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How to Write a Cover Letter

Updated on Aug 07, 2026 112721 views
How to Write a Cover Letter

Confused about how to write a great cover letter for a job application? You don’t need to be confused.

This guide will show you how to write the perfect cover letter for a job application. We also included a sample cover letter template to help you get started faster.

With our well-crafted guide, you will learn:

  • What a cover letter is
  • About the perfect guide to writing a cover letter
  • How to structure and format a cover letter
  • How to tailor your cover letter to a job role
  • Different types of cover letters
  • Cover letter dos and don’ts
  • How to use a cover letter template

 

How to Write The Perfect Cover Letter in 5 Easy Steps

  • Write A Great Heading: Make sure you include both your contact information and that of the employer.
  • Use a strong subject line if you are pasting it in the body of the email
  • Introduction matters: Find out to whom you are writing and address them accordingly
  • Sell yourself: This is where you can sell your skills and abilities. You can make use of the job description to guide you.
  • Closings are important. You can restate your sales statements and appreciate the hiring manager for reading your letter

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What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a short document submitted alongside your CV or resume when applying for a job. It is usually addressed to the hiring manager or the person responsible for recruiting for the position.

The purpose of a cover letter is to provide context around your application. Your CV tells an employer what you have done, where you have worked, what you studied and what skills you have. Your cover letter allows you to explain why those experiences are relevant to the particular job and why you are interested in the opportunity. Think of your CV as evidence and your cover letter as the explanation that connects that evidence to the employer's needs.

For example, if you are applying for a marketing role, your CV might say that you managed social media campaigns and increased engagement by 40%. Your cover letter can explain that you achieved this by developing a content strategy, analysing audience behaviour and testing different content formats, which is an experience that is directly relevant to the marketing role you are applying for.

A cover letter is therefore not meant to tell your entire career story. It should focus on the parts of your experience that are most relevant to the job.

Note that the cover letter and the application letter are slightly different because an application letter can stand alone, unlike the cover letter that is usually accompanied by the CV. However, it is commonplace for the cover letter and the application letter to be used interchangeably in our society. So, when you are asked to submit an application letter as a requirement for a job application, then you can submit the cover letter.

 

What Is the Difference Between a Cover Letter and a CV?

Although they are often submitted together, a CV and a cover letter serve different purposes.

Cover Letter

CV

Explains why you are interested in the role

Provides an overview of your qualifications and experience

Connects your experience to a specific job

Shows your broader education and employment history

Is tailored to the particular employer and position

Can be adapted less extensively between applications

Gives context to relevant achievements

Provides evidence of your skills and career history

Is usually around one page

Can be one or more pages depending on experience

A strong application uses the two documents together. Your CV provides the details, while your cover letter highlights the most important details and explains why they matter to the employer.

 

What Should a Cover Letter Include?

A typical cover letter contains several basic sections, although the exact format can vary depending on the employer and application process.

Your cover letter should generally include your contact information, the date, the employer's details, an appropriate greeting, an opening paragraph, one or two body paragraphs, a closing paragraph and a professional sign-off.

The most important part, however, is not simply including every section. It is making sure that each section contributes something useful to your application. A beautifully formatted cover letter will not compensate for one that says very little about why you are suitable for the job.

 

How to Write a Cover Letter Step by Step

Writing a good cover letter becomes much easier when you stop thinking of it as a completely blank page. Instead, approach it as a process of matching your experience to what the employer needs. Here is how to do it.

 

1. Read the Job Description Carefully

Before writing anything, read the job description carefully. This is one of the most important steps because the job description tells you what the employer is looking for.

Pay attention to the responsibilities, required qualifications, technical skills, soft skills and personal qualities mentioned in the advert. Look for anything that appears repeatedly or is presented as particularly important.

For example, if a marketing job asks for someone with experience in content marketing, SEO, social media and campaign reporting, those requirements should influence what you discuss in your cover letter. If you have strong experience in all four areas, you do not need to give them equal space. Focus most heavily on the experiences that are most relevant to the employer's priorities.

