ATS Cover Letter Guide

What Is an ATS Cover Letter?

An ATS cover letter is a cover letter written for an online job application where an applicant tracking system may be used to collect, store, organize, or help review application materials.

ATS stands for applicant tracking system. Employers may use these systems to manage applications, organize candidate information, and support the hiring workflow.

Many job seekers worry that they need to "beat" the ATS. That is not the right way to think about it.

A better goal is to write a cover letter that is clear, relevant, and easy to understand. Your letter should naturally reflect the job description when it accurately matches your experience.

An ATS-friendly cover letter should:

• use simple formatting,
• avoid unnecessary design elements,
• include relevant job description language naturally,
• stay accurate to your real experience,
• remain readable for human recruiters and hiring managers.

The goal is not keyword stuffing. The goal is alignment.

What Does ATS-Friendly Really Mean?

ATS-friendly means your application is easy to process, read, and understand.

For a cover letter, that usually means simple structure and clear language. It does not mean filling the letter with every keyword from the job description.

A useful ATS-friendly cover letter has two sides.

1. Technical readability

The format should be simple enough for online systems and application forms. Avoid complex layouts, tables, unusual symbols, or design-heavy formatting that may not transfer well.

2. Semantic relevance

The content should clearly connect your resume to the job description. If the employer asks for customer onboarding, CRM experience, reporting, or cross-functional communication, your cover letter should mention those topics when they are true to your background.

The best ATS-friendly cover letters are not robotic. They sound natural, but they still reflect the role.

This is where Motlis.ai can help. It uses your resume and the job description together, so your cover letter can focus on the most relevant overlap.

Does an ATS Read Cover Letters?

Different employers and hiring workflows handle cover letters differently. Some systems may store the cover letter as part of the application. Some recruiters may review it manually. Some roles may give the cover letter more attention than others.

Because there is no single universal process, the safest approach is to make your cover letter both system-friendly and human-friendly.

That means:

• use a clean format,
• write in plain language,
• include the target role,
• connect your experience to the job description,
• avoid exaggeration,
• make the letter easy for a person to read quickly.

Even if a recruiter reads the cover letter directly, the same rules still help. A clear, tailored letter is easier to understand than a generic one.

If you need help with the structure, read the cover letter format guide.

How Should You Use Job Description Keywords in a Cover Letter?

Job description keywords are words and phrases the employer uses to describe the role. They may include skills, tools, responsibilities, qualifications, industries, or soft skills.

Examples may include:

• project coordination,
• customer onboarding,
• data analysis,
• CRM management,
• budget forecasting,
• cross-functional communication,
• Python,
• sales pipeline,
• patient care,
• lesson planning.

If those terms accurately describe your experience, it can be useful to include them naturally in your cover letter.

The word "naturally" is important.

Do not copy the entire job description. Do not repeat keywords in a way that sounds forced. Do not add skills you do not have.

Instead, use the job description to decide what to emphasize.

For example, if the job description emphasizes onboarding, retention, and customer communication, your cover letter might say:

"The role's focus on onboarding, retention, and customer communication closely matches my experience supporting SaaS customers, creating help documentation, and working with product teams to resolve recurring user issues."

This works because the keywords are connected to real experience.

What Is the Best ATS Cover Letter Format?

The best ATS cover letter format is simple and readable.

Use a clean structure:

1. Professional greeting
2. Opening paragraph that mentions the role
3. Body paragraph that connects experience to the job description
4. Closing paragraph that invites the next step
5. Simple signature

If you are uploading a document, you can include your contact information at the top. If you are pasting the letter into an online form, plain paragraphs are usually enough.

Use short paragraphs

Long blocks of text are harder to read. Keep paragraphs focused and easy to scan.

Avoid complex design

Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, heavy graphics, and unusual formatting. These may not transfer well into some application systems.

Use standard language

Use clear wording that describes your experience. Avoid overly creative formatting or vague buzzwords.

Keep it human-readable

A hiring team may still read your cover letter. Make sure the final version sounds natural and professional.

What Should an ATS Cover Letter Include?

An ATS-friendly cover letter should include the same core elements as any strong cover letter. The difference is that the language and formatting should stay especially clear.

The job title

Mention the specific role you are applying for. This immediately gives context.

Relevant experience

Choose one or two parts of your resume that match the job description. Do not try to include everything.

Natural job description language

Use important terms from the job description when they accurately describe your background.

Specific examples

Include concrete details when possible, such as tools, responsibilities, projects, customer types, industries, or measurable outcomes.

A clear closing

End with a short professional closing that restates interest and invites the next step.

If you are not sure what to include, compare your resume with the job description first using the resume job match tool.

