A standard cover letter should be no longer than one page. But that doesn’t mean that your cover letter should take up an entire page either.
Why say in 400 words what you can say in 150?
With the right content, a short, comprehensive cover letter is far more convincing than an entire A4 side. Why?
Employers like applications they can scan with ease
You’ll demonstrate strong communication skills
Shorter introductions are easier to remember
To help you craft a compelling short cover letter for UK employers, here’s a template, five short cover letter samples, and a few short cover letter writing secrets.
Remember, a brief cover letter is like an elevator pitch — a brief professional introduction that aims to spark interest in you and your expertise — so don’t get caught up in the details. The employer should be able to digest your statement in less than a minute.
Short cover letter template
Not sure what to put in your cover letter? Below, we’ve provided a short cover letter template that you can paste into your word processor and edit to suit your job application.
To help you imagine how your experience will look in this template, the download file also includes a short cover letter sample with the template blanks filled in.
With [Number of Years] experience as a [Position title] in the [Industry Name] industry, as well as my [Adjective] work ethic and [Adjective] personality, I’d love to contribute my [Type of Skill #1] and [Type of Skill #2] skills to [Company Name].
My previous job experience included [Details of Experience #1] where I learned [Results of Experience] and helped my team [Achievements and Hard Numbers].
[Details of Experience #2] also resulted in [Achievements and Hard Numbers]. With these experiences in mind, I think I’d be the perfect candidate for [Company Name].
I’d love to have an interview at your convenience. You can reach me anytime on [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email]. Thank you for reading my cover letter.
These five short cover letter samples have everything you need to captivate recruiters and get an interview:
Short cover letter sample #1
Short Cover Letter Sample 1 (Text Version)
Your Name Job Title
106 Guilds Street London N16 6PX 07123 456 789 [email protected] Linkedin.com/in/your.name/
14/1/2023
Contact Person’s Name
9 Church Road Southall London UB2 4NU 07365 925 362
Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Surname],
I saw your advertisement for the Royal London Tour Guide position in the London Evening Standard and immediately had to apply. Learning more about the Royal Family and the history of our nation has been my lifelong passion.
I have a BA in History and Politics from Queen’s University Belfast, which gives me extensive first-hand knowledge of all of the locations featured in the tour.
In my current position as a Customer Service Representative, I’ve been praised for my ability to handle the concerns of all callers and build a connection with them. While this would be my first foray into the world of professional Tour Guides, I’ve done unofficial tours for friends and family and I’m familiar with the guild’s guides and requirements.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. You can contact me on 07123 456 789.
This short cover letter sample focuses on the applicant’s knowledge and skills because they don’t have any job-relevant work experience.
Specifically, they’re applying for a tour guide role, and thus highlight their passion for British culture, history degree, and familiarity with locations associated with this company’s tours.
Short cover letter sample #2
Short Cover Letter Sample 2 (Text Version)
Your Name Job Title
07123 456 789 Linkedin.com/in/yourname [email protected] 67 Overton Circle Liverpool L3 8FH
11/12/2022
Contact Person’s Name
29 Smithdown Lane Liverpool Merseyside 07632 452 964
Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Surname],
As an NHS Registered Nurse with 10 years of experience, I know I’ll be an excellent fit for your hospice.
I’ve provided extensive palliative care throughout my career, and have developed an empathic approach to helping patients deal with their pain, as well as attending to their emotional and physical needs.
I’m experienced in dealing with emergency medical situations, as well as giving emotional support to friends and family of the patients. All of these traits make me a great fit for the position.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you. You can contact me on 07123 456 789.
This brief cover letter example highlights the experience of the applicant and their transferable skills, such as their talent for handling patients with care.
RC vehicle models have been my passion for as long as I can remember, so I was thrilled to see your advertisement JobBoard.co.uk. I’ve worked at Al’s Hobbies for three years as a sales representative, and have gained extensive knowledge about model helicopters and planes.
I have a perfect record of attendance at Al’s Hobbies, receiving praise for my diligence, reliability, and ability to connect with customers. I increased sales by 30% for specialised models during my time at the company. I believe my experience and track record make me perfect for the position.
