Job search · Part of Career tips: a practical job search playbook
How to Write a Cover Letter: Structure, Examples and Mistakes
By RedvicaUpdated October 4, 20268 min read
A cover letter is worth writing when it adds something your resume can't: why this employer, how your experience maps to their needs and an explanation of anything unusual, such as a career change. It isn't worth writing when it repeats the resume. This guide gives a four-paragraph structure, examples of strong opening lines and a short sample letter. All samples are invented.
Do you need one?
| Situation | Write one? |
|---|---|
| The posting requires or asks for one | Yes. Follow the instruction. |
| The posting says "optional" | Often worth it for roles you really want, especially if you have context to add |
| You're changing careers, relocating or explaining a gap | Yes. It's where you explain the story |
| An application form with no place to upload one | No. Put your best points in the resume and any free-text fields |
What a good letter does
- Shows you understand what this employer needs.
- Connects two or three of your specific achievements to those needs.
- Explains anything the resume can't (a transition, a gap, a relocation).
- Ends with a clear, polite next step.
A four-paragraph structure
- Opening: the role you're applying for and one specific reason you're a fit or interested. Skip "I am writing to apply for".
- Proof 1: a short story or result that matches the posting's top requirement.
- Proof 2: another match, or why this employer in particular.
- Closing: thank them, say you'd welcome a conversation and give your contact details.
Keep it to roughly a page at most, in short paragraphs. Use a real name for the greeting when you can find one, and "Dear Hiring Team" when you can't.
Opening lines
Generic
I am writing to apply for the Data Analyst position at your company.
Specific
Your Data Analyst role centres on reporting for a logistics team, which is the work I did at my last job, building weekly delivery dashboards used by three regional managers.
Sample text. A real opening uses your own facts.
- Lead with the match, not with "I'm excited".
- Name something specific about the role or company (a product, a project, a stated priority).
- If someone referred you, say so in the first line.
A short sample letter (illustrative)
Tailor it with the same mapping you use for your resume
List the posting's top requirements, mark where you have real proof and use the two strongest as your middle paragraphs. This is the same process as tailoring your resume, and the details should match: the letter shouldn't claim something the resume doesn't show.
Mistakes to avoid
- Repeating your resume bullet by bullet.
- Starting with "I am writing to apply for..." and a general statement of interest.
- Using the same letter for every employer.
- Claiming skills or experience you don't have.
- Making it too long, or too casual or too formal for the employer.
- Leaving the wrong company name in from the last application.
Using AI to draft one
AI can give you a first draft quickly, but it can also invent or generalise. Check every claim against your resume and rewrite it in your own voice. The Redvica cover letter generator drafts a letter from your saved resume and a job description, with instructions not to invent experience; you still edit it before you send it.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a cover letter be?
Roughly a page at most, in short paragraphs. Shorter is fine if it's specific.
Is a cover letter still necessary?
Not always. Follow the posting. When it's optional, a specific letter can still help, especially for career changes or when you have context to add.
Should I repeat my resume?
No. Pick two or three points with the strongest proof and tell the short story behind them.
Can I use the same letter for every job?
Not as is. Keep a structure you like, but change the opening and the proof to match each posting.