How to write a cover letter correctly: What matters most

Applicants often spend a lot of time on their CV. The cover letter, on the other hand, is frequently either regarded as a mere formality or causes uncertainty. What should it contain? How long should it be? Do you have to sell yourself particularly well? And does anyone even read it anymore?

In fact, there are no blanket answers to these questions. While some companies focus more on the CV, the cover letter still plays an important role in other applications. It offers the opportunity to explain backgrounds, show motivation, and usefully supplement one's own CV.

Many applicants make similar mistakes. They copy standard texts from the internet, repeat their CV, or write as complicatedly as possible to appear professional. This is precisely what often makes a cover letter seem interchangeable.

More important is a clear, understandable text that shows why you are interested in the position and why you are a good fit. This guide will tell you what really matters.

Table of Contents:

  1. What a good cover letter should actually achieve
  2. The right structure makes writing easier
  3. Why individuality is more important than perfect phrasing
  4. These errors occur particularly frequently
  5. How long should a cover letter be?
  6. Why the job advertisement offers the best guidance
  7. What ultimately matters
  8. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What a good cover letter should achieve

The cover letter has a different purpose than the CV. While the CV lists facts, career stages, and qualifications, the cover letter provides the context for them.

Hiring managers want to understand:

  • Why are you applying for this specific position?
  • What motivates you to work for the company?
  • Which experiences or skills are particularly relevant?
  • Why are you a good fit for the advertised position?

Therefore, a good cover letter doesn't tell a complete life story. It focuses on the points that are important for the respective position.

Instead of listing all previous activities, for example, it makes more sense to specifically address experiences that are relevant to the advertised position.

The right structure makes writing easier

Many people struggle with the first sentence. Often, it helps to first concentrate on the basic structure.

A classic cover letter usually consists of four sections:

Introduction

Here you explain which position you are applying for and why your interest was piqued. Example: "The advertised position as a clerk has piqued my interest, as I would like to increasingly apply my customer service experience in the administrative sector."

Main Body

In the main body, you connect your previous experience with the requirements of the position.

It's not about describing every stage of your career. Focus on the most important qualifications and achievements.

Motivation

Here you explain why you want to work for this particular company and why the position fits your career goals.

Conclusion

Finally, you can express your readiness for a personal interview and mention a possible start date.

A clear structure not only helps readers but also makes writing much easier.

Why Individuality is More Important Than Perfect Phrasing

Many applicants search for particularly professional phrases. This often leads to numerous cover letters sounding almost identical.

Phrases like:

  • I hereby apply for the advertised position.
  • I am resilient, motivated, and a team player.
  • I would be pleased to receive a positive response.

are not wrong, but they reveal little about the person behind them.

Specific statements are significantly more convincing.

Instead of: "I enjoy working in a team."

one could write: "During my time in customer service, I regularly collaborated with sales, logistics, and accounting to process customer inquiries quickly and reliably."

Such examples make skills understandable and credible.

These errors are particularly common

Many cover letters fail not due to a lack of qualifications, but due to avoidable weaknesses.

These include:

  • Standard texts with no relevance to the position
  • Repetitions from the CV
  • Overly long and convoluted sentences
  • Spelling and grammatical errors
  • Lack of motivation for the application
  • Overly general statements without examples

Another common mistake is to focus on the company and forget about yourself.

Of course, you should show that you have researched the company. However, the cover letter should primarily make clear what added value you bring to the position.

How long should a cover letter be?

One of the most frequently asked questions concerns length.

In most cases, one page is perfectly sufficient. Recruiters want to be able to grasp the most important information quickly.

As a guide, consider:

  • approximately 250 to 400 words
  • three to five paragraphs
  • clear and easily readable structure
  • sufficient white space between sections

If you find that your cover letter is becoming significantly longer, it's usually worthwhile to check what information is truly relevant.

Often, text can be shortened without losing important content.

Why the Job Ad Offers the Best Guidance

Many applicants first consider what they want to write about themselves. Often, the opposite approach makes more sense.

Read the job advertisement carefully and pay attention to:

  • required qualifications
  • desired soft skills
  • areas of responsibility
  • special requirements

Then you can consider which of your experiences are relevant.

For example, if a company is looking for organizational talent and customer contact, you should address exactly these aspects with concrete examples.

This automatically creates a cover letter that is a better fit for the specific position than any general template.

What ultimately matters

A good cover letter doesn't need to be particularly creative or exceptionally long. What matters is that it clearly explains why you are applying and why you are suitable for the position.

Clear phrasing is often more convincing than complicated jargon or memorized standard sentences. Those who understand the job requirements and specifically highlight relevant experience have already done a great deal right.

Don't view the cover letter as a mere formality, but as an opportunity to meaningfully complement your resume. It offers space for motivation, personal background, and important information that often gets lost in a tabular format.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does every application need a cover letter?

Not necessarily. If a cover letter is explicitly not required, you can omit it. If one is requested, you should always include it.

How personal can a cover letter be?

Personal motivation is important. However, personal information should only be mentioned if it is relevant to the position.

Should I use AI for my cover letter?

AI can help with phrasing. However, the content should always be individually adapted so that the cover letter does not appear interchangeable.

May I use the same template for multiple applications?

A basic template is useful. However, each application should be adapted to the specific position and company.

What doesn't belong in a cover letter?

You should avoid unnecessary repetitions from your CV, private details unrelated to the position, and general, meaningless phrases.

Is a cover letter even read these days?

That depends on the company. Many recruiters still read cover letters, especially if several applicants have similar qualifications.

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