It can help to identify the three to five most important requirements before you begin writing. Then look through your own experience and find specific examples that demonstrate those requirements.

The goal is not to copy phrases from the job description into your cover letter. The goal is to understand what the employer needs and show, with evidence, how your experience relates to it.

 

2. Research the Company

After understanding the role, spend some time researching the company. Look at its website, products or services, recent announcements, values and the type of customers it serves. If you can find useful information about the team or department you would be joining, consider that as well.

This research can help you answer an important question: Why this company?

Avoid vague statements such as "I have always admired your company" unless you can explain what specifically attracts you. A more convincing explanation connects something about the organisation to your own experience, interests or career goals.

For example, instead of simply saying that you want to work for a technology company because you are "passionate about technology," you could explain that you are interested in the company's work in a particular area and that your previous experience gives you relevant knowledge to contribute to that work.

Your research should influence the content of your letter, not just appear as a sentence added at the end.

 

3. Add Your Contact Information

Start your cover letter with your basic contact information so the employer can easily identify and contact you.

This normally includes your full name, phone number, professional email address and location. You can also include your LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio if it is relevant to the position.

There is no need to overload the header with personal information. Your employer does not need your full home address, date of birth, marital status or other personal details unless the application specifically requires them.

Your email address should also look professional. Ideally, use an address based on your name rather than an informal nickname or phrase.

 

4. Address the Hiring Manager Properly

Whenever possible, address your cover letter to the person responsible for hiring. If the job advert provides the hiring manager's name, use it. You can also check the company's website or LinkedIn to see whether you can identify the appropriate person.

If you cannot find a name, "Dear Hiring Manager" is a perfectly acceptable option. The important thing is to avoid careless or overly casual greetings.

Using the correct person's name can make the letter feel more deliberate, but do not spend excessive time trying to identify someone if the information is genuinely unavailable. A professional "Dear Hiring Manager" is better than addressing the wrong person.

 

5. Write an Opening Paragraph That Gets Attention

The opening paragraph should quickly establish what you are applying for and why you are relevant.

One of the weakest ways to begin is with a sentence that says little more than, "I am writing to apply for the position advertised on your website." While there is nothing technically wrong with this sentence, it uses valuable space without giving the employer a reason to continue reading.

A stronger opening introduces your relevant experience, achievement or connection to the role.

For example, imagine you are applying for a Sales Manager position. Instead of spending your first paragraph simply announcing that you are applying, you could immediately mention that you have several years of sales experience and recently led a team that exceeded its annual revenue target.

The opening should answer three basic questions: What role are you applying for? What makes you relevant? Why should the employer continue reading?

You do not need to make the opening dramatic. You simply need to make it useful.

 

6. Explain Why You Are a Good Fit

The main body of your cover letter should connect your experience to the requirements of the position. One useful approach is to think in terms of:

Employer's need → Your experience → Evidence of your ability

Suppose a company needs a customer service professional who can handle a high volume of enquiries while maintaining customer satisfaction. Rather than simply saying that you have "excellent customer service skills," explain where you developed those skills and what you achieved with them.

For example, you could describe how you managed a large volume of customer enquiries, introduced a more organised way of handling recurring issues and helped improve response times.

This approach is stronger because you are not asking the employer to take your word for it. You are showing how your experience demonstrates the ability they are looking for.

Your cover letter does not need to address every requirement in the job description. Choose the most relevant ones and provide enough context to demonstrate your suitability.

 

7. Highlight Relevant Achievements

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is using their cover letter to list skills without providing evidence.

Statements such as "I am hardworking," "I have excellent communication skills", or "I am a strong team player" are easy for anyone to write. They do not tell an employer much about what you can actually do.

Whenever possible, support your claims with examples.

Instead of saying:

"I have excellent leadership skills."

You could explain that you led a team of eight employees through a process improvement project that reduced turnaround time by 20%.

