why is writing cover letters so hard

16 Secrets for Writing Cover Letters That Get You Hired

I can write a solid resume, interview well, and make sure that my online presence is on point.

The one thing that’s always been a struggle? The dreaded cover letter.

Cover letters can be absolute torture, and it feels like there are a million ways to screw them up. Is yours too formal or informal? Too long or short? Too much information or too vague?

There’s an upside, though: Making your cover letter awesome doesn’t have to be a long, difficult process. In fact, as I’ve written more and more cover letters over time (and started helping dozens of other people write theirs), they’ve actually become (gasp!) fun.

Below, I’ve listed the 16 most important tips I’ve learned to make crafting a cover letter into an easy and pain-free process. Half of the tips are related to what you write, and the other half are tiny things that’ll make sure your cover letter is better than the rest. By the end of the list, there’s no way a hiring manager will be able to shuffle you to the bottom of the pile. Or you know…delete your email…

8 Tips for Cover Letters That Grab Hiring Managers’ Attention

1. Describe a pain point

Here’s the most important question any cover letter should answer: What problem would hiring you solve?

Notice that this question is about the company’s problem, not your desire to land the job! Tricky, I know.

But think about it: If a company has put up a job description, it means they have a pain point and need a solution. For example, if a company is hiring a web designer, it means they don’t think their current layout is up to snuff and they’re looking for someone who can get them there. That’s the problem they need solved, and that’s what your cover letter should make clear in first few sentences.

2. Don’t regurgitate your resume

This is a tip that you’ve probably heard before, but it happens all the time : Don’t use your cover letter to simply restate your resume!

Your cover letter is the perfect place to expand on things that your resume doesn’t detail, illustrate the more intangible reasons why you’re perfect for the job, and explain any particular circumstances that warrant discussion (for example, if you’re making a sudden or drastic career change).

Skillcrush: 22 Things to Remove From Your Resume Immediately

3. The tone should match the company

Cover letters are great for companies not only because they can see if you can solve the problem at hand, but also because they give hiring managers a sense of whether or not you understand the company culture.

How do they figure this out? Tone.

Take a look at a company’s website, how its social media is phrased, and how its employees talk about it online. Is this company a little more informal and fun? Is it buttoned-up and corporate? Your cover letter should be written in a tone similar to that of the company’s copy. Obviously put a professional spin on it, but keep the company’s culture in mind.

4. Keep the focus on the company

Hiring managers assume that if you’re applying to a particular job, that must mean you really want that job. Thus, you don’t need to spend your entire cover letter reiterating how badly you want the job and how great the experience would be for you .

It’s okay to spend one or two sentences tops explaining your love for the company, but then it’s time to turn the tables.

The majority of your cover letter should be illustrating to a potential employer what hiring you would do for their company. Again, focus on the pain point: What talents and skills do you have that would help this organization tremendously?

5. Use your numbers

A big problem I’ve seen in lots of cover letters is that they tend to be very vague in describing any notable accomplishments or achievements.

For example, instead of saying that you have had “a great deal of success as an email marketer,” use your numbers: “I spearheaded an entire newsletter redesign that resulted in a 500% increase in our open rate, which proves…”

Numbers also add intrigue and leave hiring managers wanting to hear more!

Psst! This tip holds true for resumes! ( More here .) Adding numbers and statistics is a solid way to stand out!

6. Make your anecdotes short

While examples can make your cover letter super effective, many people make the mistake of including unnecessary or irrelevant information when using anecdotes that make them drag on and lose their umph .

My personal rule is to make any example or story no longer than three sentences so that you can avoid going overboard and wasting valuable space. Here’s how to break it down:

• Sentence 1: Introduce the skill you’re highlighting.
• Sentences 2: Explain the situation where you showed off this skill.
• Sentence 3: What was the end result? Explain what it did for the company and what it proves about your character.

7. Make your opening line memorable

If the big opener to your cover letter is “I’m applying for Position X at Company Y” or “My name is…” it’s time to press the backspace button. There are two things wrong with both of these phrases:

• They’re redundant, so you’re taking up precious space! A hiring manager is already going to know your name from your application as well as which position you’re applying for. No need to repeat it.
• They’re generic and unmemorable. Give your hiring manager something to get excited about or be intrigued by.

So, how can you start a cover letter with something that has a little more pizzazz? Try opening with a favorite short anecdote, a quote that best describes you as a professional, or your personal tagline.

8. Everything should relate to the job description

As you write (and then read through) every line of your cover letter, ask yourself: How does this sentence relate to the job description? If you find yourself going on tangents or including facts that don’t prove your ability to excel at the job or understand the company culture, take it out.

And if you need some help making sense of exactly what will prove you are qualified for the job at hand, check out these 10 Tips for Deciphering Tech Job Listings .

8 Tips for Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Cover Letter

1. Research whom to address your letter to

Scrap the “To Whom It May Concern” greeting and do some research to find out who will be reading your cover letter.

In some cases, employers will be super helpful and straight up tell you whom to address that cover letter to. If you aren’t so lucky, a quick Google search can help, or if you have a connection to a potential employer, have a professional contact ask around to see if they can get a name.

If all else fails and you really want to avoid the dreaded “To Whom It May Concern” line, feel free to shoot the company an email. I did this before when I was applying to a company that had a plethora of people on its editorial and HR teams and I had no idea who’d be hiring me.

Here’s the quick template I used:

I’m applying to [name of company]’s [name of job title] position, and I was having some trouble figuring out whom specifically to address the cover letter to. Is there a particular person or department I should direct it to?

Thanks so much for your time!

[Your name]

2. Be smart with hyperlinks

If you’re going to use hyperlinks in your cover letter, there are two important things to keep in mind. First, try not to include more than two or three links tops in a cover letter (like an online portfolio or personal website). All links should be relevant, and your cover letter shouldn’t be used as a dumping ground for everything you’ve ever created!

Second, make sure you add context to a hyperlink to both draw attention to it and to make the hiring manager understand that it’s worth his or her time to click on. For example, if you’re referencing a recent design project you did, add that said project can be found “in my online portfolio” and add a hyperlink.

3. Delete extra images, clipart, emoticons and emojis

This is a no-brainer: Regardless of how “chill” the company says it is, keep clipart, emoticons, emojis, cute pictures of your puppy, and any other images OUT of your cover letter!

