Cover letter examples

A well-composed cover letter will attract recruiters and make your application stand out. However, you can’t just write a good cover letter off the cuff. It takes time and careful consideration. But don’t be discouraged, because it’s well worth the effort. Review a strong cover letter and a weak one as examples of the “dos and “don’ts” when composing a cover letter.

Two cover letter examples to inspire you

Follow our tips for composing cover letters and find out how to write a cover letter that perfectly reflects you and your skills. But first, let’s examine an intentionally bad example to show you what not to do.

To make the good and bad examples easier to compare, both of our examples will be applications by the same (fictional) person for the same position as an automotive mechatronics technician.

Example: A bad cover letter

You may have already noticed a couple of improvements you could make to this deliberately bad example of a cover letter. Here’s what we suggest:

• Don’t just include your name and address, but also your e-mail address and your phone number. This makes it much easier – and thus more likely – for recruiters to respond to your application.
• The cover letter doesn’t use the current date. Also, the date should be left-aligned, as this is more commonly used in business correspondence today. Avoid making these mistakes, as they may create a negative impression.
• The subject line isn’t particularly striking and it’s in the wrong place. Always mention the exact job for which you’re applying or reference the job advert. Also, you may be accustomed to the way the subject line is placed above the salutation in the US, but in the UK, the subject line traditionally comes between the salutation and the main body of a business letter.
• The salutation is wrong because it refers to a “Mr” Public. Always make sure you refer to the correct person, spell their name correctly and use the correct honorific. If you’re unsure, you can always call the company to check the name of the person who will read your cover letter. Always avoid the generic “Dear Sir or Madam” if possible.
• The introductory paragraph of this cover letter is very bland and most of the text body consists of empty phrases. Recruiters read so many job applications every day that this cover letter simply won’t stand out of the crowd. Make sure the text body of your cover letter is unique and tailored specifically to the company where you’re applying for a job.
• Listing lots of characteristics and being vague about what you’ve done at your previous jobs says nothing about your actual qualifications. Instead of referring to your references in the attachments, name some specific examples of what you’ve done in your previous line of work and which skills and abilities you’ve acquired there.
• Overall, this cover letter comes across as very generic and impersonal. You’re not offering a lot of detailed information and recruiters may get the impression you’ve not properly researched the company before applying for a job there.
• Saying things like “I might” or “I could” makes you sound indecisive or insecure. Instead, say “I can” or “I will”.
• Your salary expectations may be a bit exaggerated. Before applying for a job, find out what the median salary usually is for the position for which you’re applying, so you can show you have realistic expectations. And only mention your salary expectations if explicitly required.
• Make sure your cover letter doesn’t include typos or grammatical mistakes.
• Closing your letter with “cheers” is not appropriate for a business letter. Only use such phrases when you’re applying for a job with a company that clearly doesn’t concern itself with formalities. Otherwise, “Best regards” will do fine.
• Always provide your full name in your cover letter.
• If there are attachments (in your portfolio) or enclosures (in an email) after your cover letter, you should reference them with “Attachments”, “Enclosures” or “Enc.” At the end. But don’t leave it at that. You should also give a concise list of what enclosures are attached, in order.

Example: A good cover letter

That’s much better, don’t you think? This example cover letter takes into account a number of points that are highly relevant for writing a good cover letter. You can find them here:

• There is enough contact information in this cover letter to allow recruiters to contact you right away, whether by phone or by e-mail. Make sure you provide the same information in your CV.
• The cover letter references the current date.
• The subject line is informative, citing the exact position for which you’re applying. If you have space left, you could be even more informative by referencing your reason for applying, a reference number or (in larger companies) the location where this position is currently open.
• The example cover letter is addressed to the correct person. If you’re unsure who will be reading your application, contact the company and ask them directly.
• The introduction to the letter is personalised, which catches your recruiter’s attention. Just make sure not to overdo it with the humour. Adapt your language to the company where you’re applying for a job. Some industries are more open to a casual tone than others.
• The letter explains how you’ve found out about the job opening. Always make sure you mention if you’ve had previous contact with your recruiter or their co-workers, as shown in this example.
• The cover letter mentions specific qualities and experiences that are relevant to the position. That’s not just advertising, it also shows that you’ve spent some time familiarising yourself with the company and what they stand for.
• Notable achievements of your work history should also be included in your cover letter.
• Skills and abilities mentioned in the letter are linked to specific examples that demonstrate your claims are correct.
• This cover letter demonstrates personal motivation for the job, and it even explains why you have a specific starting date in mind.
• The desired salary matches the applicant’s professional experience and feels justified.
• The final section of the cover letter example shows confidence in your abilities and makes your desire for an interview clear.
• The salutation at the end of the letter is appropriate for a business context.
• Make sure to sign your cover letter. If you’re submitting your application digitally, you can scan in your signature.
• The attachments list exactly which documents are attached to your application (digitally). For applications that are sent by post, use the word “enclosures” at the end of your cover letter.

Customise your cover letter

Always customise your cover letter for the specific job you’re applying for. You should also be sure to include information that’s not already evident from your CV.

How to use cover letter examples correctly

Why are you interested in working for this employer, and why is this the right job for you? Which (soft) skills are required for the job, and do you possess the necessary qualifications? Your cover letter should reveal the person behind your factual CV, constructing an argument for why you are the perfect applicant for the position. But that’s easier said than done, isn’t it?

That’s why it’s so tempting to just use a cover letter example from the web and just put your name and details on it. Unfortunately, that’s almost never a good idea.

Trust in your own abilities. Sure, if you find a phrase you really like, you can use that for your cover letter. You can even use cover letter examples as a guide for how to phrase certain things, like a memorable final line for your cover letter. But never just copy and paste entire sentences or passages!

• Copied and pasted sentences are usually not well-suited for your personal application. If you can just take entire sentences from an example cover letter and paste them into yours, then that’s a clear indication of how generic they are. Use your own words, particularly in the cover letter intro, to present something distinctive to your recruiter.
• Consider this: Recruiters read hundreds or thousands of job applications during their careers. They likely know and recognise all common templates from the internet. If your cover letter feels like it’s stitched together from various free templates and samples, it’ll immediately make the recruiter think you don’t want to make the effort to phrase your personal letter yourself. You can do better, and you don’t want your application rejected just because you cut some corners with the cover letter.