The second statement is more convincing because it demonstrates leadership rather than simply claiming it.

Your achievements do not always have to involve impressive percentages or large financial figures. What matters is that they show what you did, the situation you worked in and the result of your contribution.

If you are early in your career, achievements can come from internships, academic projects, volunteering, student organisations, freelance work or other relevant experiences.

 

8. Explain Why You Want to Work for the Company

Employers want to know that you have considered why you want to work for them, rather than sending exactly the same application to every organisation.

This does not mean you need to write a long paragraph praising the company. Instead, identify something specific about the role or organisation that genuinely interests you and connect it to your experience or career direction.

For example, if a company is expanding into a new market and you have experience working in that market, you can explain why the opportunity interests you and how your knowledge could be useful.

The strongest explanation of motivation is specific and relevant. It shows that you understand what the organisation does and that your interest is connected to the actual position.

 

9. Write a Strong Closing Paragraph

Your closing paragraph should reinforce your interest without repeating the entire letter. Briefly remind the employer why you are a strong candidate and express your interest in discussing the opportunity further. You can also thank the hiring manager for considering your application.

Avoid making the closing overly passive. Instead of ending with something like "I hope to hear from you," you can confidently express your interest in discussing how your experience could contribute to the organisation.

At the same time, there is no need to sound demanding. The aim is to communicate confidence and professionalism.

 

10. End With the Right Sign-Off

Finish your cover letter with a professional sign-off.

"Kind regards," "Best regards", and "Sincerely" are all appropriate choices. Follow the sign-off with your full name.

If you are submitting the letter digitally, you generally do not need to add a handwritten signature unless the employer specifically requests one.

 

Cover Letter Format: What Should It Look Like?

Your cover letter should be easy to read and professionally formatted. Good formatting does not need to be complicated. The employer should be able to scan the page quickly and understand who you are, what role you are applying for and why you are relevant. A simple structure looks like this:

Your Name
Phone Number | Email Address | LinkedIn
City, Country

Date

Hiring Manager's Name
Company Name
Company Location

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

Opening paragraph introducing yourself, the position you are applying for and your most relevant qualification, experience or achievement.

Second paragraph explaining your relevant experience and demonstrating how it matches the employer's requirements.

Third paragraph explaining why you are interested in the organisation and why your background makes you a suitable candidate.

Closing paragraph expressing your interest in discussing the role further and thanking the employer for considering your application.

Kind regards,
Your Name

 

Keep the design clean. Use a readable font, consistent spacing and clear paragraph breaks. Avoid unnecessary graphics, excessive colours or decorative elements that could distract from the content.

 

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

In most cases, your cover letter should be around one page.

The goal is not to fill an entire page simply because you can. The goal is to provide enough information to demonstrate your suitability without making the hiring manager work through unnecessary details.

For many candidates, three or four well-developed paragraphs are enough. The exact length will depend on your experience and the complexity of the role, but a concise, relevant letter is generally more effective than a long document containing repeated information.

If your cover letter is running beyond one page, review every paragraph and ask whether the information helps demonstrate your suitability for the specific position. If it simply repeats something already explained in your CV, remove or shorten it.

 

This is it! All you need to land your dream job soon. Learn more here.

 

How to Structure and Format Your Cover Letter

Have you thought of structures or formats you should use in your cover letter? Maybe not, but they are really important. Aside from the actual content on the page, the overall structure and format of your cover letter give an impression of you to the hiring manager.

You should also structure and format your cover letter in such a way that it won’t be sifted out by the ATS (applicant tracking system). Since some companies use the ATS to sift cover letters, it is important for you to format your cover letter. Since ATS usually work based on keywords, having the right keywords in your cover letter is key. By directly responding and using phrases from it to describe yourself and your skills, you can help optimise your letter for the ATS.

 

General Cover Letter Structure and Format

These are a few tips to help you format and structure your cover letter:

 

1. Fonts

When you are choosing a font for your cover letter, ensure you keep it professional and simple. It is not advisable for you to use extremely fanciful fonts for your cover letter. It is better to stick with simple and professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, Verdana, Times New Roman, etc. Using fanciful fonts may not make your words clear enough to the recruiter or the ATS.

