32 Best Cover Letter Opening Line Examples

It is the first sentence that determines whether or not the recruiter will read your cover letter. To achieve this, you need a creative, killer opening line. An explosive catchphrase. A great, catchy introduction. It's the best way to stand out from the other candidates! So you need to craft it, refine it, polish it like a diamond.

Fortunately, we are here to help you! Here is a compilation of the best first paragraphs and most original opening phrases that you can use to make your cover letter stand out from the crowd.

Why and how to find a great opening sentence?

Put yourself in the recruiter's shoes for a moment. What would your reaction be if you were reading for the ~~hundredth~~ thousandth time and again the same thing, like this:

It is with great interest that I have read your job offer and would like to apply for the position of Junior Product Manager in order to join your team and contribute to the success of your company. This position would be a great opportunity for me, etc., etc.

Would you like to read the rest? Or are you already yawning?

So instead of starting your motivation letter the way 99% of candidates do, find a catchphrase that piques the recruiter's curiosity. Instead, say something personal that sets you apart from other applicants right away:

I've always had a passion for cycling. When I was 9 years old, I received a subscription to the Bike + magazine. At 12, I bought my first Peugeot to cross the Mont Blanc and at 14, I repaired my friends' bikes in my room (which had been transformed into a bike repair shop). I know a lot about bikes and would love to work for you.

Isn't it more interesting and memorable?

Here are 32 examples of cover letter opening paragraphs and introductions that you can use as inspiration to create your own opening sentence to set yourself apart from other applicants, whether you're applying for a job or an internship, or sending an unsolicited application via email.

1. A powerful introduction about your skills and passion

Talking about your passion, as long as it is real of course, is a very good way to start your cover letter and to arouse the recruiter's interest. Moreover, the people who are passionate are usually good at what they do.

I've really deepened my interest in statistics and data analysis over the past seven years at three online advertising companies. As my former manager once said, he never met anyone who could talk about Excel so passionately.

2. A cover letter opening sentence for a fresh graduate without experience (for any position)

When you don't have any work experience, talk about the rest: your passion, your motivation, your determination, or any other skills that you have.

My first commitment was at age 14: my first signed petition against whaling. A year later, I organized my first protest against the overuse of paper in my high school. Since then, I have become more involved and read everything that is going on about ecology and environmental protection. When I saw your job offer for a global warming volunteer, I knew it was for me.

3. A creative cover letter first paragraph for a photographer

If you apply for a creative job, then show how creative you are in your cover letter.

I love photography. Portraits. Landscapes. Nudes. The warm lights that glide over the bodies. The chiaroscuro. The reliefs and the salient lines. I like the softness of the fog and the effect of the rain on the dead leaves of autumn.

4. A strong cover letter opening line for an unsolicited job application

For some jobs, your personal experience may be more valuable than any university degree, like in this example:

I discovered photography when I was 15 years old and I have never left my Nikon D79 since. I learned to develop my own photos (in my bathroom transformed into a photo lab). I master all the photo editing techniques and I can confidently say that I know more about Photoshop than anyone else.

5. A great first paragraph for someone without work experience

The best (and only) way to stand out from the other candidates when you have no experience is to write a cover letter that is 100 times better than that of the other applicants.

I like to write. Lively texts. Short texts. Concise and convincing ones. But I also like to write longer, more elaborate words, speeches, short novels and stories of all kinds, stories that make you laugh, stories that make you cry, dark stories, funny stories. Rewriting and telling the stories of companies like yours is my passion, my talent and the reason I would like to work with you.

6. A catchy cover letter first phrase showing interest in the company you are applying to

Recruiters love candidates who are passionate about their companies, already sold on their products or services, because there is no doubt about their future motivation and commitment.

It is also a good introduction for a spontaneous application without a specific position.

I discovered Square Coffee in 2016 during a meetup on e-commerce marketing. I already loved your concept and your approach. Since then, I've been following the evolution of your company and when I heard that you were looking for a new marketing manager, I immediately decided to apply.

7. A great cover letter opener for a spontaneous application

When you send an unsolicited application, make it to your advantage by telling how much you are in line with the company's vision.

When I attended a conference on fair trade 1 month ago and listened to your presentation on new responsible business approaches, I immediately went to your website to see the job offers.