Squeeze an emoji into a cover email if you’re SUPER confident it’s appropriate. Otherwise, steer clear.

4. Keep it short (like, really short)

I’ve seen dozens of cover letters in the past month, and the biggest issue across the board is that people make their cover letters way too long.

Here’s the general rule of thumb to follow: Your cover letter should be a single page (no more!) and around 300-350 words. If you’re writing a cover email, three to five sentences works (since you usually have attachments or links for a hiring manager to click on).

5. Keep your font professional (and normal)

True story: I once received a cover letter from a friend where he’d had kept his writing to one page—but it was in eight-point font. Yikes.

Your cover letter font size should be normal (aim for between 10-point and 12-point), and your font should be straightforward and professional. Favorites include Arial, Times New Roman, and Georgia. Just say no to Curly Q or Comic Sans.

Skillcrush: 8 Free Font Pairings You Have to See

6. Break up your paragraphs

Nothing provokes fear in people faster than a wall of text. Hiring managers get a visual of your physical cover letter before they ever read it, and if their first reaction is, “Oh god, it’s all one paragraph!” that’s not a good sign.

Instead, break up your cover letter into smaller paragraphs of three or four sentences each. It’s so much more aesthetically pleasing, and the person reading your cover letter will thank you.

7. Cut the vague professional jargon

As with in a resume, using phrases like “team player,” “self-motivated,” or “results driven” only makes your cover letter generic and unmemorable. Use more lively language, or better yet, use specific examples to prove your point.

8. Re-read your cover letter over (and over and over)

Editing is the most tedious but also the most necessary part of any cover letter writing you do. Start by printing your cover letter out and reading it aloud. I also recommend reading the cover letter starting with the last sentence and working your way up.

Another pro tip: Definitely get someone else to read your cover letter. In many cases, you might think your writing is pristine, but a friend will find at least a couple typos and point out some places where your wording is a little clunky.

Getting that perfect cover letter doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process. Use these tips and you’ll be snagging the job (and impressing potential employers with your savvy) in no time!

Skillcrush: The Ultimate Guide the Perfect Email Cover Letter

Lily is a writer, editor, and social media manager, as well as co-founder of The Prospect , the world’s largest student-run college access organization. She also serves in editorial capacities at The Muse, HelloFlo, and Her Campus. Recently, she was named one of Glamour’s Top 10 College Women for her work helping underserved youth get into college. You can follow Lily on Twitter at @lkherman

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Cover Letters: Why Are They So Hard to Write?

April 21, 2014 | Blog

By Melissa Ripp

Marketing Coordinator, Drake & Company Staffing Specialists

If you asked me to rate the top five things that are difficult for me, I’d probably say, in this order:

• Writing a cover letter for a job I REALLY want
• Writing a cover letter for a job I kind of want
• Writing a cover letter for a job that I’m indifferent about
• Playing any sport that requires hand-eye coordination
• Eating a hard-boiled egg (Ick.)

Over the course of my professional career, I’ve racked my brain trying to figure out why cover letters are so difficult for me. Admittedly, my cover letter anxiety used to get in the way of me applying for positions that I knew I was qualified for. Many a well-meaning friend would say to me, “I don’t get it. You market businesses—and people—for a living. Is it really so hard to write about yourself and your accomplishments?”

In a word…yes. But it’s more than that. In a cover letter, you have to catch the eye of an employer or hiring manager with a detail that will set you apart from other candidates, summarize your key strengths relative to the position, convey your personality, express your interest in the position, and drop in a potential referral – all (preferably) in one page. No matter how great you are at brevity, or how confident you might be as a job seeker, writing a cover letter can still be a struggle. And honestly, it’s not even the writing the cover letter that’s the hard part – it’s simply starting one!

Eventually (with the help of a friend who was willing to pass along her expert knowledge and work with me one-on-one), I was able to gain confidence with cover letter writing. Below are a few bits of wisdom I’ve acquired along the way for getting past the cover letter writer’s block:

Enlist in a friend or mentor for assistance.

When it comes to brainstorming for a cover letter, it might help to talk about it before writing about it. Often, I’d ask a good friend to help me brainstorm. First, we would compile a list of questions to help start the conversation:

What qualities and/or accomplishments do you want to emphasize in your letter?

What exactly are the skills the position is looking for? Do you have those skills? If you don’t, do you have primary skills that somewhat align?

• What special skills or talents set you apart from the competition?
• What makes you truly passionate about this particular position?
• What do you like about the company to which you are applying?
• What about your letter will be interesting? What will entice the reader to keep reading.

If you can, record this conversation for future use, as you often forget the context of a conversation when you’re looking at scribbled notes a few weeks later. The next time you find a position you’re interested in and need to write a cover letter, you’ll have a bit of pre-recorded inspiration.

Prefer to go it alone? Participate in a one-person “brain dump.”

Preparing for a cover letter doesn’t have to be any different than preparing to write anything else. Set a timer for five minutes and keep your pen flowing, no matter what you write.

If it helps, go through all of the jobs that you’ve had individually and ask yourself what you did at those jobs. What skills did you acquire? What are the accomplishments of which you’re most proud? Do you have any quantitative or qualitative data for those accomplishments? After you’ve done this, take a break—and when you come back to your writing, go ahead and make a note of any piece you think would be a salient point to bring up in your letter. You might be surprised at how much good data exists about yourself that you never would have thought of otherwise.

Blank page anxiety? Find a template that works for you.

You may not realize it, but starting at a blank Microsoft Word document might be what’s giving you anxiety. As a friend of mine once said to me, “Having a template makes me feel like I have some semblance of organization, and it makes me feel like I’ve already done a little work. Believe it or not, that alone makes it much easier to begin.”

This article by Alison Doyle , About.com’s job search writer, includes a link to a variety of cover letter and resume templates that are available for free on Google Docs. These are very simple to personalize with your own information—and they’ll make you feel like you’re actually accomplishing something right away.

Tackle the easy parts first.

“A typical cover letter has three paragraphs—an introductory one, a second paragraph that talks about your accomplishments and your skills, and a final paragraph that wraps it all up,” says Peter Jenkins, Drake’s Office Coordinator and resident resume expert. “So, my advice is to tackle the first and the third paragraph first, and then move on to the one that talks more about yourself and what you bring to the table.” This technique gives a feeling of accomplishment before you tackle what might be a more challenging paragraph.

Take your time—and step away if you need to.

