You’ve found a role you’re interested in and updated your CV. Now comes the cover letter: what should you say, and how do you avoid repeating everything you’ve already written?

A cover letter gives you space to explain why the opportunity interests you and how your experience fits. It helps an employer understand what you could bring to their team.

If you’re wondering how to write a cover letter, start with the job advert and build your response around what matters most to the employer.

What should you include in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should introduce you, explain why you’re applying and connect your skills to the role.

Include:

• The job title and reference number, if provided.

• Why the role and organisation interest you.

• Relevant skills or experience, supported by examples.

• A brief closing paragraph thanking the reader.

Follow the application instructions first. If the employer asks you to address particular criteria or submit a supporting statement, use those requirements to guide your response.

How to start a cover letter

If you’re unsure how to start a cover letter, begin with a straightforward greeting. Address the hiring manager by name if it is provided in the advert or application details. Otherwise, “Dear Hiring Manager” is a suitable alternative.

Open by stating which role you’re applying for and briefly introducing your relevant background.

For example:

“I’m applying for the Customer Service Advisor position advertised on your website. Through my retail experience, I’ve developed strong communication and problem-solving skills that I would bring to your customer support team.”

When deciding how to start a cover letter, focus on the role and your relevant background. You don’t need a dramatic introduction or a long explanation of how you found the vacancy.

Show why you want this particular role

An effective cover letter should feel relevant to the opportunity.

Pick something specific from the advert or the organisation’s website and explain why it interests you. This could be the responsibilities, the customers you would support or the chance to use a particular skill.

Avoid broad statements such as “I’ve always wanted to work for a successful company”. Explain the connection instead: what appeals to you, and why does it fit your next step?

Back up your skills with examples

Choose two or three requirements from the job advert and show how your experience meets them.

Instead of saying you’re organised, describe a time you managed competing tasks. Rather than calling yourself a strong communicator, explain how you helped a customer or worked with colleagues to resolve an issue.

Use results where you have them, but don’t invent figures. A clear account of what you did and why it helped can be just as useful.

If you have no previous employment experience, draw on education, volunteering, placements or personal projects. Explain how those experiences helped you develop skills relevant to the vacancy.

How long should a cover letter be?

Aim for one page unless the employer gives different instructions. Three or four short paragraphs will usually give you room to introduce yourself, explain your suitability and finish clearly.

“How long should a cover letter be?” is also a question of relevance. Keep the examples that help explain your suitability and remove details that don’t support your application.

Your CV provides the wider picture of your experience. Your cover letter should draw attention to the parts that matter most for this role.

If you’re asking “how long should a cover letter be?” because the employer requests a supporting statement, check the instructions carefully. A supporting statement may require a different structure or length.

Use plain, professional language and a confident, polite tone. Reading your letter aloud can help you spot sentences that sound unnatural or take too long to reach the point.

Cover letter examples: putting the advice into practice

Useful cover letter examples show how to connect your experience to the employer’s requirements. The letter below demonstrates how someone with retail experience could explain their suitability for a customer service role.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m applying for the Customer Service Advisor position at [Company name]. My retail experience has given me a strong foundation in answering customer queries, resolving problems and staying organised during busy periods.

In my current role, I regularly help customers with purchases, returns and delivery enquiries. Recently, I worked with our stock team to resolve a delayed order, keeping the customer informed until it was ready to collect. This required clear communication, accurate record keeping and ownership of the issue.

I’m particularly interested in the opportunity to support customers by phone and email, as described in your advert. I would welcome the chance to bring my experience of handling enquiries to your team while developing my knowledge of your products.

Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experience could contribute to your team.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]

Use cover letter examples as a guide to structure, then adapt the wording to your own experience and the vacancy.

Check your cover letter before applying

Before sending, check the company name, job title, spelling and contact details. Make sure every example is accurate and relevant.

If you use AI to help with wording, review the result carefully. It should reflect your experience and sound like you.

Knowing how to write a cover letter means giving the employer clear reasons to consider your application. Be specific, support your points and make every paragraph useful.

Ready to put your application together? Explore the latest opportunities with Pertemps or contact your local branch for support with your job search.