A cover letter is read quickly, if at all. It earns attention by being specific about this role and this employer, and by adding something the CV cannot carry: reasoning.
A structure that holds up
1. The opening: role and reason
Name the role and say, in one sentence, why this particular job is the one you are applying for. Skip "I am writing to express my interest" — it uses a line and says nothing.
2. The evidence paragraph
Take the two requirements that matter most in the posting and answer them with concrete work: what you did, at what scope, with what outcome. One example properly told beats four mentioned.
3. The fit paragraph
Connect your experience to the team's situation as described in the posting — the stage of the product, the size of the team, the problem they are hiring to solve.
4. The close
One line offering to talk, and a note of anything practical they asked for: notice period, location, right to work.
Things to cut
- Restating your CV in prose.
- Praise of the company that could apply to any company.
- Claims you cannot support in an interview.
- Anything over one page.
Applying for your first job? Read our guide on how to write a cover letter with no experience.
Related reading
- How to tailor a CV to a job description
A practical method for rewriting a CV around one specific role: read the posting properly, map evidence to requirements, and reorder for relevance.
- How to write a cover letter with no experience
No formal work history yet? Here is how to write an honest cover letter that shows transferable experience from study, volunteering, projects and everyday responsibilities.
- How to write the email that carries your application
The cover email is the first thing a hiring team reads. It needs a clear subject line, five sentences, and correct attachments.
Put this into practice
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