to make sure your cover letter is effective. “The cover letter should serve as an introduction to your resume, highlighting why you’re interested in the position, what you’re looking for in your next role, and how you can potentially add value to the position or company,” says Muse career coach Yolanda Owens , who has over 20 years of recruiting experience. 

So how much space do you have to do all that? And how can you make the best use of that space?

How long should a cover letter be?

The ideal cover letter length is:

• Less than one page
• Three to five paragraphs
• Less than 400 words

At least that’s the approximate consensus we came to based on research and input from a few experts who have worked as hiring managers, recruiters, or both.

If this feels short, “Keep in mind that the cover letter is not a tell-all of everything you've done,” says Muse coach Emily Liou , a recruiter and HR professional. “You just want enough to position yourself as a fit and to pique the curiosity of the reader.” You don’t need pages and pages to do that.

In a survey of 205 HR professionals, ResumeLab found that 42% of respondents preferred cover letters between half and one page and 40% preferred cover letters that were less than half a page. Only 18% said they preferred cover letters longer than one page. Muse coach Steven Davis , a technical recruiter, advocates for a cover letter that “can be comfortably read in less than a minute.”

How do you write a cover letter that's just the right length?

Here are a few tips that'll get your cover letter to the ideal length:

1. Pay attention to your structure.

You may remember the five-paragraph essay from school: introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph. Cover letters are structured similarly.

Basically, you should lay out your cover letter like this:

• Introduction (one paragraph): Your cover letter opening should be original and creative to draw your reader in. It should show your connections to the employer and your interest and excitement for the position, Liou says. You might also use this paragraph to explain that you’re making a career pivot or re-entering the workforce after an employment gap .
• Body (one to three paragraphs): Your body paragraphs should focus on the ways you can help the organization or team, Owens says. Talk about what skills and experience you bring to the company, and back up what you’re saying with past examples—but keep them concise.
• Conclusion (one paragraph): Your conclusion should be “a final paragraph thanking the reader for their time and reiterating your interest,” Owens says.

2. Figure out what matters to the employer.

“This is a great time to dissect what is most important to this position,” Liou says, so you can focus your cover letter on what your prospective employer cares about most. Go back to the job description and read it thoroughly. What’s listed first and what’s repeated? From there, Davis says, you should be able to identify the top skills and experiences they’re looking for.

Then, think about what in your background most exemplifies these qualifications—with an emphasis on situations where you’ve made an impact for your past employers, Liou says. These are the experiences you should recount in your cover letter.

3. Use concise examples to pique your readers’ interest.

Davis suggests using the “the STAR format without any details to create curiosity and motivate the interviewer to review the resume.” If you’re unfamiliar, the STAR method is a way of telling stories in an interview where you make sure that you hit on the situation, task, action, and result of the experience you’re recounting. Using a compact version of the STAR method in your cover letter will help show the impact you’ve had in past roles and how without adding too much length. So you might write something like:

“When my last company redesigned their website, I took the lead on layout, and by working as a constant liaison between our product team and our users, I helped produce a website that our users found 50% more intuitive and drew 33% more repeat users.”

4. Go beyond your resume—without regurgitating it.

“The cover letter should be a supplemental piece to your resume, not a summary,” Owens says. So don’t waste space regurgitating other parts of your application. “Use the cover letter to tell the employer what you want them to know about you that’s not on your resume,” or anywhere else, Owens says.

Focus your precious page or less on highlighting your relevant achievements and explicitly connecting your resume to the position. Don’t worry about including all of the context and details about your past jobs. For anything you talk about in a cover letter, your resume can “continue your narrative—filling in the remaining details of the where, when, and what of your work experiences and history,” Owens says.

5. Consider using bullet points.

And we don’t mean repeating your resume bullet points . We mean using a few bullet points to concisely relay a few key pieces of information that aren’t on your resume, but contribute to your qualifications as a candidate, without taking up too much space.

For example, Owens says you might create a “What I bring to the table” section with three to four bullet points (one or two sentences each). In a section like this, you can touch on a few more disparate topics such as your management or leadership style, pain points you can help your next employer with, or work environments you have experience thriving in, Owens says.