Sometimes, it simply doesn’t work to sit down and rattle off a cover letter in an hour. If you don’t have the time to complete the letter all at once, start the process by working in 15-minute increments.

Now that you have a few tips for how to handle that initial cover letter anxiety, our next blog will talk more about what to include in a cover letter—and what to leave out.

Melissa Ripp  is the Marketing Coordinator at Drake & Company, a staffing firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. Drake & Company specializes in temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire administrative, clerical, and legal placements. For 36 years, Drake has reached beyond skills and qualifications to match candidate personalities with a company’s culture. You can find Melissa on Google+ , and you can find Drake & Company on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , Google+ , and Pinterest .

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How to Write a Cover Letter

Advice for tackling one of the toughest parts of the job-hunting process.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesn’t allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format you’re given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.

No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé , prepping for grueling interviews  — none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system?

• Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, cohost of the Women at Work podcast , and the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict . She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics. Watch her TEDx talk on conflict and follow her on LinkedIn . amyegallo

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A Career Expert's Top 6 Tips For An Incredibly Effective Cover Letter

Writing an amazing cover letter can feel impossible, but putting in that effort is so worth it. "Cover letters are an opportunity to make a case for why you’d excel at the job, totally aside from what’s on your résumé," Alison Green, a former hiring manager who runs the Ask a Manager blog, tells SELF. "Employers aren’t just hiring experience," she explains. Instead, they're looking for someone who more or less has the whole package, which is hard to tell if all they know is your job history! Here, Green offers her expert insight on how to make your cover letter rise to the top of the pile.

1. Use a more casual opening than "To whom it may concern."

Since the most successful cover letters are usually more conversational than formal, it can be good to leave this one behind. "If you know the name of the hiring manager, use that. But if you don’t, you really don’t need to go to great lengths to try to track it down," says Green. In instances where you have no idea who's in charge of the process, she recommends starting off with "Dear hiring manager" instead.

2. Inject some personality that plays to your strengths.

A cover letter that repeats what's on your résumé is a wasted opportunity to shine. "When you’re facing hundreds of generic form cover letters that summarize résumés, one written using a conversational tone, like it's by a real person, is incredibly refreshing," says Green. To catch the hiring manager's attention, add interesting tidbits that give a glimpse of who you are while also emphasizing why you'd be excellent in the position. Think of it as showing instead of telling—you're not just saying you're qualified, you're backing it up with examples.

Green remembers one woman who pulled this off pretty flawlessly. "Once when I was hiring for an assistant job, a candidate mentioned that her friends teased her about her obsessive organization because she color-coded her closet and kept her music catalogued on a spreadsheet," says Green. "That’s not the sort of thing that you’d put on a résumé, but it quickly gave me a sense of who she was and why she might be a great fit for a job that required organizational skills." Thanks to those kinds of compelling details (in addition to other awesome qualities, of course), the candidate ended up scoring the job .

That's not to say you can't touch on various details of your past roles! You can and should, but instead of standing alone, each one should be fleshed out to give the hiring manager a better picture of who you are. Maybe you talk about how thanks to your meticulous research, a recent presentation you made clinched a major deal for your office. Or perhaps this is your chance to mention how your career trajectory points to a long-held interest in what the company does. Whatever it is, that extra information can help you stand out in a good way.

3. Resist the urge to say you'll follow up to schedule an interview.

There's a difference between taking initiative and jumping the gun. "This is overly pushy and will turn off most hiring managers," says Green. "You've already expressed interest by applying for the job, so now it's in the employer's court to review your application along with the others they've received and decide if they’d like to talk further." She adds that most people who write this don't actually follow up, so then they seem unreliable in addition to being too forward.

4. Stay away from cover letter clichés.

You don't need a gimmick to pique the interest of whoever's reviewing your application. "Hiring managers don’t want to feel like you’re selling them," says Green. "They want to feel like you’re talking to them like a colleague." To that end, she suggests cutting anything "aggressively sales-y" from your cover letter. Think openings like, "If you are looking for a dynamic professional who can X, Y, and Z, look no further!” Beyond seeming forced, they've seen it before. "It's so generic at this point that the hiring manager’s eyes are likely to glaze over," says Green.

5. Avoid phrases like, "I'm uniquely qualified for this job."

Along with "I'm the best candidate for this position" and other variations on the theme, these declarations can come across as either clueless or arrogant. "You just have no way of knowing those things, since you don’t know what the rest of the candidate pool looks like," says Green. Something self-assured but not hinting that you're omniscient is probably a better bet, like "I'm confident my X and Y could make me a great asset to your team."

6. Hit the length sweet spot.

If you can fill about a page with quality content, you're golden. "The perfect length is the amount of space it takes to explain why you’re an exceptionally strong candidate for the job. Half a page usually won’t be enough to do that," says Green. "On the other hand, you also shouldn’t be writing to hit a word minimum, since that often doesn't lead you anywhere good."

She suggests asking yourself if your cover letter explains why you'd thrive in the position without straight-up rattling off your work history at any point. If so, it's probably offering up just the right dose of "I'm amazing, you should bring me in for an interview ASAP" vibes that can get you one step closer to landing a new job .

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Photo Credit: Viktor Hanacek / Unsplash

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

Even People Who Hate Writing Can Make Their Cover Letter Stand Out

Remember that course you had to take in college? The one in which the professor outlined an “appropriate” way to write a cover letter? Yes, that class. That weekly lecture that taught you how to use perfect sentence structure, one-inch margins (all the way around), and an incredibly stilted tone because all of that was professional. Appropriate. Correct.

Remember that?

OK, good. Now, forget everything you learned there. Or forget what Aunt Mary—the family grammarian—insisted you always do when writing a business letter. Forget the rules for the sake of rules. Because in today’s hiring arena, you’ve got to be memorable . You’ve got to grab hiring managers by the short hairs (alert: I am not speaking in a literal sense) and announce in a New York minute that you’re about to steal their hearts—with both your talent and your personality.

You’ve got to allow yourself to break the proverbial cover letter mold. You’ve got to fire up something that enables the hiring manager to (very) quickly connect the dots between what he or she needs, and what you have to offer. And you need to do it in a way that, right out of the gates, presents you as a talented, genuine, and insanely likable human.

Easy enough, right?

While it’s not flat-out child’s play, it’s entirely doable. And here’s a bit of really good news: Most of your competition is going to fall on their faces with their cover letters. So you have a tremendous opportunity if you play this right.

