Free Cover Letter Checker — Score Yours in 10 Seconds
Find out exactly why your cover letter isn't converting — scored on the 5 things hiring managers actually notice.
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Start free →What makes a cover letter actually work
Most cover letters fail on the same five points: they're too long, they open with a generic summary of the resume instead of a hook, they use passive language, they don't include any specific numbers or outcomes, and they end without a clear next step.
A cover letter that works does the opposite: it opens with a specific reason you want this role at this company, leads with your most relevant proof (a number, a outcome, a specific project), uses active verbs throughout, and closes with a direct ask for a conversation.
What each scoring dimension measures
- —Length (20 pts): Checks whether your letter is within the 150–350 word range that recruiters prefer — long enough to be substantive, short enough to be read.
- —Opening Hook (20 pts): Checks whether your first sentence avoids "I am writing to apply for" and opens with something specific and engaging instead.
- —Action Verbs (20 pts): Checks for verbs that signal ownership and results: built, led, reduced, increased, launched, designed, managed, delivered.
- —Specificity (20 pts): Checks whether you include any numbers, percentages, or measurable outcomes — the single most credibility-building element in any application.
- —Call to Action (20 pts): Checks whether your closing asks for a meeting, call, or conversation — rather than trailing off with "thank you for your consideration."
The fastest way to add specificity
If your cover letter scores 0 on Specificity, don't panic — this is the most fixable dimension. Add one sentence that includes a number: how many people you managed, what percentage you improved something by, how much revenue a project drove, how many users a feature reached. Even an approximate number ("grew the team from 4 to 12") is more credible than no number at all.