How to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read
By Zyctra Team · · 6 min read
Many recruiters skim cover letters, but a strong one can decide between two similar candidates — and for some roles, especially in the public sector, it is essential. The key is to be brief and specific.
Keep it to one page
Three to four short paragraphs, around 250–400 words. Address a named person if you can find one.
The four-paragraph structure
1. Opening: the role and your hook
Say which job you are applying for and give one compelling reason you are a strong fit. Skip "My name is…" — it's already at the top.
2. Your match: evidence for their key needs
Pick two or three requirements from the job advert and give a short example or achievement for each.
3. Why them
Show you've done your homework: a product, project, value or piece of news that genuinely interests you, and how you would contribute.
4. Close
Thank them, say you'd welcome the chance to discuss the role, and mention availability if relevant.
Example
Dear Ms Adeyemi,
I'm applying for the Customer Success Manager role at BrightPay. In my three years at a fintech startup, I've managed a portfolio of 120 small-business accounts and reduced churn in my segment from about 9% to 5% a year — the kind of result I'd love to repeat for your growing SME customer base.
Your advert highlights onboarding and product training. I rebuilt our onboarding programme into a series of short video walkthroughs and live Q&A sessions, which cut average time-to-first-payment for new customers roughly in half. I also work closely with our product team, turning customer feedback into a monthly insights report that has shaped two major feature releases.
I've followed BrightPay's expansion into Ghana and Kenya with interest, and I'm excited by your focus on making payroll simple for businesses that have never had dedicated HR support. I'd bring both the customer empathy and the process discipline that growth like that requires.
Thank you for considering my application. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how I could help your customers succeed.
Kind regards,
Chidinma Okafor
Mistakes to avoid
- Repeating your CV line by line.
- Sending the same letter to every company (or leaving another company's name in it).
- Focusing only on what you want from the job.
- Over-formal, empty phrases like "I am writing to express my keen interest in the aforementioned position".
Write yours faster
Paste the job advert into Zyctra along with your CV and ask for a cover letter. You'll get a tailored first draft in seconds that you can refine in your own voice.
Topics: Cover Letter, Job Search, Career Advice