6. Use standard formatting.

Did you ever make your font size a bit larger or choose a slightly wider font to hit a page count on an essay for school? What about widening those margins? Did you ever do the opposite to slip in under a page maximum without having to do another editing pass at 3 a.m.? (Guilty!)

These tactics won’t fly for your cover letter (or your resume for that matter). Instead, stick to standard, easy-to-read formatting. Generally this means:

• Common fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman
• Font sizes between 10 and 12 point
• Margin sizes of about one inch on the top, bottom, and sides
• Lines that are single spaced (1.15 max) with an additional space between paragraphs if you'd like.

Don’t make your cover letter harder to read by cramming as much onto a page as possible. Also keep in mind that your cover letter often passes through the same applicant tracking system (ATS) that your resume does—so any flashy formatting could trip up the software that parses your application materials.

7. Trim the excess.

If your cover letter is still too long, take another look and trim out anything extra that doesn’t need to be there. Some things to cut include:

• Content about how much you’d enjoy doing the work, Davis says—beyond what you need to express enthusiasm.
• Mentions of years of experience: While the job description may call for three years of experience with a CRM (customer relationship management) program, you don’t need to use your cover letter to write a word problem where your six months experience from one internship, three months each from two classes, and two years at your last job equals three years.
• Extra details in your examples, especially those that are found on your resume or don’t contribute to your strength as a candidate
• Filtering language: This includes phrases like “I think” and “I feel.” You don’t “believe you can help” a company solve a problem, you can help a company solve a problem.
• Overused or cliché phrases
• Anything about what the job would do for you : Focus on what you can do for them.

Read More: How to Cut Your Cover Letter Down to One Page (Because Any Longer and No One's Reading)

8. Follow any instructions in the job description.

Finally, all of the above are just guidelines. The best indicator of what an employer is looking for in a cover letter—length-wise or otherwise—is the employer itself.

So if a job posting tells you that a cover letter should be a different length than we’ve indicated, default to the job description. If a job posting tells you that a cover letter should include different things than we’ve indicated, default to the job description. If a job posting tells you that you shouldn’t include a cover letter at all, default to the job description.

Should You Always Include a Cover Letter?

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

The little-known truth about cover letters is: You do NOT always need to include a cover letter when applying for jobs, and you may be wasting hours sending cover letters that employers won’t read.

So if you’re wondering whether you should always submit a cover letter with your job application and resume, then keep reading.

After working for years as a recruiter , I’m going to share the exact situations where you should provide a cover letter and the situations where it’s not needed.

Should You Always Submit a Cover Letter?

Many people on LinkedIn and other sites will tell you that you should include a cover letter every time because it “can’t hurt,” but that’s not true…

Here’s how it CAN hurt you…

Writing a great cover letter takes a LOT of time and mental energy. So if it’s not making a difference, or not even getting read, then it  is hurting you in terms of wasted time and energy (I’d argue that writing a cover letter is the toughest and most time-consuming part of the process for many job seekers).

Writing a resume is tough, sure. But once you get it, you’re done. You spend 5-15 minutes tailoring it for each specific job you apply for, but that’s it.

Cover letters take a lot of time EVERY time (at least when done right).

That’s why it’s important to look at how important a cover letter is, and which situations it’s necessary and truly beneficial in.

3 Situations Where You Need to Send a Cover Letter:

There are a couple of specific scenarios where cover letters are necessary, and you should send one. This article by Harvard Business Review says it best:

In those cases, according to Harvard Business Review, you can boost your chances of getting the interview by writing a short letter to point out similarities between your resume and the job requirements (e.g. why you’d do well in their job )… rather than leaving the analysis entirely up to the hiring manager.

But this is only worth doing if you meet one or more of the criteria above, or a few other situations I’ll explain below…

Two more cases where you may want to include a cover letter:

First, you should send a cover letter if an employer specifically says it’s required on their website or job application form (however, having an optional field to include it is not the same as asking for it or saying it’s required).