Thank you for reviewing my application. You can reach me on 07123 456 789 or at [email protected].
I’m writing to apply for the chief sub-editor position you advertised on LinkedIn.
Here’s what makes me a perfect candidate for the role:
Fully familiarised with the Guardian style guide
5+ years of experience as an assistant editor and 2 years as the deputy chief sub-editor
Ability to edit 6,000+ words per day
Experience working with tight deadlines
Capable of working on rotation, including weekends
Reduced incidence of typos by 17% through my attention to detail and organisational skills
In my role as a deputy chief sub-editor, I’m responsible for managing a team of 4, as well as sub-editing 2 days a week. I believe I’ll be a good fit for your position.
Thank you for reviewing my application. You can reach me on 07123 456 789 or via email at [email protected].
Contact Person’s Name 4 Handsworth Street Manchester M12 6LH 07452 321 482 [email protected]
Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Surname],
Football coaching has been my life ever since secondary school, when I was an assistant coach for Hagley Grange Junior Football Club.
I have 5 years of experience coaching kids for the London FA Football League, helping youngsters of all ages achieve their potential. Through my guidance, kids have gone from being beginners to expert players. I’ve coached 5 youth league-winning teams, so I believe I’d be an excellent fit for your Youth League coaching position.
I look forward to speaking with you about the position. You can contact me on 07212 234 230 or via email at [email protected].
This short cover letter example uses hard numbers to highlight the candidate’s relevant achievements and outlines their passion for football. The combination of their experience and passion makes them a great fit for the job, and they convey both details quickly in their short cover letter.
How to write a short cover letter in the UK (in 4 tips)
Here’s how to write a cover letter that’s brief but still covers all the information you need to earn interviews:
1. Use concise words rather than long phrases
A cover letter is not the place for wordiness. Limit your word use by only using the necessary words to communicate clearly. A helpful way to write more clearly is by replacing wordy phrases with single words or more phrases with fewer words.
Examples of concise words
Because
If
To
About
Although
Some/Many
During/While
Except
Examples of wordy phrases
Due to the fact that
In the case that
In order to
Concerning the matter of
Regardless of the fact that
A number of
In the process of
With the exception
2. Mention your most relevant skills and experiences
Focus only on relevant skills and experience for the position that you’re applying for.
Matching the keywords used in the job advert in your cover letter is vital because employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter out cover letters using job-specific keywords.
See how the applicant in this example tailors his cover letter to the job by using keywords he found in the job advert:
Pepper your short cover letter with relevant keywords to say more with less.
3. Format your cover letter efficiently
Using appropriate cover letter formatting helps you optimise the length of your cover letter.
Simple cover letter fonts like Calibri and Times New Roman with a font size between 10.5 and 12 points make it easier for the employer to skim your covering letter for details.
Use 1.5 spacing to make your paragraphs read easily and quickly. Single spacing is also appropriate if you need to save space. However, it’ll also make your writing look denser and appear more of a bore to read.
You should also use the standard 2.5 cm margins for UK cover letters. If you still need more space, then try reducing your margins to 1.25 cm.
4. Proofread your cover letter
Reviewing your cover letter after it’s finished allows you to catch mistakes before you send it. Read it aloud to identify complicated sentences or awkward wording. You can also use platforms like Hemmingway App to check your writing is clear and concise.
Frequently asked questions about writing a short cover letter
Still have your doubts about writing a brief cover letter for your job application? Here are the answers to three common short cover letter questions:
1. How short should a cover letter from the UK be?
A cover letter from the UK should be short. Concise cover letters should never be longer than one page and only use between 250 and 400 words.
2. How do I create a short cover letter?
You can create a short cover letter by using an online cover letter builder or download a short cover letter template to save time formatting your letter. Look at cover letter examples too for ideas on what to write.
3. When should I not use a short cover letter?
You should not use a short cover letter when:
the recruiter asks for a specific word count
the job advert requires that you show your writing skills
you want to cover relevant skills and experience that you only briefly mentioned when you wrote your CV
More FAQs to help you with your cover letter
Here are the answers to a few more cover letter questions you might have:
