“A simple cover letter would take me a week to write.” Like many, Jesse, 34, found it difficult to write about himself and explain his skill set to employers.

No one loves writing cover letters. They can seem awkward or even boring when you’ve written many. And they are time-consuming. So when a job posting includes the words “cover letter optional ...

In those times, a cover letter can make the difference and help you inch ahead of the competition. Here’s my advice for writing a good one, without a ton of effort each time. Create a boilerplate.