And second, you should send a letter if you have a large gap in employment or something unusual in your background that you feel the need to explain, and you don’t feel your resume explains it well enough on its own.

(Although I do like addressing gaps in employment directly on your resume employment history section when possible. For example, if you took a year off to raise a kid, you could say: “2018-2019: One-year break from work to raise first child.” So do try to explain this type of thing on your resume if you can!)

When You Don’t Need a Cover Letter:

If you don’t fall into any of the situations we looked at above, then a cover letter is not needed.

For example, if you’re just applying for jobs online via job boards , via LinkedIn, on company websites via their “careers” page, etc., then I’d skip it! Send your resume and let it speak for itself. (And if you don’t have a great resume yet, you can get help  here. )

In my opinion, the extra time and effort just isn’t worth it when you’re applying online with no prior relationship, no referral, and no special knowledge of the hiring manager or job requirements that you can use to make your case for why they should interview you.

This is one reason I love LinkedIn EasyApply as a part of an online job search – because a cover letter is not required or even expected.

Of course, the final judgment call is yours!

If you’re applying to your dream employer and you don’t mind spending an hour writing up a great cover letter, then go ahead! It can’t hurt in a one-off scenario like this.

But the main point I’m trying to make here is:

You should be selective about when to send a cover letter, rather than feeling obligated to send it by default.

Recap: How Important is a Cover Letter?

The answer to how important a cover letter is depends on the hiring process and situation. If you read the information above, you now know when a cover letter is necessary/recommended, and when you probably shouldn’t bother.

And you’ve seen that cover letters do matter in some cases, but that doesn’t mean that you always need to send a cover letter.

And as mentioned earlier, the main benefit of this approach is time savings…

When you look at how much time and effort goes into writing each of these letters, it can add up to hours or days of wasted time if you’re sending cover letters without analyzing whether it’s necessary for the situation.

Tips for Writing a Good Cover Letter:

Now that we’ve answered whether a cover letter is necessary, and when it’s important, here are some tips and resources to help you in situations where you decide a cover letter is needed:

First, I’d always recommend keeping it brief, easy to read (no huge paragraphs or blocks of text without spacing), and personal.

It should feel like you’re talking directly to them! That means start with “Dear Bethany”, (for example), not with, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter”.

(Recruiters almost never care about a cover letter anyway. It should be for the hiring manager).

Also, make sure you’re saying the word “you” at least as often as you say the word “I”. Talk about their needs and their company, not just about yourself .

The purpose of your cover letter is to point out similarities between your background and the employer’s job requirements. You want to demonstrate why you’re likely to succeed in their specific role, to sell them on interviewing you! And you cannot do this without researching their job and understanding/discussing their job. So this letter isn’t just about you , it’s about them just as much.

To help you further, we’ve published two articles here on Career Sidekick with great cover letter info:

• 3 steps to writing a cover letter that stands out
• How to write a cover letter with no experience

If you follow the steps above, you’ll save time in your job search and maximize the number of interviews you get for the effort you put into your job applications!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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How to Write a Graphic Designer Cover Letter (3 Examples)

How to write a paralegal cover letter (2 examples), how to write a medical assistant cover letter (3 examples), how to write a research assistant cover letter (3 examples), how to write a software engineer cover letter (3 examples), how to write a hr cover letter (4 examples), how to write a data analyst cover letter (3 examples), how to write a bartender cover letter (3 examples), 5 thoughts on “should you always include a cover letter”.

Good stuff Biron! This is why Career Sidekick is my go-to career blog, I really admire how you take a contrarian approach to conventional job search/career wisdom!

Seems like almost every other career blog advises you to always submit a cover letter. Too bad these folks don’t consider the most important asset we all have: time!

Would being graduated out of college for 1.5 years and haven’t “launched” your career yet – getting a job in the field you got a degree in – count as something “unusual on your background” that you would need a cover letter for?

Thanks for the kind words. I don’t think you’d need a cover letter for this. Just make sure to “tailor” your resume to show the most relevant pieces of the work you have done, and to show your relevant educational background/degree. But if you’re not getting results with your resume, then it’s worth testing/trying a cover letter. My guess is that it’s not needed, and perfecting your resume will get more interviews.

