- Look at the key words and skills used to describe the job you're applying for and explain how you match them. Standard, conservative style.How to make your job application stand out: Clearly and efficiently articulate your skills and experience. Use an engaging writing style. Draw connections between the job requirements and your skills, experiences, and attributes. Below are two cover letters to illustrate how a cover letter can be a total waste of everyone's time or instantly earn a call from a hiring manager. It does the following: Mentions the referral, if you have one, which helps your application stand out. I feel sorry for cover letters. The way people talk about them like they're the worst thing to happen to society since Gluten. Sample Cover Letter 1.