You should also use size 10 – 12 points for better readability. Using a bigger font size will make your letter look unprofessional, and a smaller size may be difficult to read.

 

2. Alignment

The alignment of the margins should be uniform throughout your document. You can use “1­­­­­­­- 1.5” margins; they are always safe. Using the proper margin prevents you from having cramped content. Then, on alignment, it is advisable to align your content to the left.

Align your text left and use standard 1-inch margins all the way around. If your letter is spilling off onto a second page, first reread it and see if there’s anything you can cut. If you can’t cut anything, you can consider shrinking the margins to ¾” or ½”, but avoid going smaller than that so your cover letter doesn’t look squished on the page.

 

3. Spacing

Good spacing is really essential for the readability of your cover letter. Spacing your cover letter well will help your hiring manager read it easily. Make your cover letter single-spaced; it is good to add a space between each section of your cover letter.

 

4. Length

You should not have more than 3-4 paragraphs in your cover letter. Try to keep your cover letter to a single page; to achieve this, you must make sure you are able to communicate the essential information in fewer words.

 

5. File Format

Your cover letter should be saved in compatible file formats; the file formats should be ones that can be easily downloaded. Sometimes hiring managers make use of the applicant tracking system to sift through cover letters, so it is necessary to save your documents in a compatible format (either Word or PDF). You should take note of the name you give to your document; you can rename it to something that is more specific. You can use this format of first name - last name - cover letter (e.g. John – Peters – cover – letter.doc) to make it easily recognisable for the person viewing it.

 

6. Edit and Proofread Your Cover Letter

It is very important to proofread your cover letter to be sure there are no errors before you attempt to send it out. It may sound small, but small errors can ruin the whole cover letter. You can read it over and over again or ask a friend to help you go through it to make sure there are no errors. To make the editing and proofreading easier, you can make use of Grammarly; it is easier and faster.

 

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Description

A tailored cover letter is written for a particular job rather than copied and pasted from one application to another.

This matters because employers are not simply looking for someone with good qualifications. They are looking for someone whose qualifications are relevant to the particular problem or need the organisation is trying to address.

 

1. Identify the Employer's Top Requirements

Start by identifying the most important requirements in the job description. These might include specific technical skills, years of experience, industry knowledge, leadership ability or particular responsibilities. Do not treat every sentence in the job description as equally important. Focus on the requirements that appear central to the position.

 

2. Match Your Experience to Those Requirements

Next, identify evidence from your own background that matches those requirements.

If the employer wants someone experienced in managing client relationships, think about the roles or projects where you worked directly with customers or clients. If they want someone who can analyse data, identify a project where you used data to make a decision or improve a result.

The closer the connection between the employer's requirement and your evidence, the more relevant your cover letter becomes.

 

3. Use Relevant Keywords Naturally

You can use terminology from the job description where it accurately describes your experience.

For example, if the employer specifically asks for experience with "performance reporting," and you have genuinely prepared performance reports in previous roles, using that phrase can make the connection clearer.

However, do not fill your letter with keywords simply because you think it will improve your chances. The writing should still sound natural and should accurately represent your experience.

 

4. Prioritise Relevant Achievements

Your CV may contain dozens of accomplishments, but your cover letter does not need all of them.

Choose two or three achievements that best demonstrate your ability to succeed in the role. A candidate applying for a sales position, for example, should give more attention to sales results, client relationships and business development than to unrelated administrative responsibilities.

 

5. Remove Generic Information

If a sentence could appear in almost anyone's cover letter, consider whether it adds value.

"I am hardworking, passionate and dedicated" tells the employer very little without evidence. Replace generic statements with specific examples that demonstrate those qualities.

Before and After: Tailoring a Cover Letter

Generic:

I am a hardworking professional with excellent communication and organisational skills. I am confident that my experience and skills make me a good candidate for this position.

There is nothing obviously wrong with this paragraph, but it could be used for almost any job.

Tailored:

In my previous customer service role, I managed an average of 60 customer enquiries each day while maintaining accurate records and following up on unresolved issues. I also introduced a simple tracking system that helped the team identify outstanding enquiries more quickly. This experience has prepared me to manage the high volume of customer requests outlined in your Customer Service Officer position.

The second version is stronger because it connects the candidate's experience directly to the employer's needs and provides evidence rather than relying on general claims.

 

Cover Letter Example

Here is an example of how the complete letter could come together for a fictional Marketing Executive position.

Example: Cover Letter for a Marketing Executive Position

Jane Adeyemi
0800 000 0000 | jane.adeyemi@email.com | linkedin.com/in/janeadeyemi
Lagos, Nigeria

August 7, 2026

Hiring Manager
ABC Consumer Products
Lagos, Nigeria

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am interested in the Marketing Executive position at ABC Consumer Products because it combines two areas in which I have built practical experience: developing digital content and using performance data to improve marketing campaigns. In my current role, I manage content across several digital channels and have helped increase organic website traffic by 35% over the past year through a combination of content planning, SEO improvements and audience analysis.

A significant part of my current work involves developing campaigns based on audience behaviour rather than relying on assumptions about what customers want. I regularly analyse content performance, identify topics and formats that generate the strongest engagement, and use those insights to improve future campaigns. I have also worked closely with designers and sales teams to ensure that marketing campaigns are aligned with broader business objectives. These experiences have strengthened my ability to combine creativity with data-driven decision-making.

I am particularly interested in joining ABC Consumer Products because of the company's growing focus on digital customer engagement. The opportunity to contribute to a marketing team working across established consumer products while helping strengthen its digital presence is especially appealing to me. I believe my experience in content marketing, SEO and campaign analysis would allow me to contribute effectively to the role.

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

Kind regards,
Jane Adeyemi

 

Notice that the example does not attempt to describe Jane's entire career. It focuses on a few relevant experiences, explains why they matter and connects them to the employer's needs.

 

Cover Letter Template

You can use the following structure as a starting point, but avoid submitting it without customising the content.

[Your Full Name]
[Phone Number] | [Professional Email] | [LinkedIn/Portfolio]
[City, Country]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager's Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Location]

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With experience in [relevant area], particularly [specific skill or area of expertise], I have developed the ability to [relevant capability]. In my current/previous role at [Company/Organisation], I [specific achievement or responsibility], resulting in [result if available].

One of the key requirements of your position is [requirement from job description]. In my previous experience, I [specific example demonstrating this requirement]. This helped me [result or outcome] and strengthened my ability to [relevant skill].

I am particularly interested in working with [Company Name] because [specific and genuine reason]. My experience in [relevant area], combined with my ability to [relevant strength], would allow me to contribute to [specific team, responsibility or business objective].

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

Kind regards,
[Your Full Name]

 

The cover letter template should be treated as a framework, not a script. The strongest cover letters sound specific to the candidate and the employer. If you simply replace the words in brackets while leaving the rest unchanged, your letter may still sound generic.

 

Cover Letter Examples for Different Situations

Not every job seeker has the same background. The approach you take should depend on your experience, career stage and reason for applying.

 

1. Cover Letter With No Experience

Having little or no professional experience does not mean you have nothing to discuss in a cover letter.

Instead of focusing on what you lack, identify experiences that demonstrate your ability to perform the job. These could include academic projects, internships, volunteering, freelance work, student leadership, personal projects or relevant training.

For example, someone applying for an entry-level marketing role might discuss a university project in which they developed a marketing campaign, conducted audience research and presented recommendations. Someone applying for an administrative position could discuss experience organising a student event, managing records for a volunteer organisation or coordinating a group project.

The key is to make the connection to the job clear. Do not expect the employer to work out why an unrelated experience matters.