Thanks for the advice Biron!

If I understand you correctly, is this an instance where you would recommend NOT using a chronological work history on a resume then?

And instead break up work experience history into a “relevant” and “other work experience” sections, since we’re trying to show specific relevant pieces of experience and educational background/degree?

I’d still keep it chronological. Just show the most relevant pieces of each past role, for the job you want now.

How about in my situation? I am looking for a job in marketing, but it has been five years and a few jobs since marketing has been the primary function of my job. My last few jobs have had a very little marketing focus and have been training, technical or sales in focus. Should I always write a cover letter to explain this when I am applying for marketing jobs?

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Gov. Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ running mate. What happens now in Minnesota politics?

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The selection of Gov. Tim Walz as a Democratic vice presidential candidate could trigger a cascade of political leadership changes in Minnesota — if the newly minted ticket wins.

But it’s important to note at the outset that the timing of any Walz departure from the Minnesota governor’s office would dictate everything.

Here are the ways the dominoes could fall:

Would Tim Walz be required to leave office to run for vice president?

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It wouldn’t be in his interest to give up the governor’s office until after the election results are known, because he can remain governor if he and Vice President Kamala Harris lose the presidential election in November.

Walz has two-plus years remaining on his second term. He hasn’t even said what would come after 2026, leaving the door open to another run for governor or something else. Minnesota doesn’t have term limits.

• Discover more The MPR News' Tim Walz archive
• Be informed Minnesota Voter Guide from MPR News

If he does resign, who will fill his spot in Minnesota?

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a fellow Democrat, would become Minnesota’s next governor under succession steps laid out in the Minnesota Constitution . Flanagan would be the first female governor in Minnesota and the first Native American woman to serve as governor in the country. She is a member of the White Earth Nation.

She would be the eighth lieutenant governor in Minnesota to climb the ladder. It last happened in 1976 when then-Gov. Wendell Anderson resigned his office to take the U.S. Senate seat opened by Walter Mondale’s impending ascension to the vice presidency. Rudy Perpich moved up.

In 1943, Lt. Gov. Edward Thye became governor upon the resignation of Gov. Harold Stassen.

Two other resignations in the 1800s resulted in a political promotion as well.

Three times in Minnesota’s history, a governor’s death in office led to the lieutenant governor moving up, according to records kept by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library .

Who becomes lieutenant governor?

Under the line of succession, the Minnesota Senate president moves up. 

This is where things get trickier and murkier. 

Currently, that’s four-term DFL Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis. But that doesn’t mean he’ll get the job. 

It depends on a lot of factors, including which party controls the Senate when Walz submits his resignation.

The 67-member chamber is currently tied 33-33. Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, resigned her seat to run for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd District. A special election in November will determine who wins the seat — and the Senate majority heading into the 2025 session.

If Democrats win the seat there could be stability in the Senate president’s chair. The party could also opt to elect a new president if Champion decided he didn’t want the lieutenant governor’s post; after all, he could always try to reclaim the Senate president post later given that a new one of those would be chosen next. 

Last month, Champion told reporters that he’s not yet considering what a climb up the political ranks might mean for him.

If Republicans win, upon the election certification of the new senator — as soon as mid-November — they could move to have that person sworn in to give the GOP a 34-33 edge.

When the Legislature reconvenes in mid-January, the party could put one of their own in the Senate president’s seat. 

Or GOP members could work a political angle, perhaps installing a swing-seat Democrat as president with the awareness that person would be tugged up the chain. That would open that elevated senator’s seat for another special election.

Is there a deadline for Walz to resign?

It would be largely up to him. He could resign soon after the election or wait a bit.

Walz would not be sworn in as vice president until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, so conceivably he could keep the Minnesota post right up until then.

Given that the Legislature comes back on Jan. 14 for the next session, the musical chairs in the Senate could be settled soon after that and give Walz a clear picture of what would be in the rearview mirror.

How might it affect the state Senate’s operations?

