A cover letter is your opportunity to explain why you are a strong match for a particular job. It should complement your CV rather than repeat it, highlighting the experience, motivation and achievements most relevant to the employer.
In this guide, we explain when you need a cover letter, how long it should be, what to include in each paragraph and how to tailor it to each application - with practical examples throughout.
A cover letter is a short document sent alongside your CV when applying for a job.
While your CV provides an overview of your employment history, skills, qualifications and achievements, your cover letter allows you to explain why you are interested in this particular opportunity and why your experience makes you a strong candidate.
A good cover letter might highlight:
A good cover letter should add something to your application. If it simply repeats your CV, it probably isn't doing its job.
If you are currently updating your CV too, take a look at our CV writing tips: a step-by-step guide to stand out.
If an employer asks for a cover letter, include one. If it’s optional, send one when it gives you an opportunity to add useful context or explain something that is not immediately clear from your CV.
A cover letter can be particularly valuable if:
If you do decide to send one, make sure it has purpose. A personalised letter that adds context can strengthen an application, while a generic letter is unlikely to add much value.
Not necessarily.
When you work with a recruitment agency such as Sellick Partnership, your recruitment consultant will usually speak to you in detail about your experience, skills, career goals and suitability for a particular vacancy.
They can then use this knowledge when presenting your application to the employer and explaining why you could be a strong fit for the role. Your Recruitment Consultant can also help you understand what the employer is likely to prioritise and advise on the experience, achievements or additional context that could strengthen your application.
As a result, you may not need to prepare a formal cover letter for every opportunity.
However, there may be occasions when an employer specifically requests one or when your Consultant believes a cover letter would strengthen your application. In these cases, they can help you understand what to focus on and how best to position your experience for that particular opportunity.
If you’re unsure, speak to your recruiter before spending time writing one. They will be able to tell you what the employer expects and help you decide what information will be most useful.
Keep your cover letter concise.
As a general guide, aim for around 250–400 words and around one A4 page.
Hiring managers and recruiters often review a large number of applications, so your most important information needs to be easy to find.
You don’t need to include every detail about your career. Choose the experience and achievements that are most relevant to the vacancy and leave the fuller employment history to your CV.
Your cover letter should look clean, professional and easy to read.
If you are uploading your cover letter as a separate document, a traditional format would include:
If you are writing your cover letter directly within an email or online application form, you may not need to include an address and date.
If you have addressed the letter to a named person, ‘Yours sincerely’ is the traditional sign-off. If you have not used a name, ‘Yours faithfully’ is traditionally used. ‘Kind regards’ is also widely accepted for less formal applications.
Use a clear, professional font and keep the formatting simple. Avoid elaborate designs, graphics or complicated layouts unless they are appropriate for the type of role you are applying for.
A simple four-paragraph structure works well for most applications:
Paragraph 1: State the role you are applying for and why it interests you.
Paragraph 2: Highlight the experience, skills or achievements that make you suitable.
Paragraph 3: Explain why you are interested in this particular employer.
Paragraph 4: Reinforce your interest and invite the next conversation.
A simple way to approach your letter is to give each paragraph a clear purpose.
Start by stating which role you are applying for and briefly explain why the opportunity interests you.
Avoid openings that could be sent to almost any employer.
Instead of:
"I am writing to apply for the position advertised and believe I would be suitable for the role."
Try something more specific:
"I am applying for the Finance Business Partner position and was particularly interested in the opportunity to work closely with operational leaders across the organisation. Having spent the last four years in a commercially focused finance role, I am now looking for an opportunity where I can combine my financial analysis experience with broader stakeholder management."
The second version immediately gives the employer more information about the candidate and their motivation.
Next, identify the skills or experience that most closely match the job description.
Do not try to cover everything on your CV. Focus on the employer's most important priorities and provide evidence that you can meet them.
For example:
"In my current role, I provide financial analysis and monthly reporting across three operational divisions and regularly present findings to senior stakeholders. I also led a recent forecasting project that improved the accuracy of departmental budgets and helped identify significant cost savings."
Specific examples are usually more convincing than simply listing qualities such as hardworking, organised or a good communicator.
This is where a little research makes a noticeable difference.
Look at the organisation's website, values, recent developments and the information within the vacancy. Make sure any information you refer to is accurate and up to date.
Then explain what genuinely appeals to you.
For example:
"I was particularly interested in your plans to expand the service over the next two years. Having worked within an organisation during a similar period of growth, I understand the importance of providing managers with clear and timely financial information to support decision-making."
