UK cover letter: format, template and how to write it

How to write a cover letter for a job in the UK: structure, greeting and closing, according to the National Careers Service. Below is a template.

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How to write a cover letter

Keep it short: usually 3–5 paragraphs, ideally 1 A4 page.
Start: who you are, where you saw the offer, the position and its reference number.
Middle: the skills and experience the employer wants, backed by facts.
Show that you know the company and want to work there.
End: say thank you, point to your CV and say how to contact you.
A new letter for each offer, in the same font as your CV.

How to start and end the letter

Try to address a specific person: “Dear Mr Jones” and the closing “Yours sincerely”. If you cannot find a name in the ad or on the company's website, write “Dear Sir or Madam” and close with “Yours faithfully”.

Do you need a letter

The National Careers Service advises including one whenever you apply with a CV. In an online application the letter can be the text of the e-mail.

UK cover letter template

A fictional example. Fit the text to the ad and to your real details.

The document for the employer

Sam Taylor
1 Park Road, Leeds LS1 1AA

6 November 2026

Northway Logistics Ltd
Leeds

Application for Warehouse Operative, reference 123

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the post of Warehouse Operative, reference 123, which I saw advertised on your website.

I have five years’ experience in a warehouse, where I pick orders with a handheld scanner, check goods and pack them. I work accurately and am used to shifts, as your advert requires.

Thank you for considering my application. You can find more details in my CV, and I look forward to hearing from you. The best way to contact me is by phone on 07700 900000.

Yours faithfully,
Sam Taylor

Enclosed: CV

You can use the example on this page for free. The check of how your CV matches a job ad is also free. Finished documents for a specific job ad cost €9 for 30 days, one payment.

Questions and answers

When do I use “Yours sincerely” and when “Yours faithfully”?

“Yours sincerely” when you know the name of the person. “Yours faithfully” when you start with “Dear Sir or Madam”.

How long should a UK cover letter be?

Usually 3–5 paragraphs, ideally 1 A4 page.

Is this for a visa or university application?

No. This example is for applying for a job, not for a visa, an embassy or a university.

Where these rules come from

We wrote down the rules from official sources: National Careers Service „How to write a CV”; National Careers Service „How to write a cover letter”; National Careers Service „Explain a gap in employment”; nidirect (rząd Irlandii Północnej) „CVs and cover letters”; GOV.UK „Style guide A to Z” (Dates); Home Office „Understanding your right to work in the UK: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens”; Home Office „Right to work checks: employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens”; GOV.UK „Skilled Worker visa”.