The Senate would be down a member until that resulting special election is held. There is a possibility it could be done prior to the 2025 session, but also the possibility it wouldn’t occur until February or March.

That might mean a 33-33 party split for the opening weeks of a budget-year session. The state House majority, currently held by Democrats, is also at stake this November.

It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen problems generated by the ascendancy of a senator to the lieutenant governor post in Minnesota. In 2017, then Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate seat left open by Al Franken’s resignation. 

Then-Senate President Michelle Fischbach, a Republican who now represents a vast swath of western Minnesota in Congress, moved up to the role of lieutenant governor. But Fischbach tried to maintain that she could serve as both Lieutenant Governor and Senate President. 

Democrats sued Fischbach twice. In the first lawsuit, a Ramsey County district judge ruled that the Senate had the duty to determine eligibility of its members and the case was dismissed . Democrats sued Fischbach again a few months later, but the case was dropped when the legislative session ended and Fischbach resigned from the Senate to accept an invitation to be Tim Pawlenty’s running mate in the governor’s race. They ultimately lost.

• U.S. Senate candidates give closing arguments at Farmfest ahead of Tuesday’s primary
• How to vote in the 2024 Minnesota primary election in August
• In 7th District, a conservative Republican faces a primary challenge — from the right

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Home / Healthy Aging / How coronary calcium scans assess heart attack risk

How coronary calcium scans assess heart attack risk

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States — and this holds true across gender and most racial and ethnic groups. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and impacts blood supply to the heart muscle. Although an estimated 1 in 20 people age 20 and over are already living with the condition, many people don’t realize they have CAD until they experience a heart attack or stroke.

Though these odds may sound worrisome, there are ways to assess your risk of heart attack and stroke , and in some cases, even catch CAD before symptoms develop.

A coronary calcium scan — also referred to as a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan or a heart CT calcium scan — is a simple, noninvasive test that not only screens for CAD but also helps determine your heart attack risk.

Below, Thomas C. Gerber, M.D., cardiologist with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and a professor of medicine and radiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, breaks down exactly how a coronary artery calcium scan works and what to expect from the assessment.

What is a coronary artery calcium scan?

A coronary calcium scan is a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the heart, says Dr. Gerber. “Because the heart moves constantly, these scans are done with specialized CT scanners that can ‘freeze’ the heart’s motion, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the heart’s condition.”

Though this sounds technical, the scan itself is short and painless. According to Dr. Gerber, there is no preparation on your part. There are no needles, and the scan does not cause any physical discomfort. “You will be asked to hold your breath and lie still, but the scan itself takes just a few seconds — the procedure will be over before you know it,” he says.

As the name implies, the purpose of the coronary calcium scan is to detect any calcium deposits in the arteries — also called the “coronary arteries” — that supply blood to the heart muscle.Cholesterol and other substances form artery-narrowing plaque in the arteries, and this builds up slowly over time. If the plaque grows big enough to reduce blood flow to the heart muscle, the resulting blockage can sometimes trigger a heart attack.

Assessing this calcium buildup is important because the more calcium that is present, the more plaque is likely to be present as well. And the more plaque you have, the higher your risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack, even if the plaque is not yet big enough to reduce blood flow to the heart muscle.

How coronary calcium scans determine heart attack risk

After the scan, specially trained technicians process the CT images and calculate your coronary artery calcium score. This number, sometimes called the Agatston score, estimates your heart attack risk .

“The CAC score is a measure of how much plaque there is in the coronary arteries,” says Dr. Gerber. “Put simply, the higher the CAC score, the more plaque is likely present. And the more plaque there is, the higher the risk of a serious heart attack over time.”

If you receive a score of zero, there was no calcium present in the scan and your risk of a heart attack is considered low for the near future. A score ranging from 100 to 300 indicates a moderate amount of calcium and suggests a relatively high risk of heart attack or other heart disease over 3 to 5 years. Finally, a score above 300 may indicate more extensive heart disease and a higher risk of heart attack.