8. A great cover letter first paragraph for someone with no experience but willing to learn

If you don't have much work experience or are applying for an internship, then this is the ideal approach because it focuses on your passion for the company more than your skills. And you show how motivated, willing to learn and proactive you are.

I am passionate about robotics. The Robotix and iRobot blogs are part of my daily reading and it is in an article published 1 month ago that I discovered your speech recognition technology based on machine learning which literally fascinated me. This is what led me to apply to your company.

9. A really good cover letter introduction for an internship

When you apply for an internship, your cover letter is even more important, since you have little to no experience.

I discovered Little Blue Shoes upon your launch in 2016 and immediately loved your concept and approach. Since then, I have been following all your collections and seeing your evolution (I am also a loyal customer). When I saw that you were offering an internship in styling, I immediately decided to apply for the company I would dream of working for.

10. A cover letter introduction showing your passion

I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave “V” words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve.

This is the beginning of the original cover letter written in 1934 by the young copywriter Robert Pirosh who wanted to break into Hollywood and who would win an Oscar a few years later.

11. A powerful introduction for a cover letter or a job application email (for any position)

Starting by a question is a powerful way to start your cover letter. And stating who you are not first is a very efficient way to present yourself and add credibility to what you write.

If you're looking for someone who can follow orders to the letter and doesn't like to make things happen, then I'm probably not the right candidate. On the other hand, if you need someone who can analyze data, test, optimize, see what works (and what doesn't), and challenge the status quo, then I'm the right person.

12. Another killer opening line

Are you looking for the ideal candidate by any chance? Here I am ;)

Having trouble finding a candidate who is both creative and analytical, who can program websites in html and wordpress and master Photoshop and Illustrator at the same time? That pretty much describes my skills, except that I also have knowledge of SEO and Copywriting.

13. A strong cover letter opening statement

This opening paragraph is very strong, since it starts from the perspective of the employer, from the needs of the company. It shows a kind of empathy and works like a charm!

If you need an Android and iOS programmer, who can develop websites, take care of your servers, data security, all the computer problems you may have, and who can also save you money every month on your cloud subscription, then I am your candidate.

14. A cover letter opening sentence showing your previous achievements

Beginning a cover letter or application email with examples of your successes is a good way to get the recruiter's attention. The recruiter will think that if you were able to achieve good results at one company, then you will probably be able to repeat that feat at your future employer.

During my experience at Job in Berlin, I developed an Excel program with macros to automate vendor billing processes and was able to save 50% of the time of three employees. That's why my former manager nicknamed me Dr. Excel.

15. A cover letter first sentence showing transferable skills

A very good way to convince the recruiter you are the ideal candidate is to show them you have the skills they need to boost their revenue (or achieve their own goals).

When I was responsible for the growth of the Fashionista.fr website, I tested all possible online sales optimization techniques, learned which ones were the most effective and know how to implement them to improve the profitability of an e-commerce site.

16. The most effective cover letter first sentence

Last year, I exceeded my sales goals by 175% and was named the group's top salesperson of the year. I am now ready for a new challenge and the position of sales manager might just be it.

17. A first paragraph demonstrating your skills

Your skills are your greatest asset. That is what interests recruiters the most so show them at the beginning of your cover letter.

In my last e-commerce experience, I learned how to write simple and compelling product descriptions, optimize web pages to improve SEO, and finally analyze site statistics to increase the sales conversion rate. For these reasons, I believe I am the ideal candidate for the position of E-Commerce Growth Manager.

18. A strong cover letter opening statement for a manager position

Less is more.

My approach to project management is simple: I strive to be the kind of leader I want to work for.

19. A strong cover opening line for a designer

Write an introduction so strong that the recruiter will have no choice but to invite you to a job interview.

My approach to design: simplicity. I aim to design web pages that are understandable by a three year old. Until that happens, I still have work to do.

20. An opening paragraph showing what you could bring to the company

Here is an example of a very effective catch phrase that doesn't start from the candidate's point of view but from that of the hiring company.

During my experience in e-commerce, I have learned some very effective optimization techniques that are still not widely used. I would like to briefly outline some of them here that could significantly increase your sales.

21. The best cover letter introduction (written by a famous artist)

Look at this masterpiece:

Having seen and studied the experiences of all those who claim to be masters in the art of inventing war machines, and having found that their machines differ in no way from those in common use, I shall endeavor, without wishing to insult anyone, to reveal to Your Excellency certain secrets of my own, briefly listed here.

