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How to Write a Cover Letter (With Examples)

A short, tailored letter can be the difference between being skipped and being shortlisted.

By Ayub Khan KhattakUpdated 6 November 20262 min read

A cover letter is a one-page introduction that explains why you want this job and why you are a good fit. It adds personality and context that a CV cannot show on its own.

The 4-part structure

  1. Opening: the role you are applying for and a strong reason you match it.
  2. Your value: one or two achievements that relate to the job advert.
  3. Why this company: a specific reason you want to work there.
  4. Closing: thank them and ask for an interview.

Before you write

  • Read the job advert and highlight the top 3 requirements
  • Find the hiring manager’s name on LinkedIn or the company website
  • Pick two achievements from your CV that prove those requirements
  • Learn one specific thing about the company

Full example

Dear Ms. Khan,

I am writing to apply for the Marketing Executive position at BrightCart. With four years of digital marketing experience and a track record of growing online sales, I would love to bring my skills to your team.

At Nova Foods, I planned social media campaigns that doubled our Instagram audience to 85,000 followers and managed Google Ads campaigns with a 4x return on ad spend. These results came from careful testing, clear reporting and close teamwork with designers and sales.

BrightCart’s rapid growth and focus on customer experience are exactly why I want to join you. I am confident I can help increase your online revenue while building a stronger brand voice.

Thank you for your time. I would welcome the chance to discuss my application in an interview.

Sincerely,
Sara Ahmed

The HayaCV cover letter builder has six ready-made letters like this one. Your job title and company are inserted automatically.

Common mistakes

  • Repeating your whole CV
  • Using the same letter for every job
  • Starting with “My name is…”
  • Writing more than one page
  • Forgetting to change the company name
  • Spelling the recruiter’s name wrong

Format and length

Aim for 250–400 words in three to five short paragraphs. Use the same header design as your CV, send it as a PDF and name it like Sara-Ahmed-Cover-Letter.pdf. If you apply by email, you can paste a shorter version into the email body and attach the PDF.

Write your cover letter for free →

Keep reading

How to write a CVCV for fresh graduates
Ayub Khan Khattak
Ayub Khan Khattak

Founder of HAYAQR, HayaConverter and HayaCV. Builds free, privacy-first tools that help people in Pakistan and beyond work smarter.