# How to write a cover letter for an IT job

> A recruiter goes through dozens of applications a day and reads the first two or three lines. Here is how to make sure yours get read.

Source: https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/cover-letter-it · Updated: 2026-10-29

## Do you need a letter at all

Yes. On Djinni the application is a message; on DOU the letter is read together with the CV. An application with no text looks like a mass mailing, while a few sentences written for the job show you actually read it.

## A three-part structure

- **Which job and why you.** "I am writing about the Middle Backend Developer role" tells the recruiter right away what this is about.
- **One or two concrete things from your experience** that matter for this job: a technology, a kind of project, a result. Not your whole stack, only what the post asks for.
- **The next step**: "Happy to talk" or "Details are in my CV". No "I look forward to hearing from you".

That makes 3–5 sentences, under 600 characters. Longer letters rarely get read.

## An example

"Hi Anna! I am writing about the Middle PHP Developer role. I have worked with Laravel and PostgreSQL for four years, the last two on a high-load API for logistics. Happy to tell you more on a call."

It has the recruiter's name, the job title, concrete experience that matches the requirements, and a simple next step.

## Common mistakes

- Corporate filler: "I have extensive experience developing complex business logic".
- Generic praise of the company that fits any job.
- Made-up numbers and facts: the recruiter will check them at the interview.
- The same letter for every job with nothing changed.
- Long dashes, lists and bold text in a Djinni chat: it reads like AI output.

## How not to write every letter from scratch

Make a template with variables: [Recruiter name], [Company], [Position]. Then either fill them in by hand or let AutoApply do it: the AI adapts the template to each job and your CV, and an A/B test shows which variant gets more replies.

Want to try it without signing up? Open the [cover letter generator](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/tools/cover-letter).

## FAQ

### Which language should the letter be in?

The language of the job post. If the post is in English, write in English, even if the company is Ukrainian.

### Should I write a letter if the message field is optional?

Yes. A few sentences make it more likely your CV gets opened.

## Read next

- [Cover letter generator](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/tools/cover-letter.md): A free cover letter generator: paste a job post and your CV, and the AI writes a short message to the recruiter for that job. No sign-up.
- [Automatic applications on Djinni](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/djinni.md): How applying on Djinni works, what to write to a recruiter, and how AutoApply finds jobs and applies with a message written for each one.
- [How to pass a recruiter screening](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/recruiter-screening.md): What an IT recruiter asks on the first call, how to answer about salary, English and why you are looking, and how to prepare in 15 minutes.

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