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How to write a cover letter

✉ By the CV263 team Last updated: 17 July 2026

A good cover letter helps your application stand out by connecting your experience to what the employer actually needs. It doesn't have to be hard: a strong letter answers just three questions, in three short sections. This guide shows you how — and CV263 can draft it from your CV in seconds.

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The three questions a cover letter answers

Every effective cover letter answers three simple questions, in order:

  • Why am I interested in you? — your introduction
  • Why should you be interested in me? — your body paragraphs
  • Where do we go from here? — your conclusion

Add a salutation at the top and a thank-you at the end, keep it to one page, and you have a complete letter. Here's each section in detail.

1. Salutation

Start with the same header you use on your CV — your name and contact details — so your application looks consistent. Then add the company name (and address if you have it), and greet the hiring manager by name where you can. Addressing a real person shows you've done your homework.

How to find the hiring manager's name

  • Check the job advert and the contact email — the name is often there.
  • Look at the company website or its LinkedIn page for the relevant manager.
  • Ask a connection who works there, or phone the office and ask reception politely.

If you genuinely can't find a name, use “Dear Hiring Manager,”. Don't guess someone's title or pronouns — a neutral greeting is always safe.

2. Introduction

Your opening paragraph sets the tone and answers “Why am I interested in you?” Keep it natural and specific. Say which role you're applying for and where you saw it (name the person if you were referred), and show genuine interest in the company and why you're a strong fit.

I'm writing to apply for the Accounts Clerk role at Delta Beverages, advertised on your careers page. I've followed Delta's growth for years, and with three years' experience keeping accurate ledgers for a busy Harare retailer — plus a keen eye for detail — I'd be glad to bring that reliability to your finance team.

3. Body paragraphs

This is the heart of the letter and answers “Why should you be interested in me?” Your job is to do the matching for the employer: pick three to five of the most important requirements from the advert, and show — with real examples — how your experience meets them.

  • Use a short narrative (two or three paragraphs) for people-focused roles, or bullet points if the role is numbers-driven.
  • Lead with results and specifics, not just duties — figures help (“cut stock losses by 15%”).
  • Only claim what's true; the letter must match your CV.
In my current role I reconcile accounts for over 120 suppliers each month and prepared the returns that passed our last ZIMRA audit with no findings. I'm confident with Pastel and advanced Excel, and colleagues rely on me to spot the small errors before they become big ones — exactly the accuracy your advert calls for.

4. Conclusion

Your closing paragraph answers “Where do we go from here?” Briefly restate your interest, mention a strength that makes you a viable candidate, and politely ask for the chance to discuss the role. Always thank the reader for their time.

I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience could support your finance team, and I'm available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for considering my application.

Let CV263 draft it from your CV

Pick the CV you've built, add the role and company, and CV263's AI drafts the body for you — grounded only in your real experience. Then edit it to sound like you. (AI drafting is on the Standard plan.)

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Design & format

Because this is a professional document, keep the presentation clean and consistent:

  • Keep it to one page, with balanced margins (0.5–1 inch) and text that fills the page without crowding.
  • Use a professional font (Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Georgia or Times New Roman) at 10–12pt.
  • Make your name stand out; avoid “hanging lines” where a couple of words take a whole line.
  • Check spelling, grammar and consistent punctuation — no errors, no abbreviations or acronyms.
  • Keep the tone professional: no slang or jargon, and avoid vague superlatives like “great” or “awesome”. Show it instead.

CV263's cover-letter builder pulls your header straight from your CV, keeps everything to one page, and exports a clean PDF — so you can focus on the words.

Frequently asked questions

Many employers still appreciate one, and it lets you say things a CV can't — why you want the role and how you fit. When an advert asks for one, always include it; when it doesn't, a short letter rarely hurts.
One page, always. Three short sections — introduction, body and conclusion — are plenty. Recruiters skim, so make every line earn its place.
Use “Dear Hiring Manager,”. It's perfectly professional. Don't guess a name, title or pronouns.
No — it should connect your CV to the specific role. Pick a few key requirements from the advert and show how your real experience meets them, rather than listing everything again.
Yes. Choose one of your CVs, add the role and company, and the AI drafts the body from your real experience. You then edit it and download a PDF. AI drafting is on the Standard plan.