Shadowing Practice: How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read | Indeed - Learn English Speaking with Video
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A cover letter isn't just your resume in paragraph form.
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It's your chance to answer one simple, but powerful question.
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Why this role?
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And why you?
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Cover letters help hiring managers understand motivation,
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communication skills, and fit, especially when they're reviewing a large number of candidates who may look similar on paper.
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They add context to your experience, connect your resume to the role, and give employers a much clearer sense of who you are and not just what you've done.
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Here's a structure that works and keeps you out of Randall territory.
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Mention the role, mention the company, and give one clear reason you're excited.
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Not, I'm writing to apply.
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Instead, I'm excited about this role because...
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Pull one or two experiences from your resume and explain the impact.
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Hiring managers recommend focusing on results, not just responsibilities.
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Led onboarding improvements, reduced RAM time by 20%.
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Lastly, wrap it up with confidence.
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Thank them, reaffirm interest, and invite the conversation forward.
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I'd love to discuss how I can contribute.
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Before you write a single sentence, do this.
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Read the job description closely.
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Highlight keywords and skills.
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Research the company's mission or recent news.
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Check your online presence.
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Look at how the company describes success in the role.
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Scan the team's professional networking profiles for language clues.
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Hiring managers can tell in seconds when a cover letter is generic.
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Tailoring your cover letter can significantly improve response rates.
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The strongest ones show alignment, and they make it obvious why this role makes sense for this candidate.
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Can you tell me if you've ever written a cover letter and what would you do to stand out?
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Including as much of my own personality into it as possible.
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The experience of the person and how they feel.
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Their growth trajectory and what their goals are.
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But also make it engaging and fun to read if they're sifting through a gazillion a day.
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Ah, I couldn't have said it better myself.
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Quick lightning round.
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Avoid these.
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Too long.
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Keep it under one page.
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Repeating your resume word for word overly formal or robotic like opening with to whom it may concern, forgetting to customize the company name,
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unprofessional opening or greeting, find the name of the hiring manager if possible or use Dear Hiring Manager.
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You're probably thinking the same thing I do when it comes to cover letters.
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Is it okay to use AI?
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The answer is yes.
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But using AI to put together a draft is absolutely okay.
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But be sure to double check for errors and add your own voice throughout.
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After all, the company is looking to hire you, not a chatbot.
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Generally, cover letters are most crucial when you're changing roles, transitioning careers, applying to a smaller team, or when your resume doesn't tell the full story.
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If a cover letter is optional, write one anyway.
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When it comes to optional, think of it less as, I don't have to, and more as, this could really help me stand out.
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Hiring managers see thousands of applications, and even if they wish they could hire everyone, Ultimately, they have to make a choice.
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And things like a personalized, tailored cover letter genuinely become significant factors in deciding who gets the job.
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A great cover letter doesn't have to be perfect, just thoughtful.
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Your resume lists what you've done.
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Your cover letter explains why it matters.
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Use it to tell a story your resume can't.
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For more job search advice, templates, and examples, subscribe right here.
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Shadowing English | SUITS: How to Speak With Confidence in a Job Interview (lesson #80)
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 55 sentences and 585 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:31. The speaker talks at a natural 166 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- hire /ˈhaɪɹ/ (verb) — To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment.
- litter /ˈlɪt.ɚ/ (noun) — Straw, grass, and similar loose material used as bedding for people or animals.
- resume /ˈɹɛz.ə.meɪ/ (verb) — To start (something) again that has been stopped or paused from the point at which it was stopped or paused; continue, carry on.
- skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
- optional /ˈɑp.ʃə.nəl/ (adjective) — Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.
- tailor /ˈteɪlɚ/ (noun) — A person who makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.
- transition /tɹænˈzɪʃ.ən/ (noun) — The process of change from one form, state, style or place to another.
- formal /ˈfɔɹməl/ (adjective) — In accordance with established forms.
- connect /kəˈnɛkt/ (verb) — To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
- engage /ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ (verb) — To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied.
- contribute /kənˈtɹɪb.jut/ (verb) — To give something that is or becomes part of a larger whole.
- invite /ɪnˈvaɪt/ (verb) — To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something.
- crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/ (adjective) — Essential or decisive for determining the outcome or future of something; extremely important; vital.
- employer /ɪmˈplɔɪə/ (noun) — A person, firm or other entity which pays for or hires the services of another person.
- lightning /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ (noun) — A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- stand out (verb) — To jut out, protrude (from a surface etc.).
- look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
- put together (verb) — To assemble, construct, build, or formulate.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, you've, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: optional /ˈɑp.ʃə.nəl/, transition /tɹænˈzɪʃ.ən/, crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/, motivation /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: motivation /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/, genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/, trajectory /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/, personalize /ˈpɜː.sə.nə.laɪz/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like hire, litter, resume.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.