➜ This is the beginning of Leonardo da Vinci's cover letter.

22. A great way to start your cover letter is to start from the recruiter's perspective

If you can show the employer that you have identified areas for improvement and are proficient in the techniques to implement them, then do so because it should be of great interest to them and get you an interview for sure!

I have analyzed your website and I think I can improve your sales by optimizing the category pages, improving the quality of the product photos, simplifying the ordering process and implementing some sales techniques that I have learned from my previous e-commerce experience.

23. An extremely convincing cover letter opening phrase

Show, don't tell. It's much more convincing, like in the following example:

In the three years I've been with Magimix, I've increased the sales by 15% per month. If I were to work with you, here is what I could put in place to double your sales in one year.

24. A strong cover letter introduction

Start with a strong paragraph. If the recruiter were to read your first paragraph only, what would you want him to know about you in order to convince him you are the best candidate?

I've done 46 graphic identities and helped 15 companies improve their visual identity during my time at Comemora. I have always strived for a strong, unique and consistent brand image with a keen eye for detail. That's what I'd like to do for you as well if we work together.

25. A cover letter opener is like a sales pitch

You should be able to convince the recruiter or the hiring manager in your first paragraph.

I've helped three associations double their sales over the past ten years, each time creating a structured and efficient sales process with clear KPIs (and also a little bit of my own tireless persistence). This is what I would like to bring to you.

26. A cover letter first paragraph with a little humor (but not too much)

An original opening sentence that makes the recruiter smile can be a good way to stand out from the other candidates while building sympathy for you. But don't overdo it...

I suppose you’d be more interested in even a sleight-o'-hand trick than you'd be in an application for a position with your magazine, but as usual you can't have the thing you want most.

This is the introduction to the wonderful cover letter Eudora Welty wrote at the age of 23 to The New Yorker magazine in 1933. Eudora Welty would later win the Pulitzer Prize in 1973.

27. A good introduction for a spontaneous application (without a specific position)

When you want to apply for a job but have no experience, humor can be a very good way to stand out from the crowd.

Has your mother ever called you five times a day to ask you about your job hunting? That's pretty much my daily routine right now. But I do hope that will change soon and my life will soon revolve more around the role of Social Media Manager. On the plus side, I have other qualities and skills to bring to the table besides a slightly pushy mom.

28. A creative cover letter opening paragraph for a job in fashion

Starting your cover letter with a little humor and then explaining more seriously the qualities and skills you can bring to the company is very effective. It shows that you have a sense of humor, that you don't take yourself too seriously and at the same time that you have confidence in yourself.

I considered sending you a picture of my wardrobe to prove how much I love fashion and styling but I thought a more classic approach would be better. So I would like to write you all the reasons why I am the person who can modernize the Modulo fashion brand.

29. A funny cover letter introduction for a data analyst job

HR managers and recruiters are like everyone. They also like to smile and laugh. That cover letter will not go unnoticed!

If Excel was a person, I probably wouldn't be single anymore. Yes, I passionately love anything related to Excel: data analysis, statistics, macro programming. Even though we argue at times, we always make up. That's why I think I'm the perfect candidate for this job.

30. An original cover letter introduction

If you apply in a startup or a "young" company and you have little to no experience, humor, combined with honesty and humility, is one of the best ways to still get noticed.

I wish I could tell you that I have extensive experience in human resources, that I have mastered all the interview techniques or that I have superpowers. Alas, I don't. But I've taken every HR course in college, I've watched a hundred lectures on business psychology and I'm quick to adapt.

31. Starting a cover letter with a quote may be powerful

Like in a good book, you need to hook your reader at the very beginning of your cover letter.

This is what military advisor Alan Brooke said about Churchill: "He has 10 ideas a day. Only four are good, but he doesn't know which ones." As for me, I only have 3 ideas a day but I think they are all good.

32. A killer cover letter opening

A strong hook is a great way to get the recruiter's attention, like in this example:

I have 15 years of experience in finding sponsors for NGOs and raised €5 million last year for the Zero Waste association. No, in truth, I have no professional experience, I'm just a student. But I am highly motivated, I learn quickly and I often have good ideas that my tenacity allows me to implement. And I know how to write powerful catchphrases!

Follow our 28 tips for writing a cover letter that really stands out!