The useful result
Write a one-page cover letter built on two or three true stories, with no stock phrases and every claim checked.
- Write a one-page cover letter built on two or three true stories, with no stock phrases and every claim checked.
A cover letter that could be sent to any employer tends to read that way. Wesleyan University’s career centre says not to use a generic cover letter, because employers notice, and recommends two or three detailed examples rather than a repeat of the resume. Carleton University’s career services warns that employers can spot generic, AI-generated content and that phrases such as “results-driven professional” do not stand out. The UK National Careers Service describes a short letter, usually three to five paragraphs, tailored to the company and the role.
This lesson builds the letter from stories you can truthfully tell. You choose them first, add a short structure, then remove stock phrases and verify every fact, including the employer’s name. An assistant can arrange your notes, but the facts and the final wording stay yours.
The examples below are illustrative exercises, not recorded results from any tool. Sources were checked on 25 October 2026; menus, limits and prices change, so confirm details on the linked pages.
Before you start
- One job ad and the employer’s website
- Your resume, with contact details removed
- A few notes about work, study or projects you are proud of
- The name of the person who will read the letter, if you can find it
Review evidence
Documentation-based review · 2026-10-25
Primary documentation and official guidance checked on 25 October 2026. Examples, checks and exercises are original illustrations, not recorded tool tests. Cover artwork is a conceptual illustration.
Choose two or three true stories that match the ad
Pick the two or three requirements in the ad that matter most. For each, choose one real moment from work, study, volunteering or a project that shows it. Wesleyan recommends the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) and accomplishments that match the job rather than repeated resume entries. Write four short lines per story, adding a result or number only if you can confirm it.
Example / expected result
Illustrative example; not a recorded model result.
Situation, a school fundraiser had no volunteer list. Task, organise one. Action, I made a shared sheet and messaged classmates. Result, every stall was staffed.
Check your result
You have two or three stories, each with what happened, what you did and a result you can state truthfully.
Shape a short letter around those stories
Use the National Careers Service structure: an introduction with the job title and where you saw it, why you suit the role, optional extra information, and a closing. Give each story its own short paragraph, three to five in all. If you use an assistant, give it only your notes, with private details removed, and tell it not to add facts.
Arrange my notes into a cover letter draft. Use only the facts in my notes. Do not add any skill, number, tool or company fact that I did not give you. If something is missing, write [MISSING] instead of guessing. Structure: opening paragraph, one short paragraph per story, short closing. Plain language, under 300 words.
Job title: [job title]
Employer: [employer name]
Notes, private details removed: [your stories]Check your result
The draft has three to five short paragraphs, and every fact in it appears in your notes.
Remove generic phrases, then check every claim and name
Replace stock phrases such as “results-driven professional” with a specific fact from your stories. Check every sentence against your notes and remove anything you cannot back. The National Careers Service advises confirming the company name and the recruiter’s details, and backing up statements with facts. Address a named person where possible, read the letter aloud, and ask someone you trust to proofread it.
Example / expected result
Illustrative example; not a recorded model result.
“I am a motivated team player” becomes “At the garden centre I reorganised the price labels with two colleagues.”
Check your result
Every sentence matches your notes, no stock phrases remain, and the employer name, job title and recipient match the ad.
When it goes wrong
Assistants can invent details or reuse a company name from an earlier draft, so the final check is yours. Follow the application’s own instructions. Sources differ on a fallback greeting: the National Careers Service accepts “Dear Sir or Madam” when no name can be found, while Wesleyan discourages it and suggests a title such as “Hiring Manager”.
Make it your own
Write two stories for one real ad and arrange them into a three-paragraph letter. Tick every fact against your notes and read it aloud before you decide whether to send it.
Useful next resources
Sources and review
- National Careers Service: How to write a cover letter
- Wesleyan University Gordon Career Center: Cover Letter Guide
- Carleton University Career Services: 5 Common Ways AI is Misused in the Job Hunt (and How to Do It Better)
Last checked Oct 25, 2026. Features and account limits can change. Verify important results against your original material.
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