Cover Letter Starter
Most cover letters fail in the first four lines: they repeat the resume, they flatter the company with generic praise, or they apologise. This starter writes a usable opening. You still owe the middle (proof) and the close (a clear ask).
Use the Cover Letter Starter
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Four steps
How to use this tool
- 01
Enter the exact role title from the posting.
- 02
Enter the company name as they spell it.
- 03
Paste a few lines from the requirements, not the whole careers-page manifesto.
- 04
Rewrite the draft in your voice. Add one proof sentence of your own.
When a letter still matters
Many ATS forms make the letter optional. Send one when the posting asks, when you are changing countries or industries, or when a person invited you to apply. Skip a page of fluff when the form only has a tiny text box. In that box, use a short version of the same opening plus one proof line.
African and remote hiring teams still use letters as a writing sample. Clear English (or French, if that is the job) is part of the test. Keep sentences short. Name the role. Name the company. Name the overlap.
Do not explain why you need the job. Explain why you can do this job. Need is not a qualification.
A three-part letter after the opening
Paragraph two: one story with a metric that maps to their must-have. Paragraph three: why this company, with a detail from the posting or product, not "your esteemed organisation". Close with availability and a polite ask to talk.
Keep the whole letter under 300 words unless they requested a statement of purpose. Attach or paste as they asked. Do not send a designed letterhead PDF into an ATS if they wanted a text field.
Resume Africa can generate a full letter from your profile and the job description once the opening is honest. This page is the first paragraph only, on purpose. Thin AI letters all sound the same past sentence one.
Common mistakes
- Starting with "I am writing to apply" and then adding nothing specific.
- Repeating every job on the resume.
- Praising the company with language copied from their About page.
- Explaining gaps before you have shown you can do the work.
- Sending the same letter with only the company name changed.
Cover Letter Starter FAQ
Do remote jobs still want cover letters?
When the form includes a letter or a "why us" box, yes. Treat that box as a short letter. Empty optional fields are fine when the posting did not ask and your resume is tailored.
Should I write in UK or US English?
Match the posting. Many African corporates and UK remote roles use UK spelling. US startups use US spelling. Consistency matters more than which side you pick.
Can I mention visa or relocation in the opening?
Better in a later line or a form field they provided. The opening should establish fit. Logistics come once they care.
Is a letter required if I already have a Resume Africa profile?
The profile is the source of truth. The letter is a tailored note. Use both when the employer asked. Use the profile alone when they only requested a CV.
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