20+ Cover Letter Tips and Examples for a Standout Professional Introduction

If you’re job-hunting in 2023, writing a standout cover letter will more than likely be the key to your success.

In the era of online job boards, LinkedIn Easy Apply, and application tracking systems (ATS), you may wonder if writing a cover letter is even worth your time. Short answer: it is.

Cover letters allow you to personalise your job application by outlining your interests in the specific job and employer you’re applying to.

The best cover letters show employers that you understand what they need in their next hire and know how to cater to those needs.

If you can do this, your application is more likely to capture the employer’s interest, even when they compare you to similarly qualified applicants.

To help you ensure you make a standout covering statement, here are 20+ tips for writing a job-winning cover letter.

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How to write a good cover letter

A good cover letter enhances a well-written CV by outlining your qualifications for the specific job and your motivation for applying.

As it’s much longer than your CV, you can also help the employer get to know you better and explain why you’re a good fit for the position.

Knowing what to say in a cover letter is essential if you want to market yourself effectively to employers.

A cover letter should include the following:

• A header, including your information, the contact person’s information, and the date
• A professional greeting, ideally “Dear Mr/Ms/Mx Surname”
• Body paragraphs outlining your relevant qualifications and enthusiasm for the job
• A final call-to-action paragraph thanking the employer and requesting an interview
• A sign off using a professional closing such as “Yours sincerely” followed by your signature and typed name.

Here’s an example of a standout cover letter

A successful cover letter effectively argues why the applicant should progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

You should show the employer why you’re the best choice for the specific position — and not just provide an overview of your work experience and skills.

Here’s an example of a cover letter that got it right and convinced the employer that the applicant deserved a job interview:

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20 cover letter tips for a standout job application

Here are 20 tips on writing a job-winning cover letter:

1. Make a new cover letter for every application

Sending one cover letter for all your applications doesn’t help you stand out. In fact, generic cover letters can hurt your job application.

Employers want to see that you’ve put some thought into your application. So create a new cover letter that addresses the specific job requirements for every position you apply for.

2. Research your target company

To determine what to write for your cover letter, research the company. Your research should answer the following questions:

• What are the company’s goals?
• What does the job involve?
• What kind of candidate is the company seeking?
• How do you fit the company’s culture?

3. Read cover letter samples for inspiration

If you’re still unsure how to begin writing, read industry-appropriate cover letter examples and look at the best cover letter examples of 2023 for inspiration on what to include in your cover letter.

4. Find the proper tone

Your cover letter’s tone depends on your industry and experience level:

• Creatives: Use a playful, upbeat tone to express your creativity
• Traditional professionals (e.g., lawyers, business analysts): Write in a straightforward, serious style to show your professionalism (similar to writing a letter of resignation)
• Educators: Be eloquent, articulate, and concise to demonstrate your mastery of communication
• Experienced applicants: Use powerful, straightforward language to show your leadership abilities
• Inexperienced candidates: Focus on your relevant training and skills if you’re new to the job world (or writing a cover letter for a career change) to emphasise the ways your career goals match the target position

5. Craft a catchy opening paragraph

Employers usually decide within a few sentences whether to skip over your cover letter or continue reading it. Therefore, you’ve got to learn how to make a strong start to your cover letter.

To determine what will best catch the reader’s attention, consider your audience:

• If the company culture is laid-back, use tasteful humour or passion to show your personality
• If the company culture is formal, open by describing how your experience and skills will benefit the employer or talk about your top accomplishments

Here’s an example of a catchy opening paragraph for a laid-back company:

If you’re like most people, you saw the Boots pharmacist advert that aired last Christmas. I’m the person who pitched the idea for that advert — and that’s just one of the many reasons why I’m certain I’d enhance your creative team.

Here’s an example of a catchy opening paragraph for a formal company:

As the sales manager for Xtreme Ltd., I’ve created and implemented strategies that have increased revenue by £50,000 and grown our clientele by 23% within 2 years. I’d like to replicate this success at BuyGoods Ltd.

6. Explain what motivated you to apply for the job

When faced with two similar applicants, employers will always choose the applicant who is more enthusiastic about working for their organisation.

Therefore, it’s essential that you clearly demonstrate your motivations for applying in your cover letter.

Use one paragraph of your cover letter to explain why you want to work for the employer and are the best fit for the position.

There are several ways you can explain your motivations for applying. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• An interest in the company culture
• Sharing company values
• Eagerness to work in the company’s industry or sector
• Appreciation of company products, services, or achievements
• The desire to progress in a specific role

7. Remember to highlight your transferable skills

In addition to technical skills, employers look for candidates with skills that transfer well between industries and fit into their company culture.

