Open with the hook, not 'I am writing to apply…'
First line names the role, the company-specific reason, and one credential that matches.
- 'Your roadmap to localize search across 14 markets maps directly to the i18n infra I shipped at Stripe.'
Middle paragraph = one proof
One outcome story with a number. Not three bullets. One story, fully told.
- Set the situation in one sentence
- State the action in one sentence
- Land the metric in one sentence
Close with a clear next step
Name the next step you want and make it easy.
- 'Happy to walk through the rollout plan in 20 minutes next week.'