Here are three ways you can break the so-called rules and make an impact, without alienating or flat-out offending a hiring manager (your goal is come across as smashing, not to look like a someone who’s trying too hard here):

1. Nail the Heck Out of the Lead

My undergraduate degree is in journalism. And there’s one thing all of us journalism students learned that has served me incredibly well throughout my career: You’ve got to nail the lead.

You’ve got to compel readers to enter your story, and then be intrigued enough to keep going. This concept doesn’t just apply to the media. It applies to your cover letter. Guys, the very same people who are sitting down to catch today’s headlines are your future bosses. They’re the hiring managers who are reviewing piles and piles of applications. By and large, this is a dreaded task.

So, it stands to reason that, if you can make their jobs even remotely entertaining and engaging (starting with your captivating lead), they’re going to remember you. And see what you’ve got to offer.

How do you do this? For starters, you begin by making it instantly clear who you are professionally (hint: introduce yourself in a way that aligns with what they’re looking for), and why, specifically, you want this role.

And in any instance when you can drum one up, use a personal anecdote—something that makes it clear right out of the gates why you want to work for that company while, at the same time, presents you as a likable person with a good story.

Here’s an example—say you’re a nonprofit leader who’s applying for a Director of Development role at a charity specializing in fire prevention. Your cover letter could begin something like this:

I have a personal interest in fire prevention that dates back many years. The son of a nurse who worked in a hospital burns unit, I grew up with significant exposure to those impacted by fire. I’d spend hours thinking about my dad’s patients, wishing there were some way to better protect people from fire.

Today, as a fundraising professional and nonprofit leader, I’ve helped many great charities generate hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their causes.

I know how to raise funds and engage supporters. It would be my great honor to bring these talents to The Fire Prevention Institute as your next Director of Development.

You see what happened there? The candidate engages the reader with a personal story that shows why he’s passionate about fire prevention, and then introduces himself as a clear and obvious match. They need a seasoned fundraising professional. He is one.

And then, once you nail the lead, you can launch into the specifics on how your background lines up with what the company’s seeking.

2. Use a Conversational Tone

As you read the example above, did you feel like you were reading a form letter? No, you probably did not. The intro into that cover letter was conversational , right down to the contractions (which, by the way, are totally allowed).

Folks, here’s the thing: The people reading this are, well, people. They get up every morning with bad breath. They like cat videos on YouTube. They shoot the breeze about the football game with their colleagues at lunchtime. All this being the case, it’s perfectly OK to use a conversational (yet still professional) tone in your cover letter. This is actually the perfect place to do so, because the cover letter provides you a terrific platform through which you can begin to introduce your personality (as you outline your skills) to a prospective employer.

Don’t squander it.

Now, I’m not suggesting you go too casual. Not at all. You’ll likely offend or, at the very least, look like you’re trying too hard. But writing in the same style in which you’d talk to the hiring manager? It’s A-OK. Truly, really, entirely A-OK.

3. Make it the Length it Needs to Be

I’m not sure who handed down the official cover letter laws way back when, but someone clearly did. I know this because there’s rarely a week that goes by in which I don’t have to convince some panicked soul there’s no magical, perfect length that’ll guarantee you the interview.

Surely, the ability to be both compelling and succinct is important. You want to honor the time and attention span of those you’re trying to influence. You need to make the words earn their spot on that page. However, no one is going to fall over and die if—as you’re captivating them with your qualifications and personality—you start feeling like it’s running a little long. Likewise, no one will dismiss you if it’s just a few paragraphs.

Rather than focusing on word count, focus on your mission and ask yourself these key questions:

• Am I making it abundantly clear that I have specific reasons why I’m applying for this job? In other words, do I look like I’m passionate and enthusiastic about working here?
• Am I sharing (very quickly) the ways in which I’m a solid match for this job, based on what I know about this position from the job description or information I’ve received from people who work there?
• Am I coming across as a genuine, likable person that they’re going to want to meet, and—hopefully—want on their team?

Formulaic cover letters are a giant waste of valuable real estate. The entire purpose of them is to snag the attention of the reader and convince him or her that you not only have what it takes—but that you’re someone the company’s going to enjoy bringing in and getting to know.

Forget about the laundry list of rules, even if you really adore Aunt Mary.

You got this.

Photo of person typing courtesy of Astronaut Images/Getty Images.

Why do we hate writing cover letters?

Shot of a young businessman looking stressed out while working on a laptop in an office

YURI ARCURS PRODUCTIONS /Getty Images

It’s no surprise. Job seekers hate writing cover letters. In fact, it’s arguably the most dreaded step in the job application process. But why?

It’s no surprise. Job seekers hate writing cover letters. In fact, it’s arguably the most dreaded step in the job application process. But why? It’s a relatively short document (unless you’re applying for an academic job) with fairly clear expectations. And, aside from the odd employer here and there who no longer requires a cover letter, it’s a document that every job seeker is familiar with and has likely written several times over in their career.

Yet, the hatred persists, and perhaps for good reason. As reported by the New York Times in 2017, three-quarters of high school 12th graders in the United States lack proficiency in writing, and 40% of ACT test takers lacked the writing skills to successfully complete a college-level writing course. What do these grim statistics have to do with adults who are on the job market and writing cover letters? Writing is, after all, a learned skill, not an innate or natural talent, as many would imagine it. If a job seeker does not have a solid background in writing, including good instruction and years of practice, they will naturally feel insecure and unprepared when faced with the blank page, leading to a sense of dread, anxiety , and even hatred of the task. As The Write Foundation puts it, “Insufficient groundwork manifests insecurity and frustration.”

But, aside from this generalized anxiety and lack of confidence around writing, what exactly is it about the cover letter itself that inspires such apprehension? Here are a few of the top reasons job seekers curse this precursor to the interview, along with some suggestions for ways to make the process a whole lot less painful:

It’s formulaic

While a formula (anyone remember the 5-paragraph essay from grade school?) can be comforting by setting clear “rules” and expectations for the writer, it can also be a crutch that constrains and takes the fun (yes, I said fun) out of writing. This is especially true if you’re applying for multiple jobs and writing multiple cover letters using a strict formula. After a while, the writing process can become boring and tedious… not something a job seeker would look forward to.

What to do instead?

