Cover Letter Pack
Five cover letter templates that get noticed
What's inside
- ✓5 ready-to-use templates
- ✓Strong opening line examples
- ✓How to tailor each letter
- ✓Phrases to avoid
Who is this for?
Anyone writing a cover letter for a job, apprenticeship, or university application — especially those applying for the first time.
Published January 2026 · Version 1.0
Key takeaways
- →A cover letter that could belong to any application is worthless — the only one worth sending could only have been written by you, for this role, at this company.
- →Different situations need different structures: a job application, an apprenticeship, a work experience ask, a speculative approach and an email cover letter are not interchangeable.
- →Three focused paragraphs beat five padded ones. Keep it to one page, or 3-4 short paragraphs for an email.
Which letter do you need?
- Job Application — responding to a specific advertised role. The most common type.
- Apprenticeship Application — applying for a formal apprenticeship. Slightly more formal, and needs to address why you chose an apprenticeship specifically.
- Work Experience Request — asking for a placement or shadow day, usually unpaid and not advertised. Shorter, warmer, more direct — you're asking a favour.
- Speculative Application — reaching out where there's no advertised vacancy. One of the most underused tools available to students; many jobs are filled before they're ever posted.
- Email Cover Letter — when a company asks you to email your CV directly. The email itself is the cover letter — 3-4 short paragraphs, not a formal letter.
Build your letter
Pick your situation, fill in the details, and see the letter assemble with the right structure and tone automatically. Draft here, then personalise the wording before you send it — a template only becomes a strong letter once you make it genuinely yours.
Build your cover letter
Pick the type that matches your situation — each has a different structure and tone.
Responding to a specific advertised role.
Do
- ✓ Reference the specific job title and where you found it in the first paragraph
- ✓ Show you have researched the company — mention something specific about them
- ✓ Match your skills to the requirements listed in the job description
- ✓ Keep it to 3 short paragraphs — hiring managers read dozens of these
Don't
- ✗ Copy the same letter for every application — tailor it every time
- ✗ Repeat everything on your CV — add to it, don't duplicate it
- ✗ Use phrases like "I am a hardworking team player" without evidence
- ✗ Start every sentence with "I"
Live preview
Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for the [Job Title] position, as advertised on [where you found it]. I am particularly interested in [Company Name] because [one genuine, specific reason based on research]. [most relevant experience and 2-3 skills it shows] I have attached my CV for your consideration and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further. Yours sincerely, [Your Full Name]
The one rule that matters most
What employers actually think
A cover letter that could belong to any application is worthless. The only cover letter worth sending is one that could only have been written by you, for this specific role, at this specific company. Research. Personalise. Send.
A tailored cover letter takes about 20 minutes. Most people don't bother — that's your advantage. If you want help getting your CV to the same standard first, the CV Booster Guide covers the 50 highest-impact changes, and the CV Template Pack has a matching builder for the CV itself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a cover letter if I have a strong CV? Yes — a cover letter does the persuading a CV can't: it explains why you specifically want this role at this company, in your own words.
How long should it be? One page maximum for a formal letter — three focused paragraphs is the target. An email cover letter should be shorter still, 3-4 short paragraphs.
Should I address it to a named person if I don't know who's hiring? Try to find one on LinkedIn first — it meaningfully increases response rates. "Dear Hiring Manager" is a perfectly acceptable fallback.
What if I'm applying speculatively and don't hear back? A polite follow-up two weeks later is expected and respected, not pushy.
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CV Template Pack
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Ready to put this into practice? Browse apprenticeships, insight days, and more →