A cover letter is a one-page letter of 250–400 words: your contact details and the date, a greeting to a named person if possible, an opening paragraph naming the job, one or two paragraphs matching your experience to their needs with examples, a closing paragraph asking for an interview, and a professional sign-off.
Do you still need a cover letter?
Not every application asks for one, and many recruiters admit they skim them. But a short, specific letter still helps when the job ad requests it, when you are changing careers or relocating, when you have a gap to explain, or when you are emailing a CV directly to a manager. In those cases the letter is often the first thing they read.
If a portal has an optional cover letter field, a brief tailored letter is better than leaving it blank. A generic one is worse than nothing.
The standard cover letter layout
1. Header
Your name, phone, email and city at the top, matching your CV. Then the date, and the employer's name, company and city if you know them. For emails, skip the address block and put your contact details under your signature.
2. Greeting
Use a name whenever possible: "Dear Ms Farooq," or "Dear Mr Al Mansouri,". Check LinkedIn or the company website for the hiring manager. If you cannot find one, "Dear Hiring Manager," is fine. Avoid "To whom it may concern" and "Dear Sir".
3. Opening paragraph
Name the role, where you saw it, and give one line on why you fit. "I am applying for the HR Business Partner role advertised on Rozee.pk. With five years of recruitment and employee relations experience in telecom, I have hired more than 300 people and cut time-to-hire by a third."
4. Middle paragraph(s)
Pick two or three requirements from the job ad and give an example of each from your experience. This is where you show you have read their ad. Use numbers, just as on your CV, but tell the story a bit more fully.
5. Closing paragraph
Say why this company in particular, restate your interest and ask for the next step. "I would welcome the chance to discuss how I could support your expansion in Riyadh. I am available for a call any weekday and can join within 30 days."
6. Sign-off
"Kind regards," or "Sincerely," followed by your full name. In a printed or PDF letter, leave a space for a signature.
Length, font and file type
- Length: 250–400 words, never more than one page. Three to four paragraphs.
- Font: the same font and size as your CV so they look like a set.
- Margins: 2–2.5 cm, left-aligned text, single spacing with a blank line between paragraphs.
- File: PDF unless asked otherwise. Name it "Firstname-Lastname-Cover-Letter.pdf".
- Email applications: paste the letter into the email body and attach your CV; some people also attach the letter as a PDF.
A fill-in cover letter template
Dear [Name],
I am applying for the [job title] position at [company], which I saw on [source]. I am a [your title] with [X years] of experience in [field], and I believe my background in [key skill 1] and [key skill 2] matches what your team needs.
In my current role at [employer], I [achievement with a number that relates to their main requirement]. I also [second achievement relevant to another requirement]. Your advert mentions [specific need]; at [employer or project] I [how you handled something similar].
I am drawn to [company] because [specific reason: product, reputation, expansion, values]. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute. I am available [notice period / start date] and can be reached on [phone].
Kind regards,
[Full name]
Example: marketing manager
"Dear Mr Haider, I am applying for the Marketing Manager role at Daraz. Over seven years in e-commerce marketing I have grown brands through performance campaigns and content, most recently taking a fashion retailer's online revenue from PKR 40m to PKR 110m in two years.
Your advert highlights paid acquisition and marketplace campaigns. At my current company I manage a monthly ad budget of PKR 6m across Meta and Google and reduced cost per order by 28% through better audience testing. I also led our 11.11 campaign, which delivered 3.2 times normal daily sales.
I admire how Daraz has made online shopping work for smaller cities, and I would love to help extend that reach. I am available to start within one month. Kind regards, Sana Iqbal"
See more marketing bullets you can adapt in the marketing manager CV example.
Regional notes
- Gulf: mention your visa status, current location, notice period and any GCC experience early. Recruiters screen on these first.
- Pakistan: keep the tone professional but not old-fashioned. Phrases like "I humbly request" or "I shall be highly obliged" sound dated in private-sector applications, though they still appear in government applications.
- UK, US and Europe: be concise and confident; avoid personal details such as age or marital status.
Mistakes that sink cover letters
- Repeating your CV line by line instead of adding context.
- Getting the company name or job title wrong after copying from a previous letter.
- Talking only about what you want from the job.
- Going over one page.
- Generic flattery: "your esteemed organisation".
CVLumo can draft a cover letter from your CV and the job ad, styled to match your CV template, which you then edit in your own voice. The HR and business development examples also include achievement lines that work well in letters.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a cover letter be?
250–400 words, in three or four paragraphs, and never more than one page.
How do I address a cover letter without a name?
Use "Dear Hiring Manager," or "Dear [Team name] Team,". Avoid "To whom it may concern".
Should my cover letter match my CV design?
Yes. Use the same font, header and colours so they look like a professional set.