First of all, remember that the purpose of the cover letter is not to simply restate your resume or CV in long form. This is boring to write, and, even worse, it’s boring for potential employers to read because you’re not actually saying anything new. The cover letter should give employers a glimpse into your personality, your character, and all those brilliant “soft” skills you have that don’t belong on a resume.

It also provides you with a platform to reference specific examples of times in your life and career when you bore these skills out. It’s a place where you can fill in any gaps or answer questions that the resume might prompt. To express your interest in and passion for your field or the job. In short, to give a sense in a few paragraphs of who you are and, as much as you can, what you’re all about. So, while it’s fine to have an overall organizing principle (or formula), don’t let yourself be hemmed in by topic sentences and bullet points. Focus on substance rather than format.

It’s too much pressure

If the cover letter is, as I said in the previous paragraph, a space where you can give a sense “of who you are and what you’re all about,” that can be pretty overwhelming to articulate in three paragraphs. Relax, you don’t have to boil down your entire life’s history into one document. No employer is expecting this, and job seekers who try to do too much in the cover letter actually end up coming across as a little inexperienced or immature professionally.

There are two good ways to take the fear and stress out of writing: first of all, don’t try to be “perfect” or worry about saying the “wrong” thing. Instead, focus on being authentic and giving as much quality, substantive detail as you can.

Secondly, and most importantly, remove some of the pressure by breaking the cover letter up into bite-sized pieces. The best way to do this is – before you write one word – make a quick outline. Jot down the main ideas you want to get across in each paragraph and a bullet point examples that you’ll use to demonstrate each idea. For example, in one paragraph you may want to emphasize your leadership and problem-solving skills, so in your outline, you’ll write down a few examples of situations where you’ve demonstrated these skills and had positive outcomes or results (and anytime you can quantify these outcomes in concrete, measurable terms, the better). At this point, don’t worry about how your sentences sound. Remember, you’re not writing yet, just making a plan for how you’re going to organize your points in the cover letter.

In fact, I believe so strongly in the power of an outline to make the writing process easier and faster and also to result in a much better, more organized final document, that I’d even go so far as to say you may want to spend as much time on this step as the actual writing of the cover letter. Basically, the better your outline is and the more organized your thoughts are before you start writing, the cover letter almost writes itself. Really.

It’s time consuming

If you’ve ever spent hours in front of your computer screen trying to put this document together, well, you’re not alone. Because it’s usually perceived as the most difficult job application material to prepare, writing the cover letter usually takes up the most time. Simply put, it stumps a lot of applicants and can, therefore, be pretty slow-going.

The outline recommended above should take care of this as well. If you spend the bulk of your time in the planning and ideation phase –not actually writing – then once you are ready to put your thoughts down, the whole process will go much faster because you won’t be trying to figure what to say and simultaneously how to say it. Instead, you can just focus here on crafting clear, concise sentences that get your already-prepared points across in a professional way.

You don’t know what to say

This is a big one. You can’t write a good outline or a good cover letter if you’re unsure about what to talk about.

First of all, when you’re preparing to write your outline or letter, it’s a good idea to have the job description right in front of you. I recommend actually physically printing it out and having it next to your computer. Use a highlighter to point out the most important skills or experiences that the role requires. Then, give some thought to your own past experiences and see if you can brainstorm moments or situations when you demonstrated these skills. Write down as many of these as you can think of – don’t worry about the cover letter yet.

After you have a fairly good list going, take a second look and pick out two or three of the most relevant ones, or situations where you had the best results. Then, add these to your outline. Keep doing lists like this and editing them down until you’ve come up with a few of your strongest skills and examples. Again, your efforts here should be concentrated on the planning phase of what you’re going to say – the substance of your letter – not your writing, which should be the last step in this process (followed only by a good proofreading session right before you submit).

“I’m just not a good writer.”

Good writing is often seen as a talent rather than a skill . This perception sets most of us up for failure, because if we don’t feel we have the “talent,” we’re not going to have a good attitude about any task, cover letter writing included, that involves writing.

While the whole “talent” thing may be true for some fiction or poetry writers – true artists – learning how to be a good communicator on the page is a learned skill just like any other. There’s no mystery in it. No special “gift” that we either have or don’t have. It’s simply not that glamorous. It all boils down to training, education, and, most importantly, practice. The more you write (and read, for that matter), the better you’ll get at it. So, if you fall into the category of one of the many people who hate writing because they feel they’re just not naturally good at it, remember, that no one is naturally good at it . So, embrace each opportunity you have to express yourself in written form, because with each document you put together, from cover letters and resumes to emails or research proposals, you’ll be that much closer to becoming a better, more confident writer.

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How and Why to Write a Great Cover Letter

A cover letter is a one-page business letter that you submit when applying to a job, along with your resume. As a piece of persuasive writing, your cover letter will aim to convey to the employer why you’re a great candidate for the role.

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

Your cover letter complements your resume by making it easy for the employer to see how your experience and interest connect to the position. Your goal is to convince the employer to interview you.

With your cover letter, you’ll aim to:

• Highlight your qualifications:  You’ll show how your skills and experience relate to the employer’s needs for a specific position.
• Showcase your motivation: You’ll demonstrate your enthusiasm for the specific position and the organization.
• Reflect your voice and written communication skills: You’ll give the employer a sense of your personality and writing style.

When should I write a cover letter?

Not all jobs require cover letters. So, how do you decide whether to submit one?

Submit a Cover Letter when…

• The posting explicitly requests that you do so
• You’re applying to an opportunity at a mission-driven organization
• You think that doing so could provide important information to the employer that they wouldn’t get from your resume

Consider Submitting a Cover Letter when…

• It’s marked “optional” in an application, and you have the bandwidth to do so
• You have content that you can easily recycle or repurpose into a tailored cover letter

No Need to Submit a Cover Letter when…

• A posting specifically tells you not to submit one
• There’s no way to submit one in an application portal, and doing so would require a serious workaround

If you’re applying to several similar opportunities, creating a draft cover letter in advance, geared toward that type of opportunity, can be a helpful way to save time in your actual application process.

How do I write a cover letter?

Your cover letter should articulate your qualifications and motivation for the position. Read the job description closely and research the organization. As you craft your cover letter, use examples that demonstrate your relevant skills, knowledge, and interests. The cover letter should be concise, clear, and well-organized.

Before Writing

Research the employer.

Learn enough about the organization to articulate why you are a strong fit for that firm. 