 

2. Cover Letter for a First Job

When applying for your first job, employers understand that you may not have an extensive employment history. Your cover letter should therefore demonstrate your potential.

Focus on your relevant education, practical projects, transferable skills and evidence that you can learn and take responsibility. If you have completed coursework or projects directly related to the position, explain what you did and what you learned.

Rather than writing, "Although I have no work experience, I am eager to learn," focus on evidence of your ability to learn. For example, you might explain how you taught yourself a software programme, completed a relevant certification or took responsibility for a challenging project.

 

3. Cover Letter for an Internship

An internship cover letter should explain why you are interested in the field and what you hope to contribute or learn.

Talk about relevant coursework, projects, extracurricular activities or previous experiences. Employers hiring interns are often assessing potential and willingness to learn as well as existing technical ability.

A strong internship cover letter should therefore communicate both relevance and curiosity without making unrealistic claims about your level of expertise.

 

4. Cover Letter for a Graduate Job

Graduate applicants should focus on the connection between their academic background and the employer's requirements.

Do not simply list your degree and university. Explain how relevant coursework, research, projects, placements or extracurricular activities have developed skills that apply to the role.

If you have completed an internship or part-time job, include it where relevant, even if it was outside your chosen career. You may have developed transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, customer service or time management.

 

5. Cover Letter for a Career Change

Career changers have a different challenge: the employer may not immediately understand how their previous experience relates to the new field.

Your cover letter should make that connection explicit.

Focus on transferable skills, relevant projects, training and experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the new career. If you have deliberately taken courses, completed projects or gained practical experience to move into the new field, mention them.

Do not spend most of the letter apologising for your previous career. Instead, explain why you are making the change and what from your previous experience will help you succeed in the new role.

 

6. Cover Letter for an Experienced Professional

Experienced candidates should resist the temptation to turn their cover letter into a second CV. You do not need to describe every position you have held. Select the most relevant experiences and achievements for the position you are pursuing.

For senior positions, focus particularly on the scale of your responsibilities, the problems you have solved, the teams or projects you have led and the business results you have achieved.

 

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

If you have no professional experience, the first thing to understand is that "no experience" rarely means you have no relevant experience at all.

You may not have held a formal position in the industry, but you have probably developed skills through education, projects, volunteering, extracurricular activities, internships, freelance work or other responsibilities.

Start by examining the job description. Identify the skills the employer needs and then think about situations where you have demonstrated those skills.

For example, if the job requires strong organisation, you could discuss coordinating a student event or managing a complex academic project. If it requires communication, you could discuss presenting research, working with customers in a part-time role or leading a group project.

The important thing is to provide evidence. Instead of saying that you are "a fast learner," explain something you learned, how you learned it and what you were able to accomplish as a result.

You should also avoid drawing unnecessary attention to your lack of experience. Your goal is not to convince the employer that you deserve an exception. Your goal is to show them that you have relevant abilities and the potential to succeed.

 

The Different Types of Cover Letters You Need to Know About

A cover letter, as the name implies, is a cover of your resume and not a duplicate. The cover letter is an introduction of who you are in relation to the position advertised. The cover letter type you wish to write largely depends on your reason and the purpose of the letter. The following are the types of cover letters you may wish to write:

 

1. The application cover letter

The application cover letter is usually written in response to a job opening that has been advertised. This type of cover letter should be formatted in a professional way to include a proper salutation and closing. When writing this kind of cover letter, you should make sure you give detailed information about yourself and the company you are applying to.

The information you give about yourself in this kind of cover letter should be one that shows why you are the best hire for the position advertised. The purpose of this letter is to sell yourself to your prospective employer.

 

2. Prospecting Letter/Letter of interest

A prospecting letter/letter of interest is a letter that is sent to inquire about any position that you may be qualified to fill. Sometimes, you may be aware that a company is recruiting, but you may not know the exact position they are recruiting for. The prospecting letter allows the employer to know that you are interested in the company. This letter shows the skills in areas of work that you are interested in. You may also send your resume alongside this letter for future consideration.

