Include your contact details, the job you are applying for, a clear reason for your interest, relevant evidence of your skills and a short closing paragraph. Your cover letter should connect your experience to the employer's requirements. Check the advertisement first: its instructions take priority over any standard template.
Cover letter inclusion checklist
- Your name and contact details: use the same phone and email as your resume.
- Date and recipient: include the organisation and the reader's name when known; check the spelling.
- Role and reference: make the position you want easy to identify.
- Opening: briefly connect your relevant background to the role.
- Evidence: give one or two examples addressing important requirements.
- Motivation: explain a specific reason this work or organisation interests you.
- Close: thank the reader, refer to requested supporting documents and invite further discussion.
What each paragraph can say
These fictional examples illustrate the purpose of each section. Replace the details with your own facts.
Opening: identify your fit
“I am applying for the Administration Officer position, reference [number]. My experience coordinating appointments and maintaining customer records in [setting] matches the role's emphasis on reliable office support.”
This gives the reader the position and a reason to keep reading. Avoid making them work through a long personal introduction before discovering the role.
Evidence: show how you used a relevant skill
“In [role], I maintained the team's booking register, checked incomplete requests and followed up changes before confirming appointments. This helped [supported outcome].”
The example names an action. If you do not have a measurable result, explain the task and responsibility accurately instead of inventing a number.
Motivation: make it specific
“I am interested in this position because it combines [responsibility] with [verified feature of the work], where I could contribute my experience in [relevant capability].”
Use something real from the advertisement or the organisation's public information. Generic praise such as “your prestigious company” does not explain the connection.
Close: make the next step easy
“Thank you for considering my application. My attached resume provides further details, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss the role. You can contact me on [phone] or [email].”
What to leave out
- A full repetition of your employment history.
- Skills, qualifications or results you cannot support.
- Criticism of a previous employer or unrelated personal detail.
- A salary expectation or availability claim that is not requested or is inaccurate.
- Long descriptions of what you hope to gain without explaining your contribution.
What if you have little paid experience?
Use relevant study, projects, volunteering or other work. Name the setting clearly and describe your own contribution. A student who coordinated a group deadline can demonstrate organisation; they should not present it as managing a paid team.
Do selection criteria belong in the cover letter?
Follow the application pack. If it asks for criteria to be addressed in the letter, use focused evidence and respect the length limit. If it requests a separate statement, provide that document and keep the letter as an introduction. A generic letter does not replace an explicitly requested response.
Length and presentation
For a standard application, a concise page is a useful starting point unless the employer asks otherwise. Academic and specialist applications may differ. Keep the font readable and paragraphs short. Follow the requested submission method rather than assuming every employer wants an attachment or an email body.
Check the finished letter
Confirm the role, organisation and recipient, remove all brackets and make sure the resume supports your examples. Open the final file after exporting it. For help turning your evidence into a draft, follow our step-by-step cover letter writing guide. If you already know what to say, use the cover letter templates and health check to organise and review it.
Get help with your application
Use these examples to prepare your own application. If you want feedback on the resume that accompanies it, request a free resume review. For writing support, compare our resume packages and check which documents are included before choosing.
Take the Next Step Today
Fast turnaround, proven results, and complete job search support beyond resumes.
