Most cover letters go unread because they do one useless thing: repeat the CV. A good cover letter earns its place by answering a single question the CV cannot fully address — why you, for this role. Done well, it is short, specific and genuinely persuasive. Here is how to write one that actually gets read.
Do you even need one?
Sometimes. If the advert asks for a cover letter, write one. If there is a clear opportunity to add context — a career change, a relocation, a specific reason you want this employer — a short letter helps. If the application is a form with no space and no request, do not force it. When you do write one, make it count.
The one question it must answer
Everything in the letter should serve a single purpose: showing why you are a strong fit for this particular role, at this particular organisation. Not a summary of your career — the CV does that — but the connection between what they need and what you offer. If a paragraph does not help answer 'why you, for this role', cut it.
A simple structure
Four short parts do the job:
- Opening: who you are and the role you are applying for, with a specific hook — not 'I am writing to apply for'
- Why you fit: two or three pieces of evidence that match their key requirements
- Why them: a genuine, specific reason you want this employer or role
- Close: a brief, confident sign-off and a note that you would welcome a conversation
Keep it short
Half a page is plenty — three or four short paragraphs. A busy reader will skim a long letter or skip it entirely. Brevity is not just polite; it forces you to choose your strongest points, which makes the letter better. Say less, but make every line earn its place.
Do not repeat the CV
The letter should add, not echo. Use it to give context a bullet point cannot: why you are making this move, how a specific achievement is relevant here, what draws you to this organisation. If someone could read your letter and your CV and learn nothing new from the letter, it has failed its one job.
Tailor it — every time
A generic 'to whom it may concern' letter reads exactly like what it is. Name the role, reflect the language of the advert, and reference something specific about the employer. Tailoring takes a few extra minutes and is the difference between a letter that feels written for them and one that feels copied and pasted.
Tone and format
Aim for professional but human — confident, warm, and free of stiff clichés. Write in UK English, keep the formatting clean and simple, and proofread carefully; an error in a short letter is very visible. Read it aloud before you send it: if it sounds like a real person making a genuine case, it is ready.
Common questions
How long should a cover letter be in the UK?
About half a page — three or four short paragraphs. A busy reader will skim or skip anything longer, and brevity forces you to lead with your strongest points.
Do I need a cover letter in the UK?
Write one if the advert asks for it, or if you have useful context to add such as a career change or a specific reason you want the employer. If the application is a form with no space or request for one, you don't need to force it.
What should a cover letter include?
A specific opening naming the role, two or three pieces of evidence matching the employer's key requirements, a genuine reason you want this role or organisation, and a brief confident close — without repeating the CV.