How to write a cover letter (with examples)
The short answer
Write a cover letter in four short paragraphs on one page. Open with the role and the one reason you want it, give your strongest relevant result in the second paragraph, show you understand the employer in the third, and close with a plain request to talk. Address it to a named person where you can, use the posting’s own terms, and keep it under 300 words.
A good cover letter does one job: it tells the reader why you are applying to this role at this company, in a way your resume cannot. It is not a second copy of your resume in sentences. If it takes more than a minute to read, it is too long.
Before you start, check whether you need one at all. See Do you need a cover letter?
The structure
Four paragraphs, one page, left-aligned plain text.
| Paragraph | What it does | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The opening | Names the role and gives one reason you want it | 2 sentences |
| 2. The proof | One result that matches what the role needs most | 3 to 4 sentences |
| 3. The company | Shows you know what they do and why it fits you | 2 to 3 sentences |
| 4. The close | Asks for a conversation and says what you can send | 1 to 2 sentences |
Before you write
Spend ten minutes on three things.
- Find the name. Address the letter to the recruiter or hiring manager if you can identify them. “Dear Ms Okafor” beats “To whom it may concern”. If you cannot find a name, “Dear hiring team” is fine.
- Find the main requirement. Read the posting and pick the one or two things it asks for most. These are usually near the top, or repeated.
- Find your best match. Pick the one result from your work that answers that requirement most directly. This is the heart of the letter.
A full example
Dear Ms Okafor, I’m applying for the Operations Manager role at Fernhill Logistics. I’ve spent six years running warehouse teams, and the way you describe moving to same-day delivery is the problem I most want to work on. At Harlow Distribution I rebuilt the pick-and-pack schedule across three shifts, which cut late dispatches from weekly to rare and let us take on two new retail clients without adding headcount. The posting asks for someone who can improve a process while managing a team of 30 or more. That is the job I have been doing, and I managed a team of 34 for most of it. I’ve followed Fernhill’s growth in regional grocery, and your recent depot opening in Leeds is the kind of expansion where good scheduling matters most. I would like to help it run well from the first week. I’d welcome a conversation about the role, and I’m happy to send examples of the scheduling work. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, Sam Reyes
Notice what it does not do. It does not say “I am a hard-working team player”. It does not repeat the job history. It gives one specific result and connects it to what the posting asked for.
How to open
The first sentence decides whether the second is read. Three openings that work:
- Direct: “I’m applying for the [role] at [company]. I’ve spent [n] years doing [the core of the job].”
- Specific interest: “Your move into [area] is the reason I’m writing. I’ve spent [n] years [doing the relevant work].”
- Referral: “[Name] suggested I get in touch about the [role]. I’ve worked on [relevant thing] for [n] years.”
Avoid “I am writing to apply for” followed by a long run-up. Get to the role and the reason in the first sentence.
What not to do
- Do not repeat your resume. The reader has it. Add what it cannot say.
- Do not send a generic letter. If you could swap the company name and it still reads the same, rewrite it.
- Do not open with “I am a passionate” anything. Show the work instead.
- Do not apologise for gaps or missing skills in the letter. Lead with what you have.
- Do not go past one page. Under 300 words is a good target.
- Do not leave the previous company’s name in. Reread it before sending.
If your resume has a gap or a career change that needs a sentence of context, a cover letter is a sensible place for it. See How to explain a gap in your resume.
Matching the letter to the resume
The letter and the resume should say the same thing about you in different ways. The title you use in the letter should match the title in your summary. The result you highlight should appear on your resume as a bullet. If the two disagree, the reader notices. The same tailoring that goes into the resume goes into the letter: see How to tailor your resume to a job.
Keeping it manageable
Writing a fresh letter for every role is where most people run out of energy. Glide finds and scores roles against your profile, researches each company, tailors your resume and prepares the application, so the details you need for the second and third paragraphs are already gathered. You stay the one who decides what goes out.
Common questions
How long should a cover letter be?
One page, and under 300 words is better. Three to four short paragraphs is enough to cover the role, one proof point, the company and a close.
What should a cover letter include?
The role you are applying for, one specific result that matches what the role needs, a line showing you know the company, and a request to talk. Add contact details at the top if you send it as a separate file.
Should I use a cover letter template?
A template is useful for the shape: four paragraphs, one page. The content has to be yours and specific to the role. A letter that reads as a fill-in-the-blanks template is easy to spot.
How do I write a cover letter with no experience?
Use the same structure and pick your proof point from coursework, projects, volunteering or part-time work. Name what you did and what came of it. Keep to the facts and show you understand what the role involves.
Keep reading
Glide is the agent on your side of hiring. See what it does, how it compares and the research behind it.