How to write a cover letter
A good cover letter does one thing your résumé can’t: it connects your experience to this job, at this organisation, in your own words. This guide gives you a structure that works in any country, an example, and the regional differences worth knowing.
By the OpusStride team · Updated · 3 min read
Before you write
- Read the job ad and pick the three requirements that matter most.
- Find one example from your experience for each — with a result you can state.
- Learn one specific thing about the organisation that genuinely interests you.
- Find the hiring manager’s name if you can; the job ad, company site or LinkedIn often have it.
A four-paragraph structure
- Opening — the role you’re applying for and a one-sentence reason you’re a strong fit. Skip "I am writing to apply for…" and lead with something specific.
- Evidence — your most relevant achievement, tied to the role’s most important requirement.
- More evidence and fit — one or two further examples, plus why this organisation.
- Close — restate your interest in a sentence and ask for the conversation.
Keep it to one page — roughly 250 to 400 words — with short paragraphs a recruiter can skim.
Example
Dear Ms Okafor,
Northwind’s move into mid-market accounts is exactly the kind of growth I’ve spent the last three years supporting, and I’d like to bring that experience to your Customer Success Manager role.
At Contoso, I manage a portfolio of 45 B2B accounts worth $3.2M in annual revenue. Last year I introduced quarterly business reviews for every account above $50k, which helped lift net revenue retention from 98% to 109%.
Your posting emphasises onboarding. I rebuilt our onboarding playbook after noticing that most churn happened in the first 90 days; time-to-first-value fell from six weeks to three. I’d welcome the chance to do the same for Northwind’s new segment.
I’d be glad to talk about how I could help your team. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jordan Rivera
Mistakes that get letters skipped
- Repeating your résumé line by line instead of connecting it to the job.
- A generic letter with the company name swapped in.
- Talking about what you want rather than what you offer.
- Going over one page.
- Getting the company or hiring manager’s name wrong.
How cover letters differ by country
| Where | What to know |
|---|---|
| US & Canada | One page, direct and results-focused. "Sincerely" is standard. US · Canada |
| UK | "Dear Ms Patel … Yours sincerely" or "Dear Sir or Madam … Yours faithfully". Public-sector jobs may ask for a supporting statement instead. UK |
| Europe | Often called a motivation letter; written in the language of the advert, and more formal in German-speaking countries. Europe |
| Australia & NZ | Professional but less formal; "Kind regards" is common. Government roles may ask for a pitch instead. Australia & NZ |
When a statement replaces the letter
Public-sector employers often ask for a structured statement instead of a cover letter, scored against published criteria. If the application asks for one, write that — see NHS supporting statements and APS selection criteria.
Frequently asked questions
- How long should a cover letter be?
- Under one page — about 250 to 400 words in three or four short paragraphs.
- Who should I address it to if I can’t find a name?
- "Dear Hiring Manager" works in most countries. In the UK, "Dear Sir or Madam" is also acceptable, paired with "Yours faithfully".
- Is a cover letter still necessary?
- When the job ad asks for one, yes. When it is optional, a short, specific letter still helps — especially for career changers and competitive roles.
Related reading
Put it into practice
Build it from a region-matched template, then check what an ATS reads.