How to Write a Cover Letter in the UK 2026: Structure and Examples

A cover letter should be about one page, tailored to the job, and answer three things: why you, why this role, and why this employer. The structure, the right length, and the mistakes that get you binned.

Employment & Career
Employee
UK-wide

A cover letter is your chance to explain, in your own words, why you are right for a specific job - something a CV alone cannot do. A good one is short, tailored and specific. Here is how to write one that gets read.

The three questions every cover letter answers

Before you write, be clear on the three things a hiring manager wants to know:

Why you? - the skills and experience that match this role.
Why this role? - that you understand the job and genuinely want it.
Why this employer? - that you have looked into them and are not mass-applying.

If your letter answers those three clearly, it is doing its job.

Structure

Keep it to about one page, three to four short paragraphs:

Opening - say which role you are applying for and, in a sentence, why you are a strong fit.
Why you - pick one or two of the job's key requirements and give a concrete example of when you delivered on them. Numbers and results beat adjectives.
Why them - a couple of lines showing you have researched the employer and what draws you to them.
Close - thank them, say you would welcome the chance to discuss it at interview, and sign off.

Get the basics right

Address it to a person where you can - find the hiring manager's name rather than "Dear Sir/Madam".
Mirror the advert - use the same language as the job description and person specification so your fit is obvious (and so it passes any keyword screening).
Tailor every letter - a generic letter is easy to spot and does more harm than good.
Proofread - spelling and grammar errors are one of the fastest routes to rejection.
Match your CV - the letter and CV should tell a consistent story.

Common mistakes

repeating your CV word for word instead of interpreting it for the role;
being all adjectives ("hard-working, passionate, dynamic") with no evidence;
writing about what you want from the job rather than what you bring;
making it too long - recruiters skim, so front-load the strongest point.

A cover letter works alongside the rest of your application. See the CV tips guide to get the CV right, the interview preparation guide for the next stage, and the step-by-step guide to finding a job in the UK for the whole process.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a cover letter be?

About one side of A4 - three to four short paragraphs. Recruiters skim, so a focused half-to-one page that clearly links your experience to the role beats a long letter that repeats your CV. If there is no word limit, aim for 250 to 400 words.

What should a cover letter include?

An opening that says which role you are applying for and why you are a strong fit, a middle that gives one or two concrete examples matching the job's key requirements, a short paragraph on why you want to work for that employer, and a closing that thanks them and says you would welcome an interview. Tailor every one to the specific job.

Do I still need a cover letter in 2026?

Yes, when the advert asks for one or gives the option - many application systems and recruiters still expect it, and it is your chance to explain fit in a way a CV cannot. If an advert explicitly says not to send one, follow that instruction instead.