Impressive transferable skills include:

• research and analytical skills
• leadership
• teamwork
• organisation
• time management
• resourcefulness
• communication skills

8. Give your skills and achievements context

Rather than just listing your daily responsibilities at your previous job, use hard numbers and examples to give the recruiter a better understanding of your skills and achievements.

Here are two examples of cover letter statements that are bad at first, but jump off the page when context is added:

9. Don’t use clichés

Cover letter clichés don’t work because:

• they’re vague and don’t show the recruiter what makes you unique
• the recruiter can misinterpret them as a disguise for your lack of experience

The above phrases don’t demonstrate how you’ve applied your skills. If you want to highlight attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure, or similar core skills, use relevant examples to display your best traits.

10. Close with a call to action

Request an interview at the end of your letter to:

• show the recruiter you’re passionate, committed, and ready for the next phase
• indicate you can take initiative
• demonstrate confidence and assertiveness — qualities employers value

Here’s an example cover letter ending with a strong call to action:

If you’d like to know more about my skills and achievements, please contact me at [email protected] or on 07412 345 678.

11. Proofread

Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting mistakes make you appear sloppy. To avoid embarrassing errors:

• read your cover letter out loud to find mistakes you missed before
• ask a friend to proofread
• edit to make sure that your proofreader didn’t make new mistakes
• use online programs like Grammarly, Hemingway App, and ProWritingAid to spot errors and improve your writing’s quality (remember to switch these tools to British English)

12. Limit your cover letter to one page

Your cover letter length should have 250–450 words spread across 3–4 paragraphs and fit on one side of A4. A longer cover letter will be time-consuming to read and could be misinterpreted as a sign of poor communication.

The harder your cover letter is to read, the more likely the employer will put your application in the bin.

13. Choose an easy-to-read font

Your cover letter font should be:

• professional
• easy to read
• between 10.5 and 12 pts

14. Apply standard margins and line spacing

Optimise your covering letter by using UK-standard margins and line spacing:

• Margins: 1.27–2.5 cm
• Line spacing: 1–1.5 spaces

If you apply non-standard margins and spacing, your cover letter will either have too much white space or be overstuffed with text. Either way, you’ll come off as unprofessional to your target employer.

15. Feature your name in a cover letter header

Make your cover letter stand out by putting your name and contact information in a cover letter heading.

Here’s how to format your header:

• Write your name in a large, bold font
• Put your contact information directly under your name in a smaller font
• Write each element of your contact information on a new line using single-line spacing, or write them on a single line separated by vertical bars or slashes
• Centre- or right-align your header
• Write the date on the first line under your header in the DD/MM/YY format (for example, 5 January 2023)

Quality cover letter templates have preformatted headers that will help you save time. Some templates even include a splash of colour in their headers to attract the employer’s attention.

16. Left-align the employer’s contact information

Format the employer’s contact information as you would if you were writing it on an envelope.

Write your contact’s name, company address, phone number, and email address in a left-aligned, single-spaced list.

17. Start with a professional greeting

Your cover letter’s greeting is a great place to show that you’ve done your research and tailored your application to the position. If you know the contact person by name, use:

Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Surname],

Here’s how to address a cover letter if you can’t find the contact person’s name:

Dear [Company or Department Name],

18. Include a bulleted list

Use bullet points to highlight your qualifications without taking up too much space. Bullets draw the recruiter’s eyes and make your cover letter easy for the employer to quickly scan to see if you’re a good fit for the role.

19. Pick an appropriate sign-off

The correct ways to sign off your cover letter are:

• ‘Yours sincerely,’ if you’ve addressed the contact person by name
• ‘Yours faithfully,’ if you addressed a job position or department in your greeting

20. Sign your name — and format it correctly

If you’re sending a digital copy of your cover letter, press ‘Enter’ twice to create a line of empty space after your sign-off, and then type your name.

When you send your cover letter by mail or submit it in person, leave 3–4 lines after your sign-off before typing your name. Sign your name in the resulting blank space.

Frequently asked questions about writing a standout cover letter

Still unsure of how to write a convincing cover letter? Here are three questions commonly asked about writing an effective cover letter for a job:

1. What should be avoided in a cover letter?
2. How do you show enthusiasm in a cover letter?
3. How do I make my cover letter stand out with no experience?

More FAQs about writing your job application

Here are the answers to even more questions you might have about your job application:

• How do I set out a CV?
• How do you put references on a CV?
• What should a cover letter include?