The layout, top to bottom
Our cover letter templates follow this order in four designs, so you can download one and replace the text.
- Your name and contact details (town, email, phone), matching your CV.
- The date, written out: 9 October 2026.
- The employer: the person's name and job title if you know them, the organisation and its address.
- A greeting: “Dear Ms Shah”.
- A subject line naming the job and any reference number.
- Four short paragraphs (below).
- A sign-off and your name.
Four paragraphs
Keep each to three to five lines.
The job, where you saw it, and one line linking your background to it.
One requirement from the advert and a real example that meets it, with a result.
Something specific about the organisation and another strength that fits it.
Your interest, the attached CV, thanks, and how to reach you.
Greeting and sign-off
Try to find the person's name in the advert, on the employer's website or by asking. Use their title and surname, not their first name.
| You know | Greeting | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| The person's name | Dear Ms Shah / Dear Mr Ali / Dear Dr Okoro | Yours sincerely |
| Only the team or role | Dear Hiring Manager / Dear Recruitment Team | Yours faithfully, or Kind regards |
| Nothing at all | Dear Sir or Madam | Yours faithfully |
How long it should be
One page, usually 250 to 400 words. Our annotated example is four paragraphs on a single page. If the advert asks for a supporting statement against criteria, follow that instead: it can be longer and should answer each criterion in turn.
Sending it
Send the letter in the file type the advert asks for, usually PDF or Word, named with your name and the job, such as “Hannah-Price-cover-letter.pdf”. If you paste it into an email or a form, remove the address block and keep the greeting, paragraphs and sign-off.