“Remember that a coronary calcium scan, if needed, is just one of many factors that your healthcare team considers when helping you manage your cardiovascular risk,” says Dr. Gerber. In other words, having some calcium present does not automatically mean that a heart attack is inevitable.

“Coronary calcification becomes more common as people get older. For example, at age 70, approximately 70% of men have calcium present,” says Dr. Gerber. “Also, if you are a very active athlete, your CAC score may be higher than expected, but in this situation is not thought to indicate higher cardiovascular risk.”

Simply put, a coronary calcium scan is a risk assessment tool to help you and your healthcare team learn more about your heart health and determine what medication or lifestyle changes, if any, would benefit you. “Trust that your healthcare team will carefully explain to you what your CAC score means in your individual situation, and what should be done with the information,” says Dr. Gerber.

Who should get a coronary calcium scan?

Although a coronary calcium scan is an effective tool to diagnose CAD and assess the risk of heart attack, it’s not right for everyone.

According to Dr. Gerber, a coronary calcium scan is typically most helpful for people with an intermediate risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular issues. Your specific risk of heart attack or stroke is determined by a number of factors such as your age, sex and race, as well as clinical markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, ongoing tobacco use and diabetes diagnosis.

If your cardiovascular risk is considered either low or high, Dr. Gerber says the scan is rarely useful. Likewise, the scan is not recommended for people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, or those who have received coronary stents or heart bypass surgery. In any of these cases, your healthcare team will already know you have heart disease. “Remember that a coronary calcium scan is a screening test that is meant to discover previously unrecognized coronary disease,” says Dr. Gerber.

However, even if your cardiovascular risk is low, there are some special cases where a scan may be helpful. “For example, if you are a younger person with first-degree relatives, such as a parent or sibling, who had heart attacks or strokes younger than age 55 for men or age 65 for women, a coronary calcium scan is reasonable,” says Dr. Gerber.

Remember, heart disease is a treatable — and, in many cases, preventable — condition. Assessment tools like coronary calcium scans can help you and your healthcare team better understand your risk and assess how to best protect your heart health and lower the risk of heart attack.

If you’re concerned about your cardiovascular health or heart attack risk, speak with your healthcare team about the best risk assessment options for you.

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Your Financial Aid Award Letter: What It Means And How To Read It

Updated: Oct 10, 2022, 6:51pm

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After months perfecting your college admissions essays and submitting your applications, you finally receive your first school acceptance letters. Congratulations, getting into college is a huge achievement and the start of the next chapter of your life.

However, now you have to start thinking about how to pay for your education. Luckily, you probably won’t have to cover the full cost yourself. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 87% of first-time, full-time undergraduate students were awarded financial aid for the 2019-2020 school year, the last available data.

If you filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  and the school approved your application, you likely received a financial aid award letter along with your acceptance notification. The financial aid award letter contains important information about the cost of attendance and your financial aid options.

However, each school has its own way of presenting its information, so it’s important to understand what’s typically included in a financial aid award letter. Here’s what to look for and what to do if you need more financial assistance.

What Is a Financial Aid Award Letter?

The financial aid award letter, also known as the student aid package or school offer, tells you what financial aid you can get at a particular school. The award letter is specific to that university or college, so you’ll receive a different letter from every school that accepts you as an incoming student.

Decoding Your Financial Aid Award Letter

The letter will include the annual total cost of attendance  and a list of financial aid options. Typically, your financial aid package  will be a mix of gift aid, meaning financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid, and loans, which you have to repay with interest.

What Your Award Letter Should Include

Your financial aid award letters will look different from school to school, but the U.S. Department of Education created the College Financing Plan  in an effort to encourage schools to make their award letters more streamlined and easily comparable. Most award letters have several elements in common:

• Expected family contribution.  This portion of the award letter is the dollar amount that your family is expected to pay  toward education expenses based on the financial information provided in the FAFSA. The number helps determine how much financial aid you’ll likely need to cover costs.
• Cost of attendance. The estimated cost of attendance may include tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other expenses for one year of classes. However, this number doesn’t include every expense you’ll encounter as a student.
• Scholarship and grant options.  Most award letters include multiple types of awards. This section of the letter lists awards that do not require repayment and may include merit-based scholarships, need-based grants (institutional, state and Federal Pell), employer paid tuition benefits and other forms of “gift” aid.
• Net costs. Next, the aid letter typically states the net cost of school—or the cost of attendance minus total grants and scholarships. This is the cost per year that must be paid out of pocket or covered by loans or other aid.
• Loan and work options.  The bottom portion of your award letter will list available loan options—including the loan type, amount and interest rate. This section also indicates whether you qualify for federal work-study and, if so, how much you’re eligible to earn each year and how many hours you can work each week.