• Review the firm’s website and LinkedIn page.
• Speak with current or previous employees.
• Read articles and social media for current news.

Analyze the job description

Look for skills, duties, and qualifications of the job so you can design your letter to match these as much as possible.

Reflect on your experience and motivation

Identify skills and personal qualities you have developed which will be useful in this role. Ask yourself:

• What attracts you about this role/company/industry?
• What have you have done in your work experiences, classes, internships, activities, projects, volunteer work, travel, etc., that is similar to the duties required of the job? 

Cover Letter Structure

As a business letter, the cover letter should include:

• Heading: Include your name and contact information in the same format as your resume
• Salutation: Address your letter to the specific individual who can hire you, if this is known. If the name is not included in the job description, address the letter to the Hiring Manager or title mentioned in the job description.
• Body Paragraphs:  Discuss your experiences, interests, and skills to show the employer how you can add value to their team. See the section below for more guidance.
• Signature Line: Include a closing and your name.

The cover letter should be one page, about three or four paragraphs, and single spaced. Use 10-12 point font and one inch margins. 

When applying online, upload your cover letter as a PDF file, unless another format is specified. When sending your resume and cover letter by email, you may write a short note or paste your cover letter in the body of your email (without the address header) and also attach the PDF file.

Cover Letter Content

Your cover letter should answer who, what, when, where and why you are applying for the opportunity. 

Introduction

State the position for which you are applying. If you have a referral or spoke with someone from the company, you can mention it in the introduction. Provide some basic information about yourself; this can include your class year and what you’re studying at Columbia. Briefly outline why you’re interested in the organization and what you bring in terms of relevant experience and skills. 

Body Paragraphs

These paragraphs will highlight your qualifications and strengths that are most relevant to the organization and position. Use the job posting and your research as clues to determine what the employer is seeking in a candidate. Have your resume beside you and reflect on what you want the employer to know about you. Are there experiences you want to expand upon that demonstrate your understanding of the role and ability to do the job requirements?

Structure the paragraphs based on relevance, not chronology. Lead with your most relevant skill or strongest experience.

Start each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence.  This can highlight a key skill set, a transferable experience, or a core area of knowledge you’ve built through your studies. Walk the reader through a project or experience, integrating the relevant skills you used and qualities you demonstrated. Provide details about your accomplishments and impact. Connect how these experiences have prepared you for this role and why you are motivated to do this job. There is no need to apologize if you feel you lack experience; focus on the accomplishments that you have.

Recap what you would bring to the organization and your interest in the position. Thank the employer for their consideration. Keep your tone positive and enthusiastic. 

Check out our example of how to structure your cover letter content . 

Editing Tips

Use our  Cover Letter Checklist to make sure your format and content is in line with best practices. 

• Ensure that the content reflects the requirements in the job description
• Keep the cover letter concise, at one page or less
• Correct any errors in grammar, sentence structure, and spelling
• Use the active voice
• Avoid beginning too many sentences with “I”

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This Is How To Write A Killer Cover Letter (Even If You Hate Writing)

Posted october 6, 2016, by zahra campbell-avenell.

Let’s get a show of hands: Have you ever sent the same generic cover letter to multiple employers?

I’ll confess: I’m guilty. (And this is despite being a professional writer.)

I’d be surprised if most people haven’t done this at some point out of desperation, boredom or sheer exhaustion.

The reality is, when you’re trudging through the job search process (particularly while still working 9 to 5), the last thing you feel like doing when you get home is to bang out cover letter after cover letter, trying to sell yourself to someone who’s never even met you.

Surely your resume and your qualifications are enough?

You probably don’t need me to tell you – they’re not.

An exceptional cover letter, however, tailored to the job at hand, is a surefire way to stand out from other candidates, getting you one step closer to landing the job.

Hiring managers wade through hundreds of generic applications, and your cover letter is your chance to grab their attention and shout from the rooftops that you are the perfect fit for the role. If you do that, it’s impossible for them to ignore you.

But if you’re not a writer (or even if you are!) a standout cover letter can be hellishly difficult to write. A cover letter template might get you started, but it’s not something you can just copy verbatim. As a starting point, it’s great, but you still have to chip away at it until it’s unrecognisable from the original, and polish it enough to make your words fly off the page.

But how? You ask. 

Don’t stress – I’m here to help!

Having looked through hundreds of cover letters over my career, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. 

Think about it. A great cover letter needs to convey just 3 things: 

1. you have the skills to excel in the job at hand; 2. you have strong communication skills ; and 3. you will be the perfect fit for the team..

How do you squeeze all this onto one page?

My formula will help you nail every cover letter, every time. I’ve added a few great examples as inspiration – don’t copy and paste them, of course! – the idea is to be original and find what works for you.

1. Start strong

When you start your cover letter like this:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the Marketing Coordinator position, as advertised on SEEK.

You’re pretty much saying this:

Dear Whatsyourname,

I know I need to submit a cover letter so here it is. I couldn’t be bothered customising it to fit this job because I’m not sure it’s worth the time. I’ll do my research once you invite me for an interview.

And we don’t want that, do we?

Let’s be honest – if you’re bored while you’re writing your letter, you can bet that your prospective employer is going to be bored reading it – right before tossing it in the bin.

You need to start with a bang – get them hooked and wanting to read more. The first few sentences of your cover letter are the most valuable real estate on that page – so don’t squander them! Here’s an opening that distils the essence of the job:

It’s clear that you require somebody who can not only write extremely well but also speak persuasively – somebody who is confident, charismatic, and communicative. I believe I am just the person you need.

Once you’ve got them reading, you can convince your potential employer that your background and skills are perfect for the role.

2. Echo the job description

Newsflash: when hiring managers are knee deep in recruitment, they don’t have every detail of the job description memorised. Use this to your advantage, and mirror the language of the advertisement as much as possible to show how your skills and experience align with the role at hand. So even if your previous job referred to article production as ‘copywriting’, if the new job description calls it ‘blogging’ – guess what? – you should call it blogging too.

Let’s say the job description calls for someone who is naturally organised and can manage the calendar of 2 senior business executives, your cover letter could say:

The Personal Assistant role is right up my alley as I have over 12 years of experience assisting senior business executives, and nothing brings me greater satisfaction than a well-organised calendar. 

