What should go in the opening sentence of a cover letter?

Not 'I am writing to apply for' — that conveys no information and has been outdated for years. The first sentence must compel the recruiter to read on within 3 seconds. Three formats with proven high impact: (1) Concrete result: 'In my role as project manager, I coordinated three product launches — precisely what you are looking for according to the job advert.' (2) Personal company connection: 'I have been using your software daily for two years — now I want to help shape it.' (3) Direct response to the job advert: 'You are looking for someone with SAP experience in a corporate environment — I bring exactly that.' Caveat: Creative openings may be inappropriate in conservative industries (public sector, banking). According to LinkedIn Talent Solutions data (2025), personalised cover letters convince recruiters significantly more than generic standard phrases.