When Will I Get My Financial Aid Award Letter?

The timing of your financial aid award letter will depend on when you applied and the university’s admissions policies. If you completed the FAFSA, applied in the fall and the school admits students on a rolling basis, you could receive information about financial aid as early as December or January.

However, many schools don’t put together financial aid packages until after their application deadlines in the spring. That means you may not receive a financial aid award letter until May or even June.

How to Apply For Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid , you have to complete the FAFSA. The federal government and universities use the FAFSA to determine your financial aid eligibility.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, FAFSA forms must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2024. However, states and colleges may have deadlines that differ from the federal deadline. Check with the school financial aid administrator to see when you need to submit the FAFSA.

The FAFSA is free to complete, and you can fill out the application online  by following these steps:

1. Collect the necessary documents.  You can make the financial aid application process less frustrating by compiling your federal income tax returns, W-2s and records of other earnings before starting the application. If you’re applying as a dependent , you’ll need to gather financial records for your parents.

2. Log in to the Federal Student Aid website.  To start the application process, log in to the FSA website . If you already have an account, enter your FSA ID and password. If not, create an FSA account using your contact information and Social Security number.

3. Fill out student information.  The first section of the FAFSA form requests your Social Security number and contact information, state residency details, education level and other personal information.

4. Choose where to send your FAFSA.  If you don’t have the Federal School Code, search for your school by state and name or city. You can send your FAFSA to up to 10 schools, so be sure to add all of your possible choices if you haven’t decided on a school yet.

5. Enter your dependency status.  The Dependency Status section of the application requests information about your marital status, household size and other information to determine whether you are considered an independent for financial aid purposes. This also determines the types of financial documents you need to provide.

6. Input financial information.  When prompted, enter information about your tax returns, household income, additional earnings and assets. If you’re applying as a dependent, you’ll complete the Parent Financials section of the form instead.

7. Sign and submit your application.  After completing the application form, agree to the FAFSA certification statement and sign your application. Filing deadlines may be university-specific, so check with your school’s financial aid office to determine important dates.

8. Reapply for aid every school year.  Federal financial aid eligibility depends on your financial need, so you have to resubmit your FAFSA each year.

In general, it will take less than an hour to complete the application, but you can save and access it again for up to 45 days if you need to stop to complete it later. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or federal financial aid in general, visit the Federal Student Aid Help Center .

Types of Financial Aid

When evaluating financial aid packages from schools, it’s important to keep the different types of financial aid in mind.

Whenever possible, you should use as much gift aid as you can before turning to other sources of financial aid. Gift aid doesn’t have to be repaid and comes in the form of grants or scholarships.

• Grants: Grants can be issued by the government, schools and private organizations. Grants are typically based on financial need.
• Scholarships:  Scholarships are awarded by schools and private organizations. Scholarships are usually issued based on merit, such as your academic or athletic performance.

Federal Work-Study

The federal work-study program can be a useful way to pay for a portion of your education expenses and to reduce how much you need to take out in student loans. With work-study, undergraduate and graduate students with financial need get part-time jobs related to their majors. You use the money you earn to cover some of your education costs. The amount you can work is determined by your total federal work-study award.

Not all schools participate in the federal work-study program, and it’s important to know that you’re not guaranteed a job. It’s your responsibility to find a suitable role. The award isn’t guaranteed, and you’ll have to work throughout the semester to earn the money you need.