Obviously you shouldn’t overdo this, but where possible, show that you’re a perfect match by using keywords and phrases that marry up with the skills outlined in the job description. This will resonate with the hiring manager, and also force you to think about (and provide examples of) where you can offer the most value.

3. Be yourself

Companies hire people, not skills. If your cover letter is conversational and friendly, it demonstrates that you’re not a robot – and that in fact you’re an awesome person that people will actually want to work with. This simple tweak will make your cover letter shine.

Here’s an example of what NOT to do:

I possess an excellent understanding of customer service. I am adept at training staff in retention and customer satisfaction to achieve company objectives. I am very confident in planning and delivering on targets.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with the above example, it lacks pizzazz. How about tweaking it to show some personality and flair?

If you’re looking for someone that comes in promptly at 9, puts their head down and doesn’t lift it until the end of the workday, I’m probably not your guy. But if you need someone who can shake things up and infect people with their passion for customer success, I can help.

Similarly, for companies with tongue-in-cheek branding like Compare the Market/Meerkat , you could try something a little more cheeky like this:

I was absolutely devastated when I heard that you weren’t looking for meerkat sitters, and I’d never get to meet Sergei in person. So when I saw the Assistant Accountant position open up at comparethemeerkat.com.au, I jumped at the opportunity. I know I’m perfect for this job because I love numbers almost as much as I love meerkats. Simples!

4. Make them want to meet you

The key to a great cover letter is to demonstrate your passion for the role – ideally without using the word ‘passion’. I can promise you that this is among the most overused words out there – and can seem disingenuous. (While you’re at it, you might want to nix ‘hard worker’, ‘fast learner’, ‘team player’ and ‘thinking outside the box’ too.) Here’s a typical example of this:  I am passionate about data entry and reaching my KPIs.

That’s clearly not true. Are you really passionate about either of those things?

I like to think of passion as something you’d happily do for free – and probably do anyway in your spare time. Wherever possible, show – don’t tell. Let’s try this again:

I’ve been the unofficial wedding planner for every single one of my married friends. When I saw the stylist role at Bridal Magazine, I realised that not only would I be doing something I love, for a brand I admire – but I would be getting paid for it.

The key to a stellar cover letter is to make the hiring manager’s job a little less boring. Remember: if a job is worth applying for, it’s worth a tailored and thoughtful cover letter. It will help you stand out in a sea of mediocrity, and convince the company that getting you in for an interview asap is a no-brainer.

Best of luck – you can do it!

Zahra Campbell-Avenell

Zahra started writing at the age of 6, and hasn't stopped since. When she's not creating content about careers, learning and personal development, you can find her researching her next travel adventure, bingeing on Netflix or shopping online.

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Things to wrap your mind around

Why do we find it so hard to write about ourselves?

Neuroscience Doctoral Candidate, Penn State

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If you’ve ever applied for a job, you know how hard it is to write the perfect cover letter that will make you stand out above all the other applicants. It’s a competitive job market , and more often than not, career seekers find themselves face-to-face with blank computer screens in an attempt to pen that one short masterpiece.

Students also face this overwhelming task to land a spot in college, doling out, on average, nine applications each . And in order to afford the inevitable financial burdens, many also toil over scholarship and funding applications at the same time. With competition for college admissions at an all-time high , surely the perfect personal statement will make someone stand out among their straight-A counterparts with glowing teacher recommendations.

We’re the experts on ourselves, right? So why do we find it so difficult to convey who we are in text?

Of course, we’re not writing an autobiography here — we’re writing to seek the approval of others. Perhaps the worst part is that we don’t know who’s reading our words or who our competitors are. A rather clever experiment conducted by psychologist Mark Snyder and colleagues in the late 1970s perfectly illustrates the extent to which we tend to play up to the expectations others have of us, whether good or bad.

In the study, 51 men interacted with women blindly via a microphone and headset. Before the conversation, however, the men were given a photograph of an “attractive” female (previously ranked by others with a score of eight out of ten for attractiveness) or an “unattractive” one (ranked two out of ten). During the conversation, the men believed that they were talking to the woman they saw in the photo.

The researchers weren’t interested in what the men were doing, though. Observers who studied the recordings weren’t told which photograph the men had seen, and instead focused on the behaviours of the women. It turned out that the women who tended to come across as more sociable, likeable and friendly were the ones who had spoken to men who had seen the “attractive” photograph. In other words, not only were the men subconsciously communicating their judgements, but the women picked up on these subtleties and changed their behaviours accordingly.

A dirty business

Describing ourselves on paper, while blindly attempting to live up to the expectations of others, makes it all feel like a giant lie, doesn’t it? Of course, personal statements and cover letters add a particularly thorny dimension – we have to brag about ourselves. An amusing study in an upcoming issue of Administrative Science Quarterly suggests that putting ourselves out there professionally actually makes us feel dirty. Literally.

In the study, 306 adults were asked to imagine one of two scenarios. One group recalled a time when they needed to create a relationship with someone who would benefit them professionally. The other group thought about an instance where they socialised casually, like at a party. The participants then filled in the blanks to word fragments such as W _ _ H, S H _ _ E R, and S _ _ P.

Those who had relived situations of professional networking were roughly twice as likely to fill in the blanks with words related to physical cleanliness, such as “wash”, “shower,” and “soap,” while the other group tended to come up with more neutral words, such as “wish,” “shaker,” and “step.” The conclusion drawn by the study’s authors was that “networking in pursuit of professional goals can impinge on an individual’s moral purity.”

Three tips to unblock

For many of us, though, the main reason we find it so hard to write about ourselves is because it’s so, so easy to procrastinate. After all, we’re not quite sure how to portray ourselves to strangers, we feel disgusting when we have to talk ourselves up, and there’s a YouTube filled to the brim with thousands of cat videos. Which would you choose?

We tend to procrastinate on things that bring us discomfort due to, at its core, fear . And although it may seem like a silly thing to admit, the situations in which we’re forced to write about ourselves can indeed be scary. Getting into college or landing your dream career is a big deal. That said, here are three pieces of advice to help overcome autobiographer’s block:

1. Forget the pressure you’re under and just start writing. It may not be pretty, but if you let yourself go on autopilot for a while, the words you jot down will be very telling as to which points you find most important to share about yourself.

2. Let someone take a red pen to it. This part may be just as uncomfortable as the writing process, but allow someone to sit down with your personal statement. It’ll help to not only get an objective opinion on your writing style and organisation, but to also get an idea of how a friend would portray you on paper.

