The first thing to bear in mind is that a cover letter is not a rewrite of your CV. It is not intended to relist your work experience. What it should do is put a voice to the facts. Your voice, in this case. It explains how you approach things, explains your background and experience, and highlights points relevant to the role you’re applying for. It also gives you the opportunity to show how your experience equips you for this job: why this one rather than any other? What can you contribute specifically to this team? Which aspects of your background and experience make you THE ideal person for this role? A cover letter that is brief, to the point and provides clear answers to these three questions will be a valuable addition to your application. Thorough preparation will also help you navigate the rest of the process successfully, particularly in terms of interview success.
5 key points for writing an effective cover letter
Start by talking about the role you’re applying for, rather than about yourself. Your opening sentence should make clear how you would approach the reality of the role, rather than simply summarise your career to date. What attracts you to this particular role, at this particular time and with this particular company: that’s your starting point.
Demonstrate that you have read the vacancy details in full, and have understood what is expected of the successful applicant. Refer to one or two key requirements referred to in the vacancy details, and address them directly. These are the things that set a personalised letter distinctively apart from a copy/paste account.
Illustrate your words with a practical and memorable example. A showcased quality or skill will always be more convincing if it refers to a real-life situation, result or personal experience.
Get straight to the point. An effective letter should be no longer than half a page. There’s no need for convoluted phrasing, so stick to short sentences, clear vocabulary and one idea per paragraph.
Tailor your cover letter to each application, rather than reusing the same text. If all you do is copy/paste and change the company name, it’s obvious. A letter that hits home is one that refers directly to a specific role and is addressed to a specific recruiter.
AI can help, but only as long as you stay in control!
There are many tools that can help you get started or rephrase particular passages. But make sure you add your own words, examples and voice. Don’t let AI write for you. It should be used as a help, and not as a shortcut.
Cover letter: pitfalls to avoid
A letter that is too long, too vague or too formulaic quickly loses its impact. If it’s more than half a page long, you’ll lose the attention of the recruiter. Every word must earn its place. ‘I am motivated and dynamic’ means nothing unless the words are supported by a practical example of these characteristics. Practical, real-world situations are always the most convincing. Clearly, it’s best to avoid copy/pasting your CV or sending the same text to multiple companies. And don’t forget the importance of proofreading: a single spelling mistake or misspelt company name is enough to compromise your credibility. The bottom line is that an effective cover letter is targeted, easy to read and directly relevant to the role.
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Your cover letter pre-submission checklist
The role you’re applying for is clearly stated from the very start.
Your message and arguments are specific and personal to you.
The text is no more than half a page long, flows well and is easy to read.
You’ve read through your letter carefully, and ideally out loud.
Your cover letter is a valuable addition to your CV.
Questions - answers
Is a cover letter always required?
Not always. Some vacancies don’t ask for one, and some application formats don’t lend themselves to it. But when it’s well written - short, to the point and personalised - it can really strengthen your application and help you stand out from the crowd. If you have the choice, it’s rarely a bad idea to write one.
What should a cover letter include that the CV doesn’t?
It should complement your CV, rather than simply repeat it. Its purpose is to explain why you’re applying for this specific role, demonstrate that you understand what is expected, and highlight one or two specific examples from your background and career to date that may be relevant in this particular context. So while your CV tells people what you’re all about, the cover letter explains why those things matter.
How can you tell if your letter is ready to be submitted?
Check that it clearly states the vacancy you’re applying for, that it’s short and easy to read, its content is true and personal to you, and that you’ve proofread it carefully. If you can read it out loud without stumbling over a sentence or blushing at a slightly pompous turn of phrase, then it’s ready to go!
Can you use an AI tool to write a cover letter?
Yes, provided you don’t leave all the writing to the algorithm. There are plenty of tools that can help you overcome writer’s block, rephrase a clumsy passage or organise your ideas, but a letter generated entirely by AI is easy to spot, and recruiters quickly pick up on phrasing that’s too polished and lacks the personal touch. What makes a cover letter really stand out are the things AI can’t know about you: your background, experience, cover and voice.
