Published · Letters & CVs
A cover letter doesn't need to be clever, it needs to be clear. Most job applications are lost not because the writing is bad, but because the letter is vague, too long, or missing something the employer expects to see. Here's a structure that works for almost any application.
The six parts of a cover letter
- Your details, name, address, phone, email, at the top.
- The date.
- Who you're writing to, a name if you have one, otherwise the job title or "Hiring Manager".
- A subject line stating exactly what you're applying for.
- The body, three short paragraphs are usually enough: why you're writing, why you're a good fit, and a simple thank-you with next steps.
- A closing and your signature name.
The Letter tool in Wish Cards lays all six of these out for you, so you're filling in fields rather than fighting with margins in a word processor. It also offers six starting templates, Business, Formal, Personal, Application, Request, and Cover Letter, each with a sensible default closing line already chosen.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
- Writing "To Whom It May Concern" when the job posting actually names a hiring manager.
- Repeating your CV instead of explaining why you want this specific role.
- Leaving out a subject line, it's a small thing that makes a letter easier to file and reference.
- Forgetting to proofread the company name, especially if you're sending several applications at once.
Pairing it with a CV
A cover letter and a CV should look like they came from the same person. The CV / Resume tool offers four layouts, Classic, Modern with a colored sidebar, Minimal, and an Executive banner style, and lets you add as many work experience, education, and project entries as you need, each with its own bullet points.
Getting it onto paper (or into an email)
Both tools use the same Download PDF button, which builds a real PDF sized for A4 or US Letter, not a screenshot. A long CV that runs onto a second page keeps its formatting correctly across pages. Print opens a clean version with no buttons or menus on it, ready to print directly or save as a PDF from the print dialog.
Nothing you type into a letter or CV is uploaded anywhere. The PDF is built entirely inside your browser, so your personal and employment details never leave your device.