If you write a good cover letter, you can use it in a lot of places.
You can use it when you apply through a job portal.
You can also use basically the same thing as your cold email when you’re reaching out directly to companies asking for an interview or a job.
There are three best practices.
1. Make it personalized
Talk about the actual company.
Why do you care about them?
Why do you value them?
Why do you genuinely want to work there?
Maybe you’ve always seen their trucks around town. Maybe you’ve heard great things about their culture. Maybe there’s something specific about the company that makes you excited to work there.
Whatever it is, say it.
The person reading your cover letter should feel like you wrote it for them, not for 100 other companies.
2. Tell them why you’re a great fit
You also need to sell yourself.
What makes you different?
You already have your EPA certification.
You’ve spent months learning HVAC.
You have experience working with your hands.
You have great customer service or sales experience.
Give them a reason to think:
“This person might actually be worth talking to.”
3. Keep it short
You have no idea how many five-paragraph cover letters I see that are a full page or even two or three pages long.
They’re generic.
They’re obviously written by AI.
They’re complete AI slop.
And you can tell the person has probably sent basically the exact same thing to every company they applied to.
I also see people send almost identical cover letters because they both asked ChatGPT to write one for them, and ChatGPT gave them basically the exact same shit.
Don’t do that.
Be personalized.
Explain why you’re a great fit.
And be concise and to the point.
A simple cover letter framework
You really only need two paragraphs.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Paragraph 1 — Who are you?
Two to three sentences, tops.
Tell them your name, what you’re trying to do, and something that differentiates you.
For example: you have your EPA certification, you’ve spent months learning HVAC, or you’ve spent years working with your hands.
Give them a quick reason to care.
Paragraph 2 — Why this company?
Again, two to three sentences, tops.
Explain why you specifically want to work there.
Why would it be your dream to work for this company?
What do you like about them?
Why are you reaching out to them instead of somebody else?
Then sign your name and attach your resume.
That’s it.
Two paragraphs. Two to three sentences per paragraph. Personalized. To the point. Sell yourself. Attach your resume.
You do not need anything more complicated than that.