The Importance of a Good Cover Letter (And How to Write One That Gets Noticed)

A resume lists what you’ve done. A cover letter explains who you are, why you’re applying, and how your experience fits the role. In today’s job market—where ATS filters, keyword scanning, and high-volume applications are the norm—your cover letter can be the piece that turns you from “another applicant” into someone a recruiter actually remembers.

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

People assume cover letters don’t get read. The truth is: the right cover letter gets read by the right person at the right time. When a hiring manager is deciding between two qualified candidates, the cover letter often becomes the tie-breaker—because it shows clarity, communication, confidence, and alignment.

At Wake Hustle Grind, we view a cover letter the same way we view branding: it’s not just what you say—it’s how clearly you position your value. Your cover letter is your personal brand pitch in writing.

Your Cover Letter Is a Story (Not a Summary)

A great cover letter doesn’t repeat your resume. It connects your experience to purpose. It shows the human behind the accomplishments. That’s why the strongest cover letters read like a focused, professional story: where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and what you’re ready to do next.

In my Medium piece, I talk about moving “from hustle to infrastructure”—building systems, strategy, and long-term value instead of chasing short-term wins. That same mindset applies to cover letters: don’t just list tasks—show impact, intention, and how you think.
Read the Medium article here .

Keywords Matter More Than People Realize

Here’s the reality: many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen candidates. Even when a human reads your cover letter, they often scan it quickly for role alignment. That’s why keywords matter.

Keywords are the language of the job description—skills, tools, and outcomes the employer is specifically looking for. When you naturally include those terms in your cover letter, you improve two things:

• ATS compatibility (you’re less likely to be filtered out)
• Human clarity (the reader immediately sees you fit the role)

Examples of strong, relevant keyword clusters (depending on the role) might include: brand strategy, campaign leadership, digital transformation, SEO, content strategy, growth marketing, stakeholder management, analytics, and AI-assisted workflows.

Use My Sample Cover Letter (And Make It Yours)

To make this easier, I published a sample cover letter written from my real experience as a Marketing Director. You can use it as a template, then customize it to match your job title, your industry, and the keywords in the job description.

LinkedIn Article (Sample Cover Letter): Use My Cover Letter (Marketing Director) — Kevin Conwell

LinkedIn Post (Quick Access): Steal My Cover Letter (Click Here)

A Simple Cover Letter Framework You Can Copy

1. Hook: Who you are + what role you’re targeting + why you care.
2. Proof: 2–3 wins that match the job description keywords.
3. Fit: Why this company/mission makes sense for you.
4. Close: Confidence + call to action (interview request / next step).

Final Word

A strong cover letter is not extra work—it’s leverage. It’s your chance to control the narrative, demonstrate fit, and communicate your value before you ever step into an interview. If you want yours to stand out, make it clear, keyword-smart, and story-driven.

If you want Wake Hustle Grind to help you write a cover letter that can compete in today’s market, reach out and let’s build something that gets you noticed.

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Sources / References: Medium — From Hustle to Infrastructure  |  LinkedIn — Use My Cover Letter