Cover letters are a great way to show you’re willing to go the extra mile to give a good first impression (if your cover letter is good, that is). Writing a persuasive cover letter means providing some helpful background information, but not so much that you’re telling your life story. Done right, a cover letter can give recruiters some insight into who you are as a professional, how you communicate, and what they could expect to see from you in the workplace. That’s a lot to get across in just a few paragraphs, which is exactly why cover letters can be so daunting. Not to worry, we’ve gathered up some helpful steps to help you build a cover letter that is both informative, yet purposeful: