Context Slice Cover Letter Framework
Principles
- Be specific, not generic — Every sentence should be tailored to this job at this company
- Show, don't tell — "I led a team that increased retention by 40%" not "I'm a great leader"
- Match their energy — Startup? Be informal. Bank? Be polished
- Answer "why you, why here" — Make the connection explicit
Structure
Opening Hook
BAD: "I am writing to apply for the Software Engineer position I saw on LinkedIn."
GOOD: "Your team's work on [specific project] caught my attention—it's the kind of technical challenge I've been solving at [current company]."
The opening should show:
- You know what they do
- You're genuinely interested
- You have relevant context
Body Paragraphs
Each paragraph should follow: CLAIM → EVIDENCE → CONNECTION
- CLAIM: What you bring
- EVIDENCE: Specific example with outcome
- CONNECTION: Why this matters for their role
Example:
"At [Company], I led the migration of our payment system to a microservices architecture, reducing transaction failures by 60% and enabling us to scale from 10K to 100K daily transactions. Given that you're rebuilding your checkout flow, I'd bring both the technical expertise and the battle scars from doing this before."
Closing
- Don't beg or be overly humble
- Reiterate mutual fit
- Clear next step
BAD: "I would be so grateful for the opportunity to interview."
GOOD: "I'd love to discuss how my experience with [X] could help [Company] achieve [Y]. I'm available to chat whenever works for you."
Tone Calibration
| Company Type | Tone | Example Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | Casual, direct | "I've been following [Company] since your seed round..." |
| Enterprise | Professional, polished | "Your leadership in [industry] aligns with my career focus..." |
| Creative agency | Bold, personality-forward | "Most cover letters are boring. I'm hoping this one isn't." |
| Non-profit | Mission-driven, authentic | "I've spent my career trying to [mission]. [Org] is doing it at scale." |
Length
- Aim for 250-350 words
- 3-4 paragraphs max
- Respect the reader's time
- If you can't cut anything, you haven't focused enough
Common Mistakes
- Repeating your resume — The letter should add context, not summarize
- Being too humble — Confidence is expected; false modesty reads as insecurity
- Generic enthusiasm — "I'm excited about this opportunity" means nothing
- Focusing on what you want — Focus on what you bring