Do Cover Letters Still Matter?

Yes — when they are read. Many applications get screened by ATS software before human eyes see them. But when a hiring manager does read cover letters, a great one significantly increases your chances. The key is that most cover letters are generic and forgettable — a specific, well-written one stands out immediately.

Cover Letter Structure

  1. 1

    Header

    Your name, email, phone number and the date. The hiring manager's name, title, company and address (if known). If you know the hiring manager's name, use it — "Dear Sarah Chen" is far better than "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Hiring Manager".

  2. 2

    Opening paragraph — hook and purpose

    State the specific role you are applying for and why you want it. Not generic enthusiasm — specific, genuine reasons. What about this company and this role excites you? "I am applying for the Marketing Manager role at Canva because I have used your product daily for three years and have ideas about how to improve onboarding conversion that I would love to bring to your team" is specific and memorable. "I am excited to apply for this opportunity" is not.

  3. 3

    Body — 2 to 3 specific examples

    Give 2–3 concrete examples from your experience that directly address the key requirements of the role. Use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in compressed form — one to two sentences per example. Quantify where possible: "I increased email open rates from 18% to 34%" beats "I improved email performance". Do not just repeat your CV — add context and story.

  4. 4

    Why this company specifically

    Show you have done your research. Mention something specific about the company — a product, a value they espouse, a recent initiative, their approach to a problem. This demonstrates genuine interest and separates you from candidates mass-applying to 50 companies with the same letter.

  5. 5

    Closing — call to action

    Express enthusiasm for the next step. "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience in X could contribute to your team" is clear and professional. Do not apologise ("I know my experience may not be exactly what you are looking for") — end confidently.

Common cover letter mistakesStarting with "I am writing to apply..." (boring, obvious). Repeating your CV point for point. Making it more than one page. Addressing it generically without research. Spelling errors (always proofread). Writing about what the job would do for you rather than what you bring to the company.
Tailor it every timeA cover letter sent to 50 companies without customisation is worse than no cover letter — it signals low effort. Change at minimum the company name, role name and the specific company paragraph for each application. The rest of the structure can remain similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

One page maximum — ideally 3 to 4 short paragraphs. Hiring managers read dozens of applications. A concise, punchy cover letter that respects their time is appreciated. If you are struggling to keep it to one page, cut the weakest example or trim any generic statements.
Include one anyway unless the application explicitly says not to. An unrequested but excellent cover letter shows initiative. A brief one is better than none — even three short paragraphs demonstrating you understand the role and have relevant experience is worth sending.