You do not need to flatter the employer or repeat wording from their website. The aim is simply to demonstrate that you understand the opportunity you are applying for.
Finish by briefly reinforcing your interest and inviting the next conversation.
For example:
"I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss the role and how my experience could contribute to the team. Thank you for considering my application."
Then use an appropriate professional sign-off, such as ‘Kind regards,’ ‘Yours sincerely’ or ‘Yours faithfully.’
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is creating one cover letter and sending exactly the same version with every application.
You do not necessarily need to start completely from scratch each time, but you should tailor the important sections.
Before writing, read the job description and identify:
Then choose examples from your own experience that demonstrate those things.
You should also spend a little time researching the employer. Understanding what the organisation does, its priorities and why the vacancy appeals to you will make it much easier to write a convincing letter.
If you are applying through Sellick Partnership, your Recruitment Consultant may also be able to give you additional context about the role, team and employer, as well as what the client is likely to prioritise. Use this insight alongside the job description to help you decide which parts of your experience to emphasise in your application.
A useful test is to ask yourself: could I change the company name and send this exact letter somewhere else? If the answer is yes, it probably is not tailored enough.
A cover letter can be particularly useful when your next career move is not immediately obvious from your CV.
If you are changing profession or moving into another sector, avoid focusing too heavily on the experience you do not have.
Instead, explain:
For example:
"After six years working in operational management, I am now looking to move into project management. Much of my current role already involves coordinating projects and managing stakeholders, budgets and deadlines, and I have recently completed additional project management training to support this next step."
This gives the employer a clear explanation for the move rather than leaving them to interpret it themselves.
You don’t always need to explain a career gap in detail.
However, if there is a significant period away from employment and you think an explanation would provide useful context, your cover letter can be a good place to address it briefly.
Keep the explanation straightforward and focus on what you can bring to your next role. If you are working with a Recruitment Consultant, they can also advise on whether the gap needs explaining and how much context is helpful for that particular opportunity.
For example:
"Following a planned career break, I am now looking to return to a full-time HR role. During this period, I have maintained my professional development through industry events and online training and am looking forward to applying both my previous experience and updated knowledge in my next position."
There is no need to apologise for a gap or provide personal information you would rather keep private.
AI tools can be useful when preparing a job application, but they should support your writing rather than replace your judgement.
For example, you could use AI to:
You could also use AI to analyse a job description and identify the experience you should prioritise in your letter. Avoid entering confidential, sensitive or personal information into an AI tool unless you understand how that information will be used and stored.
Be cautious about asking an AI tool to generate your entire cover letter and submitting the result unchanged.
Generic AI-generated letters can sound polished without actually saying very much. They can also introduce claims, experience or achievements that are not accurate.
If you use AI, check every sentence and make sure:
Always use AI as a tool to help you communicate your experience, never to create experience you do not have.
Finally, always follow any guidance the employer provides about using AI during the application process.
Before sending your application, look out for these common mistakes.
Repeating your CV: Your cover letter should highlight and explain the most relevant parts of your experience rather than reproduce your employment history.
Using the same letter for every application: Generic phrases are particularly noticeable when nothing else in the letter demonstrates why you want this specific role.
Making unsupported claims: Instead of saying you have excellent leadership skills, give a short example that demonstrates them.
Writing too much: A cover letter is not your autobiography. Prioritise the information that is most relevant to the vacancy.
Getting the employer or job title wrong: This can happen when candidates are applying for several roles at once. Check names, organisations and job titles carefully before sending.
Overusing corporate language: Avoid relying on vague or overly corporate phrases. Clear, natural language is usually more effective.
Failing to proofread: Read your finished letter out loud. This can help you spot awkward wording and errors that are easy to miss on screen.
Before submitting your cover letter, ask yourself:
A strong cover letter can help give an employer useful context about your application, but it is only one part of your job search.
You can find more advice in our CV writing tips: a step-by-step guide to stand out, as well as our candidate resources covering everything from interview tips and preparation to showcasing your LinkedIn profile.
If you are working with Sellick Partnership, you will also have support throughout the application process. Your specialist Consultant can help you understand the opportunity in more detail, advise on what the employer is likely to prioritise and help you identify the experience and achievements that are most relevant to highlight. They can also advise on whether a cover letter is needed and how best to approach it for that particular role.
Alternatively, search our latest jobs, register as a candidate or get in touch with our team for a confidential conversation about your next career move.
