The template
Paragraph 1 — Hook (1-2 sentences). Why this company, named specifically. Reference a product, value, or recent news.
Paragraph 2 — Proof (3-4 sentences). One quantified achievement directly relevant to the role.
Paragraph 3 — Fit (2-3 sentences). Connect 2-3 JD requirements to specific things you've done.
Paragraph 4 — Close (1 sentence). Confident, specific ask: "I'd love to discuss how my X experience can support Y team — happy to connect this week."
Real example
Razorpay's recent push into international payouts is exactly the kind of infra problem I want to work on next. At PhonePe I led the migration of our settlement service from a single MySQL writer to a sharded Postgres cluster — cutting p99 latency from 1.2s to 180ms while handling 2x volume. That blend of payments domain knowledge and large-scale Postgres work matches what your JD lists for the Senior Backend role. I'd love a 20-minute chat with the hiring manager — happy to share the architecture deck if useful.
What to avoid
- "I am writing to apply for the position of..."
- "I am a hard-working team player with excellent communication skills."
- Generic openings copied across 50 companies.