Cover letters

A cover letter explains why you are interested in a role and highlights why you are a strong candidate. It should encourage the employer to consider your application and read your CV.

Always include a cover letter whenever you apply for a job with a CV, unless the employer specifically states that one is not required.

To get immediate, AI-generated feedback on your cover letter, you can submit your cover letter to CareerSet. Students can access CareerSet using their university email address. Graduates can access CareerSet by emailing careers@st-andrews.ac.uk for an access code.

If you're interested in using generative AI, like ChatGPT, to help you write your cover letter, read the Careers Centre's advice on using generative AI.

Content and structure

Most cover letters follow a simple five-paragraph structure. There is no single correct order for the 'Why this type of work?', 'Why this employer?' and 'Why you?' paragraphs. You can arrange these sections in the way that best presents your application, provided the letter is clear, well organised and easy for the reader to follow.

1. Introduction

Explain why you are writing. Say where you saw the job advert and introduce yourself. Include the job title and, where relevant, a job reference number so employers can easily identify which vacancy you are applying for.

2. Why this type of work?

Describe why you are interested and motivated by the type of work you are applying for.

3. Why this employer?

Show that you have researched the organisation and explain why you want to work for them specifically. Avoid repeating information from the employer's website or promotional materials. Instead, demonstrate what genuinely appeals to you about the organisation and how they connect with your own interests, values or career goals.

You might refer to:

conversations you have had with employees, alumni or recruiters at a careers event or through LinkedIn
the organisation's culture, values, or mission
its reputation within the sector
recent projects, campaigns, products, or initiatives
training and development opportunities
its approach to innovation, sustainability, or social impact
the opportunity to work with particular client groups, technologies or areas of expertise.

4. Why you?

Demonstrate how your skills, experience and knowledge match the role. Focus on the requirements highlighted in the job description and support your claims with evidence.

Where possible, quantify your achievements. For example, include:

measurable results
money saved or generated
team sizes
audience numbers
project outcomes.

5. Conclusion

End politely, saying you believe you've shown that you've met the requirements of the job and you look forward to hearing from them.

Formatting and length

Your cover letter should be professionally presented and carefully proofread. For UK applications, use British spelling consistently. If English is not your first language, the University's International Education Institute offers one-to-one tutorials to help improve the accuracy of your job and internship applications.

When preparing your cover letter:

aim for approximately 250–400 words and no more than one side of A4
use a professional font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, in size 10–12
include both your address and the employer's address (if available)
where possible, write to a named individual. Use 'Yours sincerely' when writing to a named contact and 'Yours faithfully' when using 'Dear Sir or Madam'
follow the same visual style as your CV.

Email applications

When applying by email, you can either use the email itself as your cover letter or attach a separate cover letter alongside your CV. If you attach a cover letter, keep the email brief and professional, referring the employer to the attached documents rather than repeating the same information.

Cover letter example

As a guideline, here is an example cover letter to give you an idea of how to put the above advice into practice:

Example cover letter (Word)