Free Tool
Cover Letter ATS Checker
Paste your cover letter — get an instant score on length, structure, weak phrases, metrics, and keyword match against the job description. No signup, no email gate.
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What makes a strong cover letter?
- Length: 200-400 words. Recruiters spend <30 seconds reading.
- Structure: 3-5 paragraphs — greeting, hook, evidence, closing.
- Specific opener: name the role and a concrete reason you're applying — never "To whom it may concern."
- Quantified evidence: at least one number tied to past impact.
- Pronoun balance: not all "I" — show you understand the company too.
- Match the JD: 60%+ keyword overlap with the job description.
- No clichés: "team player," "results-oriented," "passionate about" all rank low with both ATS and recruiters.
Frequently asked questions
Do ATS systems read cover letters?
Most ATS systems do parse cover letters, but they weight them less than resumes. A cover letter that misses the job description's keywords can still hurt your overall match.
How long should a cover letter be?
Most recruiters and ATS engines prefer cover letters between 250 and 400 words. Anything shorter feels thin; anything longer rarely gets read fully.
What keywords should a cover letter contain?
Mirror the top keywords from the job description naturally in one or two sentences. Cover letters that overlap 40-60% with the posting's keywords score highest.
Related: Do ATS actually read cover letters? · ATS Keyword Extractor · Free resume scan