What makes a cover letter work in 2026
Hiring managers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia consistently say the same thing: a cover letter earns an interview when it proves you understood the specific job, not when it summarizes your resume. Three short paragraphs beat one long page.
Before you send it
- Replace any generic line with a fact only you could write.
- Check the company name and job title character by character.
- Match the posting's spelling — "organisation" for UK/AU employers, "organization" for US.
- Keep it under 350 words and one page as a PDF.
Is AI-written content allowed?
Yes for the vast majority of employers, as long as the facts are yours and you edit it. Some universities restrict AI for admissions essays — check their policy. See our AI disclaimer.
FAQ
How long should a cover letter be?
250 to 400 words, three short paragraphs, one page. That holds across the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and it has not moved in a decade. Anything longer gets skimmed rather than read, and a second page is almost never opened.
Is a covering letter the same as a cover letter or a motivation letter?
Yes — same document, same length. UK and Irish employers say covering letter, much of continental Europe says motivation letter, and the US, Canada and Australia say cover letter. Match whichever term the posting uses when you name the file.
Do I need a different cover letter for every application?
The middle paragraph, yes — that is where you tie the posting's stated requirements to your own evidence, and it is the only part a hiring manager can tell you wrote for them. The opening and the close can be reused with the company and job title swapped.
Should I use US or UK spelling?
Match the employer, not yourself. Write "organization" and "analyze" for US and Canadian employers, "organisation" and "analyse" for UK and Australian ones. Set your word processor's language to match before the final read so the checker catches the ones you miss.