How to write a cover letter

A cover letter is your chance to speak directly to an employer before they even reach your CV, and a good one can lift an average application above stronger candidates who did not bother. Yet many people either skip it or send the same tired template to everyone. A short, tailored, genuine letter takes minutes and dramatically raises your reply rate. Here is how to write one that works.

What a cover letter is for

Your CV lists what you have done. Your cover letter explains why you are right for this job, at this company, right now. It connects the dots for the reader, shows a bit of personality, and demonstrates that you have actually thought about the role rather than firing off applications at random. Even where a form does not demand one, adding a short covering message is often what makes you stand out.

Get the format right

• Keep it to one page, ideally three or four short paragraphs. Nobody reads a rambling letter.
• Address it to a person where you can find a name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" if you cannot. Avoid "To whom it may concern".
• Match the tone to the employer, warm and professional for most, a little more formal for corporate roles.
• Send it as requested, whether pasted into an email or attached alongside your CV.

What to put in each paragraph

A simple, reliable structure keeps you on track:

• Opening: say which job you are applying for and, in a line, why you are excited about it. Get to the point quickly.
• Middle: this is the heart of the letter. Pick two or three things the advert asks for and show, with brief real examples, how you meet them. Focus on what you can do for them, not just what you want.
• Why this employer: a line or two showing you know something about the company and genuinely want to work there, not just anywhere.
• Closing: thank them, say you would welcome the chance to discuss the role, and sign off politely.

Tailor it every time

This is the single most important rule. A generic letter reads as generic, and employers can spot one instantly. Reread the advert, note the key skills and qualities it asks for, and make sure your letter speaks to those exact things in the employer's own words. It takes a few extra minutes per application, but a handful of tailored letters will beat a hundred identical ones every time.

An example opening

"I am writing to apply for the warehouse operative role advertised on yournextjob. With three years of picking and packing experience, a current forklift licence and a strong record on productivity targets, I am confident I could be a reliable, hard working addition to your team, and I would welcome the chance to prove it." Specific, confident and pointed straight at the job.

Mistakes that get letters binned

• Sending the same letter to everyone, the fastest way to look uninterested.
• Simply repeating your CV, rather than adding the why behind it.
• Making it all about you, instead of what you offer the employer.
• Typos and the wrong company name, which suggest carelessness. Always proofread.
• Going on too long. Respect the reader's time and keep it tight.

The bottom line

A cover letter is a small effort with a big payoff. Keep it to a page, structure it clearly, tailor it to the exact role, and focus on what you can do for the employer. Proofread it, sound like a real person, and you will turn a box ticking chore into one of the most effective tools in your job search.