ATS Cover Letter Example

Here is a simple ATS-friendly cover letter example for a Customer Success Specialist role.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the Customer Success Specialist role because the position's focus on onboarding, client communication, and retention closely matches my experience supporting SaaS customers and creating help documentation.

In my previous role, I helped customers understand product features, resolved recurring support questions, and worked with product and sales teams to improve onboarding materials. This experience helped me build strong communication, documentation, and customer support skills that align with the needs of this role.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background in customer onboarding, support documentation, and client communication could support your team. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Why this example works

This cover letter is ATS-friendly because it is simple, clear, and relevant. It uses natural job description language without stuffing keywords.

It includes the target role, relevant skills, job description themes, specific experience, and a clear closing. It also remains readable for a human hiring team.

For more samples, visit cover letter examples.

ATS-Friendly Cover Letter Template

You can use this simple template as a starting point.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the [Job Title] role because the position's focus on [Job Requirement 1], [Job Requirement 2], and [Job Requirement 3] closely matches my experience in [Relevant Background].

In my previous role, I [Relevant Responsibility or Achievement]. This helped me build experience in [Relevant Skill, Tool, or Process], which aligns with your need for someone who can [Important Role Requirement].

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background in [Relevant Area] could support your team. Thank you for your time and consideration.

This template works because it keeps the structure simple while encouraging you to connect your experience to the job description.

For more templates, visit cover letter templates.

Common ATS Cover Letter Mistakes

Many ATS cover letter mistakes happen when job seekers focus too much on systems and not enough on clarity.

Keyword stuffing

Repeating keywords unnaturally can make your letter harder to read. Use relevant terms only when they fit your real experience.

Copying the job description

Do not copy the employer's wording line by line. Use the job description as a guide, not as a script.

Using complex formatting

Tables, columns, text boxes, and unusual layouts may not work well in some online application systems.

Making the letter too generic

A generic letter may be easy to read, but it does not explain why you are relevant to the role.

Adding skills you do not have

Never include a skill just because it appears in the job description. Your cover letter should stay accurate.

Ignoring the resume

Your cover letter should support your resume. It should not introduce a completely different story.

Writing for software only

A human may read the final letter. Do not make it sound robotic just because you are thinking about ATS.

Can AI Help Write an ATS-Friendly Cover Letter?

Yes, AI can help you create an ATS-friendly cover letter, but it should be used carefully.

A basic AI prompt may create a polished but generic letter. A better approach is to use your resume and the job description together.

Motlis.ai helps by using application context:

• your resume,
• the job description,
• role requirements,
• relevant skills,
• job description language,
• the overlap between your background and the role.

This helps create a cover letter that is more specific than a generic template.

You should still review the final draft. Make sure it is accurate, natural, and true to your experience.

Use the AI cover letter generator to create a tailored draft from your resume and the job description.

Should You Check Resume Match Before Writing an ATS Cover Letter?

In many cases, yes.

Your cover letter is stronger when you understand how your resume matches the job description first.

A resume match check can help you identify:

• skills that already align with the role,
• important keywords that are missing,
• relevant experience that should be emphasized,
• weak points you may need to address carefully,
• transferable skills that connect to the job.

This is useful because an ATS-friendly cover letter should not simply list keywords. It should explain fit.

If you understand the match first, your cover letter can be more focused.

Start with Resume Job Match, then create a tailored cover letter.

How Should You Format a Cover Letter for an Online Application?

Online applications often ask you to upload a document or paste your cover letter into a text box.

If you upload a document, use a clean one-page layout with simple formatting.

If you paste the letter into a text box, use plain paragraphs and check the formatting after pasting.

For online application text boxes:

• avoid special formatting,
• avoid tables and columns,
• keep paragraphs short,
• make sure line breaks are preserved,
• review the final text before submitting.

A cover letter should still make sense even if all formatting is removed.

Should You Write for ATS or for a Human Recruiter?

Write for both, but prioritize clarity.

A cover letter that is clear, relevant, and naturally aligned with the job description is useful for systems and people.

Do not write a robotic letter just to include keywords. Do not ignore keywords completely either.

The best balance is:

• simple format for systems,
• natural language for humans,
• relevant job description terms where accurate,
• specific examples from your resume,
• a clear explanation of fit.

If the letter sounds strange when read out loud, it probably needs editing.

ATS Cover Letter Checklist

Before submitting your cover letter, use this checklist.

• Does the letter mention the specific role?
• Does it use a simple format?
• Are the paragraphs short and readable?
• Does it include relevant job description language naturally?
• Does it avoid keyword stuffing?
• Does it connect your resume to the job description?
• Is every claim accurate?
• Does the letter sound human?
• Did you remove unnecessary design elements?
• Did you proofread after pasting or uploading?

If your answer is yes, your cover letter is likely much stronger than a generic application letter.