01Cover letter examples
Cover letter example and writing guide
A cover letter is not a repeat of your resume. It answers why this role and why you, in three paragraphs. Below: its structure, examples and common mistakes.
The three paragraphs
- 01 · Why this role
- Show in one sentence what the company does and which need in the posting you saw. Skip generic praise, give a detail specific to the posting.
- 02 · Why you
- Take two or three requirements from the posting and give evidence from your own experience for each. Give outcomes: what you did, what changed.
- 03 · Next step
- A short close and a request for an interview. No need for grand closing lines.
- Length and tone
- Keep it under a page; three short paragraphs are enough. Do not repeat your resume bullets, put them in context.
Related guides
Other documents often requested alongside a cover letter, and the application steps.
From the example to your own letter
Frequently asked
- Is a cover letter the same as a motivation letter?
- Close, but not the same. A cover letter is written for a job posting and focuses on the role. A motivation letter is more often asked for scholarships, programmes or academic applications and focuses on your purpose.
- Does anyone actually read cover letters?
- Not always, but when they are read they make a difference. Especially for a career change, a gap or a missing requirement, the cover letter provides the context.
- Can I reuse the same letter for every application?
- Do not. At least the first paragraph must be specific to the posting. Swapping the company name is the easiest mistake to spot.
- How long should it be?
- Under one page. Three short paragraphs, 150 to 250 words in total, is enough for most applications.
- What do I write with no experience?
- Describe something concrete you did at school, in an internship or as a volunteer. Show which requirement in the posting it comes closest to and how you learned it.