Can Cover Letters Be Personal

Here's a question that trips up a lot of people: should your cover letter be personal? You know, not just a recap of your resume, but something that shows a bit of who you are. It's a tricky balance. Some folks think the whole thing should read like the most professional letter ever written. Others go overboard and start sharing life stories that make hiring managers cringe. So, where's the line?

Don't overshare

This is probably the biggest trap people fall into. Look, a cover letter isn’t therapy. You don’t need to spill every detail about why you're passionate about the job or how you once had a defining experience that forever shaped your career goals. If you're going off on tangents about how your childhood dream was related to the company’s mission, you’ve overshot the mark. Keep it relevant, always.

What works better? Share a little insight into why you’re interested in the company or role, but keep it simple. If there's a personal connection, like you saw the company’s impact firsthand or admire their work, mention it briefly. But don't make it the whole letter.

Talk like a human

The funny part is, people try so hard to sound polished that they end up sounding robotic. You’ve seen those cover letters, right? "I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the position detailed in your job posting dated January 3rd. " Nobody talks like that. You don't want to sound like you're writing an essay for high school English class. Instead, imagine you're emailing someone you've met once before. You're formal, sure, but not stiff.

Try saying something like, "I’ve been following your company’s recent projects, and I was really impressed by your approach to [insert example]. " It’s professional, but it also feels like a real person wrote it.

Add just enough personality

When people ask me if cover letters can be personal, my answer is always yes, but there’s a huge caveat. You can be personal without being personal. By that, I mean you can show a layer of your personality without veering into family history or unrelated hobbies. For example, maybe you highlight your knack for problem-solving by mentioning how you came up with a creative solution in a past role. Or you mention how your appreciation for teamwork has shaped your approach to projects.

Instead of saying, "I’m the perfect candidate because I’m hardworking and driven, " show it. Share a quick story about tackling a tough deadline or leading a group through a challenging project. You're still being personal, but you're keeping it about work, which is what hiring managers care about most.

Keep the focus on them

Here’s a secret: the best cover letters aren’t really about you. Sure, you're talking about yourself, but what you're really doing is showing how you fit into what they’re looking for. You should be connecting your skills and experiences to their needs. That’s why it's so important to read the job description carefully.

If you're applying for a marketing role, for example, don’t just rattle off every marketing-related skill you have. Look at what they want. Are they looking for someone with a strong understanding of analytics? Talk about how you used analytics to drive a successful campaign. Are they focused on creativity? Share an example of how you came up with an original idea that delivered results. Make every sentence answer the question, "How does this help them?"

The bottom line is, your cover letter can absolutely feel personal, but it shouldn’t feel overly personal. Keep it about them, sprinkle in a little personality, and keep the tone human. If you do that, you’ll stand out while staying professional.

How personal do your cover letters usually get? Worth thinking about next time you sit down to write one.