How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Interviews

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

Some hiring managers skip cover letters entirely. Others read every word before they look at the CV. The problem is you almost never know which type you are dealing with — and if you do not include one, you are gambling on it not mattering. A well-written cover letter can elevate an average CV; a poor one can sink a strong one. Given that it costs you relatively little to write a good one, the risk-reward calculation strongly favours writing it.

Cover letters are particularly important in sectors where written communication is a core skill — law, finance, journalism, marketing, policy — because the quality of your letter is itself a demonstration of that skill. Submitting a generic or poorly written cover letter in these sectors is a significant signal to the reader about how you will communicate on the job.

Where a job posting says a cover letter is optional, many applicants will not bother. This means the minority who do submit one are immediately differentiated. Optional does not mean unimportant — it means self-selecting. The candidates who take the extra step are often exactly the type of candidate the employer wants to hire.

Research Before You Write

A cover letter that could have been sent to any employer is a cover letter that will impress no employer. Before writing a word, spend time researching the organisation and the role. Read the job description in full and identify the two or three most important requirements — the things that appear at the top of the list or are mentioned more than once. These are what the employer cares most about, and your letter needs to address them directly.

Research the organisation: what do they do, what do they value, and what have they done recently that you find compelling? A letter that references the company's recent expansion into a new market, their published values, or a specific initiative they have launched demonstrates genuine interest — and genuine interest is rarer than most people think. It also suggests you would bring the same level of attention and initiative to the job itself.

Try to find out the name of the person who will be reading your application. Check the job posting, the company website, LinkedIn, or call the reception and ask who is hiring for the role. A letter addressed to a specific named person is always more effective than 'Dear Hiring Manager'. It is a small thing that makes a real difference.

The One-Page Rule and Structure

A cover letter should be exactly one page. No more. Hiring managers read dozens of applications; they do not have time for two-page cover letters, and a long letter signals an inability to edit. If you find you have more than one page, cut ruthlessly — every sentence should earn its place.

The standard structure is four paragraphs: an opening that hooks the reader and identifies the role; a paragraph on why you are right for the role (your relevant experience and skills matched to their requirements); a paragraph on why you want to work for this particular organisation; and a brief closing that requests an interview and provides your contact details. This structure works for most roles and sectors.

Use the same font and formatting as your CV for a consistent, professional impression. Save the final version as a PDF to ensure the formatting is preserved regardless of what software the reader uses. Name the file appropriately: 'FirstName_LastName_CoverLetter.pdf' is clean and professional.

Writing a Compelling Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph is the most important part of your cover letter. Many hiring managers decide within the first sentence whether to read on. The single biggest mistake people make is opening with 'I am writing to apply for the position of...'. This is the most common opening line in every pile of applications, and it immediately signals a generic, low-effort letter.

Instead, hook the reader immediately. Lead with a relevant achievement, a direct statement of why you are a strong fit, or something specific that connects your background to the role and organisation. 'After eight years managing procurement for a national retailer, I was immediately drawn to [Company]'s Head of Supply Chain role — particularly given your recent expansion into European distribution.' This kind of opening is specific, relevant, and demonstrates that you have done your research.

State the role you are applying for and where you saw it advertised in the first paragraph — hiring managers may be recruiting for multiple roles simultaneously, and you need to make it easy for them to place your letter. But state it after the hook, not as the hook itself.

Matching Your Skills to the Role

The second paragraph is where you demonstrate your fit for the role. Go back to the job description and the two or three most important requirements you identified during your research. Address each of them with a specific example from your experience. Use concrete evidence: numbers, outcomes, and named projects or initiatives carry far more weight than general descriptions.

'I have extensive experience in project management' tells the reader nothing they could not infer from your CV job title. 'In my current role, I led the integration of two ERP systems across 14 sites, delivering the project three weeks ahead of schedule and 8% under budget' tells them exactly what you have done and what you are capable of. The difference is significant.

Do not try to address every point in the job description — focus on the two or three that matter most. A cover letter that tries to cover everything becomes too long and too unfocused. Trust your CV to fill in the rest. The cover letter's job is to make the reader want to look at the CV, not to replace it.

Demonstrating Genuine Interest in the Organisation

The third paragraph should explain why you want to work for this specific organisation — not why you want the job in general, but why here. This is where your research pays off. Reference something specific: a recent product launch, a published set of values that resonates with your own, a market position or approach that you admire, or a mission that connects with your personal or professional goals.

The key is specificity. 'I admire your company's commitment to innovation' could apply to any organisation in any sector. 'I was particularly interested by your decision to open-source your data platform — it reflects a transparency and collaborative ethos that aligns with how I approach my own work' demonstrates that you have actually engaged with what the organisation does and why it matters.

Genuine enthusiasm is rare enough in applications that it stands out clearly when it is present. Hiring managers hire people, not qualifications — and they want to hire people who actually want to be there. A paragraph that shows you understand and care about what the organisation does can be the deciding factor in a close decision.

The Closing Paragraph and Call to Action

The closing paragraph should be brief — two or three sentences at most. Summarise in one sentence why you believe you are a strong fit. Then ask for the interview: 'I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further and am available for interview at your convenience.' State that you have enclosed or attached your CV. That is all.

Do not apologise for anything in the closing paragraph. Do not say 'I hope you will consider my application' (too passive) or 'I know I do not have all the required experience' (never draw attention to your weaknesses in a cover letter). Project confidence — you are applying because you believe you can do the job, and your letter should reflect that.

Include your phone number and email address in the closing paragraph, even if they are already on the header of your letter. Making it easy for the employer to contact you is a small but important courtesy.

Formatting, Proofreading, and Submission

Once you have drafted your letter, format it consistently with your CV. Use a standard, readable font at 11 or 12 point. Maintain adequate margins — the page should not look cluttered. Read the letter aloud: if anything sounds awkward, stilted, or unclear when spoken, it will read poorly too.

Proofread at least three times — once for content (does each paragraph do its job?), once for grammar and spelling, and once for consistency. Then give it to someone else to read. Fresh eyes catch errors that your own familiarity with the text will cause you to miss. A typo in a cover letter, especially in the company's name, is often an immediate disqualifier for detail-oriented roles.

If you are submitting through an online application portal, paste the text of your cover letter into the text field as well as uploading the PDF — some ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) scan pasted text rather than the uploaded file. Name your PDF clearly and professionally, and make sure the file is not password-protected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✕Opening with 'I am writing to apply for the position of...' — the most common opening line in every application pile
• ✕Sending the same letter to every employer — a generic letter is immediately obvious and immediately dismissed
• ✕Making the letter longer than one page — brevity signals confidence and editing ability
• ✕Repeating your CV rather than adding to it — the letter should complement the CV, not duplicate it
• ✕Focusing on what you want from the role rather than what you bring to it
• ✕Not researching the company — a letter that could be sent to any employer impresses no employer
• ✕Spelling the company name wrong — this happens more often than you would think and is always fatal
• ✕Using 'I' to start every sentence — vary your sentence structure for readability and rhythm

Frequently Asked Questions

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