 

3. Networking Letters

This kind of letter recommends you to a company you wish to work for based on the experience you have with other companies you have worked with. The networking letter can be written by another person on your behalf to recommend you for a position.

This type of cover letter is very effective because it allows you to add recommendations from people that you have worked with before. This kind of letter helps you connect with people that may end up becoming your collaborators.

 

4. Direct Mailing

This type of cover letter is addressed to a particular person who may be your boss or the human resource manager. This kind of letter is written when you notice a particular company you want to work for, and you decide to send a direct mail addressing someone in the company. The essence of this kind of cover letter is not necessarily to request a job, but to build a relationship with the employer and to show your interest in the job.

There is also a kind of cover letter that you can write to provide a solution. Some companies suffer serious economic times due to various reasons like poor employee performance, poor revenue generation, overstaffing, etc. You can write a cover letter that tells the employers about how your skills will solve the situation of the company.

 

Top Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts You Should Know

Since writing a cover letter is that extra effort you put into the job search that can land you the dream job, getting yourself familiar with some common cover letter dos and don’ts will help create a good cover letter.

8 Cover Letter Dos

  • Research the company and the hiring manager before you start writing anything
  • Always address the letter to the right person
  • Tell the hiring manager how you can help the company to achieve its goals.
  • Talk about your skills in relation to the position advertised
  • Add keywords from the job description in your letter
  • Be truthful
  • Always tailor your cover letter to fit the particular position and company you are applying to.
  • Always proofread your cover letter to make sure there are few or no errors at all.

 

Top Cover Letter Don’ts

  1. Don’t duplicate your resume
  2. Focus on your strengths and not weaknesses
  3. It should not be too long (maximum of one page)
  4. Avoid making grammatical errors
  5. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action at the closing of your cover letter to show your interest in the position. It could be like this: “ I will follow up with you with an email next week to respond to some questions you may wish to ask; you can contact me on (insert contact number) in the meantime”
  6. Don’t copy and paste content from other people’s cover letters into your own. It is important for you to sound original and true about what you want.
  7. Making your cover letter sound AI-generated. For instance, saying "I'm thrilled to..."

 

How to Use AI to Write a Cover Letter

AI can be useful when writing a cover letter, particularly if you are struggling to organise your thoughts or determine which experiences to highlight. The most effective approach is to use AI as an assistant rather than allowing it to invent your application from scratch.

 

What AI Can Help With

AI can help you analyse a job description, identify important requirements, brainstorm relevant experiences, organise a draft, improve clarity and identify repetitive sections. It can also help you compare your CV against a job description and identify areas that you may want to emphasise in your cover letter.

 

What You Should Not Ask AI to Do

Never use AI to invent qualifications, work experience, achievements or responsibilities. If you tell an employer that you increased sales by 50%, managed a team of 20 people or used a particular software programme when you have not actually done those things, the problem is not simply that the statement was generated by AI. It is that the application contains false information.

Your cover letter should always be based on facts you can defend in an interview.

 

How to Make an AI-Assisted Cover Letter Sound Like You

A useful process is:

Job description → Your actual experience → First draft → AI editing → Personalisation → Fact-check → Final proofread

Start with your own information. Identify the job requirements and write down the experiences and achievements that genuinely match them.

You can then use AI to help structure or improve the writing. After that, read the entire letter yourself. Remove generic phrases, add details that reflect your real experience and make sure you would be comfortable saying the same things in an interview.

The final product should be your application, not an AI's imaginary version of you.

 

How to Submit a Cover Letter

The employer's application instructions should always take priority. If the job advert asks for a cover letter, follow the requested format and submission method. If the employer asks for a PDF, submit a PDF. If the application platform provides a text field, use it as instructed.

If no format is specified, PDF is often a practical choice because it preserves your formatting across devices. Name the file clearly, for example:

Jane-Adeyemi-Cover-Letter.pdf

Avoid names such as "CoverLetterFinalFinal2.pdf" or simply "Document.pdf."

