How to write a cover letter (UK), with examples

To write a cover letter for a UK job, keep it to one page and use three or four short paragraphs: say which job you’re applying for, show how your experience matches what the advert asks for, explain why you want to work for this employer, and close politely with when you’re available. Address it to a named person if you can, and sign off “Yours sincerely”.

That’s the whole recipe. Below is a full cover letter example you can follow, then a paragraph-by-paragraph guide to writing your own, the UK cover letter format, a short example for email applications, and the mistakes that make recruiters stop reading.

A full UK cover letter example

This letter is from a customer service advisor applying for a team leader job advertised by a housing association. Notice how each paragraph has one job, and how the middle of the letter answers the advert rather than retelling the CV.

It fits comfortably on one page, it uses the employer’s own words (“coach”, “escalated complaints”, “first-contact resolution”), and every claim is something Daniel could talk about at interview. Copy the structure, not the sentences: a letter lifted from an example reads like everyone else’s.

Cover letter format in the UK

UK cover letters follow a simple business-letter layout. If you’re used to another country’s style, these are the conventions to stick to:

• Length: one side of A4 at most. Three or four paragraphs is normal.
• Your details at the top: name, town or city, phone and email, matching the top of your CV. A full street address isn’t needed.
• Date in UK order: “21 October 2026”, not “October 21, 2026”.
• The job title and any reference number in a line before or after the greeting, so the letter reaches the right vacancy.
• The right sign-off: “Yours sincerely” after “Dear Ms Patel”; “Yours faithfully” after “Dear Sir or Madam”. Avoid “Cheers” or “Best” for a formal application.
• The same font and look as your CV, in British spelling, saved as a PDF unless the employer asks for Word.

How to write a cover letter, paragraph by paragraph

Before you write anything, open the job advert and underline the three or four requirements it repeats or puts first. Your letter exists to show you meet those. Then write one paragraph at a time.

Paragraph 1: the job, and who you are in one line

Name the role, where you saw it, and give a one-sentence summary of why you fit. Skip the throat-clearing.

Paragraph 2: proof you can do the job

This is the most important paragraph. Take the top requirements from the advert and match each one with a specific example from your experience. One or two sentences per requirement is enough. If you have a number you could explain at interview, use it.

Paragraph 3: why this employer

Show you’ve looked beyond the job title. Mention something real: what the organisation does, who it serves, a service or value on its website, or how the role fits where you want your career to go. Two or three sentences is plenty. Flattery (“you are the industry leader”) counts for less than a genuine reason.

Paragraph 4: a polite, practical close

Say your CV is attached, give your availability or notice period if it helps, and thank them. You don’t need to beg for an interview or promise to call them.

Who to address it to

A letter addressed to a real person feels more deliberate. Look for a name in the job advert, the “contact” line of the listing, or the company’s website or LinkedIn page for the team you’d join. If a recruitment agency posted the job, address it to the named recruiter.

If you genuinely can’t find a name, these are all acceptable in the UK:

• “Dear Hiring Manager” — the most common choice today
• “Dear [Team name] Team”, for example “Dear Recruitment Team”
• “Dear Sir or Madam” — still correct, though it can feel old-fashioned

Avoid “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Sir”, and never guess at a name you haven’t checked.

A shorter example for a first job

No work history yet? Your letter does the same job, but the evidence comes from school, college, volunteering or part-time work. This one is for a retail job alongside college.

Because it opens with “Dear Store Manager” rather than a name, it ends “Yours faithfully”. For help with the CV that goes alongside it, see how to write a CV with no work experience.

Sending it by email or online form

Most cover letters are now read on a screen. How you send yours depends on how the employer asks you to apply:

• By email: put the job title and reference in the subject line (“Application: Payroll Administrator, ref. PA-09 — Priya Shah”). You can either paste a shorter version of the letter into the email body, or write two lines and attach the letter and CV as PDFs. Don’t send a blank email with attachments.
• On an application form: if there’s a box for a covering letter or “supporting information”, paste your letter as plain text and check the formatting after pasting. Public sector forms, such as NHS and Civil Service applications, often have their own questions and guidance, so follow those instead of using a standard letter. Our guide to civil service jobs explains how those statements are scored.
• Uploading a file: name it clearly, such as Priya-Shah-Cover-Letter.pdf, to sit next to Priya-Shah-CV.pdf.

Mistakes that get cover letters ignored

• The wrong company name. Reusing a letter and forgetting to change the employer or job title is the fastest way to be rejected. Check both twice.
• Retelling your whole CV. Pick the two or three things that matter most for this job and leave the rest to the CV.
• All about what you want. “This role would be a great step for my career” is fine once; the rest should be about what you can do for them.
• Empty adjectives. “Passionate”, “dynamic” and “results-driven” prove nothing. One real example beats three adjectives.
• Going over a page. A long letter suggests you can’t pick out what matters.
• Explaining too much. You don’t have to mention a gap, a visa situation or why you left a job unless the advert asks. If you do, keep it to one calm, factual sentence.
• US spelling and formats such as “organized” or “October 21”. Our UK CV vs US resume guide lists the changes to make.

Checklist before you send it

• The job title, reference number and employer name are correct
• Addressed to a named person if you could find one, with the matching sign-off
• The opening paragraph says which job and why you fit in one or two sentences
• The middle answers the top requirements in the advert with real examples
• At least one genuine reason for wanting to work for this employer
• One page or less, in the same font and style as your CV
• British spelling and a UK-style date, with no typos (read it aloud)
• Saved as a PDF with your name in the file name, or pasted cleanly into the form

Knowing how to write a cover letter comes down to one habit: answering the advert in front of you. Keep it short, specific and honest, and make sure the CV underneath says the same thing. To see what that CV should look like, have a look at our full UK CV example.

Frequently asked questions