When crafting a cover letter, it’s essential to strike a balance between providing relevant details and overloading the reader with personal information. A cover letter should tell your story, but it must remain professional and focused on how you meet the employer’s needs. Here’s how to navigate this delicate balance:
1. The Purpose of a Cover Letter
The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to a potential employer in a professional and concise manner. It gives you the chance to present your qualifications and personality while showcasing your interest in the position. However, this introduction should be targeted—focused on why you’re a good fit for the role, not a space to share your life story. Think of it as a curated introduction where you briefly highlight your most relevant skills and experiences.
For example, if you’re applying for a marketing role, your cover letter might include examples of successful campaigns you’ve led or specific skills like SEO or social media expertise. It should be a narrative that ties your background to the job description, explaining why you’re excited about the opportunity and how you can contribute to the company.
2. What Is Too Much Information?
In order to keep your cover letter impactful, it’s important to avoid including unnecessary personal details. While it’s natural to want to share more about yourself, especially if you feel passionate about the role, there are limits to what should be included:
- Unrelated hobbies or personal interests: While it can be tempting to mention your passion for activities like photography, sports, or cooking, these details are only relevant if they directly support the job you’re applying for. For instance, a hobby in graphic design could be relevant to a creative role, but personal interests unrelated to the job typically don’t add value.
- Personal challenges or irrelevant life stories: Avoid discussing personal challenges unless they are directly relevant to the job. For instance, if you had a career gap due to a personal situation, briefly mentioning it and explaining how you’ve grown from that experience might be acceptable. However, sharing long narratives about your life challenges, unless they are closely tied to your qualifications, can come off as irrelevant or too personal.
- Overexplaining employment gaps or setbacks: If you’ve had a gap in employment, you may feel inclined to provide a lengthy explanation. However, this can draw too much attention away from your qualifications. A simple, brief mention can be sufficient—focus more on the skills you gained during that time, rather than over-explaining the circumstances.
- Overly emotional language or excessive anecdotes: It’s great to show enthusiasm, but overly emotional language, such as “I have always dreamed of working for this company,” can sound forced. Share your enthusiasm through specific examples or a personal connection to the company’s values instead.
Example of Too Much Information: “I’ve always wanted to work in marketing because as a child, I spent hours watching my favorite ads on TV. I would even try to make my own commercials. I know this is the job for me because marketing is my true passion, and nothing else compares.”
While this shows passion, it doesn’t highlight your professional qualifications or accomplishments. It also doesn’t demonstrate your understanding of the company or the role.
3. How Much Information Is Enough?
The right amount of information in your cover letter is what aligns closely with the job description and company values. Here’s what to include:
- Relevant skills and achievements: Focus on the skills that match the job description. For example, if you’re applying for a project management position, mention how you’ve successfully led projects in the past and include specific metrics such as completing projects on time or within budget.
- Brief examples of how your experience matches the job requirements: If the job requires knowledge of specific software, highlight your proficiency with that tool. Be sure to mention measurable accomplishments, like improving a process by a certain percentage or increasing team efficiency.
- Motivation or passion for the role and company: While it’s important to stay professional, sharing a brief, genuine reason why you’re passionate about the job and the company can help you stand out. Keep it focused on what excites you about contributing to their mission, rather than talking too much about your personal motivations.
Example of the right amount of information: “I am excited to apply for the position of Marketing Manager at XYZ Company. With over five years of experience in digital marketing, I have successfully increased organic website traffic by 40% through SEO and content marketing strategies. My passion for data-driven results and my admiration for XYZ Company’s commitment to innovation make me confident in my ability to contribute to your team.”
4. Tips for Striking the Right Balance
- Highlight what’s relevant: Review the job posting and customize your cover letter to reflect the specific qualifications listed. If the company mentions looking for someone with leadership skills, emphasize instances where you’ve led teams or projects, highlighting your measurable success.
- Stay professional: Your cover letter is not a casual conversation—it’s a professional document that should maintain a formal tone. Avoid using slang or overly personal language. Be clear and concise, and keep the focus on your qualifications and how they meet the company’s needs.
- Connect, don’t overshare: Personal touches can help humanize your cover letter, but be sure to keep them short and relevant. For example, mentioning that you share the company’s commitment to sustainability or that you were impressed with their recent project can help establish a connection without delving into unnecessary details.
Example of connection without oversharing: “Having closely followed XYZ Company’s successful launch of your sustainable packaging initiative, I am excited to bring my background in eco-conscious marketing to contribute to your continued growth.”
5. Conclusion: Keep It Focused
Ultimately, your cover letter is a professional introduction, not an autobiography. By sharing only the most relevant information—skills, accomplishments, and passions that align with the job—you can keep the reader’s attention and spark their interest in bringing you in for an interview. Oversharing unnecessary personal details can distract from your qualifications, while keeping your letter focused and concise will position you as a strong, professional candidate.
By focusing on the essentials and avoiding oversharing, you can craft a compelling cover letter that positions you as a strong candidate. For more detailed tips on writing a professional cover letter, check out this How to Write a Cover Letter – The Balance Careers.