Free cover letter checker: will yours get read?

What the checker looks at

It runs a short list of checks that match how a recruiter skims a letter. Each check has a weight, and the score out of 100 is the weighted share of checks you pass.

• Length: between 150 and 400 words.
• At least one result with a number in it, such as a percentage, a size or time saved.
• No stock phrases such as “to whom it may concern”, “team player” or “results-driven”.
• Not too many sentences starting with “I” (no more than 4 in 10).
• A clear next step at the end, such as asking for a conversation.
• If you enter the company: whether the letter names it.
• If you paste the job: whether the letter covers at least 40% of the posting’s top 12 terms.

All of this runs in your browser. Your letter is not sent anywhere or saved.

What the score means, and what it does not

A high score means the letter avoids the most common reasons recruiters stop reading: too long, too generic, no proof, no ask. A low score points to the specific checks that failed, each with a fix.

It cannot judge whether your story is interesting, whether the tone fits the company, or whether your claims are true. It is a pattern check, not a reader. A letter can pass every check and still be dull, so read it out loud before you send it.

Most applicant tracking systems store cover letters for the recruiter to read rather than scoring them, so the person reading matters more than any software here.

How to fix a low score

• Cut it to three short paragraphs: why this company, one result that proves you can do the job, and a one-line ask.
• Replace each stock phrase with something only you could write: a project, a number, a customer.
• Pick two or three must-haves from the posting and show where you have done each one.
• Start some sentences with the company, the problem or the result instead of “I”.
• Name the company and say why them, in one specific sentence.