How to write a cover letter in 2026 — with examples

The cover letter is one of the most argued-about parts of the job application process. Some recruiters barely read them. Some hiring managers won't consider a candidate without one. Most sit somewhere in between.

My view after almost 20 years: a bad cover letter doesn't help you. A great one can genuinely move you up the list. And since you usually don't know which camp the hiring manager falls into — it's worth writing a good one.

Here's how.

The purpose of a cover letter

A cover letter is not a summary of your resume. If it restates what's already on the page, it adds nothing.

The purpose of a cover letter is to answer the question the resume can't: why this role, at this company, right now? It's the human bit. The bit that shows you've thought about this specific opportunity rather than just mass-applying to everything in your category.

What a good cover letter includes

An opening that isn't "I am writing to apply for the position of..." - this is how every generic cover letter starts. Skip it.

Instead, start with something specific. What drew you to this role or this company. What you've observed about them that made you pay attention. One sentence that shows you know something about them beyond what's on their website.

A paragraph about what you bring. Not a list of your skills - a narrative about your relevant experience and the specific value you'd add to this role. Keep it focused. Two or three things done well beats eight things done superficially.

A paragraph that connects you to them. Why this company specifically? What do you know about them, respect about them, or want to contribute to? This doesn't need to be elaborate. It just needs to be genuine and specific.

A short, confident close. Something like: "I'd love the opportunity to discuss this further. I'm available at your convenience and can be reached at [contact details]." That's it. No "I hope to hear from you" energy.

What a good cover letter looks like

Here's a before and after for a Digital Marketing Manager role:

Before (generic):

"I am writing to apply for the Digital Marketing Manager position. I have five years of experience in digital marketing and believe I would be a strong fit for your team. I am a motivated self-starter with excellent communication skills..."

After (specific):

"I've been following [Company]'s growth in the Australian DTC space for the past 18 months — particularly the shift in your content strategy over the last two quarters. It caught my attention because it's exactly the kind of brand-led performance approach I've been building in my current role.

Over the past four years at [Current Company] I've led a team of five across paid media, email, and organic — growing email revenue from 16% to 38% of total channel revenue and reducing blended CAC by 22%. I'd love to bring that commercial rigour to [Company] as you scale.

I've attached my resume and would welcome the opportunity to talk further."

The second version is shorter but more effective because it's specific. It tells the reader: I know you, I have relevant evidence, and I'm not wasting your time.

When not to bother

Some job applications - particularly through large ATS systems - don't surface cover letters to the hiring manager at all. If the application system doesn't have a specific cover letter field, it's likely not a key part of their process.

For direct applications, speculative approaches, and roles where you have a genuine connection to the company - a strong cover letter is worth writing properly.

Career Kit covers the full application toolkit — resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn — with scripted examples for each. The same templates I use when preparing candidates I'm actively representing. careerkit.com.au.