If you are emailing your application, follow the employer's instructions about what to include in the email. Your email should be brief and professional rather than repeating the entire cover letter.

If the employer says a cover letter is optional, consider whether you have something useful to add. A tailored cover letter can strengthen an application when it provides relevant context or demonstrates a strong connection to the role. A generic letter that simply repeats your CV is less likely to add value.

 

Should You Always Include a Cover Letter?

It's a good idea to always include a cover letter, unless the employer states that a cover letter is unnecessary.

The general rule is that if a company specifically requests a cover letter, submit one. Ignoring the instruction can make your application incomplete.  And if a cover letter is optional or the employer doesn't state whether it is required, submit one, especially if you can use it to provide useful information that is not already obvious from your CV. It can be particularly useful if you need to explain a career change, demonstrate a strong interest in the organisation or connect experience from another field to the position.

On the other hand, if the employer explicitly says that a cover letter is unnecessary, there is little benefit in submitting one simply for the sake of it.

 

Cover Letter Checklist Before You Send It

Before submitting your cover letter, take a few minutes to review it.

Content

  • Is the letter written specifically for this position?
  • Does it clearly identify the job you are applying for?
  • Have you addressed the employer's most important requirements?
  • Have you included specific examples rather than unsupported claims?
  • Does the letter add something beyond what is already on your CV?
  • Have you explained why you are interested in the organisation?

Formatting

  • Is the document easy to read?
  • Is the length reasonable?
  • Are your contact details correct?
  • Are the employer's details correct?
  • Is the file name professional?
  • Have you followed the employer's requested format?

Quality

  • Have you checked spelling and grammar?
  • Is the hiring manager's name correct?
  • Is the company name correct?
  • Have you removed unnecessary buzzwords?
  • Does the letter sound natural?
  • Can you support every claim you have made?

A final review is especially important if you have reused an older cover letter. We've seen many candidates accidentally leave another company's name or job title in their application.

 

Cover Letter Example

If you are still wondering how to use a cover letter template, then we have included one in this article. Since a cover letter could be the thing you need to make your job hunting process a successful one, creating a selling cover letter becomes really important. Writing an impressive cover letter for the first time could be really challenging, but using a template makes it easy for you to edit and personalise your cover letter. See cover letter template that will help you personalise your cover letter.

 

Cover Letter Sample for Job Seekers

Myjobmag cover letter image

 

Use the tips in this article to write the perfect cover letter that can help you stand out from other applicants. And if you don't want to start from scratch, just download a cover template and customise it using the tips in our cover letter guide. If you have any questions about cover letters, go through our Cover Letter FAQs.

 

Final Thoughts

Writing a good cover letter is less about finding impressive words and more about making a clear connection between what the employer needs and what you can offer.

Before you start writing, understand the job description. Identify the employer's most important requirements, find evidence from your own experience that matches those requirements and use that evidence to build your letter.

A simple formula can help:

Research the role → Identify what the employer needs → Connect your experience to those needs → Prove your value with examples → Personalise the letter → Edit carefully.

Your cover letter does not need to tell your entire career story. It needs to give the employer a clear reason to believe that you understand the role, have relevant capabilities and are genuinely interested in the opportunity.

And remember: your CV and cover letter work together. Your CV shows what you have done; your cover letter explains why what you have done makes you a strong candidate for this particular job.

Staff Writer

This article was written and edited by a staff writer.

4 Comment(s)

  • Joe-kennedy Onuorah
    Joe-kennedy Onuorah Aug 09, 2021

    This is great

    • Rita Nzemeka
      Rita Nzemeka Sep 27, 2021

      Thank you so much Joe-Kennedy for your kind words.

  • Priscilla Amaka
    Priscilla Amaka Jun 24, 2022

    I really appreciate because I don't really understand what is means

  • Priscilla Amaka
    Priscilla Amaka Jun 24, 2022

    I really appreciate because I don't really understand what is means

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