Writing a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read
Most cover letters restate the CV in prose and are skimmed for four seconds. A good one does something the CV cannot: it explains the connection between this person and this specific role.
The four-paragraph structure
Paragraph one: state the role and one concrete reason you are credible for it. Skip 'I am writing to apply for'.
Paragraph two: one relevant achievement told with context, action and result. Choose the story closest to the employer's stated problem.
Paragraph three: why this employer specifically — a product, a market move, a mandate you can name. This is the paragraph that proves the letter is not a template.
Paragraph four: a short, confident close with availability and a clear next step.
Openings to avoid
'I am a hard-working and passionate professional' says nothing measurable and appears in thousands of applications.
Avoid apologising for gaps or missing requirements in the opening. Address them briefly later, framed around what you did with the time.
Never open by describing what you want from the job. The first half of the letter belongs to what the employer gets.
Adapting tone by employer type
Corporate and financial institutions: formal register, named methodologies, quantified outcomes, conservative formatting.
Startups and scale-ups: direct and concise, ownership language, evidence of shipping under ambiguity.
Government and public sector: explicit mapping to the published selection criteria, since many bodies score each criterion separately.
Length, format and delivery
Keep it under 350 words on a single page, using the same font and header as the CV so the pair reads as one professional set.
Address a named person where possible; a role title such as 'Hiring Manager, Data Team' is a reasonable fallback and is better than 'To Whom It May Concern'.
Generate a tailored first draft with the CvRatingAI Cover Letter tool, then edit the third paragraph yourself — that is the part no generator can fake.
Frequently asked questions
Are cover letters still required?
Many applications mark them optional, but when two candidates are otherwise equal the letter is often the deciding document. Submit one whenever the field exists.
Can I reuse the same cover letter?
Reuse the structure and your achievement paragraph. Rewrite the employer-specific paragraph every time — recruiters spot generic letters instantly.
Should the cover letter repeat my CV?
No. It should select one or two experiences and explain their relevance in a way bullet points cannot.