Do cover letters still matter? The honest answer: it depends on the company and the role. Some recruiters never read them. Others make them a key screening tool. But here's the thing — you rarely know in advance which type of recruiter you're dealing with, so not sending one (when you can) means leaving a potential advantage on the table.

More importantly, a strong cover letter can compensate for weaknesses on your CV — less experience, a career gap, a career change — in ways that a CV alone cannot.

The One Rule Most Candidates Break

Most cover letters begin with some version of: "I am writing to apply for the position of X as advertised on Y." This is the worst possible opening. The recruiter already knows you're applying — that's why they're reading it. Starting this way signals immediately that this is a copy-paste template letter with your name changed.

Every cover letter should open with something that makes the reader want to continue. Your first sentence has one job: earn the second sentence.

The Structure of a Cover Letter That Works

The Hook (Paragraph 1)

Open with your strongest card. This could be a relevant achievement, a genuine and specific reason you want this exact role, or a compelling statement about your background. Keep it to 2–3 sentences.

Example:

"When Monzo announced it was expanding into business banking, I was already building a spreadsheet of why I wanted to work on it. Three years of product management at Tide — where I shipped our expense management feature to 85,000 SME customers — has prepared me for exactly this kind of challenge."

The Value Proposition (Paragraphs 2–3)

This is the core of your letter. Explain what specific value you bring to this role — not a list of your skills, but a demonstration of how your experience addresses the company's actual needs. Reference the job description directly. If they're looking for someone who can "drive cross-functional collaboration", don't just claim you can — give a one-line proof point of when you've done it.

Keep this to 2 short paragraphs. You're not trying to repeat your CV — you're trying to connect the dots between your background and their specific needs in a way that makes it feel inevitable that you're the right hire.

The "Why Them" Paragraph

Companies are not interchangeable. Show you know why you want to work at this company specifically. Reference something genuine: a product you admire, a company decision or value that resonates with you, something you've seen in their recent news. Generic enthusiasm ("I've always been passionate about this industry") reads as filler — specific enthusiasm ("I've been using your API for a side project for two years and I have opinions") reads as real.

The Close

End with a confident, clean close. Thank them for their consideration, express your interest in discussing further, and sign off. Avoid being overly eager or apologetic. One sentence is enough: "I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute — my CV is attached and I'm available to talk at your convenience."

Tailoring: The Non-Negotiable

A cover letter that isn't tailored is worse than no cover letter. If a recruiter can tell you sent the same letter to 50 companies, it signals low interest and poor judgement. Tailoring doesn't mean rewriting entirely — it means:

  • Naming the company and role specifically in your opening
  • Referencing specific aspects of the job description
  • Mentioning something about the company that's real and specific
  • Adjusting which achievements you lead with to match their priorities

Format and Length

  • Length: 3–4 short paragraphs. Never more than one A4 page. Most strong cover letters are under 300 words.
  • Format: Match the fonts and style of your CV for a cohesive application
  • Tone: Professional but human — not stiff or formal, not overly casual
  • Personalisation: Use the hiring manager's name where you can find it. "Dear Hiring Manager" is fine when you can't.

What Not to Write

  • "I am a hardworking, passionate team player…" — everyone says this; prove it instead
  • A summary of your entire CV — they'll read the CV itself
  • Salary expectations (unless requested)
  • "I believe I would be a great fit…" — tell them why, don't just assert it
  • Anything negative about your current employer