Federal Student Loans

If you’ve exhausted gift aid and work-study and still need money to pay for school, federal student loans  should be your next consideration. Federal loans tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms  than private loans. As an undergraduate student, you have the following loan options:

• Direct subsidized loans. Undergraduate students with financial need can qualify for subsidized loans. With direct subsidized loans , the government covers the interest that accrues while you’re in school, during your grace period and during periods of deferment. As a first-year student, you can borrow up to $3,500 per year.
• Direct unsubsidized loans: Undergraduate students can take out direct unsubsidized loans regardless of financial need. With these loans, you’re responsible for all interest that accrues. First-year dependent students can take out up to $2,000 per year, while independent students can take out up to $6,000 per year.
• Parent PLUS Loans: PLUS loans allow parents of undergraduate students to borrow up to the total cost of attendance, minus other financial aid received.

How to Compare Financial Aid Awards

Because there isn’t a set format for financial aid awards, comparing the different offers can be confusing.

To figure out which school is giving you the best financial aid package, calculate the net price with these simple steps:

• Identify the school’s cost of attendance. Most financial aid letters will list the total cost of attendance. If your letter doesn’t, ask the financial aid office for the number. Make sure it includes all of your expenses, including textbooks, transportation and supplies.
• Subtract gift aid and savings.  Subtract the gift aid you received from the school’s total cost of attendance. If you have any savings set aside for college, such as money saved in a 529 plan , subtract that amount as well.
• Compare net price. The number you get after subtracting gift aid and savings is your net price. That’s how much you’ll have to pay—or borrow in student loans—for college.

In some cases, you may find that a more expensive school gives you more gift aid, reducing your net price. That’s why it’s so important to look at the price after subtracting gift aid so you can see how much you’d have to pay out of your own pocket.

If you’re still confused, take advantage of the Department of Education’s annotated College Financing Plan , which can provide helpful details about each section of the award letter. You can also use third-party tools like Offer Letter Decoder  that let you upload your award letter and then provide clarity around the types of aid you were awarded.

How to File a Financial Aid Appeal Letter

In some cases, there may be special circumstances that may entitle you to additional financial aid. For example, you could qualify for additional aid if:

• Your parents lost their jobs or experienced a loss in income
• You had a major medical expense
• You have unusually high child care costs
• Your home was damaged by a natural disaster

Filing an appeal letter also may be a good option if you need more aid due to COVID-19 . To start the appeals process, contact the school’s financial aid office as soon as possible to determine the correct process and deadline for pursuing an appeal.

When you start drafting the letter of appeal, include important information like why you’re appealing the award and provide details about the circumstances that led to the change in your financial status. If appropriate, you may also include documents that illustrate your situation or otherwise support your appeal. Finally, include a specific request for the amount you need to attend the school as well as any competing offers you received from other schools.

Still Not Enough? Steps to Take if You Need More Aid

Unfortunately, your school’s financial aid package may not be enough to cover all of your education expenses.

Cut Your College Costs

If the total cost of attendance is too high even with financial aid, look for ways to reduce your college expenses. For example, you could live off-campus instead of in the dorms or attend a public university rather than a private school. If possible, staying home and commuting to school can significantly lower your education costs.

Look for Additional Scholarships

If you need more aid to pay for school, you may qualify for outside scholarships offered by nonprofit organizations or private companies. You can search for potential opportunities on FastWeb Scholarships.com  and Niche .

Consider Private Student Loans

Finally, private student loans  can be a useful tool to fill the gap. However, they usually have higher interest rates and stricter repayment terms than federal loans, so make sure you review the terms carefully.

Private student loans are issued by banks and lenders rather than the government. They review your application and decide whether to issue you a loan based on your income and credit. As a college student, you’ll likely need a co-signer—a parent or relative with steady income with good credit—to qualify for a loan.

Not sure where to start? Check out the best private student loan lenders .

Forbes Advisor Loans Writer Kiah Treece contributed to this article.

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For the past seven years, Kat has been helping people make the best financial decisions for their unique situations, whether they're looking for the right insurance policies or trying to pay down debt. Kat has expertise in insurance and student loans, and she holds certifications in student loan and financial education counseling.