The Career AcademyMay 11, 2023

How to Personalise Your Cover Letter (Fast, Credible, & Relevant)

Keep every application laser-targeted without rewriting from scratch. Frameworks, examples, and tools below.

When you are looking for work, it’s often the case that you will be putting together multiple job applications, which means you will need multiple cover letters and CVs to send out to prospective employers. While writing a "one-size-fits-all" cover letter would be nice, it’s very important to ensure every application you submit includes a personalised cover letter.

At The Career Academy, we like to support our students as they begin their journey into work - or towards a promotion - that’s why we have a dedicated Career Centre, which you can access once your enrolment is confirmed.

Illustration: writing a personalised cover letter

If you want to know how to personalise a cover letter, read on, we have compiled some handy tips here that should see you well on your way to writing the perfect personalised cover letter.

Check For Direction

Often a Job Description (JD) will contain specific instructions you need to follow; there may be a request for a certain piece of information, an instruction to provide something extra or a directive around submitting your application.

A personalised cover letter will show the person reading that you have thoroughly understood what has been asked of applicants. Be careful to read the JD more than once and include all the required details. Directing your letter to the wrong person or missing something vital will likely stop your application from progressing immediately.

Quick checklist:
  • Name the role exactly as written in the JD.
  • Address any “nice to have” items (certs, portfolio, availability).
  • Follow submission rules (file type, word count, subject line).

Research The Company and the Role

The more you know about the company and the role, the easier it will be to write your personalised cover letter.

Before: “I’m applying for the Care Assistant role.”
After: “I’m applying for the Care Assistant role at Greenway, whose focus on independence and connection aligns with my volunteer work supporting vibrant community activities for seniors.”

Address the Hiring Manager by Name

Skip “To Whom It May Concern.” Find the hiring lead and greet them by name.

Fast name-finder:

Opens native LinkedIn (People, Companies, Jobs*) and Google tabs. *Jobs open when a location is provided.

Keep It Brief

Your personalised cover letter should generally be around three to five paragraphs, and it should then finish with a call to action.

Suggested structure:
  1. Hook: role + 1–line fit.
  2. Evidence: 2–3 bullets (verb + metric + outcome).
  3. Cultural match: echo 2–3 company keywords.
  4. Close: availability + call-to-action.

Check Your Letter, Then Check it Again

Common miss: “I excel and multitasking and communication.”
Fix: “I excel at multitasking and communication.”

Get In Touch

Contact the friendly team at our Career Centre for a free personalised CV review.

Build a Strong Opening Paragraph

Fill the fields, choose a tone, and copy your personalised intro. Edit freely.

Download the Cover Letter Checklist

One-page, printable reminders to keep every letter sharp and on-brand.

Ready-to-Edit Cover Letter Templates (.docx)

ATS-friendly Word templates you can customise fast.

ATS Classic – HR ATS Healthcare