3. Remember that you’re not alone. Literally everyone who has ever had a job or gone on to post-secondary education has had to self-promote in some way. For many of us, it’s not fun or easy, but it’s necessary. The reward is certainly delayed, but receiving that acceptance letter in the mail weeks or months down the road will make the brief torture worthwhile.

So whether you’re tackling a personal statement, cover letter or college essay, science agrees that we’re right to feel stumped. (Just wait until you get to the fun part – the interview!)

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Why is Writing a Cover Letter So Hard? Unraveling the Mystery

The dread of writing a cover letter is a sentiment echoed by job seekers I speak to. The process seems shrouded in mystery, because it's hard to know exactly what to say. The task become seven more challenging with the prevalent belief that you must write an entirely new one for each job application. Compounding these challenges is the (wrong) assumption that cover letters don’t even matter in the grand scheme of landing a job. But hold on—this isn’t necessarily the case.

If you googled “resume service near me” to land on our website, you are at the right place. I have expertise garnered from over 13 years of experience. Get ready to learn some stuff!

Why the Struggle Is Real

Firstly, the pressure to stand out is BIG. A cover letter is your chance to make a memorable first impression on a potential employer. It feels like walking a tightrope between being professional and showing off your unique personality. Then there's the common misconception that every job application requires a fresh cover letter from scratch. This idea can make the task seem end lessor impossible. Plus, there's the underlying question of their relevance—are hiring managers even reading these?

Despite these concerns, dismissing the importance of a cover letter is a missed opportunity. Here’s why.

The True Value of a Cover Letter

Cover letters serve as your introduction. Unlike a resume, which outlines your skills and experiences in a structured format, a cover letter offers you space to narrate your story. Here you can highlight your strengths, showcase what makes you uniquely suitable for the role, and detail major accomplishments in a way that your resume cannot.

A well-crafted cover letter can:

Showcase Your Personality: It gives you a chance to inject a bit of your personality and passion into your application, something that your resume might not fully convey.

Highlight Your Achievements: By focusing on a few key accomplishments, you can demonstrate how you've applied your skills to achieve success in the past, providing tangible evidence of your capabilities. This is a big eye-catcher-especially when you create a bulleted list.

Explain Your Motivations: It’s the perfect place to express why you’re excited about the job opportunity and how you align with the company’s values and goals. You can share what makes you stand a head taller than all the competition.

Crafting Your Cover Letter: A Guided Approach

Get Creative, Don’t Rewrite: Rather than starting from zero each time, have a solid base cover letter that explains your strong points, accomplishments, and details on why you are better than the competition. This can serve you better than rewriting a generic resume that simply states you have the accomplishments the hiring official is looking for.

Focus on the Fit: Demonstrate clearly how your experiences make you a great fit for the specific role and company. Link your achievements to what is sought in this particular industry.

Be Genuine: Authenticity speaks volumes. Share why you’re passionate about your work and how you see yourself contributing to the company.

Keep It Concise: The ability to articulate your suitability for the role succinctly is a skill in itself. Aim for a concise letter that captures interest without overwhelming the reader with too much information.

Turning the Task from Daunting to Doable

Remember, the goal of a cover letter is not to rehash your resume but to complement it. Think of it as a personal pitch. While it might seem like an extremely hard task initially, understanding its purpose and value can transform it from a daunting chore to an exciting opportunity to show case your qualifications.

Now, we’d love to hear from you— What is your biggest problem with cover letters? Have you had success with a particular strategy or approach? Share your experiences and tips in the comments section below. Whether it’s finding the right tone, addressing gaps in your resume, or simply knowing where to start, your insights could be invaluable to fellow job seekers navigating the same challenges.

My resume service is ready to help you take things to the next level. If you'd like an expert to look at your cover letter and provide a free critique, please don't hesitate to sign up for a free consultation . I will be happy to meet with you and shed more light on your specific case. I can also show you a stellar example of a great cover letter.

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Why is writing a cover letter so difficult?

I have a published paper to my name, written all kinds of essays and papers for classes in school, but the cover letter is my kryptonite. I'm doing the obligatory google searches, checking examples, but I've had a word doc open for 3 days now that I'm yet to get past "Dear Hiring Manager". I did a job app that asked me why I am applying and it was a text box. There, the words poured out like water and I think I made a great case outlining why I'm applying. Now I feel like an idiot, graduated with my BSME last week but I'll be relegated to McDonalds cashier because I cant string together a statement good enough to butter up an HR person. I know I have the experience, the coursework, the skills and anything else they need, but this is probably the worst case of writers block theres ever been.

Has anyone else had this dilemma? ISO some uplifting words or advice.

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Kamala Harris Isn’t Giving Interviews. Any Questions?

Critics say the vice president has been too cautious with the press. Her supporters think it’s the right strategy at the right time.

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By Michael M. Grynbaum

Michael Grynbaum has covered the interactions between presidential candidates and the news media since 2016.

Follow live updates on the 2024 election .

The press has questions for Vice President Kamala Harris. She isn’t giving a whole lot of answers.

In the nearly three weeks since President Biden withdrew his candidacy, catapulting Ms. Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, the vice president has shown little eagerness to meet journalists in unscripted settings. She has not granted an interview or held a news conference. On Thursday, after a rally in Michigan, she held her first “gaggle” — an impromptu Q.-and-A. session — with reporters covering her campaign.

It lasted 70 seconds.

Ms. Harris replaced a Democratic nominee who has hosted fewer White House news conferences than any president since Ronald Reagan. Now she is taking a similarly cautious approach, relying on televised rallies and prepared statements amid a tightly controlled rollout of her candidacy.

Asked on Thursday if she might sit for an interview anytime soon, Ms. Harris suggested that she would get through the convention first. “I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month,” she said, as aides signaled to the scrum of journalists that question time was over.

Ms. Harris’s lack of engagement with the media has become a constant rallying cry on the political right, with Republican critics and Fox News stars accusing the vice president of ducking scrutiny. The Harris campaign says it is being thoughtful about how best to deploy its message, and to introduce a new candidate to crucial voters in battleground states.

David Axelrod, the architect of former President Barack Obama’s winning campaigns, believes that Ms. Harris — who on Thursday said she had agreed to a prime-time debate on Sept. 10 with her opponent, former President Donald J. Trump — was trying to strike a balance.

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