A good cover letter is a short, one-page letter (about 250 to 400 words) that explains why you want this specific job and why you’re a good fit, using one or two concrete examples. Structure it in four parts: a greeting and opening that names the role, a paragraph matching your experience to their needs, a paragraph on why this company, and a polite closing with a call to action. Address it to a named person if you can, and never send the same generic letter to every employer.
- Keep it to one page and four short paragraphs.
- Show, don’t tell: use a real example of your work.
- Mention the company by name and say why you want to work there.
- Match the letter to the job ad’s key requirements.
- Pair it with a clean CV from the free CV, Resume and Biodata Maker.
The letter that sounded like everyone else’s
Imagine an HR officer reading applications for a marketing assistant role. Most cover letters start with “With due respect, I would like to inform you that I am a candidate for the above-mentioned post.” They list the applicant’s father’s name and repeat the CV line by line.
One letter is different. It opens: “I saw your Eid campaign on Facebook last month, and the way you used customer stories made me want to work with your team.” It then gives one example of a social media campaign the applicant ran for a university club, with results. It’s short, specific and human. Guess which candidate gets the call.
Cover letter structure
- Header and greetingYour contact details, date, and “Dear Ms Rahman” (or “Dear Hiring Manager” if you can’t find a name).
- Opening paragraphThe role you’re applying for, where you saw it, and a strong one-line reason you’re a fit.
- Middle paragraph: your valueMatch two or three job requirements with your skills and a real example.
- Second middle paragraph: why themWhat you admire about the company and how you’d contribute.
- ClosingThank them, say you’d welcome an interview, and sign off.
A cover letter example
Dear Ms Akter,
I’m applying for the Marketing Assistant position at Green Basket, advertised on Bdjobs. As a recent BBA graduate who managed social media for my university’s career club, I’d love to help you reach more online grocery shoppers in Dhaka.
In my final year, I ran the club’s Facebook and Instagram pages and planned a campaign for our annual career fair. By posting short videos and student stories, we grew the page from 2,000 to 6,500 followers in three months and registered over 400 students for the event. I’m comfortable with Canva, basic video editing and Meta Business Suite, and I enjoy turning data into simple reports.
I’ve followed Green Basket since your launch, and I admire how you highlight local farmers in your posts. I’d be excited to bring fresh ideas and hard work to that kind of storytelling.
Thank you for considering my application. I’d welcome the chance to discuss how I could support your team. My CV is attached.
Best regards,
Nadia Islam
01XXX-XXXXXX | nadia.islam@email.com
Phrases that work
| Purpose | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Opening | “I’m excited to apply for the [role] at [company].” |
| Showing fit | “In my role at…, I…” / “For example, I…” |
| Why them | “I admire how your team…” / “Your work on… is the reason I applied.” |
| Closing | “I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss…” / “Thank you for your time and consideration.” |
Mistakes to avoid
- Old-fashioned openings like “With due respect, I beg to state that…”
- Repeating your whole CV.
- Sending the same letter with the wrong company name.
- Long letters over one page.
- Focusing only on what you want, not what you can offer.
Complete your application
Create a matching CV in the free CV, Resume and Biodata Maker, sharpen your resume summary, and prepare answers with job interview English.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How long should a cover letter be?
About 250 to 400 words, on one page, usually in four short paragraphs.
How do I start a cover letter?
Address a named person if possible, then name the role, where you found it and a strong one-line reason you are a good fit.
What should I avoid in a cover letter?
Old-fashioned phrases like “With due respect”, repeating your CV, generic letters with the wrong company name, and letters longer than one page.
Do I need a cover letter if it is optional?
It often helps, especially for competitive roles, because it shows effort and explains why you want this particular job.
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Guides for this tool
Guide · 3 min readHow to Write a CV in Bangladesh: Format, Sections and Examples
Guide · 3 min readMarriage Biodata Format: What to Include (With Sample)
Guide · 3 min readHow to Write a CV With No Experience (Fresh Graduate Guide)
Guide · 4 min readResume Summary Examples: How to Write a Profile That Gets ReadWant a tool, website or app like this for your business?
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