Cómo escribir una carta de presentación

Purpose of a cover letter

Your resume lists what you did. Your cover letter explains why it matters for this opening. It should answer:

• Which role you are applying for
• Why you are interested in this employer
• What evidence shows you can succeed in the role
• That you write clearly and professionally

It is not a second resume. Pick one or two stories the resume cannot fully contextualize.

When you need a cover letter

Submit one when the posting asks for it, when you apply through a form with an optional letter field (use it), or when someone referred you and you want context for the introduction.

You may skip or keep it very short when:

• The portal explicitly says cover letters are not reviewed
• You are in a high-volume pipeline where only resume data is parsed
• You already have a strong referral and were told to apply with resume only

When unsure, write a concise letter—it signals effort and gives keywords extra context.

Length and format

Target 250–400 words (about three-quarters of a page). Hiring managers rarely read long letters.

• Same font family as your resume, 10–12 pt
• Align margins with your resume for a cohesive packet
• One page maximum; single column
• Save as PDF unless the employer requests Word

Header block

Match your resume contact line: full name, phone, email, city or region, LinkedIn or portfolio URL. Add the date and employer block:

If you do not know the name, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Department] Team” is acceptable. Avoid outdated “To Whom It May Concern” when possible.

Salutation

Research LinkedIn or the company site for the hiring manager or recruiter. “Dear Ms. Patel” beats a generic greeting when accurate. If you guess wrong, gender-neutral “Dear Alex Chen” works.

Never use an empty greeting or a wrong company name—copy-paste errors end candidacies fast.

Opening paragraph

State the role, how you found it, and a crisp hook—years of experience, domain, or a headline achievement. Example structure:

I am applying for the Senior Product Analyst role at Rivera Health. With six years turning clinical operations data into workflow improvements, I am excited by your team’s focus on reducing patient wait times through better scheduling analytics.

Do not open with “My name is…”—they have your header. Do not use clichés like “I am a hard worker” without proof.

Why this company

One short paragraph shows you did homework. Mention a product, mission, customer segment, or news item you respect—tied to work you want to do.