# Cover Letter Reference

> The resume must stand alone. Decide on a letter using the employer and market context below.

## Decision Gate

Generate a cover letter when at least one is true:

- The posting or portal requests one.
- The employer is a traditional Swiss/DACH institution, public body, NGO or mission-led organization where motivation is material.
- A credible career/location/domain transition needs a short explanation.
- Work authorization, language, relocation or a genuine personal connection materially strengthens the application.
- The user explicitly requests a letter.

Normally skip it when:

- The portal provides no upload field.
- A standardized process already asks motivation questions.
- It would merely repeat the resume or paraphrase company news.

Record `Cover Letter Decision: YES/NO` and the reason in the session file before writing.

For Denmark and Norway, normally prepare a short, specific letter when the process permits it;
do not automatically skip it merely because the field is optional. Explain the actual connection
to the employer, relevant evidence and any confirmed country/location motivation. One page is
the normal limit. Employer instructions against letters or motivation questions in the portal
take precedence. If no specific additional value exists, record why the letter is omitted.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-11: [Workindenmark](https://www.workindenmark.dk/job-search-in-denmark/your-cover-letter),
[NAV](https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/tips-til-jobbsoknaden).

## Evidence Rules

1. Read `resume_builder/canonical/claims.json` first.
2. Every work claim must be traceable to the resume and canonical registry.
3. Significance files supply optional context only; reverify external claims from current primary sources.
4. Company or industry scale never becomes Dennis's personal scale or impact.
5. Do not introduce a skill, metric, customer, ownership claim or result absent from the resume.

## International Tech / Industry Letter

- One page, normally 200--300 words.
- Two or three short paragraphs.
- Open with the candidate-role connection, not a company press-release summary.
- Use one or two proof points and explain why they matter for this role.
- Add motivation or context the resume cannot show.
- Close directly and professionally.

## Swiss/DACH Letter

- One A4 page.
- Match the language and formality of the posting.
- Explain motivation, relevant evidence and practical fit such as location/language.
- References and diplomas remain separate attachments when requested.

## Employer-Specific Formats

For NATO, government or academic applications, follow the employer's explicit format and portal fields. Do not force a generic three-paragraph industry structure when the application requests a motivation statement or competency answers.

## Hook Verification

Verify every named product, programme, paper, executive statement or current company initiative before use. Prefer first-party sources. Record the source in the session file. If a hook is not necessary, omit it rather than spending a paragraph proving company familiarity.

## Quality Checks

- The resume stands alone.
- The letter adds motivation, decision context or a meaningful connection.
- The voice is direct and natural.
- No generic opening, credential dump, defensive gap list or copied resume bullet.
- The canonical validator passes for the cover-letter `.tex`.
- The compiled document is one readable page unless the employer explicitly requests otherwise.