JamesTon
New member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2026
- Messages
- 4
I spent more time on first sentences than entire cover letters. "I am writing to apply for..." felt boring. "I've always dreamed of working at..." felt cheesy. I wanted something that would make hiring managers actually want to keep reading.
Here are openings that worked for me:
The enthusiasm opener: "When I saw your opening for a Marketing Coordinator, I actually smiled—this role combines my passion for storytelling with my experience in social media strategy."
The connection opener: "I've been following [Company Name]'s work in renewable energy since your 2023 solar project, and I'm excited to apply for the Project Coordinator position."
The achievement opener: "During my time at [Previous Job], I increased sales by 30% by revamping our customer outreach. I'd love to bring that same focus to [Company Name]."
The key is specificity. Generic is forgettable. Specific is memorable. Mention them, mention you, show the connection. That first sentence sets the tone for everything that follows. Make it count!
Here are openings that worked for me:
The enthusiasm opener: "When I saw your opening for a Marketing Coordinator, I actually smiled—this role combines my passion for storytelling with my experience in social media strategy."
The connection opener: "I've been following [Company Name]'s work in renewable energy since your 2023 solar project, and I'm excited to apply for the Project Coordinator position."
The achievement opener: "During my time at [Previous Job], I increased sales by 30% by revamping our customer outreach. I'd love to bring that same focus to [Company Name]."
The key is specificity. Generic is forgettable. Specific is memorable. Mention them, mention you, show the connection. That first sentence sets the tone for everything that follows. Make it count!
I’ve definitely been guilty of using the boring "I am writing to apply" line, so seeing these examples is a huge help. I really like the "connection opener"—it shows you actually care about them. My tip would be to check the job description for a specific verb they use and weave that into your first line, too. Thanks for sharing this! 