Cover Letters for Tech Jobs: When They Matter and How to Write One

"Do I still need a cover letter?" is one of the most common questions in tech hiring. The honest answer: sometimes — and when you do, a good one moves the needle.

When a cover letter matters

Write one when:

• The application explicitly asks for it (skipping it signals low effort).
• You are changing country or industry and need to explain the move.
• You are a stretch candidate and want to frame gaps as strengths.
• It is a smaller company where a human reads every application.

When you can skip it

For high-volume applications at large companies with a pure ATS funnel, a cover letter often goes unread. Spend that time tailoring your CV instead.

How to write one that helps

A good tech cover letter is short — three or four paragraphs:

1. Hook: why this specific role and company, in one genuine sentence.
2. Proof: one or two concrete achievements that map to what they need.
3. Fit: why you, now — including relocation context if relevant.
4. Close: a confident, brief sign-off.

Avoid restating your CV. Avoid generic flattery. Specificity is everything — a letter that could be sent to any company will help you at none.

Tailor it, or automate it

Like CVs, cover letters work best when tailored to the role. HuntCampaign generates a cover letter matched to each specific job in one click, using the details of the posting and your profile — so you get the benefit without the hour of writing. Pair it with a strong CV using our tech CV guide.

Start free and generate a tailored cover letter for any role.