The cover letter

A cover letter serves several purposes at once: it pulls together the career story that your CV only sketches out, catches the reader's attention, and makes them want to study your CV properly. It shows your personality, your goals and what you have achieved so far.

Length and structure

Keep your cover letter to one page at most, built from four main parts and no more than four or five paragraphs:

1. The opening — why you are applying, and a reason to keep reading
2. A summary of your CV — the heart of the letter: the experience, studies and results that qualify you for this role
3. Motivation and goals — why this position, and why now
4. Something about you — what makes you different from the others

What to watch out for

Make it personal

A CV is mostly a collection of dry facts — a cover letter can be more personal. If you can, find out who will actually read your letter and address them by name (write "Dear Ms Kovács" rather than "Dear Sir or Madam"). It is also worth hinting at what drives you: "I would like to work for a company that leads its market."

Do not repeat your CV

A common mistake is to restate the main points of the CV in the cover letter. Avoid this — the letter then loses its purpose, becomes tedious, and adds nothing at all to your application.

Avoid the clichés

Applicants often fill their cover letters with stock phrases — "I love a challenge, I am flexible, I am a good team player, creative, an excellent communicator, and I handle stress well."

Instead of listing these qualities, back them up with real examples and results you achieved in your previous job.

In summary

A good cover letter does not repeat your CV — it complements it. It shows your personality and your motivation, and proves with concrete examples why you are the right person for the role. Do not tire the reader — interest them.