How to write a cover letter for a job

A cover letter is not a formality, and it is not your CV in paragraph form. It is a short, specific argument for why you fit this job, aimed at making a recruiter want to read the rest of your application. Done well, it lifts a good CV. Done lazily, it wastes the one chance you have to speak directly to the reader.

What a cover letter is for

Your CV lists what you have done. Your cover letter explains why that makes you right for this role, and shows a little of who you are. It connects the dots the recruiter would otherwise have to join themselves, and it demonstrates that you understand the job and genuinely want it.

A structure that works

You do not need to be clever with the format. A clear, conventional structure lets your substance come through.

• Opening. Name the role and, in a sentence, say why you are a strong fit. Skip the slow warm-up.
• The middle. In one or two short paragraphs, connect your most relevant experience and skills to what the job needs. Use real examples, and where you can, results.
• Why this employer. Show that you know something about the organisation and want to work there specifically, not just anywhere.
• Close. A brief, confident sign-off that says you would welcome the chance to discuss it further.

Keep the whole thing to one page. Recruiters are busy, and a tight letter respects that.

Tailor it to the role

The fastest way to write a weak cover letter is to send the same one everywhere. Read the job description, pick out what the role really needs, and make sure your letter speaks to those points. Reference the specific organisation and, where relevant, why its work interests you. A letter that could have gone to any employer reads as effort not made.

Show, do not just claim

“I am a strong communicator and a great team player” means nothing on its own. Prove it briefly. Describe the situation where you communicated under pressure, or the team result you helped deliver. A specific example is worth a dozen adjectives.

Match the tone

Read the culture of the organisation and pitch your tone to fit. A formal institution and a young company expect different registers. When in doubt, aim for warm and professional rather than stiff or overly casual.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Repeating the CV. Interpret your experience, do not just list it again.
• Vague enthusiasm. Passion without evidence is empty.
• Ignoring the employer. Generic praise signals you did not look.
• Errors. Typos and the wrong company name undo the whole effort.

Write the letter after you have studied the job, so every line is aimed at this specific role. A focused, well-evidenced, one-page argument for your fit is what turns a scanned CV into an interview invitation.