Do employers still read cover letters?

Many do, especially for competitive roles, small companies and career changers, though some skip them. When a job asks for one, always include it. When it is optional, a short, specific letter can only help, and a generic one can hurt.

How long should a cover letter be?

About 250 to 400 words, which fits on less than one page. Three or four short paragraphs is enough. Hiring managers skim, so every sentence should give a reason to interview you.

Who should I address a cover letter to?

The hiring manager by name, if you can find it from the job advert, the company website or LinkedIn. If you cannot, Dear Hiring Manager or Dear [Team name] Team is fine. Avoid To Whom It May Concern, which sounds dated.

Can I use AI to write my cover letter?

You can use AI tools to draft or tighten wording, but check every claim is true and make it sound like you. Generic AI letters are easy to recognise and often use the same phrases. Your specific achievements and reasons for wanting the job are what make a letter work.

How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Read, With an Example

A good cover letter is short, specific to the job and backed by evidence. Use four paragraphs: why this role, what you have done, why this company, and a clear close.

Many do, especially for competitive roles, small companies and career changers, though some skip them. When a job asks for one, always include it. When it is optional, a short, specific letter can only help, and a generic one can hurt.

About 250 to 400 words, which fits on less than one page. Three or four short paragraphs is enough. Hiring managers skim, so every sentence should give a reason to interview you.

The hiring manager by name, if you can find it from the job advert, the company website or LinkedIn. If you cannot, Dear Hiring Manager or Dear [Team name] Team is fine. Avoid To Whom It May Concern, which sounds dated.

You can use AI tools to draft or tighten wording, but check every claim is true and make it sound like you. Generic AI letters are easy to recognise and often use the same phrases. Your specific achievements and reasons for wanting the job are what make a letter work.

How to Write a Cover Letter (Structure and Example)

What a cover letter is for

Your CV or résumé lists what you have done. The cover letter answers two questions it cannot: why this job, and why you are a strong match for it. It should make the reader want to look at your CV, then interview you.

A strong letter is:

Short: about 250 to 400 words.
Specific: written for this role at this company, never a template with the name swapped.
Evidence-based: it shows results, rather than listing adjectives such as "hard-working" and "passionate".

The four-paragraph structure

1. Opening: the role and your hook

Name the job, and give a one-sentence reason you are a strong fit. Skip "I am writing to apply for..." as an opener; get to the point.

2. Evidence: two or three achievements

Choose achievements that match the most important requirements in the job advert. Use numbers where you can: money saved, customers served, time cut, growth delivered.

3. Fit: why this company

Show you know what the organisation does and why it appeals to you: a product, a mission, a recent project, a way of working. One or two sentences of real knowledge beat a paragraph of flattery.

4. Close: a clear next step

Thank them, say you would welcome an interview, and sign off. Keep it confident and brief.

A full example

Dear Ms Rahman,
I would like to apply for the Customer Success Manager role at Northline. In four years supporting software customers, I have kept renewal rates high by spotting problems early, and I would like to bring that approach to your growing small-business team.
At Brightdesk, I manage 60 accounts worth about 1.2 million a year. Last year I introduced quarterly check-ins for accounts showing low usage, which helped lift renewals from 84 to 91 percent. I also wrote the onboarding guides that cut new customers' setup time from three weeks to one, and trained five new team members.
Northline's focus on making accounting simple for very small businesses is what draws me. I have seen how much time owners lose to admin, and your recent launch of automated invoice reminders is exactly the kind of practical feature I enjoy helping customers adopt.
Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to discuss how I could help your customers get more from Northline.
Yours sincerely, Sana Iqbal

That letter is about 200 words. Every sentence either shows evidence or explains fit. (The names and figures are illustrative; use your own.)

Tailoring it in 15 minutes

Highlight the top three requirements in the job advert.
Match each one to a specific achievement from your experience.
Use the advert's language where it is accurate. If they say "stakeholder management", say that rather than "working with people". It also helps with applicant tracking systems (our ATS-friendly résumé guide explains how they work).
Find one real detail about the company for paragraph three.
Read it aloud and cut anything that does not earn its place.

Formatting

Use the same font and header as your CV, with your name, phone and email.
Address it to a named person if you can find one; otherwise "Dear Hiring Manager".
Save it as a PDF named clearly, such as Sana-Iqbal-Cover-Letter.pdf, unless the employer asks for Word.
If you apply through a form with a text box, paste the letter as plain text and check the line breaks.
If you send it by email, the letter can be the email itself. Our guide to writing a professional email covers subject lines and sign-offs.

Mistakes that get letters skipped

Repeating your CV line by line.
Generic praise ("your prestigious company") with nothing specific.
Focusing on what you want (experience, a step up) rather than what you offer.
Too long. More than a page is rarely read.
The wrong company name left in from a previous application.
Errors. Spelling mistakes suggest carelessness. Proofread, then ask someone else to.
Apologising for gaps or a lack of experience. Address them briefly and positively, if at all.

Special cases

Career change: focus on transferable skills and results, and say clearly why you are moving.
Entry-level: use projects, studies, volunteering and part-time work as evidence.
Employment gap: one neutral sentence is enough ("After a year caring for a family member, I am returning to...").
Internal application: mention what you have learned about the team and the results you have already delivered.

After you apply

Prepare for the next stage while you wait. Our list of common interview questions and how to answer them is a good place to start.

Key takeaways

Keep it to 250 to 400 words, in four short paragraphs.
Lead with the role and why you fit, then prove it with two or three results.
Show one real reason you want this company.
Tailor every letter and proofread carefully.