How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
Here is the short answer: one page, or less.
In practice, that means about 250 to 400 words, in three to five short paragraphs. Long enough to show why you fit the role. Short enough to be read in under a minute.
Most cover letters are too long. They repeat the resume, explain every job in turn and finish with a paragraph of general statements about being passionate and hard-working. The reader skims the first few lines and moves on to the resume.
A good cover letter does one thing the resume cannot. It connects your experience directly to this role, in this business, right now.
Why shorter is better
Recruiters and hiring managers are busy. A single role can attract dozens or hundreds of applications. Many readers spend less than a minute on a cover letter, if they read it at all.
When a letter is short and clear, it gets read. When it runs to two pages, it gets skimmed. And a skimmed letter rarely helps your case.
A short letter also shows judgement. It tells the reader you can work out what matters and leave out the rest. That is a useful skill in almost every role.
When a longer letter makes sense
There are a few exceptions:
Government applications sometimes ask for a one or two page pitch that responds to selection criteria. Follow the instructions exactly. See cover letters for government jobs in Australia.
Academic and research roles often expect a longer letter that covers research, teaching and service.
Board applications may ask for an expression of interest that addresses specific skills. These are often one to two pages. See how to write a board expression of interest letter.
If the employer gives a length or word count, follow it. Otherwise, aim for one page.
A simple structure
Paragraph 1: why you are writing
Name the role and say briefly why you are interested. One or two sentences is enough.
“I am applying for the Financial Controller role at ABC Group. Your plans to expand into New Zealand next year caught my attention, because I have led finance through a similar expansion.”
Paragraph 2: why you fit
Pick the two or three most important requirements in the job ad. Show how you meet each one, with a short example.
This is the heart of the letter. Keep it specific. Use numbers where you can.
Paragraph 3: why this business
Show you have done your homework. What is it about this business, its direction or its challenges that makes you want to work there? This is the paragraph that tells the reader you are not sending the same letter to everyone.
Paragraph 4: close
Thank the reader, say you would welcome the chance to discuss the role and sign off.
That is it. Four short paragraphs. Around 300 words.
What to cut
A summary of your whole career. Your resume does that.
Generic claims. “I am a hard-working team player with excellent communication skills.” The reader has seen this hundreds of times.
Explanations of things that are not relevant. Gaps, reasons for leaving and salary history usually do not belong in a cover letter unless the employer asks.
Over-the-top openings. “I was thrilled beyond words to see this opportunity” does not help.
Repetition. If a point is already clear in your resume, you do not need to repeat it word for word.
Formatting tips
Use the same font and header as your resume so they look like a set
Address it to a named person if you can find one
Keep paragraphs short, three or four lines each
Leave white space between paragraphs
Save as a PDF unless asked for Word
Use a clear file name, like “Jane Smith Cover Letter ABC Group.pdf”
Should you send a cover letter at all?
If the job ad asks for one, yes. Not sending one when asked suggests you either did not read the ad or could not be bothered.
If the ad does not mention one, a short cover letter still helps in many cases. It gives you a chance to address the role directly and explain anything the resume does not make obvious, like a move between industries or cities.
Some online application systems do not have space for a cover letter. In that case, you can often add a short message in a text box or skip it. Do not force it.
Recruiters vary. Some read every cover letter. Others go straight to the resume. A short letter suits both.
Cover letter length by career stage
The one-page rule applies at every level, but the content changes.
Graduates and early career. Focus on why you want the role, what you studied and any relevant work or internship experience. Show enthusiasm for the career, not just the job.
Mid-career. Focus on two or three results that match what the employer needs. Show you understand what the role involves.
Senior leaders. Focus on the business challenge and how your experience fits. Keep it brief. Senior readers value clarity and dislike padding even more.
For examples at specific levels, see the Finance Manager cover letter guide and executive cover letters.
A quick test for your letter
Read your letter and ask:
Could someone else applying for this role send the same letter? If yes, it is too general.
Does each paragraph have a clear job?
Can I cut a sentence without losing anything? If yes, cut it.
Would I read this to the end if I had 50 others to get through?
Should your cover letter repeat your resume?
No. This is the most common mistake I see.
Your resume lists your roles and achievements. Your cover letter should pick two or three of them and connect them to the role. It answers a different question: “Why are you a strong fit for this job?” rather than “What have you done?”
A useful test: if a sentence in your cover letter could be pasted straight into your resume, it probably belongs there, not in the letter. Rewrite it so it points at the role.
Repeats the resume: “At ABC Group, I led a team of six and managed month end.”
Points at the role: “Your ad mentions a team that is new and still settling. At ABC Group, I took over a team of six after three departures and had month end stable within two cycles.”
How much does length really matter?
Length is a signal, not the goal. A 450-word letter that is sharp and specific will beat a 250-word letter that is generic. But in practice, most letters that run past one page are long because they repeat things or explain too much.
If you are struggling to cut, try this:
Remove your first sentence. It is often warm-up.
Remove your last paragraph if it only repeats your interest.
Cut any sentence that describes yourself with adjectives rather than evidence.
Combine two short examples into one stronger one.
What recruiters actually do with cover letters
When I was recruiting, I read cover letters most closely in three situations: when a resume was borderline, when a candidate was changing industry or location, and when there were many similar applicants. In each case, the letter could tip the decision.
A short letter that explained a move, showed real interest in the role or highlighted a result that matched the brief often got someone onto the shortlist who would otherwise have missed it.
A cover letter checklist
Before you send, run through these quick checks:
It is addressed to a person, or to the hiring manager if no name is given
The role title and business name are correct
The first paragraph says why you fit, not just that you are applying
There are two or three specific examples with numbers
There is at least one detail that shows you researched the business
It fits on one page with white space
It uses the same header and font as your resume
The file name includes your name and the business
If all eight are true, your letter is ahead of most of the pile.
Cover letters and applicant tracking systems
Many employers use software to collect applications. Some systems read cover letters for keywords. Others ignore them completely.
Either way, the safest approach is to write for a person. Use the key terms from the job ad naturally, where they are true for you. Keep formatting simple so the text can be read cleanly. A letter written for a human reader almost always works for the software too.
Your next step
Open your last cover letter. Count the words. If it is over 400, cut it until it is under. Start with any sentence that repeats your resume or could appear in anyone’s letter.
If you want a cover letter and resume that work together for the roles you are targeting, my executive resume writing service can help.
If you are applying but not hearing back, book a complimentary Clarity Session and we will look at what is getting in the way.
